World News
Cargo ship ablaze in Hormuz after being hit by projectile: British military
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre, run by the British military, said the vessel had been hit just north of Oman in the strait
 "Cargo ship ablaze in Hormuz after being hit by projectile: British military")
Iran targets oil infrastructure as concerns of global energy crisis grow
Iran has effectively stopped shipping traffic through the narrow strait off its coast, through which about a fifth of the world's oil is shipped from the Persian Gulf toward the Indian Ocean
 "Iran targets oil infrastructure as concerns of global energy crisis grow")
Hezbollah faces rare criticism as fresh war with Israel displaces thousands
The Iran-backed militant group and political party is facing increasing grassroots discontent within its base and problems with the Lebanese authorities
 "Hezbollah faces rare criticism as fresh war with Israel displaces thousands")
UN warns of higher food prices, cost-of-living if Strait of Hormuz shuts
The narrow passage carries around a quarter of global seaborne oil trade and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilisers
 "UN warns of higher food prices, cost-of-living if Strait of Hormuz shuts")
Asian shares advance as markets await signals on when Iran war may end
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 gained 2.1% to 55,387.75 and South Korea's Kospi surged 3.5% to 5,724.30
 "Asian shares advance as markets await signals on when Iran war may end")
From Karbala to Iran: How Shia Islam has evolved across centuries
From the dispute over Ali's succession to the legacy of Karbala, here is how Shia Islam evolved, what its core beliefs are, and where Shia communities are found today
 "From Karbala to Iran: How Shia Islam has evolved across centuries")
US destroys 16 mine-laying vessels as Iran threatens to block oil exports
The US destroyed 16 mine-laying Iranian vessels, though President Donald Trump said in social media posts that there were no reports of Iran planting explosives in the Strait of Hormuz
 "US destroys 16 mine-laying vessels as Iran threatens to block oil exports")
FBI hikes reward to $1 mn for information on Indian wanted for killing wife
Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel is wanted for allegedly killing his wife, Palak Patel, by striking her multiple times with an object
 "FBI hikes reward to $1 mn for information on Indian wanted for killing wife")
Iran, Russia foreign ministers discuss regional tensions over phone
They exchanged views on the evolving situation in West Asia and the broader consequences of the conflict for regional and international stability
 "Iran, Russia foreign ministers discuss regional tensions over phone")
How Trump and his advisers miscalculated Iran's response to war
In the lead-up to the US-Israeli attack, President Trump downplayed the risks to the energy markets as a short-term concern that should not overshadow the mission to decapitate the Iranian regime
 "How Trump and his advisers miscalculated Iran's response to war")
Anthropic tells judge billions of dollars at stake if US shuns AI tool
The startup made a case for urgency to US District Judge Rita F. Lin at a hearing in San Francisco a day after Anthropic sued the Defense Department over the supply-risk designation
 "Anthropic tells judge billions of dollars at stake if US shuns AI tool")
Press freedom in Americas saw 'dramatic deterioration' last year: Watchdog
The United States ranks as a nation with 'restrictions' on freedom of speech, the IAPA said, noting that there were 170 attacks against journalists there in 2025
 "Press freedom in Americas saw 'dramatic deterioration' last year: Watchdog")
Former PM Churchill to be removed from UK banknotes as cash gets new look
The Bank of England held a public consultation on refreshing its money last year and found nature emerged as the 44,000 responses' most popular theme
 "Former PM Churchill to be removed from UK banknotes as cash gets new look")
Israel conducts strikes in Tehran and Tabriz, intercepts Iranian missiles
The Israeli Air Force in a post on X said that it had intercepted missiles launched from Iran and called for people to exercise caution
About 140 US troops injured, 8 severely, so far in Iran war, says Pentagon
Trump said he has no reports of Iran putting explosive mines in the strategic waterway. But if Tehran did, "we want them removed, immediately!"
 "About 140 US troops injured, 8 severely, so far in Iran war, says Pentagon")
Global hunt for LNG intensifies as West Asia conflict cuts supply
The conflict has shut down Ras Laffan, the world's largest LNG export facility in Qatar, and halted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz
 "Global hunt for LNG intensifies as West Asia conflict cuts supply")
'Won't provide financial benefit to Russia': White House on oil waiver
Washington says move meant to ease global oil supply disruptions
 "'Won't provide financial benefit to Russia': White House on oil waiver")
Gita Gopinath warns fiscal space 'depleted' for long-lasting Iran war
Gita Gopinath said the world economy is already facing a slowdown in growth in 2026 due to higher oil prices in the wake of the conflict that erupted less than two weeks ago
 "Gita Gopinath warns fiscal space 'depleted' for long-lasting Iran war")
US hasn't ruled out option for boots-on-ground in Iran: White House
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said US has not ruled out the option of sending troops on ground in Iran and military operations would end once the objectives of Epic Fury are achieved
 "US hasn't ruled out option for boots-on-ground in Iran: White House")
US, Iran dig in and ramp up threats as war rages with no end in sight
Both sides sharpened their rhetoric as they dug in, with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth again promising the most intense strikes yet, while Iran's leaders ruled out talks
 "US, Iran dig in and ramp up threats as war rages with no end in sight")