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A Landmark Summit Sets the Stage for a Global Fossil‑Fuel Phase‑outGovernments in a coalition of 59 countries gathered in Santa Marta, Colombia, to draft voluntary 'roadmaps' that detail how each nation will end production and use of coal, oil and gas. The talks, co‑hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, aim to move climate ambition from slogans to concrete policy.Voluntary National Roadmaps Proposed at Colombia’s Climate CoalitionThe summit asked participants to develop national plans that map out the transition away from fossil fuels, with the first draft released by Colombia during the meeting. France became the first developed country to publish a full roadmap, signalling broader uptake.Scale of the “Coalition of the Willing”: GDP, Energy Demand and Fossil SupplyRepresents > 50 % of global GDP.Accounts for nearly 33 % of worldwide energy demand.Controls roughly 20 % of global fossil‑fuel supply.Why This Shift Challenges the Traditional UN Climate ProcessUnlike the three‑decade‑old UN negotiations, the Colombian talks focus on export‑related emissions and the role of fossil‑fuel producers, gaps that the Paris‑agreement NDCs have left open. Irene Vélez Torres, Colombia’s environment minister, warned that existing NDCs allow producers to sidestep the climate impact of their exports.What Comes Next: Roadmap Adoption, Financing and Global ExpansionCountries will receive technical assistance to flesh out their plans, while a new scientific panel will advise on feasibility. Future meetings, including a second conference slated for early next year in the Pacific, will aim to broaden participation and lock in financing for debt‑strapped nations.

The LeadIsrael's attacks on southern Lebanon have killed at least nine people, according to the country's National News Agency (NNA), despite a three-week extension to the United States-mediated "ceasefire" announced last week.Escalating Violence in Southern LebanonIn the municipality of Jebchit, three people were killed and seven wounded in an attack that destroyed a residential building. In the municipality of Toul, four people were killed and six wounded. While in the municipality of Harouf, two people were killed, and the attack also destroyed a house.Israeli forces have intensified their attacks in southern Lebanon over recent days, with artillery shelling reported in the towns of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, Yohmor al-Shaqif, and Bayt al-Sayyad.In the past 24 hours alone, Israeli air attacks have killed more than 20 people, including two families, two Lebanese army soldiers, and three paramedics. More than 70 others, including children, were injured in the attacks.Rising Casualties and Displacement ThreatsThe Israeli army has also issued more forced displacement threats for 15 southern Lebanese towns and villages, including Jebchit, Toul, al-Samanieh, Sahel al-Hnieh, Qlailah, Wadi Jilo, al-Kanisa, Kafr Jouz, Majdal Zoun, and Seddiqine.Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz promised that southern Lebanon's fate will be like Gaza's, despite a temporary US-mediated "ceasefire" deal agreed between Israel and Hezbollah almost two weeks ago that was extended by three weeks last week.International Response and Regional ImplicationsLebanese President Joseph Aoun denounced the "continuing Israeli violations" in southern Lebanon on Thursday, saying they were occurring "despite the ceasefire, as do demolitions of homes and places of worship, while the number of killed and wounded rises day by day"."Pressure must be exerted on Israel to ensure it respects international laws and conventions and ceases targeting civilians, paramedics, civil defence, and humanitarian health and relief organisations," the Lebanese president added.Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called for "the swift formation of an international fact-finding committee on the crimes of the Israeli occupation".Future Outlook and Diplomatic ChallengesReporting from Beirut, Al Jazeera's Malcolm Webb said "Lebanon's President Aoun has asked the US for a date for negotiations to restart but has also said that Israel must fully implement the ceasefire."The Lebanese government, Israel and the US have sought to distance the talks from the US talks with Iran. But with the fighting continuing to escalate, it seems the only thing that would slow it down is further pressure from Trump on Israel to stop," he said.Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed at least 2,576 people in Lebanon, with 7,962 wounded, according to the latest figures from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

The Fuel Price Shock Pakistan is facing the most serious fuel price shock in over half a century, which threatens to unleash a flood of cascading crises that could batter all aspects of the economy and undermine the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The Economic Impact Earlier this week, Sharif said Pakistan's oil import bill had surged from $300 million before the conflict to $800 million now, which he said erased all the economic progress the country had made over the past two years. Analysts say the knock-on effects will be increasingly severe, impacting everything from agriculture and transport to the price of food and basic goods, worsening the plight of families already facing a cost-of-living crisis. The Data Analysis The State Bank of Pakistan raised its key policy rate by a full percentage point to 11.5 percent. The bank said: "The Committee noted that prolonging the Middle East conflict has intensified risks to the macroeconomic outlook. In particular, the global energy prices, freight charges and insurance premiums continue to remain significantly above pre-conflict levels. Furthermore, the supply chain disruptions have contributed to the prevailing uncertainty." The Impact Analysis Soaring fuel costs have a global impact, but Pakistan is particularly vulnerable. It is heavily dependent on imported energy, and higher costs worsen its already precarious balance-of-payments position. Fuel prices feed directly into inflation – diesel powers trucks, buses, tractors, generators and parts of the food supply chain, while petrol affects commuting and consumer transport. The Prediction The government is caught between two bad options, say analysts – pass on global oil prices to consumers and face public anger, or subsidise fuel and blow a hole in the budget. Pakistan is under strict IMF supervision, which limits the government's ability to spend its way out of the problem. The government has been widely criticised by analysts for botching negotiations in April when it sought IMF approval for higher fuel subsidies and was rebuffed.

Urgent Search for New Capital as Saudi Funding Winds DownLIV Golf disclosed that the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) will stop financing the league at the close of the 2026 season, prompting an immediate hunt for fresh investors to safeguard the tour’s future.Board Revamp Signals Shift to Multi‑Partner Investment ModelThe league appointed a new independent board, stripping out Yasir al‑Rumayyan and installing seasoned consultants Gene Davis and Jon Zinman. The board’s mandate is to transition from a “foundational launch phase” to a diversified, multi‑partner structure.Board chairs: Gene Davis (lead) and Jon ZinmanGoal: attract long‑term capital and formalise league governanceTimeline: immediate rollout, with sponsor outreach underwayFinancial Stakes: $5 bn Initial Saudi Backing and Potential £63 m Player FinesThe PIF injected roughly $5 bn (£3.7 bn) into LIV Golf since its 2022 launch. Concurrently, players contemplating a return to the PGA Tour may face hefty reinstatement penalties – for example, Brooks Koepka reportedly paid about £63 m to re‑join.Implications for the Global Golf Landscape and PGA Tour RelationsThe funding gap could reshape professional golf:Potential migration of top talent back to the PGA Tour if stable financing isn’t securedIncreased pressure on LIV to prove commercial viability without sovereign backingStrategic leverage for the PGA Tour in negotiations over player penalties and return pathwaysOutlook: Prospects for Sponsorship, Structural Reform, and Tour ViabilityAnalysts anticipate that LIV Golf’s success hinges on securing a consortium of corporate sponsors and media partners. The new board’s focus on “formalising structure” and “attracting long‑term capital” suggests a pivot toward a more conventional sports‑business model. If successful, the league could maintain a foothold as a third‑tier global golf circuit; failure may accelerate a consolidation of talent back into existing tours.

The Lead Pakistan has opened six overland transit routes for goods destined for Iran, formalizing a road corridor through its territory as thousands of containers remain stranded at Karachi port due to the US blockade of Iranian ports and ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan's New Transit Routes The Ministry of Commerce issued the Transit of Goods through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026 on April 25, bringing it into immediate effect. The order allows goods originating from third countries to be transported through Pakistan and delivered to Iran by road. The six designated routes link Pakistan's main ports, Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar, with two Iranian border crossings, Gabd and Taftan, passing through Balochistan via Turbat, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Quetta and Dalbandin. The shortest route, the Gwadar-Gabd corridor, reduces travel time to the Iranian border to between two and three hours, compared with the 16 to 18 hours it takes from Karachi – Pakistan's biggest port – to the Iranian border. Economic Impact of the Blockade The current US-Iran war began on February 28, when US and Israeli forces launched attacks on Iran. In the weeks that followed, Iran restricted commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil and gas passes during peacetime, disrupting one of the most critical arteries of global trade. More than 3,000 containers destined for Iran have been stuck at Karachi port for several days, with vessels unable to collect the cargo. War-risk insurance premiums have surged from about 0.12% of a vessel's value before the conflict to roughly 5%, making shipping to the region too expensive for many operators. Shifting Regional Dynamics The corridor also signals a shift away from Afghanistan, whose relations with Pakistan have deteriorated sharply. The two sides engaged in clashes in October 2025 and again in February and March this year, with skirmishes continuing along the northwestern and southwestern borders. The Torkham and Chaman crossings have ceased to function as reliable commercial routes since tensions escalated, limiting Pakistan's overland access to Central Asian markets. “This is a paradigmatic shift. Pakistan's relations with the Afghan Taliban, the de facto rulers in Kabul, have no reset switch,” Iftikhar Firdous, cofounder of The Khorasan Diary, told Al Jazeera. Future Outlook The transit order appears to be a direct economic response to the impasse between the US and Iran. Pakistan brokered a ceasefire on April 8 and hosted the first round of direct US-Iran talks on April 11, in Islamabad. The negotiations lasted nearly a day but ended without a deal. Iran has ruled out direct negotiations with Washington while the blockade remains in place, though Araghchi told Pakistani officials that Tehran would continue engaging with Islamabad's mediation efforts “until a result is achieved”.

The US-Iran Conflict Escalation Two months since the US and Israel launched a joint surprise attack on Iran, negotiations appear deadlocked, as competing blockades of the Strait of Hormuz continue to disrupt global energy supplies, and the future of Iran's nuclear programme remains unresolved. The Frozen Conflict Scenario All military options remain on the table, despite a ceasefire in force since April 8 having paused the conflict. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday cautioned against the possibility of a 'frozen conflict', where the critical waterway is used as a pressure card amid the possibility of violent flare-ups. The Cost of a 'Frozen' War The war between the US and Iran can already be described as 'frozen', but this no-war-no-deal scenario comes at too high a cost for both parties, Mehran Kamrava, an expert on Iran at Georgetown University in Qatar, told Al Jazeera. The American foreign policy think tank Quincy Institute estimated that Washington's costs incurred over the first month of the war were between $20bn and $25bn. A large-scale ground operation in Iran similar to that of Iraq in 2003 would require at least 500,000 personnel and some $55bn a month, or more than $650bn a year. Prolonged versus Protracted Conflict In Trump's initial projection, the war in Iran was intended to last 'four to five weeks'. Two months into the conflict, Chandler Williams, researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), says the prolonged conflict has lasted longer than forecast. The Impact of a Protracted Conflict Washington is betting on sustained economic and diplomatic pressure backed by Trump's constant threat to renew strikes to see if it can 'finish what air strikes alone cannot achieve', Williams said. For its part, Iran is aware of the US's military superiority and has opted for leveraging the Strait of Hormuz until the US decides that a negotiated settlement is preferable. 'Mowing the Grass' in Iran On Tuesday, the US Department of Defense requested $53.6bn for autonomous drones for the 2027 fiscal year, a roughly 24,000 percent increase from last year. If the tactics of the conflict shift towards drone warfare and towards a low-intensity conflict, this has lower costs for the attacker but a higher impact for the recipient as we've seen in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Michael Kerr, a historian and political scientist at King's College London, told Al Jazeera.

U.S. prosecutors in New York have unsealed an indictment charging Sinaloa state governor Ruben Rocha Moya and nine current or former officials with collaborating with the Sinaloa Cartel to funnel narcotics into the United States, a move that could strain bilateral ties.The Indictment and Alleged Cartel CollaborationThe indictment alleges that Rocha Moya, 76, and his co‑defendants provided political cover, election‑campaign support, and logistical assistance to cartel leaders in exchange for bribes. Prosecutors say cartel operatives helped secure Rocha’s 2021 victory by intimidating opponents, stealing ballot papers, and supplying a list of rival candidates to the “Chapitos” faction. One defendant, former secretary of administration and finance Enrique Diaz Vega, is accused of handing over opponents’ personal data to facilitate threats.Legal Exposure and Potential Financial ConsequencesWhile the document does not list exact monetary penalties, U.S. law permits forfeiture of assets tied to drug trafficking, potentially amounting to multi‑million‑dollar seizures. The indictment also opens the door to provisional arrest requests and extradition proceedings, which could impose additional legal costs on the Mexican government and the accused officials.Political Repercussions for Morena and President‑Elect Claudia SheinbaumAt least three of the indicted officials, including Rocha, are affiliated with the governing Morena party, linking the case directly to President‑elect Claudia Sheinbaum. Analysts warn that Sheinbaum’s response—whether she pursues arrest or extradition—will affect her standing within Morena, her relationship with the United States, and the broader USMCA negotiations.Implications for U.S. Anti‑Cartel Policy in MexicoIndicting a sitting governor marks a “nuclear option” in U.S. strategy, signaling a willingness to target political figures tied to organized crime. Experts predict more high‑profile indictments could follow, expanding the focus from pure drug‑trafficking operations to the nexus of crime and politics across Mexican states.

The LeadThousands of pro-government supporters gathered in Tehran on April 30, 2026, in a large-scale rally demanding an end to what they perceive as US threats against Iran. The demonstration underscores escalating tensions between the two nations amid ongoing diplomatic disputes and heightened rhetoric from both sides.Tehran's Show of Unity Against External PressureThe rally, organized by pro-government factions, brought together citizens, officials, and paramilitary groups in a unified display against what Iranian authorities describe as "hostile US policies." Participants chanted anti-US slogans and carried signs calling for an end to sanctions and military threats. Iranian state media extensively covered the event, framing it as a spontaneous expression of national unity against foreign interference.The demonstration comes amid a series of diplomatic exchanges between Washington and Tehran, with both nations exchanging accusations of violating international agreements and threatening regional stability. US officials have recently increased criticism of Iran's nuclear program and support for regional proxy groups, while Iranian leaders have condemned what they call "American aggression" in the Middle East.Regional Implications of Escalating RhetoricThe rally's significance extends beyond Iran's borders, with potential repercussions across the already volatile Middle East. The heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran threaten to destabilize the region further, particularly as both nations maintain military presence in strategic locations including the Persian Gulf and Syria.Regional analysts note that such displays of domestic unity in Iran often precede more assertive foreign policy decisions. The timing of the rally, coming after months of stalled nuclear negotiations and increased naval maneuvers in the Strait of Hormuz, suggests that Iran may be preparing to take a harder stance in future diplomatic engagements.Neighboring countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan, have expressed concern about the potential spillover effects of intensified US-Iran tensions, which could disrupt fragile peace processes and economic recovery efforts in the region.Future Outlook in US-Iran RelationsLooking ahead, the trajectory of US-Iran relations appears increasingly uncertain. The pro-government rally in Tehran suggests that domestic political considerations in Iran will continue to influence foreign policy decisions, potentially limiting the space for diplomatic compromise.International observers predict that unless both sides demonstrate a willingness to de-escalate, the coming months could see further military posturing, economic sanctions, and proxy conflicts across the Middle East. The possibility of direct military confrontation, while still considered remote by most analysts, cannot be entirely discounted given the current rhetoric and military positioning on both sides.Diplomatic channels remain open, but the path to renewed negotiations appears challenging. The international community, particularly European nations that have attempted to mediate between the two parties, faces increasing pressure to develop new strategies for reducing tensions and preventing further escalation in this critical geopolitical relationship.

The LeadPresident Donald Trump has declared Washington's blockade of Iranian ports a success and urged Tehran to "just give up" amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iran's military has warned of "unprecedented action" if the US blockade continues, as oil prices surge due to concerns about global supply disruptions.The Strait of Hormuz StandoffThe escalating tensions in the strategically vital waterway have created a high-stakes confrontation between the United States and Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, with approximately 20% of the world's traded oil passing through it daily.Market Reaction and Economic ImpactOil prices have surged significantly amid the standoff, with Brent crude climbing by over 5% in response to the heightened tensions. The market reaction reflects concerns about potential disruptions to oil supplies, which could have far-reaching implications for global energy markets and economic stability.Geopolitical RamificationsThe confrontation represents a significant escalation in US-Iran relations and has broader implications for regional stability. Other nations in the Middle East are closely monitoring the situation, with some expressing concern about the potential for wider conflict that could destabilize the entire region.Future OutlookDiplomatic efforts appear increasingly unlikely as both sides adopt hardline positions. The situation remains fluid, with potential scenarios ranging from a de-escalation through backchannel negotiations to a military confrontation that could disrupt global energy markets for an extended period.