TEHRAN | Xinhua | With a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire nearing its expiry, uncertainty once again clouds the outlook for the Middle East. The stop-and-go situation in the Strait of Hormuz — briefly reopened and then shut again by Iran — has added to the volatility. The episode highlights deep-rooted disagreements …
Read More »U.S. blockade of Strait of Hormuz: Sustainability and consequences
CAIRO, EGYPT | Xinhua | After negotiations with Iran failed to yield any agreement, the United States took drastic measures on Monday by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial artery for the global energy market. Experts say that, given the complexity of the strait and the potential blowback to …
Read More »No deal reached after hours of rare high-level U.S.-Iran talks in decades
ISLAMABAD | Xinhua | No agreement was reached between the United States and Iran in the latest round of talks held in Islamabad, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said here on Sunday, as negotiations concluded without a breakthrough despite intensive engagement. Vance said the U.S. side had presented its “final …
Read More »Pakistan prepares for U.S.-Iran talks amid heightened security
ISLAMABAD | Xinhua | Pakistan has stepped up security and logistical preparations as delegations from the United States and Iran are expected to arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes talks aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East following a recently announced two-week ceasefire. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday …
Read More »Why is a U.S.-Iran peace deal so hard to reach?
WASHINGTON | Xinhua | Pakistan on Monday proposed a plan to ease hostilities between Iran and the United States, sharing the initiative with both capitals just as U.S. President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approaches. Describing the ceasefire negotiations with the Iranian side via …
Read More »What to know about the U.S. Artemis II Moon mission
LOS ANGELES | Xinhua | NASA’s Artemis II Moon mission lifted off Wednesday from the U.S. state of Florida, carrying four astronauts on the first crewed flight around the Moon in more than 50 years. The Space Launch System rocket, with the Orion spacecraft on top, launched from NASA’s Kennedy …
Read More »Iran rejects U.S. proposal for 48-hour ceasefire
TEHRAN, IRAN | Xinhua | Iran has rejected a U.S. proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Friday. The proposal was delivered to Iran through a “friendly” country on Thursday, Fars quoted an informed source as saying. The source added that Washington has stepped up …
Read More »How escalation in Middle East spills over, impacts global economy
BEIJING, CHINA | Xinhua | With U.S.-Israel joint military strikes on Iran entering the fifth week with no clear path to resolution, the economic aftershocks are spreading far beyond the Middle East. What began as a geopolitical flashpoint has evolved into a systemic economic shock, reverberating through energy markets, industrial …
Read More »When resentful U.S. meets “ungrateful” NATO
OPINION | XINHUA | For decades, NATO has largely relied on the U.S. for security and defense. Trump, unlike his predecessors, insists the U.S. is being ripped off and should be paid back. With the Strait of Hormuz now effectively closed thanks to the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, the Trump …
Read More »8 U.S. deportees arrive in Uganda
KAMPALA, UGANDA | Xinhua | Eight deportees from the United States have arrived in Uganda, sparking renewed debate over the country’s role in accepting third-country nationals, an official said on Thursday. Simon Mundeyi, spokesperson for Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, told Xinhua by telephone that the eight people arrived at …
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