World News - Page 3

Russia intensifies efforts to dismantle VPN as digital repression accelerates

The Russian Ministry of Digital Development has signalled a new phase in the state's efforts to regulate the virtual world, with Minister Maksut Shadayev recently declaring that "The task is reduce VPN usage" to ensure national digital sovereignty.

‘Told we would be greeted as liberators’: Trump’s ex-counterterror chief Joe Kent on what went wrong in Iran

Former US counterterror chief Joe Kent has claimed that President Donald Trump was misled into believing the Iran operation would be quick and easy, alleging Israeli influence in shaping that perception.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs bill to rename Palm Beach airport after Trump

Florida signs bill to rename Palm Beach airport after Donald Trump; move awaits FAA approval and sparks political row over costs and growing efforts to name public infrastructure after him

Iran executes two people for alleged links with banned opposition group

The Mujahideen-e Khalq Organisation, a once-powerful leftist movement, carried out a series of bombings against the shah’s government and US targets in the 1970s, but later became estranged from other opposition groups

Inside Isfahan, the city home to Iran’s nuclear facilities, hit by US bunker busters

The US has dropped 1,000-kg bunker-bursting bombs on an ammunition depot in Isfahan, Iran. The city is of strategic importance to the country; it houses one of Iran’s military airbases as well as three uranium enrichment sites

China bans ‘bone-ash apartments’ for storing cremated remains

China has banned the use of “bone-ash apartments” to store cremated remains, as authorities tighten funeral regulations, citing rising costs and misuse of residential spaces, while demand for burial plots grows amid an ageing population and ongoing property market slowdown.

Thousands of soldiers from US Army's elite 82nd Division arrive in West Asia as war expands

The paratroopers, based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, add to the thousands ​of additional sailors, Marines and Special Operations forces sent to the region. Over the weekend, ⁠about 2,500 Marines arrived in the Middle East

Amid Trump’s regime change claims, Rubio says Iran war has 'nothing to do with leadership'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has questioned the visibility and role of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, even as his remarks appear to differ fromTrump’s stance on regime change.

EU foreign policy chief Kallas arrived in Ukraine to mark Bucha massacre anniversary

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and several European foreign ministers arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre.

Second Lady Usha Vance starts ‘Storytime’ podcast to promote child literacy

Second Lady Usha Vance has launched a podcast titled 'Storytime with Second Lady' to promote child literacy, featuring guest readers and storytelling, as the initiative draws praise and criticism amid concerns over declining reading levels and debates around recent US education policy changes.

Did Hegseth’s broker attempt to purchase defence funds before Iran war?

A reported attempt by a broker linked to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to invest in a defence-focused ETF before the Iran conflict has sparked outrage. Though the deal never materialised, its timing has raised questions about market activity ahead of key US military decisions

Another embarrassment for Pakistan? Why Islamabad may flop in its role as mediator between Iran and US

Pakistan has pitched itself as a key broker between the US and Iran in efforts to end the West Asia war. It even held high-stakes discussions with Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to lay the groundwork for possible talks between Washington and Tehran. But the Islamic Republic has rejected Islamabad’s efforts, saying ‘Pakistan’s forums are their own’

US hits Iran’s Isfahan city with 1000-kg 'bunker-buster' bombs; Trump shares blast video

US strikes Iran’s Isfahan with bunker-buster bombs, targeting key nuclear-linked infrastructure as Trump shares dramatic explosion video, signalling a sharp escalation in the ongoing and volatile West Asia conflict

‘Throne fit for a king’: Satirical DC installation mocks Trump’s White House makeover

A satirical golden toilet throne installed on Washington’s National Mall mocks Donald Trump’s White House renovations, with people calling it a symbol of alleged misuse of public funds and saying “enough is enough” amid ongoing redesign projects.

Masood Azhar’s brother Tahir Anwar dies in Pakistan under mysterious circumstances, says report

The brother of Masood Azhar, a key figure in Jaish-e-Mohammed, has died under unclear circumstances in Pakistan, with no official cause of death disclosed so far.

From Pentagon Pizza Index to Strip Club Tracker: Soldiers’ loose lips at the bar leak US military plans amid Iran war

After pizzerias near the Pentagon, strip clubs near military bases appear to have become another tell-tale of imminent American military operations.

‘Only received requests’: Iran denies any talks with US, rejects Trump claims

Iran has denied holding any talks with the US since the conflict began, contradicting Washington’s claims as the war continues with no signs of easing.

Macron in Tokyo: First French presidential visit to Japan in 11 years — Iran war, China top the agenda

In Tokyo, Macron is expected to hold detailed discussions with Takaichi on a range of pressing global and bilateral issues. As France currently holds the G7 presidency, the talks will likely focus heavily on the ongoing US-Israeli war involving Iran

Weaponisation of thirst: Gulf discovers water supply is a strategic liability as US eyes it to pay for war

The Arab world overwhelmingly depends on desalination plants for drinking water. As both the United States and Iran have indicated they would strike these plants in any new escalation, Arab countries are facing fresh costs in the conflict they did not start.

4 Dead, 9 Injured in tunnel explosion at China highway site

Four people were killed and nine injured after an explosion at a highway tunnel construction site in Chongqing, China, with preliminary reports suggesting flammable gas as the cause, while authorities have launched an investigation and cordoned off the area.

Could Iran drone strike on oil tanker near Dubai trigger an environmental disaster?

A Kuwaiti oil tanker carrying 2 million barrels of crude was hit by a suspected Iranian drone near Dubai, damaging its hull and sparking a fire. While the blaze was contained, authorities are warning of a possible oil spill amid rising Gulf tensions and volatile global oil markets

FBI calls Michigan Jewish temple ramming attack ‘Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism’

A synagogue attack in Michigan has been termed a “Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism” by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the lone attacker killing himself after carrying out the assault.

Pakistan safe haven for terrorists, 15 major terror groups still active: US report

A US report has raised fresh concerns over Pakistan’s credibility as a mediator, stating that multiple militant groups continue to find safe haven in the country despite years of counterterror efforts.

Trump signals readiness to end Iran war without reopening Hormuz: Report

The Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that facilitates global shipping, has become a point of contention in the Iran war as Trump continues to threaten Tehran with intensified military operations if the shipping passage is not reopened

Why has Spain closed its airspace to US planes amid the Iran war?

Spain has closed its airspace to US planes involved in the Iran conflict, reasserting its opposition to Washington’s operations against the Islamic Republic. This move complicates America’s military campaign against Tehran and is likely to drive a bigger wedge between the two Nato allies

Mexico calls deaths of migrants in US custody ‘alarming’ as toll reaches 14

Mexico has called the deaths of 14 migrants in US immigration custody 'alarming' and 'unacceptable,' raising concerns over detention conditions as Donald Trump’s crackdown intensifies, with authorities facing accusations of systemic failures and possible negligence.

Iran approves plan to impose toll on ships passing through Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s threats and attacks on shipping in the Strait have effectively halted the movement of around 15 million barrels of crude per day from the Persian Gulf, triggering sharp volatility in global oil markets

Blue helmets in the crossfire: India, France seek accountability for strike on Unifil workers in Lebanon

The deaths followed Israel's announcement that it would increase ground operations in Lebanon against the armed group Hezbollah

Balochistan is burning again: Gas pipeline blown up in a series of attacks in Pakistan's restive province

A gas pipeline blast near Quetta in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has disrupted supply to multiple districts, with officials suspecting sabotage and launching a probe into the incident.

Hormuz choke: Iran doesn’t need to win the war, it just needs to make it too expensive to finish

With the chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is not trying to defeat the United States and Israel military, but it is imposing costs so high that the war becomes unaffordable not just for them but for the world, forcing them to seek a negotiated end to the conflict.