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As Israel continues to grapple with the loss of its aura of inviolability following last year's Hamas attack, Iran is struggling to maintain influence as its proxies in Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen suffer heavy losses. Both countries know that an all-out war would be catastrophic, yet neither side can afford to back down entirely.

By redefining and expanding the Asia-Pacific’s geopolitical dimensions, Shinzo Abe, the late Japanese prime minister, offered a geostrategic model that is now being realised across South Asia and the Middle East. With India at the centre of this emerging West Asian ecosystem, Abe's vision has begun to take shape.

It is no coincidence that both hunger and violent conflict are rising at an alarming rate. Owing to the increasingly interconnected and homogenised nature of food systems, the disruptive effects of war, climate change and other man-made problems are fuelling each other in a dangerous self-perpetuating cycle.

For decades, diplomats and international policymakers have treated technology as a ‘sectoral’ matter best left to energy, finance or defence ministries. But the sudden arrival of ground-breaking AI tools has created an urgent need for a more holistic and global approach to tech governance.

Contrary to what many Western policymakers and commentators once hoped, recent analyses have added to the evidence that trade does not always foster democracy or liberalise regimes. Instead, China’s greater integration with the developing world appears to be doing precisely the opposite.

The US and China are both vying for influence among Global South countries, whose support will be crucial in shaping the future of the international order. Against this backdrop, it is increasingly important to understand Beijing’s views of this unfolding contest.

It is hard to see anything good coming from the current spasm of violence between Israel and Hamas. But this tragedy, which has forced both Israelis and Palestinians to stare into the abyss, might prove to be a turning point that will clear the path for a lasting peace.

The availability of energy – from jet fuel to batteries – is key for military operations. How will this be achieved in the era of net-zero fuel?

The venue of this year’s G7 summit is a powerful symbol. With nuclear tensions rising, the summit’s participants must recognize the catastrophic consequences of such weapons and take four steps to strengthen the global norm against their use.

The new security agreement between the US, South Korea and Japan reflects the shifting sands of regional geopolitics, especially heightened concerns about North Korea and China. Achieving its full potential, however, will require an openness to dialogue with both countries and cooperation on domestic challenges.

Given the outsize impact of US–China competition on East Asian countries, even slightly improved bilateral ties would bode well in the near term. Nonetheless, new risks and political arrangements ensure that the region will continue to be characterised by great-power rivalry and many flashpoints.

Recent Chinese actions – including a phone call between Xi Jinping and Volodymyr Zelensky – suggest that Beijing is pursuing a diplomatic recalibration in an attempt to rebuild relations with Europe, while distancing itself from Russia.

Despite its quest to shore-up political support for Taiwan, the US has neglected the island's economic security.

Growing concerns over Beijing’s coercive power in the critical mineral supply chain have led the US and other Western countries to explore new strategies for diversifying away from China. Japan provides a useful case study in this regard.

There is good reason to think that, even if Russia and Ukraine reached a peace deal, Vladimir Putin would readily abandon it and re-invade Ukraine at the first opportunity. That is why any agreement must include a guarantee from NATO to protect Ukraine’s independence in the long term.

While Russian leaders have cited NATO enlargement as a justification for invading Ukraine, ordinary Russians have much to gain from Ukrainian membership. Ukraine’s accession would force the Kremlin to shed its addiction to military spending, rejoin the global economy, and dissuade future autocrats from pursuing a revanchist agenda.

If opposition candidate Masoud Pezeshkian wins and succeeds President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash last month, US policymakers must respond constructively. Such a scenario could not only reduce the risk of a wider war in the Middle East, but also prepare the way for a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine.

After two wars and over 30 years of military hostility, an end to the confrontation between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh appears within reach, but a return to violence remains a real possibility unless the final obstacles can be overcome.

With the exception of the extreme right, no one in Israel wants to be stuck in Gaza, responsible for 2.4 million Palestinians, and facing a likely insurgency. Israel can end this war soon and save those hostages who are still alive, having demilitarised Gaza and set the stage for an alternative to Hamas.

The UK government is exploring new rules on the use of AI in weapons systems, including autonomous weapons systems. In doing so, it has an opportunity to follow the US’s lead, build a shared framework for allies and show moral leadership.