World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 3472
Mines and Mini‑Submarines: How Iran Could Paralyse the Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s reported inventory of roughly 6,000 naval mines and a fleet of 28 submarines presents a credible capacity to rapidly obstruct the Strait of Hormuz. Even partial mining of the strait would severely disrupt about 20% of global seaborne oil, challenge U.S. and allied mine‑countermeasure capabilities and raise the risk of wider escalation.
Iran Says Defence, Not Diplomacy, Is Its Priority After Strikes Disrupt Talks
Iran’s foreign ministry says its military actions are defensive and that national defence—not resuming talks with the United States—is its present priority after U.S. and Israeli strikes reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The attacks have disrupted mediation-led progress toward technical talks in Vienna and raised the risk of a prolonged cycle of reprisals across the region.
U.S. Says It Has Struck Some 2,000 Iranian Targets as Gulf Fighting Intensifies
U.S. Central Command says American and Israeli forces have conducted a massive strike campaign on Iran, hitting about 2,000 targets and destroying 17 ships while Iran fired hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of drones in response. The scale of the exchange raises verification questions and heightens the risk of wider regional and global economic fallout, especially for shipping and energy markets.
Missile Alerts in Israel After Iran-Directed Strike, Signalling a Dangerous Escalation
Israeli forces detected missile launches from the direction of Iran on March 4, prompting air‑raid alerts and active interceptions. Iran’s IRGC claimed attacks using missiles and drones against multiple Israeli military targets and vowed further strikes, signalling an escalation with wider regional risks.
Satellite Images and Video Show Iran Targeted US Communication and Radar Systems at Multiple Middle East Bases
Satellite imagery and verified video analyzed by the New York Times show Iranian strikes damaged communications and radar systems at at least seven U.S. bases in the Middle East, including Bahrain’s Fifth Fleet headquarters and Al Udeid in Qatar. The targeted hits on radomes and satellite terminals appear intended to degrade U.S. command-and-control and surveillance capabilities, complicating operations and raising the risk of further escalation.
War Letters Returned: How a South Korean Scholar and Chinese Alumni Traced 70-Year-Old Family Mail Home
A South Korean academic and Zhejiang University alumni network have been returning copies of more than 300 Chinese Volunteer Army wartime letters to the families of the dead and missing. The project has reunited several families with decades‑old correspondence, revealing the human cost of the Korean War and underscoring the value of cross‑border archival cooperation and rapid digitisation.
Struck at the Heart: Photos Show Damage near Tehran’s Revolution Square After Airstrike
Photographs from Xinhua show buildings damaged near Tehran’s Revolution Square after an airstrike on March 4, 2026. Strikes that visibly affect the capital intensify the risk of escalation, reshape domestic politics and complicate regional and international diplomacy.
China Casts Itself as a Steady Global Force, Using CPPCC to Project Soft Power Abroad
CPPCC spokesman Liu Jieyi portrayed China as a stabilizing force amid global turmoil, stressing the country’s drive for high-quality development and wider openness. The CPPCC has ramped up people-to-people diplomacy, engaging civil society, think tanks and foreign interlocutors across Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe to project China’s policy model and bolster global influence.
Armed Escort for a Seed: How a Chinese Agronomist's Hybrid Rice Tripled Nigerian Yields
A Chinese agronomist from Guizhou dramatically increased rice yields in a Nigerian community by introducing and adapting hybrid varieties, prompting local authorities to provide an armed escort for his safety. The case highlights both the tangible benefits of China’s agricultural cooperation in Africa and the security and sustainability challenges that accompany such projects.
Hormuz on Edge: How a Narrow Waterway Can Shake the Global Economy
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but vital maritime corridor, carries a sizeable share of seaborne oil and key energy cargos. Any effective closure would trigger immediate price spikes, higher shipping costs and geopolitical confrontation, while prompting longer-term shifts in energy routes and security arrangements.
Canadian Prime Minister Says US‑Israel Strikes on Iran Appear to Violate International Law, Urges De‑Escalation
Canada’s prime minister, referred to in Chinese reports as Kani, said US and Israeli strikes on Iran appear to violate international law and urged de‑escalation. His remarks spotlight legal and diplomatic fractures among Western allies after a reported joint strike that killed Iran’s supreme leader and prompted Tehran’s retaliation.
China Warns Against Unilateral Military Action, Casts Itself as Defender of the UN Order
At an NPC press briefing, spokesman Lou Qinjian criticised unilateral military action and urged respect for sovereignty and equality, framing China as a defender of UN authority. Beijing pledged to work with other states to uphold the UN Charter and push for reforms in global governance amid rising international tensions.