Iran rejects US ceasefire plan as both sides signal conflicting positions
Iran has rejected a 15-point US peace proposal while insisting no negotiations are underway, even as Washington deploys thousands more troops to the Middle East.
Aisha Khoury World
International news and global affairs
Aisha Khoury 
Iran threatens new maritime fronts in Middle East conflict
Iranian military sources have warned they could open new strategic fronts including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if faced with further pressure, escalating threats to global trade routes.
Zara Mitchell 
When Satellites Become a Battlefield: The New War for the High Ground
The Middle East and Ukraine conflicts have exposed a critical vulnerability: the satellite infrastructure the world relies on to see conflict is now under assault, controlled by private companies making decisions that affect global transparency and safety.
Yuki Tamura 
Italy's Red Arrow trains now connect Paris directly to the Mediterranean
Italian high-speed trains now offer direct connections from Paris to Milan and Marseille, expanding Trenitalia's foothold in the competitive European rail market.
Jake Nguyen 
Israel Signals Intent to Annex 10% of Lebanon Territory as War Escalates
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed plans to seize Lebanese territory up to the Litani River, marking a significant shift from occupation to annexation as the conflict with Hezbollah intensifies.
Aisha Khoury 
Space Sovereignty Becomes Australia's Geopolitical Flashpoint as Russia Launches Rassvet
Russia's launch of Rassvet satellites on 23 March and Australia's cabinet restructure two days later both signal that space has become a geopolitical battleground where middle powers must choose between sovereignty and alliance dependence.
Priya Narayanan 
Russia launches first 16 Rassvet satellites in push for space sovereignty
Russia has launched its first 16 operational satellites for the Rassvet constellation, a state-funded project to build a domestic alternative to SpaceX's Starlink and reduce reliance on foreign satellite services.
Zara Mitchell 
Iranian Volunteers Build Their Own Missile Alert System as State Cuts Internet
As conflict escalates, Iranian citizens have created their own early-warning system to track missile attacks when the state provides none. But a crippling internet blackout threatens to silence even these grassroots efforts.
Yuki Tamura 
Trump's 15-point plan aims to end Iran war amid diplomatic uncertainty
The Trump administration has sent Iran a 15-point proposal to end the conflict, delivered through Pakistan, signalling a diplomatic push even as military operations continue.
Mitchell Tan Double Shock: Middle East Crisis Cuts Australia Off From Fuel And Chip Manufacturing
Australia faces simultaneous shortages of fuel and semiconductor-critical materials from the same Middle East conflict, exposing a strategic vulnerability China is actively protecting itself against.
Sophia Vargas 
Russia escalates with rare daytime drone blitz as Ukraine's air defence crisis deepens
Russia has launched nearly 1,000 drones at Ukraine in 24 hours, striking cities in broad daylight for the first time at such scale. The attacks expose growing concerns about Ukraine's dwindling air defence stocks.
Sophia Vargas 
Pentagon locks in Palantir Maven as permanent military AI system
The US Department of Defense has designated Palantir's Maven Smart System as an official program of record, embedding the AI weapons-targeting platform into the permanent military budget and signalling a major pivot toward AI-driven warfare.
Sophia Vargas 
Lebanon's Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Israeli-Hezbollah War Spirals Beyond Control
With over one million Lebanese displaced and thousands dead, the renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has created a humanitarian emergency that threatens regional stability and has begun reshaping migration flows across the Middle East.
Mitchell Tan 
US signals $4 trillion chip ambition through Pax Silica expansion
The Trump administration is targeting $4 trillion in semiconductor and critical minerals funding through an expanded Pax Silica initiative, with initial US government commitment of $250 million for a private-led consortium.
Fatima Al-Rashid 
Colombia Faces Hard Questions After Military Transport Crash Kills Dozens
At least 34 people died when a Colombian military transport plane crashed near the Peruvian border. The incident comes as President Petro has faced criticism over defence budget pressures.
Daniel Kovac 
The Negotiation Stalemate: Trump Claims Talks With Iran That Tehran Flatly Denies
President Trump announced a five-day pause in strikes on Iranian power plants, citing productive talks. Iranian officials responded by calling the claims fake news and denying any negotiations had taken place.
Zara Mitchell Cold War spycraft returns: Mystery radio station broadcasts coded messages from German base
A mysterious shortwave radio station broadcasting coded messages in Farsi has sparked a global intelligence puzzle. Experts trace the signal to a US military base in Germany, marking the return of Cold War-era spy tradecraft.
Sophia Vargas 
Alibaba pulled lethal drone listings with AI targeting capabilities
Alibaba removed listings for suicide attack drones with autonomous targeting systems after an investigation revealed the platform was selling weaponised aircraft. The discovery highlights risks of weaponry spreading through commercial channels.
Sophia Vargas 
NATO's Expensive Problem: Why Cheap Drones Are Forcing a Reckoning on Defence Strategy
NATO's traditional air defence arsenal is too costly to sustain against mass-produced drones that cost thousands, not millions. European nations are now racing to develop cheaper, scalable systems based on four years of Ukrainian battlefield innovation.
James Callahan 
Gaza's Lost: How War Destroyed Records, Leaving Thousands in Legal Limbo
Thousands of families in Gaza cannot obtain death certificates for missing relatives as the war destroys vital records and systems. The collapse leaves people suspended between hope and hopelessness.
Zara Mitchell