Shifting Geopolitics, China, and Iranactive

At least 10 weight-loss injections and oral pills are lining up for regulatory approval in China, in a market projected to reach about US$14 billion by 2030. Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster semaglutide, which generated about US$35 billion in global revenue last year, lost patent protection in China on March 20, clearing the way for rivals. The rush comes as China’s drug regulator accelerates approvals of innovative therapies, helped by a surge in out-licensing deals with global pharmaceutical...

China’s No. 3 official Zhao Leji called for the political settlement of international disputes, positioning Beijing as a stabilizing force as the continuing conflict in Iran threatens to upend the global economy.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated on Wednesday that he is engaged in peace talks with Iran and asserted that Tehran's denials are a response to the fear of its own negotiators regarding potential repercussions, amidst a war that is entering its fourth week. During a dinner with Republican members of Congress, the President maintained that there are ongoing contacts despite the Iranian government's public denials. "They are negotiating, by the way, and they really want to reach an agreement. But they are afraid to say it, because they fear being killed by their own people," he said. He then added: "They are also afraid that we will kill them." Trump's statements came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that his country "has no intention of negotiating." This statement directly contradicts the position of the White House, which insists that active conversations are taking place. Trump also reiterated his assessment of the military situation, stating that Iran is being "decimated" in the conflict. His remarks come as Tehran continues to exert pressure on the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial point for global energy transit through which nearly a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas flows. Earlier, the White House reinforced the warning of a potential military escalation. The Presidential Spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt…

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said China will be crucial in anchoring Asia’s growth prospects at a time when the global economy is strained by conflict and trade fragmentation.

President Trump said Wednesday at the National Republican Congressional Committee's (NRCC) annual fundraising dinner that he avoids using the word "war" to describe the conflict in Iran. "I won't use the word 'war' because they say if you use the word 'war,' that's maybe not a good thing to do," Trump told the crowd of…

Iran-US war: Live updates. At least 1,000 troops from the US's 82nd Airborne Division are reportedly being deployed to the Middle East in the coming days amid the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States. The Pentagon is also sending approximately 5,000 additional Marines trained in amphibious assaults.

Conservative television personality Sean Hannity hosted former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was pardoned by President Trump last year, on his podcast set to be released Thursday. During the “Hang Out with Sean Hannity” podcast episode, Hannity questioned Blagojevich, a former Democrat who has since backed Trump, over how he handled former President Obama’s senate…

Deterring an attack on the island has been a bedrock American policy for 75 years. Xi Jinping sees a chance to change that.

The president has said that he wants to wrap up the conflict in the coming weeks.

Donald Trump said that Iran is negotiating with the US but is "afraid to say it."

President Donald Trump insisted that Republicans have momentum in the upcoming midterm elections, even as the party faces a challenging electoral environment and pressure from the White House regarding legislative priorities.

US president says he will host Chinese leader in a reciprocal visit later this year Donald Trump will meet Xi Jinping in May during the US president’s first visit to China in eight years, a closely watched trip that had been postponed due to the Iran war. Trump was initially slated to travel next week, but will now visit Beijing on 14 and 15 May, he wrote in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday. Trump said he would host the Chinese leader in a reciprocal visit in Washington later this year. Continue reading...

The United States and the Islamic Republic are far apart, and there are also demands from Israel and the Gulf states. The regional balance of power is at stake.

In two different cases on Wednesday, United States authorities indicted Chinese nationals on charges ranging from conspiring to smuggle advanced AI chips to China to drug trafficking and money laundering. The cases came on the same day US President Donald Trump announced new mid-May dates for his highly anticipated summit with China. The developments come as the two countries continue to compete over global leadership in artificial intelligence, and as Washington continues to accuse Beijing of...

Lloyd Blankfein, the former chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, remains wary of systemic "kindling" despite a banking sector that is currently better capitalized than in previous crises. In an interview with Bloomberg's Francine Lacqua, he weighs the "balancing act" of Donald Trump’s policy outcomes against the unpredictability of the global energy supply. Blankfein warns that the long absence of a market reckoning has allowed private equity inventory to accumulate like tinder. (Source: Bloomberg)

President Trump on Wednesday evening will address House Republicans, supporters and donors at the annual National Republican Congressional Committee fundraising dinner. The event, held at Union Station in Washington, will give Trump another chance to sell his agenda ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. It also comes as GOP lawmakers face calls to find common…

Latest strike comes as part of US Southern Command’s efforts to apply ‘total systemic friction on the cartels’ The US has launched another strike on a vessel in the Caribbean, killing four people, the US Southern Command said Wednesday. The command which oversees combatant operations in Latin America and the Caribbean announced on X that it had conducted a “lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations”. Continue reading...

US President Donald Trump will not attend a major annual gathering of American conservatives for the first time in a decade, a White House official told Agence France-Presse on Wednesday. The Republican billionaire has been a marquee fixture at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) since 2016, but will miss this year’s edition due to a busy schedule amid the “ongoing Iran conflict”, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The conference this year is being held from...

The Russian diplomat noted that the military operation against Iran is not supported by people either in the United States or in the United Kingdom

Regarding the situation in Iran, American media reported that President Trump had sent a 15-point plan to the Iranian side aimed at ending the conflict. On the other hand, Iranian state media reported that Iran would decide whether to end the conflict and presented five conditions for doing so. The prospects for a breakthrough in the situation remain uncertain.

American airports have become a symbol of government dysfunction, and the spring travel season is just around the corner.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is one of Iran's most influential politicians and has close ties to the military. But he is also often associated with corruption as well as his role in the suppression of protests.

Like many Asian-Americans, US-born Tiffany Chin has faced her share of slights, including being treated as “other” or “foreign” and judged at times by her race rather than her accomplishments. Growing up outside Chicago, she recalls that in primary school her musical talents were attributed to her “Chinese genes”, and she was told, “you’re probably so good at maths because you’re Asian”. And as an adult on a family trip to Florida, people gave her nasty looks when she went jogging, wondering...

Iran has released a video claiming to show the downing of a US F-18 fighter jet.

Explosions and smoke were seen in Israel after suspected Iranian strikes.

A defeat for the mullahs would yield benefits that would ripple across the globe.

The U. S. has toppled troublesome regimes from Serbia to Syria. Cuba, Iran and North Korea remain.

Donald Trump announced this Wednesday that he will travel to Beijing on May 14th and 15th to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a summit that the Iran conflict had forced to be postponed for nearly seven weeks. The White House also confirmed that Xi will make a reciprocal visit to Washington at a date yet to be determined. This will be the sixth meeting between the two leaders during Trump's presidency, and the first time an American president has held a meeting on Chinese soil since 2017. Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, where he described the meeting as "a momentous event" and added that he and the First Lady, Melania Trump, will host the Chinese leader and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the White House later this year. Presidential spokesperson Karoline Leavitt offered a hint about the possible resolution of the Iranian conflict. When asked if the rescheduling implied that the conflict could soon come to an end, she responded: "We have always estimated between four and six weeks. So you can do the math." The summit was originally scheduled for March 31st to April 2nd, but Trump postponed it to remain in Washington to oversee the military operations that the United States and Israel initiated against Iran on February 28th. The Iranian conflict also complicated the diplomatic preparations: Trump publicly warned that he might postpone the trip again if China did not contribute to resolving the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, whose...

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt says Chinese President Xi Jinping will also visit US at a later date.

The head of the Russian delegation at the disarmament talks in Vienna Yulia Zhdanova noted that the Kiev regime is only needed to buy time

Conservatives are gathering in Grapevine, Texas, this week for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), but several prominent figures are expected to skip the event, which has long served as a gauge of the Republican Party's sentiment. President Trump is reportedly set to miss the gathering for the first time in a decade, while the Vice President…

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine's diplomatic team is actively working on cooperation with countries in the Middle East and the Gulf, which are interested in Ukraine's experience in defending against modern drones.

Iran's Press TV released an alleged video proof of the IRGC's claim.

Iran rejects Trump's plan. Negotiations are being planned for the weekend. This week, a technical meeting will be held between the UK, France, and allies regarding a mission to the Strait of Hormuz.

Representative Marlin Stutzman, an Indiana Republican, pushed back on the idea that the SAVE act - a voter ID measure - and DHS funding should be linked. The congressman said that combining the two into one bill is confusing and that lawmakers have to be 'straight up with the American people' that the issues can be handled separately. Stutzman also talked about the ongoing war in Iran and its impact on his constituents. He said that despite the rise in gasoline prices because of the war with Iran, most people in the US understand the need to deal with the threat posed by Iran. (Source: Bloomberg)

According to the military, the aircraft crashed into the Indian Ocean

On May 25th, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced at a press conference that President Trump will visit Beijing, China, on May 14th and 15th to meet with President Xi Jinping. President Trump had originally planned to visit China starting on May 31st, but the trip was postponed to allow him to respond to military operations in Iran. This will be President Trump's first visit to China since 2017, during his first term in office.

No information has been provided regarding the location or the time of the incident

WASHINGTON, March 25 (Yonhap) -- The White House said Wednesday that a long-awai...

A brigadier general and speaker of Parliament, Mr. Ghalibaf, one of the leaders of Iran’s war effort, has emerged as a potential contact point in any peace talks.

President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will hold their highly anticipated summit in Beijing on May 14-15, following a delay that brought fresh uncertainty to relations between the world’s largest economies.

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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S. C.), who has encouraged President Trump to invade Kharg Island as part of the Iran war, on Wednesday said he would prefer a negotiated end to the conflict, arguing that war “literally is hell.” “Not only do I support @POTUS and his team’s efforts to negotiate with Iran to find a solution…

Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks (N. Y.) moved Wednesday to subpoena Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U. S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner before the House Foreign Affairs Committee regarding the war in Iran. Meeks, the ranking member on the panel, introduced motions to subpoena Rubio, Witkoff and Kushner after his opening statement at a hearing…

The New York Times is seeking a new order to force the Pentagon to lift new media restrictions following a federal court ruling last week that found similar rules unconstitutional. A motion filed Tuesday on behalf of the outlet lambastes the Pentagon’s latest rules as “contemptuously defying” the court’s ruling, which struck down a requirement that journalists…

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico (D) responded with "love" after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's pastor suggested the Democrat should be "crucified." "Jesus loves. Christian Nationalism kills," Talarico wrote Tuesday in a post on social platform X. "You may pray for my death, Pastor, but I still love you," he continued. "I love you more than…

A projectile landed inside the Bushehr nuclear power plant's compound late Tuesday but caused no damage, Iran's atomic energy organization said, accusing the United States and Israel of attacking the facility.

After weeks of start and stop negotiations between Congressional Democrats and the White House, there's an emerging proposal to fund the majority of DHS and tackle ICE enforcement funding separately. (Image credit: ROBERTO SCHMIDT)

Nadia Massih is pleased to welcome Natasha Lindstaedt, Author and Professor of Government at the University of Essex. Professor Lindstaedt argues that the unfolding conflict reveals a profound shift in Gulf strategic thinking, driven less by ideological ambition than by accumulated insecurity. What began as a strong preference for de-escalation has gradually given way to a more hard-edged assessment of regional realities. The persistence of attacks, particularly on critical infrastructure, has reinforced the perception that coexistence with a hardline Iranian regime may no longer be viable.

Tehran claimed on Wednesday it has rejected a US ceasefire plan, as it ramped up attacks on Israel and Gulf states and proposed its own terms, including reparations and control of Hormuz.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said Tuesday that she would oppose any new funding for the U.S. war with Iran if it involved deploying troops, becoming the latest Republican to express reservations about the Pentagon's $200 billion request. "I will be voting against the funding if we are putting troops on the ground. I am not…"

U. S. military chaplains will no longer wear their rank insignia, instead displaying insignia that reflects their religious affiliation, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced as part of two major changes to the group.  In a memo signed Tuesday and announced in a video message, Hegseth said chaplains will retain their rank as officers, but it will not…

The United States is discussing ways to end hostilities with Iran, even as President Trump continues to threaten attacks and as the Pentagon dispatches more troops.

The Philippines is working with Washington to secure waivers and exemptions that will allow it to obtain oil from US-sanctioned countries and guarantee supplies, its ambassador to the United States said. The Philippines, which relies heavily on imported fuel, declared a state of national energy emergency on Tuesday to deal with the fallout from the Middle East war, including ‌the disruptions to oil procurement. “We are working with the State Department to get waivers or exemptions to purchase...

LONDON – Apple has launched age verification requirements for U. K. holders of Apple accounts via an update to its operating system. Users will have to confirm that they are 18 or older to use “certain services or features, or take certain actions” on their account, an Apple support page updated on Tuesday states. The move was welcomed by the U. K. media regulator, Ofcom. The watchdog said the protections as a “real win for children and families” and it has “worked closely with Apple and other services to ensure [age assurance] can be applied in a variety of contexts.” Adults who do not confirm their age will see web content filters applied to their accounts – the same as those applied to children’s accounts. Apple is not required to implement age checks under U. K. law, as the Online Safety Act does not apply to app stores or operating systems. Ofcom is conducting a report on whether to expand the act to include them, due in January 2027. Users who choose to update to the latest software, iOS 26.4 for iPhones and iPads, are prompted to verify their age, and can use credit cards linked to accounts as proof or undergo a process to scan ID. Apple may also use the length of time a user has held the account as proof of their age. The requirements have also been rolled out in South Korea.

According to the newspaper, executives from the world’s largest oil companies attending the annual CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Texas "appeared more astonished about the scale of the supply disruption from the war than thrilled about the higher prices"

The report notes that the American "security umbrella" has faced serious challenges in the face of attacks on American bases, oil fields, and infrastructure in the Middle East.

About two-thirds of US citizens think that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons should be a top priority for US foreign policy

The former Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared before the Southern District Court of New York on March 26th in a second crucial hearing within the legal proceedings they are facing in the United States, following their arrest in January during a U.S. military operation. Both have pleaded not guilty and are seeking to have the charges dismissed, in a case that involves accusations of drug trafficking, political tensions, and legal disputes over the right to legal representation. An Unprecedented Legal Process The case against Maduro and Flores centers around a series of charges brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office. The former leader is accused of four crimes: three counts of conspiracy (to commit narcoterrorism, import cocaine, and possess weapons of war such as machine guns and destructive devices), and a fourth count of directly possessing those weapons. Nicolás Maduro Guerra: "We are marching to demand that the sanctions be lifted, and also because March 26th will be the trial of President Nicolás Maduro, and they will see him strong, thinner, he is exercising, and they will defend the truth of Venezuela and his innocence." pic.twitter.com/mZzsuBgKyF — Madelein Garcia (@madeleintlSUR) March 23, 2026 For her part, Flores faces similar charges: two counts of conspiracy to import cocaine, one count of conspiracy to possess weapons, and another count of possessing weapons. Both deny the accusations. The formal proceedings began on January 5th, when they appeared for the first time...

LONDON — The British government should temporarily prevent political parties from accepting cryptocurrency donations while it assesses the risks, according to an officially-commissioned review published Wednesday. Philip Rycroft, a former senior civil servant tasked with probing foreign financial interference in U. K. politics, said the dangers to transparency from the emerging tech are “unacceptable” and could leave election regulators struggling to manage an “unpredictable” donation route. The call for a moratorium on the currency will be seen as a blow to Nigel Farage’s fundraising efforts. His Reform UK party is the only mainstream U. K. political outfit to have courted donations in crypto. The move should not however be seen as a “prelude to an outright and permanent ban, rather an interlude in which the regulatory environment can catch up with the reality of cryptoassets,” Rycroft, the former chief of Britain’s Brexit department, added. Communities Secretary Steve Reed is expected to confirm the government will adopt the recommended crypto pause in a Commons statement later Wednesday. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ordered the review into the U. K.’s election integrity after Nathan Gill, the former leader of Farage’s Reform UK party in Wales, was sentenced to more than 10 years in jail for taking bribes to spread pro-Kremlin propaganda. Rycroft also recommends political donations from U. K. voters based abroad be capped at between £100,000 and £300,000 a year. While most donations from U. K. voters based abroad do not pose problems, it is harder for British election regulators and law enforcement bodies to trace the source of cash originating from overseas. If adopted, that overseas donations cap could pose another constraint on Farage’s fundraising efforts. Reform UK accepted a £9 million donation from Thai-based crypto tycoon Christopher Harborne last year. The donation — made in government-issued currency — represented the largest individual donation in British political history. Risk from the US Rycroft also recommends an outright ban on political advertising by foreign individuals or entities — including ads being promoted on social media sites. And he lists interference from the United States — a longstanding British ally — as a potential source of danger. Rycroft said he is “cognisant” of a new threat from overseas, which includes an “emerging willingness of foreign actors and private citizens, including from allies like the United States to interfere in, and influence, politics abroad in pursuit of their own agenda.” Donald Trump’s own National Security Strategy, published earlier this year, raised eyebrows among traditional U. S. allies, with strident criticism of European governments and a call to start “cultivating resistance” to the continent’s supposed decline by backing “patriotic European parties.”

Draw for AFC Asian Champions League Elite quarterfinals sees Tractor FC play Dubai's Shabab Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.

As US President Donald Trump doubles down on his claim that he’s negotiating with Iran to end the war in the Persian Gulf, a conservative politician of the Islamic Republic has emerged as his most likely counterpart.

The United States is ramping up its military presence in the Middle East even more, despite the US having reportedly sent a 15-point peace plan to Tehran. There are plans to send soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to support operations against Iran, according to US media reports. They would join thousands of Marines due to arrive in the region by March 25.

The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., declared a "national energy emergency" on the 24th, citing the impact of the situation in Iran on the country's energy supply.

Iranian diplomacy reiterated this Tuesday that "non-hostile" ships wishing to transit the Strait of Hormuz can do so "safely," provided they "do not participate in or support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with safety regulations." "Non-hostile ships, including those belonging to other states or associated with them, may – provided they do not participate in or support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with declared safety regulations – benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the relevant Iranian authorities," the Iranian mission to the United Nations headquarters in New York stated on social media. In this way, the Iranian delegation has emphasized the message conveyed on Sunday by Seyed Ali Mousavi, the permanent representative of Iran to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN agency. Mousavi informed the organization that the strategically important waterway connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman "remains open to all types of navigation," although he added that this principle excludes ships associated with "Iran's enemies." This message from Tehran comes amid Iranian attacks on ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz – which accounts for nearly a quarter of global oil maritime trade – in retaliation for the surprise offensive launched by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic...

British police said on Wednesday they had arrested two men over a London arson attack on four volunteer ambulances run by a Jewish organisation. The arrests came after police said they were investigating an online claim of responsibility by a little-known Islamist group which has possible links to Iran. The ambulances were set on fire early Monday while they were parked next to a synagogue in an area of London with a large Jewish population. The Metropolitan Police said two men aged 47 and 45...

The latest war powers resolution in the US Senate to end US attacks on Iran has failed in a 47-53 vote.

Stopping Iran’s production of drones is critical to opening the Strait of Hormuz and halting its attacks on Gulf nations. But can it be done?

Iranians remain united in the face of this barbaric act of aggression, Esmail Baghaei emphasized

Republicans hoped to have a deal to fund parts of the Department of Homeland Security, but those talks are hitting snags.

According to Esmail Baghaei, "there have been many countries in the region and outside that have reached out to Iran to mediate between Iran and the United States"

Esmail Baghaei noted that Iran had a very catastrophic experience of United States diplomacy

The Iranian regime on Wednesday rejected claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding alleged negotiations between Washington and Tehran, and asserted that it will not reach any agreement, amidst a military escalation and tensions in the energy market. The Iranian military responded to Trump's statements with a statement released by the Tasnim news agency, which is linked to the Revolutionary Guard. The spokesman for the Joint Operations Command of Khatam al-Anbiya stated that the White House's claims about contacts with the Islamic Republic are false. "Do not call your defeat an agreement. The era of your promises is over. Today, there are two fronts: truth and lies. And no seeker of truth is seduced by your media waves," the statement read. Trump stated on Tuesday that the United States and Iran are going to "reach an agreement" as part of ongoing conversations with Tehran. He also claimed that there has been "a change in the regime" in Iran. The U.S. president added that Iranian representatives with whom Washington is in dialogue have "agreed that they will never have the nuclear weapon" and that Tehran has offered a "very big gift" related to the Strait of Hormuz. From Tehran, however, officials acknowledged some indirect contacts with the White House but rejected any type of negotiation. Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokes…

From Gujarat to Tamil Nadu, long lines at fuel pumps reflect growing anxiety over oil supplies even as officials urge calm and assure of adequate supply. DW has the latest.

The full details of the proposal have not been made public. However, officials said it focuses on Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programmes.

The head of the Philippines’ flag carrier said the Southeast Asian country may need to resort to fuel rationing amid tight supplies due to the war in Iran. “We have countries saying, ‘we need to ration our fuel, we want people to tank fuel in and out.’ The reality is we’re going to have to do the same thing probably in the Philippines,” Philippine Airlines president Richard Nuttall said in an interview on Wednesday. Speaking at the Aviation Festival Asia conference in Singapore, Nuttall said the...

This Tuesday, the conflict in the Middle East marked its 25th day of clashes between the armies of the United States, Iran, and Israel. In an interview with LN+, international analyst Andrés Repetto stated that "the concept of 'victory' will be tied to the expectations of each of the parties involved." Repetto 2 "The most powerful weapon for the Iranians remains to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed," Repetto explained. Regarding the announced ceasefire by Donald Trump, he pointed out: "Yesterday, it was claimed, but today, none of that is happening." Concerning the figure of the American president, Repetto was emphatic: "When you listen to Trump, it seems tragicomic. When he came out to clarify that he himself had contacted the regime, and not the other way around, he displayed a very childish attitude." From the analyst's perspective, "today, polls reflect that support for Trump has significantly diminished. Because he has taken the conflict to a phase that he had promised not to reach with his electorate." The key players and their objectives According to Repetto, both Iran and the United States "have their own objectives." He then listed them: "The regime wants to continue enriching uranium, and for the United States to do two things: to pay the cost of the destruction and to withdraw all of its military bases from the Persian Gulf." "For its part, the United States wants Iran to halt the construction of ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel, and to eliminate its..."

Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said that Witkoff and Kushner are part of the talks, along with Rubio and Vance.

The US is increasingly concerned about the emergence of "foreigner butchering" scams allegedly originating from China, which could further complicate President Donald Trump's planned meeting with Xi Jinping in the coming months.

Moscow’s missteps offer a warning—and an opening—for Washington.

Nasa announced on Tuesday it ⁠has cancelled plans to deploy a space station in lunar orbit and ⁠would instead use components from the project to build a US$20 billion base on the moon’s surface, while also planning to send a nuclear-powered spacecraft to Mars. US space agency chief Jared Isaacman, an appointee of US President Donald Trump who took charge at Nasa in December, announced an unprecedented array of changes to the Artemis moon programme that would expand humanity’s footprint in space,...

The US is expected to deploy up to 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

Years before the rise of Instagram, Banksy understood that the key to true influence wasn't necessarily about being famous, but about being anonymous. The mystery surrounding his identity has long been part of the value of his art, which for decades and across several continents, challenged authority from public walls and self-destructed at auctions. Now, the apparent revelation of Banksy's identity by the Reuters agency has sparked debate about whether his works still hold their cultural and financial value. This also raises a question: why "burst the bubble" of his mystique? Many Banksy followers lamented the loss of the mystery and criticized the media outlet. One commented that it was like suddenly finding out that Santa Claus doesn't exist. "It feels like they're revealing how a magic trick is done," said Thomas Evans, an artist from Denver, on Instagram. "Sometimes I just want to enjoy the trick." Some art experts believe that the murals and the message will survive the revelation of Banksy's name because their appeal was not solely dependent on anonymity. He and his works—mischievous and dark at the same time—are testaments to injustice, oppression, and inequality in the world, from his native England to the walled city of Bethlehem and the war-torn Ukraine. Taking away the anonymity, they say, does not diminish the ability of his work to inspire reflection and debate. "People buy his works because they genuinely love them," stated…

Leaders in Iran sent a letter to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Tuesday, confirming that "non-hostile vessels" would be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz. This critical waterway carries a fifth of the world's oil daily. However, few ships have made the journey through this single passage from the Persian Gulf to…

Billions will be spent in the coming years—including on missiles, drones and base upgrades—as the remote country squares up to a widening threat.

Growth in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to hold up, supported by tech-oriented economies and sectors, despite the energy shock unleashed by the Mideast war, S&P Global Ratings said.

The Pentagon on Tuesday ordered a couple thousand paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to deploy to the Middle East.

Now the effects are reaching industries that might’ve seemed insulated from the fallout, or too far away to feel it.

Ships with no ties to Israel or the United States would be allowed to pass, the government said, but it was unclear if any vessels would try.

A state-sponsored forced labour programme which has escalated in recent years has generated up to US$500 million annually for North Korea, according to a report by a global rights group. It also warned that workers are trapped in “brutal” conditions where they are subjected to “control, abuse and coercion”. Containing first-hand testimonies of North Koreans exploited in the programme, the report published on Wednesday by Global Rights Compliance – an international human rights foundation – noted...

Israel’s military warned late on Tuesday that Iran had fired a new salvo of missiles towards the country and that anti-missile defences were active after a day of more than a dozen missile alerts. Following the warning, sirens sounded in Jerusalem and a blast was heard in the city, while a loud explosion was also heard in the skies over the West Bank city of Jericho, Agence France-Presse correspondents said. “A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory...

In response to the escalating situation in Iran, which poses a risk to energy supplies, the President of the Philippines, Marcos, has declared a "national energy emergency." He has also established a committee comprised of relevant government ministries to strengthen response measures.

Nearly a thousand pounds of steak went into the meaty effort, and TSA agents, unpaid for weeks, ate the results Philadelphia has set a world record for the “Longest Line of Cheesesteaks”, with 1,200ft of the city’s iconic sandwich stretching across the B/C connectors at the Philadelphia international airport (PHL). The airport achieved the record on Tuesday with help from more than 100 employees and volunteers, who assembled foot-long rolls using 990lbs of Philly’s Best Steak and 225lbs of cheese sauce. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the full line took about an hour to complete. Continue reading...

On the New York oil market on the 24th, the futures price of WTI, a benchmark for international trading, experienced a sharp decline at one point, reflecting volatile price movements driven by developments in the situation in Iran.

Avoid falling for this misinformation: check the key facts and verify before sharing: "Antonio Banes" is not a verifiable official or petroleum expert, and is linked to content about cryptocurrencies. Ramón Curapiaca is the manager of El Palito as of March 2026. Trump has no legal authority over PDVSA. More than two months after Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president of Venezuela, with the approval of Donald Trump, following the arrest and trial of Nicolás Maduro, misinformation continues to circulate regarding political changes in the country. This time, an animated image from TikTok reached our WhatsApp verification chatbot, "La Tía del WhatsApp," which is also available on Telegram. The image claims that Donald Trump appointed "Antonio Banes as general manager of the El Palito refinery," supposedly "at the suggestion of María Corina Machado." However, this is false. There are no official records, announcements, or coverage from reliable media outlets to support this claim. Furthermore, the name belongs to a person with no verifiable background in the petroleum sector or in public office, which confirms that it is a piece of misinformation. Additionally, Venezuelan law places the control of PDVSA and the petroleum industry under the Venezuelan state, meaning that the United States government cannot delegate authority to its officials, as explained below. This verification is the result of our strict adherence to our verification methodology, following the…

Plus, mediators aim for a U. S.-Iran meeting by Thursday, and hotels double as exclusive social clubs.

The US has sent the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East as it considers possible ground operations in Iran.

The barrage continued as officials said the U. S. had sent Iran a 15-point plan to end the war. But Iranian officials have publicly denied that Washington and Tehran are talking directly.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters on Tuesday that it is not his "preference" to separate the funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), especially given a new proposal from Senate Republicans to fund immigration removal operations through the budget reconciliation process. The potential deal would fund most of DHS, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).