WORLD

WASHINGTON | Xinhua |  U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday complained that U.S. allies are reluctant to answer his call to join a White House-proposed multinational mission to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. “We’ve protected them from horrible outside sources, and they weren’t that enthusiastic. And the …

Ukraine has become the world’s premier testing ground for AI weapons on Russian troops, foreign mercenaries   COVER STORY | AGENCIES | The Phantom MK-1 looks the part of an AI soldier. Encased in jet black steel with a tinted glass visor, it conjures a visceral dread far beyond what …

SPECIAL REPORT | THE INDEPENDENT | Women remain vastly underrepresented in political leadership worldwide, according to the latest “Women in Politics: 2026” map, prepared by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women. The findings reveal that men continue to dominate executive positions and parliamentary seats, with women far from achieving …

CAIRO | Xinhua |  The ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran is sending shockwaves across the globe and affecting multiple sectors. As attacks between the warring sides continue, shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital global transport chokepoint, has been heavily disrupted. Beyond the energy …

CAIRO, EGYPT | Xinhua | The U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict entered its 16th day on Sunday, with U.S. and Israeli officials vowing prolonged attacks against Iran, Tehran warning of killing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and targeting Ukraine in retaliation, and many regional countries reaffirming calls for de-escalation and dialogue. Tehran also …

LONDON | Xinhua | British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said on Sunday that ending the ongoing conflict is the “best and most conclusive way” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the situation is harming the global economy. “The spike in oil and gas prices that we’re seeing is …

WASHINGTON, the United States | Xinhua | U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that he’s not ready to make a deal to end the military campaign against Iran “because the terms aren’t good enough yet.” “Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the …

WASHINGTON | Xinhua |  A U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq, U.S. Central Command said Thursday. “Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely,” the command said on X. “The incident occurred in friendly …

SEOUL | Xinhua | U.S. forces in South Korea were preparing to relocate interceptor missiles of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to the Middle East, a local newspaper said Wednesday. An unidentified high-ranking South Korean government official was quoted by Dong-A Ilbo as saying that the THAAD …

SANAA | Xinhua | More than 10 days after the United States and Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran, Yemen’s Houthi movement, one of Tehran’s main regional allies, has largely remained on the sidelines, despite issuing repeated threats and expressions of solidarity with Iran. Analysts say the restraint suggests that …