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‘Turbulent and dangerous’: How shipping is the new global battleground

From Hormuz to Panama, the South China Sea to the Black Sea, geopolitics is rewriting the rules of global shipping.

A ship waits to pass through the Strait of Hormuz

UAE quits OPEC: What that means for the Gulf, energy markets and beyond

UAE signalling intent to pursue independent economic policies and reshape Gulf oil politics.

OPEC

How US and Iran are playing a crypto cat-and-mouse game over sanctions

Iranian authorities and people are increasingly using cryptocurrencies to evade sanctions. The US is playing catch-up.

An advertisement for Bitcoin cryptocurrency is displayed on a street.

Can Hungary wean itself off Russian energy, as its new leader has promised?

Magyar’s pitch to Hungarian voters was to turn away from some of Orban’s policies, including Russian energy imports.

Peter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza Party, speaks during a press conference a day after the parliamentary election, in which Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban conceded defeat, Budapest, Hungary, April 13, 2026. REUTERS/Marton Monus

Why has Italy’s Giorgia Meloni suspended a defence pact with Israel?

Italy’s decision has little immediate impact, but marks an unprecedented U-turn by one of Israel’s staunchest allies.

Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni listens to the secretary of the Democratic Party (PD) Elly Schlein at the lower house of the Italian Parliament, in Rome on April 9, 2026. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP)

Is Magyar’s election win the end of the EU’s troubles with Hungary?

Orban’s exit signals potential end to Hungary’s EU isolation and opens door for diplomatic and economic collaboration.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - APRIL 13: Peter Magyar, lead candidate of the Tisza party, speaks to the media the day after the sweeping Tisza victory over rival Fidesz in Hungarian parliamentary elections on April 13, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. The win paves the way for Magyar to replace current Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who yesterday conceded defeat. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

‘Closer to a break than ever’: Can NATO survive if Trump pulls the US out?

The war in Iran has deepened a rift in the transatlantic alliance, raising questions about whether it can endure.

FILE PHOTO: A French soldier takes part in a static display of military vehicles and aircraft during the NATO Cold Response 2026 military exercise in Setermoen, Norway, March 12, 2026. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo

For Gulf states, Hormuz uncertainty casts shadow over US-Iran ceasefire

Experts say Gulf countries are wary of the US agreeing to a deal that gives Iran leverage over the vital energy route.

Women stand looking at the Dubai skyline, with the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, seen from Creek Harbour on April 3, 2026. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

Meloni’s Trump trouble: Why Italian PM is distancing herself from US leader

The Italian leader’s cosy alliance with Trump may have become more of a liability than an asset as key elections near.

Meloni

Iran war updates: Tehran slams Trump threats over Strait of Hormuz closure

These were the updates about the US-Israeli war on Iran on Sunday, April 5, 2026.

Iran