World News
Latest world news and updates
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France Urges UN Security Council Emergency Meeting as Lebanon Reels from Intense Israeli Strikes
France has requested an emergency UN Security Council session as Israel's intense strikes on Lebanon have killed nearly 400 people and forced roughly 517,000 to register as displaced. Paris is sending emergency aid and pressing both Beirut and Jerusalem to prevent further escalation while urging steps toward disarming Hezbollah. The move elevates international diplomatic attention on a conflict with real risks of broader regional spillover and a fast-growing humanitarian crisis.
Inside the Blast Radius: A Chinese Reporting Team’s Close Call in Tehran’s Latest Escalation
A China Media Group reporting team in Tehran experienced a blast roughly 500 metres from their office during a new wave of strikes, rapidly converting shock into verified live reporting. Their account underscores both the personal toll on journalists and the strategic role of frontline, cross-checked reporting amid a flood of misinformation.
Beirut Urges Ceasefire as Israeli Strikes and Hezbollah Rocket Fire Threaten Wider War
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said his government will spare no effort to secure a ceasefire as Israel renews airstrikes and Hezbollah launches rockets, but diplomatic assurances have repeatedly failed to hold. The fighting has displaced roughly 517,000 people and highlights Lebanon’s limited ability to prevent escalation amid regional rivalries involving Israel, Iran and other powers.
Global Streets Fill With Anger as Protests Erupt Over US–Israeli Strikes on Iran
Large anti-war demonstrations erupted on March 7 across more than 50 US cities and in London, Toronto and Johannesburg in response to US and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. The protests signal growing international public opposition that could raise political costs for further military action and complicate diplomatic and strategic calculations.
Iran’s Experts Assembly Names Mujtaba Khamenei Supreme Leader After Deadly US–Israel Strike
Iran’s Assembly of Experts has elected Mujtaba Khamenei, son of Ali Khamenei, as the country’s third Supreme Leader following a February 28 US–Israeli airstrike that Iranian authorities say killed the sitting leader. Mujtaba’s IRGC background and seminary training point to a likely continuity of hardline, security-first policies, but the rapid transition raises questions about legitimacy, elite cohesion and regional escalation risks.
China Urges Ceasefire as Saudi Foreign Minister Appeals for Beijing’s Mediation
China’s Middle East envoy met Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal in Riyadh as both sides voiced concern over a widening regional conflict. Saudi Arabia praised China’s role and urged Beijing to push for a ceasefire, while China reiterated calls for an immediate halt to hostilities and offered to play a constructive mediating role.
Iran’s New Supreme Leader Is Portrayed as the ‘Shadow Architect’ of a Militarised Nuclear‑Missile Complex
Mojtaba Khamenei’s elevation to supreme leader coincides with a profile that depicts him as the central architect of Iran’s integrated nuclear and missile programme. The portrayal suggests Tehran has institutionalised a strategy of maintaining a rapid path to a nuclear weapon while embedding that capability within hardened, precision missile forces — a shift that will reshape regional deterrence and complicate diplomatic efforts.
U.S. Military Death Toll Rises as Officials Warn of Further Losses After Strikes on Iran
U.S. Central Command has confirmed two more service member deaths linked to strikes on Iranian targets, bringing the official toll to eight amid warnings of further casualties. Reports of additional wounded and evidence Iran was better prepared than expected raise strategic and political questions about the length and consequences of the campaign.
‘Black Monday’ in Asia as Iran’s Hardline Turn Sparks Oil Surge and Market Rout
Asian stocks tumbled sharply and global oil prices spiked after Iran’s clerical body selected Mujtaba Khamenei as supreme leader and Tehran vowed further strikes. The immediate market reaction—circuit breakers in Korea, steep falls in Japan and Hong Kong, and a near‑30% jump in WTI—reflects fears that the conflict will prolong disruption to the Strait of Hormuz and global oil supplies.
Hormuz Shutdown Sparks Global Oil Shock — $100 a Barrel May Be Just the Start
Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has cut roughly 90% of daily oil flows, lifting Brent and WTI above $90 and prompting forecasts that oil could top $100 within days. The disruption — amplified by attacks on energy infrastructure, insurability breakdowns and limited pipeline rerouting — risks a sustained global supply shock with sharp economic fallout, even as China and other importers draw on strategic reserves and contingency plans.
Oil Soars as Iran Names Mojtaba Khamenei Supreme Leader amid Regional Supply Shock
A surge in oil prices reflects widespread disruptions to Gulf crude exports and storage constraints following escalating Middle East hostilities. Chinese state media say Iran’s Assembly of Experts has chosen Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader, a development that could deepen geopolitical risk and prolong market volatility.
At Two Sessions, Beijing Casts Itself as a Stabiliser — and a Provider of ‘Chinese Solutions’
At its Two Sessions diplomatic press conference, Beijing presented itself as a confident stabiliser and a source of practical development solutions for the Global South. Officials rejected unilateral force and promoted China’s model and initiatives ahead of a busy 2026 diplomatic calendar, while signalling the desire for managed competition with other great powers.