As Trump ramps up pressure on Cuba, China has ‘very limited options’

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AdvertisementChina-Latin America relationsChinaDiplomacyAs Trump ramps up pressure on Cuba, China has ‘very limited options’Any response from Beijing is likely to be constrained to diplomatic opposition and humanitarian aid, according to analysts
3-MIN READ3-MINCao Jiaxuanin BeijingPublished: 8:00pm, 18 Mar 2026As Washington steps up rhetoric and pressure on Cuba after its campaign in Iran, Beijing finds itself torn between geopolitical reality and ideological affinity.According to analysts, Beijing has few good options to counter US hegemony in Washington’s own backyard, and its response is likely to be constrained to diplomatic opposition and modest humanitarian aid.
They said any disruption to global stability ultimately harmed Beijing’s interests and did not see prolonged US military action creating a window of opportunity for China.
AdvertisementUS President Donald Trump on Monday said he expected to have “the honour of taking Cuba”, after a tightening US oil squeeze contributed t..

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Will the Iran war really lead to a global pivot to renewable energy?

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As the Middle East conflict sends fuel costs skyrocketing and threatens to put a dent in the global economy, the argument for reducing the world's dependence on oil and gas and moving towards renewables has grown louder.
Ships have been blocked – and in some cases burning – at the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage near Iran through which a fifth of the world's oil and gas passes. The key supply route has been effectively closed, stopping oil, gas and other essential exports from the Gulf region and sending commodities on a rollercoaster ride.
Skyrocketing oil and gas prices are leaving many countries rationing fuel and staring at rising food prices. The International Energy Agency is calling it the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.
With no sign the conflict will end imminently, bodies including the UN have called for the world to reduce its dependence on oil and gas, with renewables cited as the most obvious alternative. “The resources of the..

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Trump will pay his respects in Delaware to 6 US service members killed in the Middle East

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President Donald Trump is set to pay his respects on Wednesday at a Delaware military base when the remains of six U.S. service members killed in the crash of a refueling aircraft are returned to their families.
It will be the second time since launching the war on Iran on Feb. 28 that the Republican president will attend the solemn military ritual known as a dignified transfer, which he once described as the “toughest thing” he has had to do as commander in chief.
All six crew members of a KC-135 Air Force refueling aircraft were killed last week in a plane crash over friendly territory in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. They were from Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Washington state.
The crash brought the U.S. death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members. About 200 U.S. service members have been injured, including 10 severely, the Pentagon has said.
Trump last traveled to Dover Air Force Base on March 7 for the dignified transfer of s..

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Death of Ali Larijani deepens crisis at heart of Iran’s leadership

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Death of Ali Larijani deepens crisis at heart of Iran's leadership8 hours agoShareSaveAmir AzimiBBC PersianShareSaveAnadolu via Getty ImagesLarijani was viewed as one of Iran's most influential political figuresThe Israeli air strike which killed Iran's security chief, Ali Larijani, has removed one of the Islamic Republic's most experienced and influential policymakers at a critical moment.
Larijani was not a military commander, but he was a central figure in shaping Iran's strategic decisions.
As secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, he sat at the heart of decision-making on war, diplomacy, and national security.
His voice carried weight across the system, particularly in managing Iran's confrontation with the United States and Israel.
After the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on 28 February, Larijani struck a defiant tone, signalling that Iran was prepared for a long conflict.
His death, now confirmed by state media, comes amid a b..

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Total repression and air strikes bring unrelenting dread for Iranians

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Total repression and air strikes bring unrelenting dread for Iranians12 hours agoShareSaveFergal KeaneSpecial correspondentShareSaveWatch: Iranians show daily life under air strikes and regime crackdownA woman stands on a rooftop listening to the sounds of the city below. There is only the dull hum of traffic tonight. But she knows how easily that can change. It is usually the dogs who notice the sound first and begin to bark furiously. The noise of aircraft. Then the ominous percussion of explosions. A ball of orange rising from an airstrike in a familiar neighbourhood.
The BBC has obtained footage and interviews from Tehran which evoke a city of strained nerves, of constant waiting for the next blast and relentless fear of the state security apparatus.
Baran – not her real name – is a businesswoman in her thirties. She is now too scared to go to work. “With the start of the drone attacks, no one dares to go outside. If I open my door and step out, it is like gambling with my life.”
S..

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Fact check: Is IShowSpeed invited to Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s wedding and planning a livestream? Truth revealed

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A viral post claimed IShowSpeed was invited to Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s wedding and would livestream it. The quote spread quickly but lacks any official confirmation. The claim comes from a meme account using old images. In reality, the couple plans a private ceremony after the 2026 World Cup, and Speed’s earlier mention was just a joke. The rumor spread fast and loud. A viral post claimed that a popular streamer had secured an invite to one of football’s most anticipated weddings and would even broadcast it live. The quote fueling the buzz read: “🚨 IShowSpeed has confirmed he’s been invited to Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s wedding and will be streaming it live.” It sounded believable at first glance. Big names. Bigger hype. But the story does not hold up under. There is no verified confirmation from any of the people involved. No official statement. No credible source. What exists instead is a familiar pattern in the age of social media, where recycled j..

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Iranian footballer who stayed back in Australia says ‘everything will be fine’ as she starts training for new club

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One of the two Iranian footballers who decided to stay back in Australia said “everything will be fine” as they joined a training session at their professional club in Brisbane.
This followed a wave of reversals by their Iranian teammates who had initially sought asylum in Australia but later chose to return to Tehran.
The women's A-League club, Brisbane Roar, shared the first pictures of the two remaining Iranian footballers who joined a training session wearing the Queensland team's colours.
Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh are the two remaining members from the group of seven who first sought asylum and sparked a diplomatic row between Iran and Australia after Tehran blamed Canberra for “psychological” pressure on the women.
open image in gallery(AP)”Everything will be fine,” Pasandideh, 21, posted with a peace sign emoji on Instagram alongside Jill Ellis, FIFA’s head of football.
The update came as the rest of Iran’s soccer delegation left Malaysia bound for O..

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Iranian regime likely to remain in power despite two weeks of attacks, US intelligence suggests

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Iran’s regime will likely remain in power, US intelligence has said, despite over two weeks of US-Israeli attacks on the country.
While dozens of top Iranian military and intelligence leaders have been killed in the war, including the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, officials believe that the regime is still clinging onto control.
As the war enters a third week, at least 2,000 people have been killed with no end in sight despite widespread damage to Iran’s military installations and naval capability.
Though Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have vowed to pound Iran with missiles until regime change is achieved, a “multitude” of intelligence reports provide “consistent analysis that the regime is not in danger” of collapse, a source close to US intelligence told The Washington Post. Rather, they said it “retains control of the Iranian public”.
They noted that ⁠the situation on the ground is fluid and that the dynamics inside Iran could change.
open image in galleryThe regime..

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Will the postponed Trump-Xi summit affect US arms sales to Taiwan?

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Advertisement2026 Trump-Xi summitChinaPoliticsWill the postponed Trump-Xi summit affect US arms sales to Taiwan?Possible US$14 billion package said to be on track but broader concerns loom as America depletes ammunition stockpiles in Middle East
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenLawrence Chungin TaipeiPublished: 8:01pm, 17 Mar 2026Updated: 8:02pm, 17 Mar 2026A delayed summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping has raised concerns over whether the postponement could affect a reported record US arms sales package to Taiwan, as officials insist the deal remains on track.A US$14 billion arms package – possibly the largest ever for Taiwan – is ready for the American president’s approval and could be announced after his visit to Beijing, according to Reuters on Friday.
The proposed sale is expected to include advanced air-defence systems such as Patriot PAC-3 missiles and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (Nasams), as well as an additional US$6 billion in “asymmetric” capabilities.
Adv..

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