China’s trade surplus surged to a record $1.2 trillion in 2025 as booming exports to Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe offset a sharp fall in shipments to the United States amid higher tariffs.
Iran’s nationwide protests have turned into the deadliest unrest in decades, with activists reporting more than 2,500 deaths as authorities enforce internet blackouts and mass arrests. The violence has drawn international concern and sharp rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are quietly pressing U.S. President Donald Trump to avoid military action against Iran, warning that regime change could trigger regional instability, oil supply disruptions, and economic fallout for the United States.
China has reaffirmed its claim over the Shaksgam Valley, defending infrastructure construction and the 1963 China-Pakistan boundary agreement, while India has rejected Beijing’s assertions, calling the agreement illegal and reiterating that the region is an integral part of its territory.
Iranians were able to make international mobile phone calls for the first time in days after a nationwide communications blackout imposed during violent protests that activists say killed at least 646 people, offering rare insight into a heavily securitized Tehran as tensions with Washington escalate.
Indonesia and Pakistan have held high-level defence talks in Islamabad over a potential deal involving more than 40 JF-17 fighter jets, surveillance and strike drones, and military training, highlighting Pakistan’s growing role as a regional defence supplier.
Pakistan is in the final phases of sealing a roughly $1.5 billion arms agreement with Sudan, according to multiple sources including a former air force official.
Saudi Arabia has accused the United Arab Emirates of secretly extracting Yemeni separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi from the country and flying him to Abu Dhabi, escalating tensions between the two Gulf allies as their partnership in the Yemen war fractures.
U.S. President Donald Trump has approved a bipartisan sanctions bill that could impose tariffs as high as 500% on countries purchasing Russian oil or uranium. India, China, and Brazil are among the nations under scrutiny.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are discussing converting about $2 billion of Saudi loans into a JF-17 fighter jet deal, a move that would deepen defence ties and ease Pakistan’s financial strain following last year’s mutual defence pact.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the country is recording a surge in fighter jet and aircraft orders following the May 2025 military escalation with India, expressing hope that defence exports could eliminate Pakistan’s dependence on the International Monetary Fund.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally approached him over delayed Apache helicopter deliveries and expressed unhappiness with U.S. tariffs tied to India’s Russian oil imports.
