Geopolitics

Geopolitics: wars, alliances, sanctions, trade and the decisions between governments that shape the world.

1265 articles · page 11 of 27

Geopolitics

Japan Summons Russian Ambassador to Protest Journalist's Arrest on Espionage Charges

Japan formally summoned Russian Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev on Wednesday to protest Moscow's arrest of Hokkaido Shimbun correspondent Imai Yuki on espionage charges, demanding immediate information and access to the detainer. The journalist, arrested by Russia's Federal Security Service in the Sakhalin region and transferred to Moscow, was ordered held until December 12 pending trial. The case adds a new source of friction to ties already strained by Tokyo's sanctions against Russia over Ukraine and the long-running territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands.

·3 min·3 sources
Geopolitics

Iran expands Strait of Hormuz surveillance as tanker attacks surge and oil flows fall

Iran has expanded its military surveillance of the Strait of Hormuz, deploying new naval units east of the waterway and warning ships to coordinate with its armed forces, as tanker attacks reach their worst levels since the US and Israel's war on Iran began. Oil transit through the strait is falling again after a brief recovery, and an Iranian official has said Tehran's new tactics partly aim to influence November's US midterm elections.

·2 min
Geopolitics

Israel's 'Yellow Line' occupation reshapes southern Lebanon, displacing tens of thousands

Six months after a framework agreement aimed at securing Israel's phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon, the occupation continues behind what is called the 'Yellow Line', a zone up to 10 kilometres deep where Israeli forces have systematically demolished homes and infrastructure. Tens of thousands of Lebanese remain displaced, and Hezbollah has resumed rocket attacks after more than a year of relative calm.

·2 min
Geopolitics

Burnham to host Zelenskyy at Downing Street in show of ‘rock-solid’ support

Prime Minister Andy Burnham will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Downing Street on Wednesday, vowing to stand with Ukraine “for as long as it takes” as the UK steps up military aid and seeks tougher sanctions on Russian energy exports. The visit underscores deepening UK support at a time when Zelenskyy’s relationship with US President Donald Trump has become increasingly strained.

·2 min·3 sources
Geopolitics

Israel's Yellow Line advances deeper into Gaza, forcing families to flee again

Israeli forces have pushed their Yellow Line demarcation deeper into Gaza again, moving concrete blocks dozens of metres westward in the eastern Gaza City neighbourhood of Shujayea on October 11 and forcing Palestinian families to flee once more. The advance came nearly a year after the line was drawn under the October 2025 ceasefire agreement, and it further shrinks the territory where displaced Palestinians can shelter.

·2 min
Geopolitics

Houthis warn civilians to evacuate Aramco sites as Saudi strikes escalate

The Houthi rebel group has warned civilians and employees near Saudi Aramco facilities and King Khalid International Airport to evacuate, calling the sites 'a legitimate target', after Saudi-led coalition air strikes hit oil infrastructure in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. The escalation follows weekend attacks on Riyadh's airport that killed at least 13 people and injured hundreds, stoking fears of a broader conflict disrupting global energy markets and air travel.

·3 min·5 sources
Geopolitics

Iran security chief warns of potential attacks on Gulf data centres and internet cables

Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, has warned that cables, data centres and artificial intelligence facilities across the region could be attacked if war with the United States erupts again. The warning follows the seizure of Yemeni territory along the Red Sea coastline last month by Iran-backed Houthis, raising fears for the safety of internet cables that carry more than 90 percent of data capacity between Europe and Asia.

·2 min
Geopolitics

Russian missile strike hits key Kyiv power plant, one dead, as Zelenskyy says no warning given

Russian ballistic missiles struck the Darnytska CHP-4 power plant, a key energy facility supplying Kyiv with heating and electricity, and a residential building late on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, killing one person and wounding 13. Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine received no early warning from allies about the attack, calling the lack of warning "absolutely unjust."

·2 min·3 sources
Geopolitics

Experts question Zelensky claim that data centre strikes crippled Russian bot networks

Ukraine's recent strikes on Russian data centres have prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to claim that Moscow's bot networks have been degraded, resulting in less online hate and division. However, BBC Verify reports that experts have found no evidence the attacks significantly reduced Kremlin-linked influence operations, and that viral social media claims to the contrary appear to stem from a misinterpretation of technical data.

·2 min
Geopolitics

MI5 chief warns Russia is 'aggressor number one' as state threats quadruple

MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum has warned that Russia remains "aggressor number one" and that state threats to the UK have quadrupled over the past decade, with the intelligence service now facing equal scale of terrorism and state threat operations. In his annual address at Thames House, he also highlighted rising threats from Iran, extreme right-wing terrorism, and attempts by terrorists to exploit artificial intelligence, including by integrating the technology with drones.

·2 min·4 sources