ASEAN Diplomacy

World

ASEAN Holds Firm on Myanmar Peace Plan Despite Stalemate, Eyes Post-Election Engagement

As Southeast Asian foreign ministers gather in Cebu, ASEAN reaffirms its commitment to a stalled five-point peace consensus for Myanmar. While acknowledging the plan's failure to halt the civil war, Thai diplomats suggest recent elections—though widely criticized—could offer a new avenue for dialogue and humanitarian access.

Jan 30, 2026

World

A Narrowing Window: Can U.S.-Iran Diplomacy Forge a Path Beyond the Brink?

As indirect talks resume in Oman, Iran seeks to stabilize the format with Washington before expanding the circle, while regional powers push for a stake in any future deal. The diplomatic scramble unfolds against a backdrop of mixed signals from the Trump administration.

Feb 4, 2026

World

Netanyahu Holds High-Stakes Talks with U.S. Envoy as Iran Nuclear Diplomacy Resumes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened with senior U.S. diplomat Steve Witkoff and top Israeli security officials on Tuesday, as Washington and Tehran prepare for a critical round of nuclear negotiations in Turkey this Friday.

Feb 3, 2026

World

Trump's 'Madman' Diplomacy Tests Iran's Limits as Middle East Braces for Escalation

President Trump's revival of Nixon-era 'madman theory' tactics—mixing calibrated military strikes with extreme threats—aims to force Iranian concessions without full-scale war. But as Tehran perceives an existential threat, analysts warn the high-stakes gamble risks a catastrophic miscalculation.

Jan 30, 2026

US

Diplomatic Dance or Drone Duel? Trump's Iran Brinkmanship Echoes Obama's 'Red Line' Dilemma

As U.S. and Iranian officials prepare for high-stakes talks, a series of dangerous aerial and naval incidents in the Gulf underscores the fragile line between diplomacy and escalation. Analysts warn President Trump's threats face a critical credibility test, drawing inevitable parallels to a previous administration's pivotal moment.

Feb 4, 2026

World

Talks Resume Amid Escalation: Ukraine Peace Negotiations Open in Abu Dhabi as Russian Strikes Intensify

As U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian officials reconvene for a second round of technical talks, a massive overnight bombardment of Ukrainian energy infrastructure casts a long shadow over the prospects for diplomacy, deepening skepticism on the ground.

Feb 4, 2026

World

Khamenei Warns U.S. Strike Would Ignite "Regional War" as Gulf Tensions Simmer

Iran's Supreme Leader issues his most direct threat yet amid heightened U.S. military presence and stalled diplomacy, while internal crackdown death toll estimates soar.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Talks with U.S., But Draws Red Lines on Missiles and Sovereignty

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking from Istanbul, stated Iran's conditional willingness to engage in "fair and just" nuclear diplomacy with the United States, while firmly rejecting negotiations on its missile program and any external "dictation." The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions and renewed U.S. military threats.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Iran Signals Openness to U.S. Talks, Draws Red Line on Missile Program

Iran's foreign minister stated readiness for 'fair' negotiations with Washington but firmly ruled out discussing its defense capabilities, as regional powers intensify diplomacy to avert a military confrontation.

Jan 30, 2026

US

Unsealed Files Reveal Jeffrey Epstein's Role as Back-Channel Broker in 2018 Qatar-Israel Meeting

Newly released documents show the disgraced financier facilitated a clandestine discussion between former leaders of Qatar and Israel during the Gulf diplomatic crisis, highlighting his shadowy network blending business, diplomacy, and alleged intelligence ties.

Feb 3, 2026

World

Davos 2024 Delivers a Boardroom Wake-Up Call: Corporate Strategies Built for a Vanished World

The signals from this year's World Economic Forum extend far beyond diplomacy, presenting CEOs with an urgent mandate to overhaul business models designed for a bygone era of global stability.

Feb 3, 2026

World

Vietnam's Military Drafts Contingency Plans Amid Rising US-China Tensions, Internal Document Reveals

A classified Vietnamese military document outlines strategic preparations for a potential conflict involving the United States, reflecting heightened regional anxieties as superpower rivalries intensify in the South China Sea.

Feb 3, 2026

Business

Betting Markets Signal Rising Optimism for U.S.-Iran Nuclear Deal in 2026

Prediction markets show a significant surge in bets favoring a renewed nuclear agreement between Washington and Tehran by year's end, even as political rhetoric remains cautious.

Feb 5, 2026

World

Seoul Moves to Secure Rare Earth Supply Chains, Eyes Deeper Cooperation with Beijing

South Korea unveils a comprehensive strategy to stabilize supplies of critical rare earth minerals, pivoting towards enhanced collaboration with China while simultaneously pursuing global diversification efforts to safeguard its high-tech industries.

Feb 5, 2026

World

Cambodia Seeks French Colonial Archives to Settle Thorny Border Dispute with Thailand

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has formally requested France to provide historical maps and documents from its colonial administration to help mediate a protracted and occasionally violent border conflict with neighboring Thailand.

Feb 5, 2026

World

New START Treaty Lapses, Raising Specter of Unchecked Nuclear Buildup

The final pillar of U.S.-Russia nuclear arms control collapsed Thursday as the New START treaty expired, leaving the world's two largest atomic arsenals without verifiable limits for the first time in decades and stoking fears of a destabilizing new arms race.

Feb 5, 2026

Business

Oil Prices Retreat as U.S.-Iran Talks Confirmed for Friday in Oman

Crude futures fell from recent highs after Iran's foreign minister confirmed diplomatic talks with the United States, easing immediate fears of military escalation. Brent crude slipped toward $68 a barrel as markets weigh the potential for de-escalation against deep-seated regional tensions.

Feb 5, 2026

World

Amid Rising Tensions, Trump and Xi Hold Critical Call on Iran, as Washington Seeks to Isolate Tehran

In a pivotal phone conversation, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the escalating crisis in Iran, with Washington intensifying pressure on Beijing and other nations to sever ties with the Islamic Republic.

Feb 5, 2026

World

U.S. and Chinese Leaders Hold Critical Call on Iran Amid Escalating Tensions

President Trump and President Xi Jinping discussed the escalating crisis in Iran during a phone call Tuesday, as the United States intensifies pressure on China and other nations to sever economic and diplomatic ties with Tehran.

Feb 5, 2026

World

Fragile Truce Under Strain: Gaza Sees Surge in Violence Months After Ceasefire

Months after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire halted the deadliest fighting in years, a surge of violence in Gaza is testing the agreement's durability. With casualties mounting and key provisions stalled, residents and officials question the future of the truce as distrust between Israel and Hamas deepens.

Feb 5, 2026