geopolitical tensions

In recent days, former U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified public criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of recklessness in continuing the war in Ukraine without engaging in ceasefire negotiations. Trump’s latest salvo, delivered via his Truth Social platform, warns that Putin is “playing with fire” and hints at unspecified but dire consequences should Russia refuse to halt its military offensive.

Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of intensifying attacks despite a temporary “Easter truce” declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The ceasefire, which began at 6pm on Saturday and was intended to last until midnight on Easter Sunday, was announced as a humanitarian gesture by the Kremlin.

Iran is likely to push back against a key proposal from the United States to relocate its enriched uranium stockpile to a third country—such as Russia—as part of renewed nuclear negotiations aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear programme. The suggestion, raised during initial talks in Muscat, Oman, has emerged as a major sticking point in efforts to revive a broader diplomatic agreement.

The commander of the United States military's Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, Colonel Susannah Meyers, has been dismissed from her post after allegedly distancing herself and the base from remarks made by US Vice President JD Vance during his recent visit to the Arctic territory.

For the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has openly confirmed the presence of Ukrainian forces inside Russia’s Belgorod region. In his daily address on Monday, 7 April 2025, Zelenskyy noted “active operations” across the border and stated bluntly, “The war must return to where it came from.”

In a move that could upend the global gas market, industry insiders suggest that gas giants may soon be compelled to divert a significant portion of their production to Australia’s domestic market. This proposal, part of a prospective gas reservation plan being developed by the Coalition, is being positioned as a means to secure more energy for Australians while driving down energy prices. With Labor expected to counter with its own version of such a policy, the issue is set to become a focal point in the upcoming election shootout.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed conditional support for a United States-proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for substantial revisions to address what he considers the fundamental causes of the conflict. This development comes amid ongoing hostilities, particularly in the contested Kursk region, and reflects the complex dynamics of international diplomacy surrounding the war.

Human remains returned to Israel by Hamas on Friday have been confirmed as those of Shiri Bibas, a former hostage taken during the October 7 attack, according to a statement from her family released Saturday via the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.