Global · Middle East · Iran politics

Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei Funeral Draws Millions as Succession Unfolds

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader for over three decades, was killed on February 28 in a joint US-Israeli military strike — a seismic event whose full political consequences are still unfolding. Multi-day state funeral ceremonies in Tehran drew millions of mourners, with metro authorities recording more than 7 million passenger trips in a single overnight period. Three of Khamenei's sons appeared publicly beside his coffin, joined by top Iranian officials, foreign dignitaries from nearly 100 nations, and delegations from Hamas and Hezbollah. Iranian poets at the ceremony led crowds in chants of 'Death to Israel' and 'Death to America,' and at least one speaker threatened Trump's life — underscoring the volatile emotional and political atmosphere.

The most scrutinized absence was that of Mojtaba Khamenei, who has succeeded his father as Supreme Leader but did not appear at the public ceremonies. His non-appearance has fueled intense speculation about the consolidation of power and whether the new leadership is seeking to project either deliberate distance or strategic caution during a period of national grief. Iran's ambassador to China, meanwhile, told a Beijing security forum that Mojtaba holds a 'positive' view of China, and hinted that Beijing could receive preferential treatment for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz — signaling early foreign-policy positioning by the new supreme leadership.

The geopolitical stakes are enormous. The US-Israeli strike that killed Khamenei triggered a Middle East war that disrupted global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz for months. Hormuz exports are now gradually recovering, prompting OPEC+ to approve further output increases in August to help normalize supply. US President Trump indicated that nuclear negotiations with Tehran would resume after the funeral period concludes. Iran has also resumed maritime trade with Qatar after a five-month suspension, and the IRGC continues to patrol Hormuz — with reports of ships being diverted — keeping energy markets on edge. The funeral will extend to the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala later in the week, extending the mourning period and the political moment.

Southeast Asia · Philippines politics

Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial Unfolds in the Philippines

The impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has begun, marking one of the most consequential political events in the Philippines in years. The trial follows Duterte's impeachment by the House of Representatives on charges that include alleged misuse of confidential funds and a reported threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family. President Marcos himself has weighed in, saying he would be willing to appear before the impeachment court, stating it would be easier to get to the bottom of everything if one could speak to the accused directly.

The trial is being closely watched across the country as it tests the limits of the once-powerful Marcos-Duterte political alliance that swept both leaders into office in 2022. Sara Duterte is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration maintained close ties with the Marcos family before the two camps fell into a bitter public feud. The case also draws in Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who has signaled defiance against possible legal consequences, drawing comparisons to the stance taken by Senator Ronald dela Rosa before an ICC arrest warrant was issued against him.

The outcome of the trial could reshape Philippine politics significantly. A conviction would remove Duterte from office and bar her from holding public office, eliminating a major rival ahead of the 2028 elections. The case is also shining a spotlight on broader governance questions, including a separate presidential probe into alleged corruption in flood control projects, which Marcos has said continues to uncover new findings the more investigators look.

South Asia · Pakistan conflict

Drone Attack Kills 3 Girls in Pakistan's South Waziristan

Three girls were killed and four other members of the same family were injured in a suspected quadcopter attack in Lower South Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the early hours of Sunday. According to local sources, munitions were dropped by a quadcopter drone on the family, though no group has immediately claimed responsibility for the strike.

The attack underscores the evolving and increasingly lethal threat that cheap commercial drones modified for weapons delivery now pose to civilians in Pakistan's restive tribal districts. The use of quadcopter drones by militant groups — including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan — to carry out targeted strikes has grown sharply in the region over the past two years, challenging security forces who find small drones difficult to detect and intercept.

Lower South Waziristan has long been among the most volatile areas along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, where security operations and militant activity continue to inflict heavy costs on local communities. The killing of three girls from a single family will intensify pressure on Islamabad and provincial authorities to demonstrate concrete progress in protecting civilians in the tribal belt, where residents have repeatedly complained of being caught between military operations and insurgent violence.

East Asia · China conflict

China-Russia Joint Sea Drills Launch as Russian Warships Dock in Qingdao

Russian warships, including the Varyag — a Slava-class guided-missile cruiser designed to counter aircraft carriers — and the Ufa, a diesel-electric attack submarine, docked at Qingdao on Sunday in preparation for the latest iteration of the China-Russia Joint Sea exercises. The PLA Navy's Northern Theater Command is hosting the drills, which form part of a recurring annual exercise series that has grown in scale and complexity since its launch in 2012.

The exercises come at a particularly sensitive moment in the regional security environment. Taiwan Strait tensions remain elevated, the South China Sea continues to be a flashpoint with competing claims from multiple nations, and Japan and South Korea are watching Sino-Russian naval cooperation with growing unease. The Varyag's participation is notable: its primary mission profile — targeting carrier battle groups — is directly relevant to US naval posture in the Western Pacific. The arrival of an attack submarine adds a subsurface dimension that analysts say reflects an increasingly operationally sophisticated bilateral exercise framework.

For East Asian governments and defense planners, the drills underscore how the China-Russia partnership is translating from diplomatic rhetoric into concrete military interoperability. Japan, which shares maritime boundaries with both countries, has repeatedly flagged joint patrols near its territory in recent years. South Korea too monitors the exercises closely given their proximity to the Korean Peninsula. The immediate question is how far the two navies will push the operational scope this year, and whether the exercises will include live-fire components or simulated carrier-strike scenarios that could prompt responses from US and allied forces in the region.

Europe · Moldova politics

Moldova PM Resigns Abruptly amid Corruption Scandals

Moldova's Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu resigned abruptly, a surprise move that came as the country's pro-European government found itself battered by a series of high-profile corruption scandals. The sudden departure injects fresh instability into Moldovan politics at a particularly sensitive moment, as the country has been working to align itself with European Union standards and advance its candidacy for EU membership.

The timing is damaging. Moldova's pro-Western leadership, led by President Maia Sandu and her Party of Action and Solidarity, has staked its political identity on anti-corruption reform and Euro-Atlantic integration — making corruption controversies within its own ranks especially corrosive to public trust. Munteanu's exit suggests the scandals had become untenable for the government to manage while maintaining its reformist image ahead of upcoming political challenges.

What happens next will be critical for Moldova's trajectory. The government must quickly stabilize — appointing credible leadership and demonstrating that accountability mechanisms are functioning — or risk handing opposition forces, some of which have pro-Russian sympathies, a significant political opening. International partners and EU institutions, which have invested heavily in Moldova's reform process, will be watching closely to see whether this rupture deepens or whether the pro-European coalition can contain the damage.