Iran escalates regional tensions with tanker attacks in Hormuz while major powers reshape geopolitical alignments, including NATO's future direction and Russia-Ukraine conflict intensification.

Qatar accused Iran of attacking three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, including a Qatari LNG vessel, in a significant maritime escalation that threatens critical global energy shipping routes and regional stability.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death and funeral drew massive crowds in Tehran, with Iran's government projecting strength amid months of US and Israeli pressure, signaling regime continuity and regional ambitions.

NATO leaders gathered in Turkey to address Trump's pressure on alliance members to increase defense spending and reduce US commitment, raising questions about the credibility of collective defense guarantees under Article 5.

Russia intensified strikes on Kyiv with overnight attacks killing at least 19 people, as Ukraine's president called for NATO to provide more sophisticated air defense systems to intercept incoming missiles.

China test-fired a nuclear-capable submarine-launched long-range missile into the Pacific, demonstrating expanding military capabilities and rattling US allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

Canada selected a German consortium to build 12 cutting-edge submarines in a multibillion-dollar contract, deepening NATO ties and strengthening North American defense capabilities amid renewed great power competition.

USAID cuts under the Trump administration have hindered the response to the DRC's Ebola outbreak, with experts citing 'significant numbers' of deaths resulting from reduced disease surveillance and prevention funding.

Belarus faces pressure from both Putin seeking support for the Ukraine war and Ukraine threatening strikes on military infrastructure, as the country attempts to avoid deeper involvement in the conflict.

Trump announced plans to lift sanctions on Turkey and consider selling F-35 stealth jets, signaling shifts in US foreign policy toward NATO ally and regional power broker Ankara.

A suspect in Monaco's bombing attack was found dead in Ukraine after being shot, according to Ukrainian authorities, adding complexity to ongoing security investigations across European borders.