Organization · 1449 published stories · 316 outlets
The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz is entering a dangerous new phase as US and Iranian forces trade fire, negotiations stutter, and Tehran's oil exports fall to a six-year low. US intelligence assesses Iran can withstand the blockade for months, while diplomatic efforts, including Pakistan-led mediation, struggle to gain traction.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi wrapped up a three-day visit to Canada, the first by a Chinese foreign minister in a decade, and announced the resumption of high-level political and security consultations. The trip, which also included chairing a UN Security Council meeting in New York, is seen as laying groundwork for a potential state visit by President Xi Jinping to the US.
Iran’s Supreme Leader has directed that the country’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent must not be sent abroad, hardening Tehran’s position against a core U.S. demand. Roughly 440 kilograms of the material is believed to be held in Iran, short of weapons-grade levels but closer than civilian needs require. Officials on multiple sides differ sharply over whether and how any transfer could occur.
The Trump administration has escalated pressure on Cuba, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling the island a national security threat due to ties with China and Russia, and President Trump suggesting he may be the one to act. The US has also indicted former Cuban President Raul Castro over a 1996 incident, while Cuba's government condemns the moves as political stunts.
Stephen Colbert hosted his final episode of 'The Late Show' on Thursday, featuring Paul McCartney and a host of celebrities, after CBS cancelled the show. The cancellation followed Colbert's criticism of a $16 million settlement with Donald Trump, which he called a 'big fat bribe'. Trump hailed the show's end on social media, while figures like Joe Biden and David Letterman paid tribute.
Republican leaders in the US House of Representatives canceled a scheduled vote on a war powers resolution that aimed to end US military action in Iran without congressional authorization. The move came as support for the war appeared to be slipping within the party, and the vote was postponed until June.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuba poses a 'national security threat' and that peaceful agreement is unlikely, while President Trump hinted at military intervention. The remarks follow charges against Raúl Castro and new sanctions, amid Cuba's fuel and food crises.
US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast has warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio about potential Chinese malign influence in Argentina's Parana River dredging contract, valued at $10 billion. A competing consortium backed by KKR has also complained to the White House about unfair bidding conditions, heightening the stakes in a tender that has become politically charged.
President Trump has returned to a more assertive posture on Iran's nuclear program, declaring that the US will take control of and destroy enriched uranium, a shift from his earlier suggestion that he might accept leaving some material in place. He also expressed confidence that Iran has pledged to halt enrichment, while reiterating that Washington will never allow Tehran to develop a nuclear weapon.
The US has imposed sanctions on nine individuals, including Lebanese parliament members, an Iranian diplomat, and security officials, for allegedly enabling Hezbollah. A $10 million reward is offered for information disrupting Hezbollah's financial networks. Hezbollah has rejected US-brokered peace talks with Israel.
A federal panel composed of Trump appointees has approved the design for a 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., inspired by the Arc de Triomphe. The project faces a federal lawsuit from veterans and preservationists and still requires approval from another planning commission.
President Donald Trump has publicly opposed any toll system for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting it remains an international waterway. Reports indicate Iran is in talks with Oman to establish such fees, but the U.S. maintains that any such move would complicate diplomatic negotiations.
China has urged the United States to halt what it calls coercive measures against Cuba after Washington indicted former Cuban leader Raul Castro over the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft. The charges have escalated tensions between Washington and Havana, with Beijing voicing support for its ally.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that during informal tea talks, Xi Jinping briefed Vladimir Putin on Donald Trump's visit to China, and the leaders discussed the Iran conflict and Cuba's situation. Peskov also outlined preparations for Putin's upcoming visit to Beijing, focusing on the significant expectations from the Russian side.
Reports describe a tense phone call between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu over Iran, with Netanyahu favoring renewed strikes and Trump leaning toward a diplomatic deal. Israeli sources say Israel feels sidelined in US-Iran talks, while some analysts suggest the public discord is a calculated feint. Trump publicly praised Netanyahu, saying he will 'do whatever I want him to do.'
US President Donald Trump has said Washington is ready for further strikes on Iran if no peace deal is reached, while signalling patience of a few days to secure acceptable terms. Negotiations centre on Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions and the Strait of Hormuz, with US officials stressing military readiness and regional partners joining a defensive shipping mission.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has remained out of public view for nearly three months amid escalating US-Iran tensions. Analysts compare his situation to Osama bin Laden's decade in hiding, while negotiations between Washington and Tehran face delays due to the leader's invisible status.
US President Donald Trump has said he is willing to give diplomacy a few more days to reach an agreement with Iran before resuming military strikes. He cited requests from Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia for postponing hostilities and reiterated he will not offer sanctions relief until a peace deal is signed.
A group of young Americans is asking a federal court to immediately halt the Trump administration's repeal of a key scientific finding underpinning U.S. climate regulations. The lawsuit alleges constitutional violations and irreversible environmental harm, while the administration has declined to comment.
The United States has indicted former Cuban president Raúl Castro on murder and related charges linked to the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft. The move forms part of a broader pressure campaign by the Trump administration against Cuba's government, drawing a sharp rejection from Havana.