World

Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating has launched a fresh broadside against the 'Red Alert' series published by Nine newspapers, the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, labeling it a misleading and irresponsible prediction that has failed to materialize. In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, marking the third anniversary of the series' publication on March 7, 2023, Keating asserted that the alarming front-page warnings about 'war with China within three years' by a panel of five national security experts have proven baseless, with none of the claims coming to pass.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the United States has used 'Precision Strike Missile' (PrSM) weapons for the first time in its ongoing conflict with Iran. The war entered its seventh day on Friday, with attacks continuing across Iran and other Middle Eastern countries, highlighting the escalating regional tensions fueled by Washington's military interventions.

Debt-for-nature swaps and conservation funds aimed at halting biodiversity loss are gaining traction as governments increasingly link ecosystem collapse to geopolitical instability. Razed forests, collapsing fisheries, and vanishing pollinators rarely register as national security threats, yet recognition is growing that nature loss poses serious risks to political stability. This shift in perspective is driven by assessments that frame environmental degradation as a direct challenge to state security.

The tourism industry in the Arabian Peninsula has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, but the US-Israeli war with Iran and Tehran's retaliatory strikes are now slowing that momentum. Widespread closures of airspace over large parts of the region and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have left hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers and business travelers stranded, dealing a severe blow to long-term diversification plans in countries like Dubai and Saudi Arabia. This crisis highlights the fragility of economic progress in a region increasingly affected by geopolitical tensions.

Formula 1 has undergone a radical transformation ahead of the 2026 season opener in Australia, with cars becoming shorter, narrower, and lighter. The most decisive change is that 50% of power now comes from the battery rather than the combustion engine. Aerodynamics have also been altered, replacing the traditional DRS system with a "boost" button that allows drivers to unlock extra power during races. Experts have labeled these changes "the biggest ever," but not all stakeholders are pleased with the new direction.

Qatar's Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi has warned that energy exports from the Gulf region could come to a halt "within weeks" if the war on Iran continues to escalate, potentially throwing global energy markets into turmoil. In an interview with The Financial Times published on Friday, al-Kaabi stated that if the conflict persists for weeks, "GDP growth around the world will be impacted." He added that energy prices would rise globally, leading to shortages of some products and a chain reaction of factory shutdowns.

As campaigning draws to a close ahead of the first of five state elections this year, Berlin authorities have launched an investigation into an 18-year-old student suspected of defaming Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a demonstration. The incident, first reported by the left-wing newspaper Junge Welt alongside a photo on X (formerly Twitter), involved the teenager brandishing a poster with a vulgar slogan mocking the chancellor at a protest against increased military recruitment.

Iranian worshippers gathered in Tehran and other cities for the first Friday prayers since the US-Israeli war on the country began seven days ago. Many in the crowds held portraits of the assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an early attack during the conflict.

Iran's military posture in a widening conflict with Israel and the US suggests it is not fighting for victory in any conventional sense, but rather for survival on its own terms. The Islamic Republic's leaders and commanders have been preparing for this moment for years, understanding that their regional ambitions could eventually trigger a direct confrontation with Israel or the US, and that a war with one would almost certainly draw in the other. This pattern was evident in the 12-day war last summer, when Israel struck first and the US joined days later. In the current round of fighting, they launched strikes on Iran simultaneously.

Ukraine's economy has suffered a severe blow following Russia's invasion, threatening the country's financial stability. While Western partners such as the European Union (EU) and the United States have pledged assistance, in practice this aid is insufficient and is being implemented slowly and ambiguously to alleviate Ukraine's economic crisis.

A new long-distance hiking trail, named Caminhos da Ibiapaba, has opened in Brazil's north-eastern region. Spanning 186 kilometres along paths once used by 19th-century merchants, the trail traverses three contrasting biomes – the tropical Atlantic forest, the dry Caatinga, and the biodiverse Cerrado savannah – starting in Ubajara National Park and ending in Sete Cidades National Park.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called on Latin American countries to adopt a more aggressive approach against drug cartels, warning that the Trump administration may otherwise act unilaterally in the region. His remarks come amid escalating US intervention in the region, both militarily and in elections, which culminated in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro – marking the first US ground military attack on a South American country. For months, the Trump administration has allegedly used the so-called “war on drugs” to justify strikes that have killed 152 people and a military build-up along Venezuela’s borders, although the US president later admitted that his main objective was the country’s vast oil reserves.