LATEST PULSE

Iran has been plunged into a near-total internet and communications blackout as widespread anti-government protests intensified on January 8, marking the 12th day of unrest sparked by severe economic hardships.   The protests began in late December 2025 over soaring inflation, a collapsing rial currency, and shortages of essentials like food and medicine. What started as market strikes in Tehran's Grand Bazaar quickly spread nationwide, ev...

On January 7, US forces seized a Russian-linked oil tanker off the coast of Iceland. The tanker, originally known as Bella 1 and later renamed Marinera, had been running from US patrols for weeks as it tried to slip through Washington’s blockade on Venezuelan oil exports. After the crew resisted a US boarding attempt in December, the vessel vanished into the Atlantic and spent two weeks at sea in what officials describe as a desperate bid t...

Recent reports show that officials in the Philippines are studying whether Beijing can be held accountable for damage to coral reefs and marine life in the West Philippine Sea caused by years of illegal fishing and construction. Philippine officials argue that large scale harm to coral reefs and marine ecosystems constitutes a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), providing ground for legal action against Chin...

Myanmar is holding a national election while the country remains in civil war, with early results showing the military tightening its grip on power. The vote is being organized by the ruling junta and has been widely criticized as neither free nor fair.   The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has dominated early voting and is expected to win the remaining rounds. The junta claims the election marks a return to c...

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that any attack on Iran would be met with a “harsh and discouraging” response. His remarks followed comments by US President Donald Trump, who threatened to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities if Tehran resumes its nuclear program.   The US warning has fueled speculation about possible military action. On January 6, a significant number of US military aircraft were tracked enter...