World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 2243
Escalation at Sea and in Baghdad: Trump Declares Iran 'Crushed' as U.S. Embassy Air Defences Hit and Kharg Island Struck
A sudden escalation between the United States and Iran has produced deadly U.S. casualties, strikes on Iran's critical oil-export terminal at Kharg Island and claims that the U.S. embassy's air-defence system in Baghdad was destroyed. Tehran has warned it will retaliate against any attacks on its energy and economic infrastructure by striking U.S.-linked facilities across the region.
Cross‑Border Drone Strikes Raise Risk of Escalation as Pakistan Declares ‘Red Line’ Crossed
Pakistani authorities say multiple drones launched from Afghan territory wounded four people, prompting President Asif Ali Zardari to condemn the attack as a breach of a “red line.” Islamabad says it conducted airstrikes inside Afghanistan the night before, while Kabul accused Pakistan of carrying out repeated raids, highlighting an escalating cycle of cross‑border tit‑for‑tat operations.
Israel Says It Struck Tehran Aerospace Hub and Air‑Defence Factories — A New Phase in the Shadow War
Israel said it struck an Iranian aerospace research centre in Tehran and multiple air‑defence production sites on the night of March 13, claiming the moves will weaken Iran’s satellite programmes and its ability to rebuild air‑defence systems. Iran had not publicly responded and independent confirmation was not available, making the strikes a potentially significant escalation in the long-running shadow conflict between the two countries.
More than 11 Million Barrels of Iranian Oil Routed to China as US Escort Rhetoric Falters
More than 11.7 million barrels of Iranian crude have been reported as flowing to China through the Strait of Hormuz since late February, even as regional tensions and threats to merchant shipping have risen. The episode highlights China’s growing energy resilience and the practical limits of US military guarantees in a high‑risk maritime environment.
Hormuz Choked: Shipping Collapses as ‘Shadow Fleet’ Fills Void After Strikes on Iran
Transit through the Strait of Hormuz has collapsed in early March amid US–Israeli strikes on Iran, with just 77 vessels passing versus 1,229 last year. Most remaining transits involve ageing, uninsured ships linked to a "shadow fleet," raising energy-market risk and complicating sanctions enforcement and naval protection efforts.
Drones Shot Down Over Islamabad Raise Fears of Cross‑Border Escalation
Pakistani air defences shot down two drones over Islamabad on March 13, one of which dropped an unexploded bomb on a military camp. Debris damaged buildings and flights at Islamabad airport were briefly suspended while investigators work to determine whether the drones were launched from inside Pakistan or across the Afghan border.
When War Comes Suddenly: How a Strike on Tehran Escalated a Regional Crisis
A sudden US–Israeli strike on Tehran has unleashed a perilous new phase of Middle Eastern violence, killing scores of civilians and spreading disruption across aviation, energy and regional security. The assault underscores how technological precision and permissive legal interpretations intensify asymmetrical warfare and raise the prospect of protracted, regionwide instability.
China Coast Guard Photos Underscore Routine Power Projection in the South China Sea
Xinhua published photographs of the China Coast Guard ship Sandu conducting boarding-and-control training during a South China Sea patrol on March 8. The images reflect routine law-enforcement activity that doubles as a low-intensity form of power projection, part of Beijing’s broader effort to consolidate influence over disputed maritime areas.
Trump Declares Iran ‘Crushed’ as US Strikes Kharg Island and Baghdad Embassy Air Defences Hit
President Trump declared Iran "completely defeated" after US strikes on Iranian targets, including the Kharg Island oil terminal, and said negotiations were not acceptable. US officials reported 13 American service members killed and around 200 wounded, while Iran warned it would retaliate by targeting any regional oil and energy infrastructure linked to the United States.
China’s Helicopter Detachment in Abyei Passes UN Equipment Inspection, Underscoring Beijing’s Growing Peacekeeping Credibility
China’s sixth helicopter detachment in Abyei passed a UN first-quarter equipment inspection after meeting standards across aircraft, vehicles, weapons, medical and living facilities. The result highlights Beijing’s growing professionalism in UN peacekeeping and preserves the unit’s ability to perform patrols, medevac and logistics in a challenging operational environment.
Four Hundred Million Barrels and Counting: Strategic Reserves Fail to Douse the Strait of Hormuz Crisis
Attacks on merchant vessels and threats to close the Strait of Hormuz have prompted an unprecedented coordinated release of 400 million barrels of strategic oil stocks, yet markets remain volatile. The incident exposes the limits of stock releases as a remedy and highlights the deeper intertwining of energy security and geopolitics, with implications for long-term market structure and energy transition.
Under Fire in Tehran: Demonstrators Rally for Palestine Despite Airstrikes
Thousands marched in Tehran on 13 March to show solidarity with Palestine despite nearby airstrikes that local media say killed at least two people. The state framed the demonstration as a rejection of American and Israeli pressure while amplifying allegations of civilian casualties to consolidate domestic support and signal resilience regionally.