World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 2273
U.S. Aides Said to Prefer an Israeli Strike on Iran to Create Political Cover for American Action
U.S. media reported that some senior Trump advisers privately preferred Israel strike Iran first so Iranian retaliation would create public support for a subsequent U.S. response. The White House offered a guarded denial, Israel declined comment, and Iran's senior negotiator stressed ongoing diplomatic engagement even as tensions rise.
Epstein Reverberations Shake Global Establishment: WEF Chief Quits as Pritzker Prize Announcement Is Postponed
The Jeffrey Epstein scandal has spread across global institutions: World Economic Forum president Børge Brende resigned after scrutiny of his ties to Epstein, the Pritzker Architecture Prize announcement has been postponed because of family links, and prominent figures including the Clintons, Lawrence Summers and Bill Gates are facing public questioning or taking responsibility. The episode highlights how associations with Epstein continue to inflict reputational damage and push demands for greater transparency in elite networks.
Washington’s Tariff Pivot: 15% for Some Partners, No New China Levies Ahead of Trump Visit
After a Supreme Court rebuke of its earlier emergency tariff plan, the U.S. administration has implemented a 10% global temporary tariff and signalled it will raise duties to 15% or more for selected countries while publicly sparing China ahead of a planned Trump visit. Officials plan to rely on Section 301 investigations and other statutes, including Section 232 and Section 338, to justify targeted, more permanent levies — a strategy that heightens uncertainty for trading partners and global supply chains.
Beijing Alleges U.S. Seized $15bn in Bitcoin From Cambodian Crime Boss — And Stole It Years Earlier
Chinese cyber authorities allege the United States seized about 127,000 bitcoins tied to Chen Zhi of the Prince Group and that those assets were originally taken by U.S. state‑level hackers in 2020. The allegation frames recent high‑value U.S. crypto forfeitures as part of a broader American practice of using technical and legal tools to assert control over global virtual assets, raising legal, diplomatic and market‑stability questions.
Beijing Tightens the Screws: China Adds Dozens of Japanese Firms to Export-Control Lists to Curb Remilitarisation
Beijing has added 20 Japanese firms to an export-control list and placed 20 more on a watch list, targeting dual-use technologies it says would accelerate Japan's remilitarisation. The measures are presented as narrowly focused yet significant: they threaten to slow critical supply chains, raise compliance costs and deepen strategic contestation between China, Japan and their allies.
Iran and Oman Open Third Round of Indirect Iran‑US Talks in Geneva
Iran and Oman met in Geneva to inaugurate a third round of indirect Iran‑US talks, with Tehran outlining demands on nuclear constraints and sanctions relief and Oman offering mediation support. The meeting signals diplomatic intent but substantial obstacles remain, including mutual mistrust, sequencing of concessions, and regional opposition.
Senior U.S. Aides Said to Have Urged Israel to Strike Iran First to Create a Pretext for American Action
A Politico exclusive reported that senior advisers to President Trump privately preferred Israel to strike Iran first, hoping Iranian retaliation would create public support in the U.S. for follow-on American military action. The White House declined to confirm the claim, while the disclosure underscores how domestic political calculations are shaping high-stakes diplomacy and raising the risk of unintended escalation.
At 6,000 Metres: China’s Border Troops Patrol the Roof of the World
Chinese border troops based on the northern Himalayan slopes conduct regular 6,000‑metre patrols that combine extreme environmental hardship with improvised logistics and seasoned local knowledge. The missions illustrate Beijing’s emphasis on high‑altitude readiness, the continuing importance of human patrolling in difficult terrain, and the domestic messaging around sacrifice and sovereignty.
‘Welcome to China’: SMS, Shipyards and a New Phase of South China Sea Control
A recent visit by Philippine lawmakers to Thitu/ Zhongye Island was met with an SMS reading “Welcome to China” and a ring of Chinese coast guard, naval and fishing vessels. The episode highlights Beijing’s growing reliance on continuous maritime presence, shore-based communications infrastructure and grey-zone tactics to consolidate control in the South China Sea, posing a strategic challenge for Manila and its partners.
A Carrier Grounded by Toilets and Tension: What the Ford’s Troubles Reveal About U.S. Military Strain
A technical failure aboard a Ford-class aircraft carrier — compounded by signs of possible sabotage and personnel strain — has exposed broader problems in U.S. carrier readiness and rotation. These operational pressures complicate Washington’s options in the Middle East and highlight fraying allied cooperation amid talk of military action against Iran.
U.S. Demands ‘No Sunset’ on Iran’s Nuclear Limits as Geneva Talks Begin; Military Posturing and Carrier Faults Cast Shadow
On the opening day of third-round U.S.–Iran talks in Geneva, U.S. negotiators demanded that any future nuclear agreement contain no sunset clauses, seeking indefinite restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities. The demand comes amid intensified U.S. military deployments, Iranian naval exercises and fresh sanctions — even as operational faults aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford undercut Washington’s coercive signalling.
Gunfire in Cuban Waters After Florida‑Registered Speedboat Intrudes; U.S. Denies Government Involvement
Cuban border guards engaged and shot a Florida‑registered speedboat that entered Cuban territorial waters near Villa Clara on Feb. 25, killing four and wounding six, according to Havana. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuba has notified Washington, that the U.S. is seeking to confirm if any involved were U.S. citizens, and that no U.S. government personnel took part.