Australia's AUKUS submarine plan reignites debate over war risk with China
Australia's AUKUS submarine plan has returned to the centre of political debate after the government reaffirmed that the pact is moving ahead and the Greens warned it could pull the country into a future US war with China. The dispute is focused on Australia's plan to buy secondhand Virginia-class attack submarines from the United States. It comes as the government continues to defend the multi-decade defence agreement, which has become one of the country's most contested security projects.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said AUKUS was "full-steam ahead", according to the report, after the Greens renewed calls to cancel the nuclear-powered submarine... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 07 Jun 2026 06:30 LONDON
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North Korea's Kim orders 10,000-tonne destroyer and underwater weapons push
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the navy to build a 10,000-tonne destroyer and develop secret underwater weapons, according to state media. The announcement came after Kim inspected warships and supervised a naval test as he continued a series of military visits ahead of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's trip to Pyongyang next week. The reported orders point to a further expansion of North Korea's naval ambitions at a time of heightened military signalling.State media said Kim boarded the 5,000-tonne destroyer Kang Kon on Thursday and observed another 5,000-tonne warship, the Choe Hyon, during the test. It also said... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 Jun 2026 08:30 LONDON
US naval blockade cuts Iran's oil exports to six-year low
Iran's crude oil exports have fallen to their lowest level in at least six years after the United States began a naval blockade of Iranian ports on 13 April. The move has sharply reduced the amount of oil Tehran can sell abroad, according to shipping data cited in the supplied material. The disruption comes amid a fragile ceasefire between the two countries and has added pressure on Iran's most important source of income.The supplied reporting says Iran is now exporting less than one-sixth of the oil it was shipping before the war began. It says crude and condensate exports dropped... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 05 Jun 2026 15:02 LONDON
Xi Jinping to make rare visit to North Korea next week after nuclear-fuel facility disclosure
China's leader Xi Jinping is due to visit North Korea from 8 to 9 June, in a rare trip to Pyongyang that state media say will take place at the invitation of Kim Jong Un. It will be Xi's first visit to North Korea in nearly seven years, with his last trip to Pyongyang recorded in 2019. The visit comes one day after North Korea unveiled a new facility to produce material for nuclear bombs, believed to be a uranium enrichment plant.The trip was announced on 5 June and is being framed as a high-level diplomatic engagement between two countries... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 05 Jun 2026 11:59 LONDON
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UN General Assembly elects five new Security Council members as Germany misses out
The United Nations General Assembly has elected Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe to the UN Security Council, filling five rotating seats for the next two-year term. Germany failed to win a place in the vote, after a contested race in which Austria and Portugal took the two seats available to the Western Europe and Others Group. The new members will take up their seats on 1 January 2027.The election was decided by secret ballot in the 193-member General Assembly. In the Western Europe contest, Portugal received 134 votes and Austria 131, while Germany won 104. In the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 05 Jun 2026 00:59 LONDON
Trump signals imminent US-India trade deal breakthrough after White House remarks
US President Donald Trump has said the United States and India will "get to a deal" on trade, striking an optimistic note after days of negotiations in New Delhi. He made the comments at the White House while answering questions about the bilateral relationship and tariff disputes. Trump also described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "good friend" and said their personal relationship could help the talks move forward.The remarks came after four days of trade discussions in New Delhi from 1 June to 4 June. According to the supplied material, the delegations were led by the Office of the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 05 Jun 2026 00:33 LONDON
Beijing rejects US remarks on Tiananmen crackdown as a smear
Beijing has rejected recent US comments on the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, describing them as a smear of China. The response comes as the anniversary of the crackdown continues to draw attention to one of the most sensitive episodes in modern Chinese political history. The dispute centres on how the events of 4 June 1989 are publicly described and remembered.The immediate trigger was a statement from the US side that Beijing said misrepresented the crackdown. Chinese officials responded by accusing Washington of interfering in China's internal affairs and of distorting the historical record. The available material does not provide the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 04 Jun 2026 21:02 LONDON
India pushes ahead with Great Nicobar strategic island project
Bulldozers are clearing forest on Great Nicobar Island as India moves ahead with a $12.5 billion project that is being framed by officials as strategically important for defence, trade and maritime connectivity. The island lies in the eastern Indian Ocean, about 40 nautical miles from the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest shipping routes. The project is intended to create a major hub on an island that is also home to indigenous communities and sensitive ecosystems.The plan has been championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said last year that it was of "strategic, defence and national importance".... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 04 Jun 2026 20:06 LONDON
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Five Eyes warns Chinese spies are using job platforms to target sensitive staff
Australia and its Five Eyes partners have issued a joint warning that Chinese intelligence services are using LinkedIn, Upwork and Indeed to target people with access to sensitive information. The bulletin says operatives are posing as recruiters and using ordinary hiring channels to approach government, defence and intelligence personnel, as well as others with indirect access to privileged material. It was issued as a joint statement by the security agencies of the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.The warning, titled "Safeguarding our Secrets", says the approach is designed to identify people worth exploiting and then build contact through... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 04 Jun 2026 11:02 LONDON
UK to challenge EU over planned steel quota cuts
The UK business secretary, Peter Kyle, is due to raise concerns with the European Commission in Brussels over plans to sharply reduce tariff-free steel import quotas. The talks come as both the UK and the EU prepare new steel safeguards to take effect from 1 July. The dispute centres on how much steel can enter each market without tariffs, and on the risk that the two sides could end up restricting each other's exports at the same time.According to the supplied material, the EU plans to cut overall tariff-free imports from non-EU countries by 47% on 2024 levels from 1... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 04 Jun 2026 09:33 LONDON
China imposes one-year travel ban on four New Zealand MPs after Taiwan visit
China has imposed a one-year travel ban on four New Zealand MPs after they visited Taiwan in May, according to New Zealand's foreign ministry. The move is the first time Beijing has taken this step against New Zealand lawmakers over a Taiwan trip, and it has prompted Wellington to raise the matter with Chinese authorities. The MPs were told of the ban when they returned from the visit, local media reported.The Chinese Embassy said the ban could be reduced or waived if the MPs apologised. New Zealand foreign minister Winston Peters said the decision had surprised him, and officials in... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 04 Jun 2026 04:30 LONDON
Australia rejects US plan for 12.5% tariff over forced-labour claims
The United States is planning to impose a 12.5% tariff on goods from Australia, alleging the country has failed to take action to prevent slavery and forced labour. The move would affect dozens of countries and is set to replace, and slightly increase, the Trump administration's existing temporary 10% global import surcharge when it expires on 24 July. In Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the proposal was unjustified and inconsistent with the free trade agreements between the two allies.Mr Albanese said Australia had an ideological disagreement with the United States over tariffs, arguing that the American administration had broken... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 04 Jun 2026 01:06 LONDON
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Kyrgyzstan elected to UN Security Council for first time in its history
Kyrgyzstan has been elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 term, winning the Asia-Pacific Group vacancy and defeating the Philippines. The vote, held on Wednesday, gives Kyrgyzstan its first seat on the 15-member council since independence in 1991. It also makes Kyrgyzstan the first Central Asian country to join the body in more than a decade, after Kazakhstan served in the 2017-2018 term.The result was described as a major diplomatic victory for Bishkek. President Sadyr Japarov had urged world leaders to back Kyrgyzstan's bid and to give greater voice to countries that have... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 03 Jun 2026 22:05 LONDON
UK foreign secretary begins first official India visit for trade and security talks
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is in India for her first official visit as foreign secretary, with meetings planned in New Delhi with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The talks are centred on the UK-India free trade agreement, global stability, energy security and maritime security. The visit comes after Cooper arrived following a stop in China, according to the supplied material.Cooper is scheduled to meet Mr Jaishankar on Thursday, and the two ministers are expected to discuss closer collaboration between the UK and India to reduce economic shocks from ongoing conflicts and to preserve global... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 03 Jun 2026 19:08 LONDON
US proposes tariffs on 60 trading partners over forced-labour claims
The United States has proposed new tariffs on imports from 60 economies after a forced-labour investigation, in a move that could affect supply chains across several major trading partners. The plan would add duties of up to 12.5% and is being presented by the administration of President Donald Trump as part of a wider effort to rebuild tariff policy. The proposal was issued by the Office of the United States Trade Representative late on Tuesday and has already drawn pushback from trading partners and business leaders.According to the trade agency, the proposal follows a Section 301 unfair trade practices investigation.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 03 Jun 2026 19:01 LONDON
UK foreign secretary begins three-day Beijing visit to reset ties with China
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has begun a three-day visit to Beijing as the United Kingdom seeks to reset relations with China after a prolonged period of strain. The trip comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Beijing in January, and it marks another high-level attempt to revive diplomatic and economic engagement between the two countries. Cooper met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng at the Great Hall of the People at the start of the visit, where she said both sides should approach talks with "candour and respect".Cooper said it was in the shared interest of both countries to support... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 03 Jun 2026 11:05 LONDON
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Rubio says China has not changed battlefield dynamics in Iran war
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Washington sees no evidence that Chinese support has altered the battlefield in the Iran conflict or hindered US military operations. Speaking before a House Appropriations Committee subcommittee, Rubio said Iran does have Chinese military equipment from earlier ties, but that the United States had not observed assistance that had "changed the dynamic in the battlefield" or "in any way impeded our operations". His remarks add a fresh national security angle to the wider Iran war diplomacy already under way.Rubio's comments came weeks after the US State Department imposed sanctions on three China-based... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 03 Jun 2026 07:35 LONDON
Solomon Islands opens treaty talks with Australia and reviews China security pact
Solomon Islands has agreed to begin negotiations on a new treaty with Australia, while its new prime minister says his government will review a security pact signed with China in 2022. The move was announced after Matthew Wale met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, and he described it as a reset in relations with Australia. The development marks a notable shift in the Pacific nation's external alignment and comes as Canberra and Beijing continue to compete for influence in the region.Wale said the government would start treaty negotiations with Australia and would review the China agreement as part... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 03 Jun 2026 03:31 LONDON
India rejects third-party role in Nepal border dispute
India has rejected any role for third parties in its border dispute with Nepal, saying the issue should be handled through bilateral mechanisms. The statement came after Nepal's prime minister raised the boundary question in parliament and referred to China and the United Kingdom as possible parties to help address the long-running disagreement. India said the two countries already have established channels to deal with boundary matters.Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had seen the remarks made by Nepal's prime minister, as well as a subsequent statement from Nepal's foreign ministry. He said close to 98% of... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 03 Jun 2026 01:04 LONDON
Norway warns Russia must not control Arctic Bear Gap corridor
Norway's defence minister has warned that Russia must not be allowed to control the Bear Gap, a strategic stretch of the Arctic Ocean that sits between the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea. Tore Sandvik said control of the corridor could give Moscow a dangerous ability to deploy submarines and weapons, including hypersonic missiles, against NATO countries. The warning places the narrow sea route at the centre of growing concern over military competition in the far north.Sandvik made the comments in an interview published on Monday, according to the supplied report. He said Russia's developing weapons systems showed why the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 02 Jun 2026 17:32 LONDON
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India rejects EU-Pakistan Kashmir references after Islamabad dialogue
India has rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint statement issued after the latest EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad. The Ministry of External Affairs said the remarks were unwarranted and that outside parties had no standing to comment on what it described as India's internal matters. The exchange adds another diplomatic dispute over Kashmir, a long-running issue in India's relations with Pakistan and, at times, with other foreign partners.The row followed the Eighth Round of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, during which EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar jointly... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 02 Jun 2026 16:33 LONDON
Cooper says Mandelson should never have been appointed as US ambassador
Yvette Cooper has said Peter Mandelson should "never have been appointed" as ambassador to the United States, as questions continue over the handling of his appointment and the release of messages linked to the row. The British foreign secretary made the comments during a trip to Beijing, where she was asked about the disclosure of more than 1,000 pages of documents. She also declined to say whether Keir Starmer was a strong and effective leader.Cooper described the release of the material as an "unedifying process", while saying it was still right for the government to be transparent. She said some... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 02 Jun 2026 11:32 LONDON
Myanmar president Min Aung Hlaing's India visit puts border security and regional ties in focus
Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing has held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi during a five-day visit to India, with the discussions focusing on trade, connectivity, border security and defence. The meeting is being closely watched because it is Min Aung Hlaing's first foreign trip since becoming president earlier this year. It also comes as regional governments weigh how to engage with Myanmar's military-backed leadership after years of conflict and political upheaval.The talks took place on Monday during a visit running from May 30 to June 3. According to officials, the two sides discussed internal security, border... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 02 Jun 2026 09:59 LONDON
Peter Garrett to lead crowd-funded review of Australia's Aukus submarine deal
Former Australian environment minister Peter Garrett is to lead a crowd-funded independent review of the Aukus submarine deal, a major defence procurement that has drawn renewed public scrutiny. The inquiry is focused on the A$368bn plan for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, and it will hold public hearings before publishing a report in October. Garrett said the review was long overdue and argued that debate over the project had been taken out of the hands of parliament and the public.The review is being organised by the Australian Peace and Security Forum, a not-for-profit group, and will be led by Garrett... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 02 Jun 2026 04:29 LONDON
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Taiwan condemns China after New York Times reporter expelled over Lai interview
Taiwan's presidential office has condemned China after the New York Times said one of its reporters was expelled from the country following an interview the newspaper conducted with President Lai Ching-te. The row centres on Vivian Wang, whom the paper said was expelled in February, with Chinese officials reportedly linking the move to a December video interview with Lai. Taiwan said the action showed pressure on the media and added to concerns about Beijing's treatment of press freedom.According to the report, the newspaper said Wang was told the expulsion was in response to the DealBook summit interview with Lai, although... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 01 Jun 2026 20:09 LONDON
Myanmar blast near China border death toll rises to at least 55
A blast at a building storing industrial mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar has killed at least 55 people and injured more than 100, according to the latest confirmed figures. The explosion happened around noon on Sunday in Kaungtup village, in Namhkam township, close to the border with China. The incident has caused widespread damage in the surrounding area, with homes in two villages reported destroyed or damaged.The Ta'ang National Liberation Army, which controls the area, has described the incident as an accidental explosion. Its economic department said the facility was storing gelignite for use in local mining operations and that... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 01 Jun 2026 18:34 LONDON
Chinese military sought Nvidia chips for years, report says
An analysis of six years of procurement records suggests that the People's Liberation Army has openly tried to acquire restricted U.S. technology, including Nvidia chips. The finding points to a sustained effort rather than a single purchase attempt. It also places the issue in the broader context of long-running competition over advanced computing technology.The report is based on procurement records spanning six years, according to the supplied material. It says the military sought technology that is restricted in the United States, and specifically names Nvidia chips. No further details were provided in the source row about the exact contracts, quantities... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 01 Jun 2026 11:02 LONDON
The Mirage of the Umbrella: The Shifting Sands of the U.S.-Israel-GCC Alliance
As I sat in a recent debate at the historic Carlton Club in London, listening to Faisal Abbas, the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, I felt a tangible shift in the room, not because a new fact had been revealed, but because an old illusion had finally lost its last breath. The old-world order has not merely changed, it has evaporated, leaving the Gulf to realize it is no longer watching a distant fire from the safety of marble towers and air-conditioned ministries, but is instead standing directly inside the smoke. The GCC today is caught in a lethal crossfire between... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 29 Apr 2026 21:40 LONDON
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The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 06 Mar 2026 17:20 LONDON
The Proving Ground, When “Decent” Reporting Meets High-Tech Warfare
For two decades I have watched wars unfold not only on battlefields, but on screens. Today’s incident over Kuwait, involving the downing of a U.S. F-15 Strike Eagle, is not just another headline in the Iran conflict. It may be a signal that something larger is unfolding behind the noise. Iranian state outlets rapidly circulated imagery of an ejected pilot. Washington responded cautiously. But beneath the spectacle lies a deeper question, whose technology was truly being tested? The Gulf as a live-fire laboratory For years, China has refined export-ready variants of its air defense systems, particularly the HQ-9 family and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 02 Mar 2026 09:36 LONDON
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Shadows of Fire: The Long Arc of Iran–United States Tensions
A Region on Edge: The Latest Escalation In recent months, tensions between Iran and the United States have intensified once again, fueled by disputes over regional security, nuclear development, maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf, and the broader strategic balance in the Middle East. Officials in Washington have expressed renewed concern over Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, while leaders in Tehran have accused the United States of economic warfare through sanctions and diplomatic isolation. The fragile equilibrium that followed earlier rounds of indirect negotiations appears increasingly strained, with both sides engaging in sharp rhetoric at the United Nations, reinforcing military postures... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 19 Feb 2026 08:49 LONDON
There Is Good in Every Bad
Power, Greed, Oil, and the Theater of Modern Geopolitics The Business Model of Power Donald Trump does not govern like a traditional politician. He governs like a negotiator who believes every geopolitical crisis is leverage, every war threat is a bargaining chip, and every market panic is an opportunity. When markets tremble, someone profits. The question is, who? Global markets react instantly to political tension. Gold rises when conflict looms. Oil spikes when instability threatens production. Stock markets collapse on fear, then rebound on reassurance. Volatility is not chaos, it is opportunity. Historically, gold has surged during major geopolitical crises,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 18 Feb 2026 17:11 LONDON
