Iran wants BRICS to condemn US, Washington boosts UN aid, Kenya fuel prices surge and other stories
Global tensions intensified at a recent BRICS+ summit in New Delhi as Iran called on member states to condemn the United States and Israel over alleged violations of international law. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused both nations of “illegal expansionism and warmongering,” while also urging BRICS countries to resist Western dominance. The meeting, involving major economies including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE, was largely shaped by ongoing conflict in the Middle East and instability in global energy markets.
In parallel developments, Iran announced plans to introduce a tiered internet access system amid a nationwide online blackout. The move, led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, will allow restricted connectivity for selected groups under government oversight. However, digital rights advocates have raised concerns that the policy could deepen censorship and widen inequality in access to information.
On the international aid front, the United States pledged an additional $1.8 billion in humanitarian assistance to the United Nations. The Trump administration defended the funding as part of broader reforms aimed at improving transparency in global aid distribution. Despite the increase, US humanitarian spending remains significantly lower than previous years, reflecting ongoing shifts in foreign aid policy.
Across Europe, political instability emerged in Latvia after Prime Minister Evika Siliņa resigned following the collapse of her governing coalition. The crisis followed controversy over suspected drone incursions linked to the Ukraine conflict, raising fresh concerns about airspace security in the Baltic region. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions escalated further as US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open amid rising energy security fears.
In Africa, several economies are feeling the ripple effects of global instability. Kenya raised fuel prices for the second consecutive month as oil supply disruptions pushed up import costs, while Morocco announced an additional $2 billion budget injection to cushion citizens from rising energy prices. At the same time, Sudan faces a worsening humanitarian disaster, with nearly 20 million people at risk of acute hunger due to ongoing civil war, according to a UN-backed report warning of famine conditions in several regions.
source: Business day