Staff Reporter

This article is by Ambassador Michael C. Gonzales, the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Zambia and Special Representative to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). He has held senior posts throughout Africa and Asia over the course of his career.

Abuja (Diplomat.so) - Dozens of worshippers were abducted after gunmen attacked at least two churches in Nigeria's Kaduna State during Sunday services, according to police and church officials.

Mogadishu (Diplomat.so) - Spain has begun three days of national mourning after a high-speed train collision in the southern province of Córdoba killed at least 40 people and left more than 120 injured, according to government and emergency officials.

New Delhi (Diplomat.so) - India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have taken a significant step forward in their bilateral relationship following the official visit of Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to India.

New Delhi (Diplomat.so) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, upon his arrival in New Delhi on Monday. The visit, held at the invitation of the Prime Minister, highlights the growing strength of India-UAE relations and marks…

Cairo (Diplomat.so) - Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sweilem, called on Sunday for compensation from Ethiopia over the impacts of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), saying the project has significantly reduced water flows to Egypt and Sudan.

Beijing (Reuters + Diplomat.so) - China's population declined for a fourth consecutive year in 2025, underscoring deepening demographic challenges for the world's second-largest economy.

Kyiv (AP + Diplomat.so) - Attacks on energy infrastructure disrupted electricity supplies across parts of Ukraine and Russian-occupied territories over the weekend, leaving hundreds of thousands of civilians without power and underscoring the continued vulnerability of critical systems nearly four years…

Cairo (Diplomat.so) - Egypt has welcomed a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump recognizing the country's role in promoting regional peace and stability. In a statement, the Egyptian President said he appreciated Trump's efforts to strengthen peace at both regional and international levels,…

Addis Ababa (Diplomat.so) - The African Union Commission has congratulated Algeria on the successful launch of the Alsat-3A Earth observation satellite, calling it a significant milestone for Africa's space and geospatial capabilities. The satellite is expected to provide high-resolution imagery…

Washington (Diplomat.so) - Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has sparked controversy after presenting a Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump, describing the gesture as recognition of what she called his role in the Venezuela file, according to a report by the Arabic-language…

Washington (Diplomat.so) - A federal appeals court has overturned a lower court ruling that had ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student and Palestinian activist, from immigration detention, giving the U.S. government a procedural victory while leaving major…

Riyadh (Diplomat.so) - A senior Saudi official revealed that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman led intensive diplomatic efforts to dissuade U.S. President Donald Trump from launching a military strike on Iran.

Washington (Diplomat.so) -Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last shah and a prominent opposition figure, has stated that if the current Iranian government were to fall, his administration would immediately recognize the State of Israel. He added that a government under his leadership would also halt…

Riyadh (Diplomat.so) - Global oil prices fell by more than 4% during Thursday's trading, reversing strong gains recorded in the previous session, as investors reassessed market signals and market sentiment weakened.

Washington (Diplomat.so) - The U.S. State Department will pause immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries beginning Jan. 21 while it reassesses how consular officers apply the "public charge" provision of immigration law, according to an internal department memo and public statements.

Washington (Diplomat.so) - President Donald Trump said he would seek to revoke the citizenship of naturalized immigrants convicted of defrauding Americans, presenting the proposal as part of a broader effort to crack down on crime and protect U.S. citizens.

Washington (Diplomat.so) - The White House has confirmed that Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado will meet President Donald Trump on Thursday.

Tehran (Diplomat.so) - Germany's Lufthansa Group will not resume flights to Iran's capital, Tehran, until the end of January, citing the ongoing political situation, a company spokesperson said on Monday.

Moscow (Diplomat.so) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that intelligence assessments indicate Russia may be preparing another large-scale attack on Ukraine in the coming days.