WORLD

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 …

BEIJING | Xinhua |  With China’s annual legislative and political consultative sessions, known as the “two sessions,” underway in Beijing, foreign envoys and international journalists are closely watching the event for signals on the world’s second-largest economy’s development trajectory and its global implications. They describe the gathering, during which the …

  US-Israel war on Iran heightens fears on air travel safety Kampala, Uganda | IAN KATUSIIME | There were 51 accidents in 2025 among 38.7 million flights, according to the annual safety report of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Of these, eight were fatal, most prominently the crash of …