The Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2026 confirmed famine in parts of the Gaza Strip and Sudan in 2025, marking the first dual famine confirmation since formal reporting began. The report, compiled by 18 humanitarian and development partners, found that 22.9 percent of populations across 47 crisis-affected countries—about 266 million people—faced acute food insecurity last year. Although slightly lower than 2024’s total, the decline reflected fewer countries analyzed rather than an improvement in conditions.

The Gaza Strip was the worst affected, with 640,700 people—32 percent of its population—facing famine conditions, followed by Sudan with 637,200 people. Four other countries, including South Sudan, Yemen, Haiti, and Mali, recorded smaller groups in catastrophic food shortages. Conflict and violence were the leading causes of hunger in 19 countries, affecting 147.4 million people, while weather extremes and economic shocks drove crises in others. Humanitarian and development funding for food crises dropped to levels last seen in 2016–2017.

The report warned that without sustained action to address structural drivers of hunger, fragile countries will continue to bear a disproportionate burden into 2026, with ongoing risks from conflict and market disruptions.

The ongoing war between Iran and the Israel-United States alliance has severely disrupted the global energy market. Within just 50 days of conflict, the world has lost oil production worth about 50 billion dollars. Analysts estimate that the financial loss equals the entire economy of countries like Estonia or Latvia.

Following the outbreak of the crisis, fuel prices in the United States have risen above four dollars per gallon, while Europe faces energy rationing in its industries. Emerging economies are also suffering from acute supply shortages. According to energy analysts and Reuters data, since the war began at the end of February, around 500 million barrels of crude oil and condensate have been removed from the market, marking one of the largest supply shocks in modern history.

Energy expert Johannes Robl noted that with oil prices hovering near 100 dollars per barrel, the conflict has triggered massive revenue losses and intensified global inflation and transport costs. Experts warn that even if the war ends soon, the energy market may take months or even years to recover.

Tensions between Beijing and Washington have escalated after Donald Trump claimed that a Chinese ‘gift’ was found on an Iranian cargo ship seized by the United States. On Friday, China’s Foreign Ministry rejected the allegation, stating it had no factual basis. The ministry emphasized that China is a responsible state and that normal trade flows between countries should not be disrupted. Earlier in the week, Beijing had described similar claims as ‘malicious lies.’

China has consistently called for a ceasefire and dialogue since the start of the war, portraying itself as a neutral party despite being Iran’s largest trading partner and top buyer of Iranian oil. Beijing maintains that it does not supply weapons to Iran.

Trump’s new accusation has cast uncertainty over his planned mid-May visit to China, which was intended to stabilize bilateral relations after being postponed once due to the war. On the same day, China’s Commerce Ministry imposed export controls on seven European firms accused of supplying arms to Taiwan, adding another layer of strain to its international relations.

OpenAI has introduced a new specialized artificial intelligence model named GPT-5.4-Cyber to enhance cybersecurity and protect digital infrastructure. Announced on April 24, 2026, the model is designed to help security experts quickly identify and fix vulnerabilities in systems, making data and user protection more efficient. The initiative underscores OpenAI’s growing focus on cyber defense amid rising digital threats.

Built on the company’s flagship GPT-5.4 model, GPT-5.4-Cyber aims to support real-time detection and prevention of cyberattacks. To prevent misuse, OpenAI has expanded its Trusted Access for Cyber (TAC) program, allowing thousands of authorized security professionals and hundreds of teams to use the advanced AI tool. The company described this as an example of democratizing access to cutting-edge technology.

OpenAI acknowledged that while AI can strengthen defenses, it can also be exploited by hackers. The firm has therefore added strict safeguards to ensure vulnerabilities are patched before criminals can exploit them. The launch follows Anthropic’s release of its Mythos model and builds on OpenAI’s earlier success with its Codex Security tool, which has resolved over 3,000 major security flaws.

International oil prices rose sharply as shipping disruptions in the Hormuz Strait intensified. The benchmark Brent crude price exceeded $106 per barrel early Friday, reaching $106.80 by 1 a.m. GMT, about 5 percent higher than Wednesday’s closing price. The closure of the strait and vessel seizures by the United States and Iran have complicated the situation.

On Wednesday, oil prices had crossed the $100 mark for the first time in two weeks. The Hormuz Strait, a key global energy route, typically handles about one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas shipments. The current halt in maritime traffic has raised concerns about supply stability and market volatility.

Meanwhile, U.S. stock markets declined overnight, with the S&P 500 index down 0.41 percent and the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite falling 0.89 percent, reflecting broader investor unease linked to the energy market turmoil.

Pope Leo XIV has called on the United States and Iran to continue peace talks aimed at ending the ongoing war. Speaking on his return flight to Rome after visiting four African countries, the Catholic leader said the conflict has caused immense suffering among Iran’s civilian population. He urged all parties to make every effort to establish peace, eliminate the threat of war, and uphold international law.

The appeal came shortly after a widely discussed dispute between Pope Leo and U.S. President Donald Trump. The Pope had been vocal in criticizing the U.S.-Israel military operations in Iran, prompting Trump to respond with a lengthy and aggressive social media post. In his remarks, the Pope emphasized that as a clergyman, he cannot support war and called on people to reject hatred and division in favor of a culture of peace.

The comments reflect the Vatican’s continued concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East and its advocacy for dialogue as the path to stability.

The ongoing war centered on Iran is severely disrupting global energy and fertilizer supplies, potentially pushing more than 30 million people into poverty in the coming months, according to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) chief Alexander De Croo. In an interview with Reuters, he said that even if the conflict ended immediately, its economic and humanitarian impacts had already begun, warning that food insecurity would soon reach critical levels.

De Croo noted that the crisis has already caused a loss of about 0.5 to 0.8 percent of global GDP, erasing development progress that took decades to achieve. He emphasized that the war’s economic shock is spreading rapidly across vulnerable economies, threatening to reverse hard-won gains in poverty reduction.

Meanwhile, reports from France 24 and PassBlue said UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s proposal to secure fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz has yet to be implemented. Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, stated that Iran would allow ship passage if formally requested by the UN, while the US mission to the UN has not yet responded.

International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol has warned that the ongoing Iran war and continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz are severely disrupting global energy flows. In an interview with Reuters, Birol said the world is facing the biggest energy security threat in history as a result of these developments.

Birol explained that the conflict has already removed 13 million barrels of oil per day from the market and caused major disruptions in the supply of key commodities. Before the war, about 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products passed through the Strait of Hormuz daily. He described the current situation as a “dual blockade,” with neither Iran nor the United States allowing ships to enter or leave the strait.

He also warned of growing risks to Europe’s jet fuel supply, noting that the region previously relied on Middle Eastern refineries for about 75 percent of its jet fuel, which has now dropped to almost zero. Europe is seeking alternative supplies from the United States and Nigeria.

Microsoft announced that Copilot’s agentic capabilities are now generally available across Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The company stated that these AI-powered tools can be accessed on both desktop and mobile devices, expanding their usability for a wide range of users.

According to Microsoft, the release marks an extension of Copilot’s integration within its core Office applications. The announcement emphasizes the availability of these features across platforms, highlighting the goal of providing consistent AI assistance wherever users work.

The update reflects Microsoft’s continued effort to embed AI functionality into everyday productivity tools, aiming to enhance user experience and efficiency across devices.

OpenAI has introduced workspace agents in ChatGPT, enabling teams to create shared AI agents that manage complex and long-running workflows within organizational permissions. These agents, powered by Codex, can perform tasks such as report generation, coding, and message responses. They operate in the cloud, allowing continuous work even when users are offline, and can be accessed through ChatGPT or Slack. The feature is available in research preview for ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, Edu, and Teachers plans.

Workspace agents are designed to handle collaborative workflows that require shared context and approvals across teams. They can gather information from various systems, follow internal processes, and maintain progress across tools. OpenAI teams have built examples such as software review, product feedback routing, weekly metrics reporting, lead outreach, and third-party risk management agents. Admins retain control over permissions, data access, and agent actions, with analytics and compliance tools ensuring governance and visibility.

Workspace agents are free until May 6, 2026, after which credit-based pricing will apply. OpenAI plans to expand functionality with new triggers, dashboards, and integrations to further streamline team productivity.

UK Defence Minister John Healey and French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin have expressed optimism about significant progress toward reopening the Hormuz Strait. The two ministers made the remarks on Thursday after a meeting with their countries’ military planners. In a joint statement released by the UK Ministry of Defence, they emphasized the need for concrete planning, open dialogue, and firm commitment among allies and partners to turn diplomatic efforts into reality.

The statement also expressed gratitude to countries that have already shown willingness to contribute to the process and voiced confidence that real progress could be achieved in reopening the strait. The Hormuz Strait, one of the world’s most vital maritime routes, has been paralyzed due to U.S. blockades and rising tensions. Against this backdrop, the joint initiative by the UK and France has drawn notable international attention.

The report adds that while former U.S. President Donald Trump previously claimed full American control over the strait, the two European nations are pursuing diplomatic and military discussions to resolve the current deadlock.

A new analysis by real estate consultancy Knight Frank projects that the number of billionaires worldwide could rise to nearly 4,000 within the next five years. The firm’s report indicates that the current global billionaire population stands at 3,110 and is expected to grow by 25 percent to 3,915 by 2031. The study also found a sharp increase in multimillionaires, with individuals holding assets worth at least 30 million dollars rising from 162,191 in 2021 to 713,626 globally.

Knight Frank’s head of research, Liam Bailey, attributed the rapid wealth expansion to profits from the technology sector, particularly artificial intelligence. He noted that business scalability has reached record levels, enabling faster accumulation of wealth through technology and AI. The report highlights that Saudi Arabia is expected to see the fastest growth in billionaires, from 23 in 2026 to 65 by 2031, while Poland and Sweden will also experience significant increases.

The findings come amid widening global inequality. The World Inequality Report shows that 0.001 percent of the world’s population controls more than three times the total wealth of the poorest groups, while Oxfam reported a record number of new billionaires last year.

The United States military has detained at least three Iranian-flagged tankers in Asian waters, redirecting them from positions near India, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. The information was reported by Reuters on Wednesday, citing maritime and security sources. The seizures come as Washington continues to enforce sanctions on Iran’s maritime trade.

The report notes that Iran has fired on vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. Despite a declared ceasefire nearly two months after the outbreak of conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, there are no visible signs of renewed peace talks. The closure of the strait has disrupted one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies, triggering a worldwide energy crisis.

In recent days, US forces have also seized an Iranian cargo ship and an oil tanker, while Iran claimed to have captured three vessels attempting to leave the Persian Gulf. The US Central Command has not yet commented on the latest tanker detentions.

SpaceX has confirmed an agreement giving it the option to acquire the automated programming platform Cursor for $60 billion or pay a $10 billion fee instead. The arrangement, first reported by The New York Times and later confirmed by SpaceX on social media, comes as the company prepares for a potential IPO. SpaceX said it is working closely with Cursor to develop advanced AI systems for coding and knowledge work, combining Cursor’s software tools with SpaceX’s large-scale Colossus training supercomputer.

The deal could strengthen Elon Musk’s xAI ecosystem, which includes SpaceX, xAI, and X, by enhancing its competitiveness against AI leaders such as Anthropic. Reports cited in the source noted that Google and OpenAI are also intensifying their efforts in AI coding tools, with Google forming a “strike team” and OpenAI refocusing on its ChatGPT and Codex projects.

CNBC and Bloomberg have reported that Musk values his combined X companies at $1.25 trillion, while Cursor was recently raising $2 billion at a $50 billion valuation, underscoring the scale of the potential acquisition.

Amnesty International has accused the leaders of Israel, Russia, and the United States of driving a global collapse of human rights. In its annual human rights report released on Tuesday, the organization described Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump as 'greedy predators' seeking economic and political dominance. Secretary General Agnès Callamard wrote that the world has entered an era where primitive violence is thriving and the international order built after World War II is weakening.

Speaking at a press conference in London, Callamard said most governments are appeasing these 'predators' rather than confronting them, and some even imitate their behavior. The report claims that authoritarianism has intensified worldwide, with growing attacks on basic civil liberties across most countries. It documents abuses from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and highlights the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as the Iran-Israel conflict, as examples of international law violations.

Amnesty also criticized the United Kingdom for its crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism and warned that normalization of civilian killings amid ongoing wars poses a grave threat to the global human rights system.