Commentary

Cyberspace has become “fertile ground” for terrorist and extremist organisations around the world to spread violent ideologies and recruit followers.

With the theme “Building resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainable development”, the agenda of the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled to take place in New Delhi, India, goes beyond traditional political coordination, moving towards practical cooperation in many fields.

In the global race to meet climate change targets, the world continues to face major challenges in securing finance. The 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), to be held in November, will prioritise securing climate finance, promoting adaptation measures, and supporting countries suffering the heaviest losses.

The Council of the European Union (EU) has approved a comprehensive reform package for the bloc’s customs legal framework, in what is being hailed as the most far-reaching overhaul of European customs in more than 50 years. The reform aims to modernise the bloc’s trade control system and rigorously regulate the flow of goods.

Thailand and Singapore recently decided to elevate the direction of their bilateral relationship to a “Forward-Looking Strategic Partnership.”

The budget is a perennial source of controversy within the European Union (EU), as member states maintain differing views on the scale of contributions and the allocation of funds. The bloc now faces the challenge of striking a balance between its strategic ambitions and the practical capabilities of its member states as it formulates its long-term budget for 2028–2034.

Sea levels are rising faster than at any time ever recorded in human history, profoundly affecting the lives of people in coastal countries, especially Pacific island nations. At the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, which is taking place in Palau, this issue has once again been put on the agenda.

The question of whether Britain’s departure from the European Union (EU), commonly known as Brexit, has proven effective has long been a sensitive and contentious issue in British political and social life.

Severely impacting numerous sectors, climate change is no longer viewed merely as an environmental challenge; experts now recognise it as a threat to global security and geopolitics. Consequently, enhancing climate change resilience has become an integral part of national security strategies aimed at ensuring long-term stability.

Following the last-minute collapse of tariff talks between the US and Canada, the two sides have repeatedly announced retaliatory measures against each other. Tensions are escalating, but their deep economic ties and shared interests are expected to serve as an “anchor”, helping the bilateral relationship weather the storm.

Iceland is preparing to hold a referendum on whether to resume negotiations on joining the European Union (EU), opening the door to a possible continuation of a process that was suspended many years ago.

Developments on the battlefield, alongside diplomatic signals, are pushing tensions between Russia and Ukraine into a precarious stalemate, teetering on the fine line between negotiation and conflict. The door to peace remains ajar, but deep strategic differences and difficult obstacles arising from the situation on the battlefield remain between the two sides.

Germany has extended strict border control measures for another six months. This is seen as an effective “firewall” in efforts to stem the flow of illegal immigrants constantly seeking to enter this leading European nation.

The Gulf is once again in turmoil after relations between the neighbouring countries of Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were escalated to a new level of tension.

Afghanistan has recently held activities marking five years since the Taliban returned to power. Having been devastated by decades of conflict, Afghanistan is striving to rebuild the country from the ashes of war. Although the security situation has improved, the country remains beset by numerous challenges.

The official launch of the election campaigns by incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro represents a significant turning point, reshaping Brazil’s political landscape.

The Schengen Agreement, a symbol of solidarity, integration and the dream of a “borderless Europe”, is facing great pressure from migration flows.

New hopes for peace in Gaza have emerged after the US-backed Board of Peace unveiled a 15-point roadmap in late July 2026 aimed at ending the conflict. The door to peace has opened slightly, but the path ahead remains difficult, with several major obstacles still standing in the way of implementation.

An influx of migrants surging into Spain's territory of Ceuta in North Africa has plunged European Union (EU) member states into a bitter diplomatic row. Spain and Italy have introduced tit-for-tat measures over border controls, while Europe remains deeply divided over efforts to find a solution to the “migration dilemma.”

A recent statement by Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso that Indonesia and Brazil are advancing a proposal to establish a preferential trade agreement (PTA) between Indonesia and Mercosur signals a notable strategic shift in Jakarta’s economic diplomacy.