China orders firms not to comply with US sanctions on five refineries
China has ordered its citizens and companies not to comply with United States sanctions targeting five Chinese oil refineries, in the first known use of its 2021 anti-sanctions law.The Ministry of Commerce issued what it called a "prohibition order" after the US Treasury Department last month announced sanctions on Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) and four other refineries accused of handling Iranian oil.Beijing said the sanctions should "not be recognised, enforced or complied with", and argued that they improperly restricted normal trade and business activities.It said the order was intended to protect China's national sovereignty, security and development interests.The move is significant... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 07 May 2026 12:00 LONDON
China urges improved ties as Wang Yi meets visiting US senators in Beijing
China's foreign minister Wang Yi has met a five-member US Senate delegation in Beijing and called for the two countries to work as partners rather than adversaries.He said Washington should view China objectively, respect its core interests and manage differences properly.Wang made the remarks during talks with the delegation led by Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana.He said Beijing and Washington should seek "harmony without uniformity" and work to stabilise and improve bilateral relations.The visit comes just days before a rescheduled trip to Beijing by Donald Trump, adding to the diplomatic significance of the meeting.Daines is described as a close... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 07 May 2026 11:33 LONDON
Myanmar military rulers hire Roger Stone to lobby Washington
Myanmar's military rulers have hired veteran American political operative Roger Stone to help rebuild relations with Washington, according to filings under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act.The Ministry of Information in Naypyidaw is said to have brought in Stone through the Washington-based lobbying firm DCI Group.The filings say Stone is being paid US$50,000 a month, while DCI Group signed a US$3 million contract with Myanmar in July last year.The stated aim of the arrangement is to normalise ties with Washington after the junta's 2021 coup against Myanmar's elected government.It also seeks to influence US policy on Myanmar's economy, natural resources... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 07 May 2026 09:31 LONDON
Rubio meets Pope Leo at Vatican amid Trump criticism
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived at the Vatican for talks with Pope Leo XIV, in a visit aimed at easing tensions between Washington and the Holy See.The meeting is expected to be held behind closed doors and to last about half an hour, before Rubio goes on to meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state.Parolin said the meeting was requested by the US, and that Leo would listen carefully to what Rubio had to say.The US ambassador to the Holy See has said the conversation is likely to be frank.The talks come after President Donald... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 07 May 2026 08:31 LONDON
US accuses Hezbollah of trying to derail Lebanon-Israel talks
The US State Department says it is working to create conditions for "good faith conversations" between Lebanon and Israel, while accusing Hezbollah of trying to derail the diplomacy.State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott made the remarks in comments attributed to him on 7 May.He said Hezbollah was attempting to undermine the process through attacks and threats.The statement comes as Washington seeks to support direct or indirect talks between Lebanon and Israel.No further details were given on the format, timing or participants in the discussions.The accusation matters because it points to continuing tension around efforts to reduce friction between the two sides.Any... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 07 May 2026 03:29 LONDON
Iran reviews US proposal as Israel bombs Beirut
Iran says it is still reviewing a US proposal delivered through Pakistan, as President Donald Trump says talks with Tehran are progressing.Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the proposal remains under review and that Tehran will respond once it has finalised its position.Trump said the US had held very good talks with Iran and suggested a deal could be within reach.The same report says Israel has bombed Beirut, in the first strike on the Lebanese capital since a ceasefire took effect on 17 April.The ceasefire is described as fragile.The developments matter because they show diplomacy and military escalation moving in... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 07 May 2026 02:30 LONDON
U.S. military on standby as Iran war signals remain mixed
The U.S. military is described as being on standby while officials give contradictory signals about the status of the Iran war effort.The latest reporting points to uncertainty over whether Washington is preparing for further military action or a possible shift toward diplomacy.The supplied material says U.S. troops in the Middle East are waiting for the next major development.It also says the administration's messaging has not been consistent, leaving the current direction of policy unclear.No casualties or direct military engagement are confirmed in the available rows.The immediate issue is the state of readiness and the lack of a clear public line... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 07 May 2026 01:30 LONDON
Iran foreign minister in Beijing as China urges reopening of Strait of Hormuz
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said his country has "attained an elevated international standing" during the war with the US and Israel, after meeting China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.The meeting took place on 6 May, according to the supplied report.Wang urged Iran and the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route.The comments come amid wider tensions over regional shipping security and Iran's relations with Washington and Gulf states.The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most sensitive maritime chokepoints, so any disruption there can affect international trade and energy flows.Araghchi's remarks suggest... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 May 2026 21:01 LONDON
US and Israel condemn Belgian circumcision prosecution as court date set
The United States and Israel have sharply criticised Belgium after prosecutors in Antwerp sought a trial over circumcision cases involving two men accused of operating without the required medical licence.The Antwerp Public Prosecutor's Office said the men should face trial for what it described as intentional assault or battery with premeditation against minors.Antwerp's Chamber of Indictments is due to decide on 18 June whether the case will proceed.The dispute escalated after the US ambassador to Belgium, Bill White, and Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar both issued public condemnations on X on Wednesday.White said the prosecution of the religious figures was... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 May 2026 18:01 LONDON
Republicans propose $1bn in immigration bill for Trump ballroom project
Republicans are proposing $1 billion in an immigration bill for security improvements linked to a construction project at the White House East Wing.The plan includes a new ballroom that President Donald Trump has said would be built with private dollars.The only confirmed detail in the proposal is that the money would be directed to security improvements as part of the wider East Wing project.The row does not say when the funding would be considered or how it would be allocated.The proposal matters because it ties a major federal immigration bill to work at one of the most sensitive government sites... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 May 2026 06:30 LONDON
US grand jury adds assault charge in Trump assassination case
A grand jury in Washington has added a new assault charge to the case against a California man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump at a gala in the capital.The indictment, unsealed on Tuesday, also keeps in place attempted-assassination and firearms counts.Prosecutors say Cole Tomas Allen, 31, is accused of assaulting a US officer or employee with a deadly weapon.Court documents say the new charge relates to a Secret Service officer who was shot but not seriously wounded during the incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner on 25 April.Allen was previously charged last week by criminal complaint and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 May 2026 03:00 LONDON
US says offensive operations against Iran are over as Strait of Hormuz tensions rise
The United States says its offensive operations against Iran have ended, even as fresh warnings and reported attacks in the Strait of Hormuz raised concern that the ceasefire could unravel.Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the initial US-Israeli offensive in Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury, had reached its objectives.He said Washington preferred a path of peace, while also warning of a strong response to any new threat to shipping.The immediate concern is the waterway itself.Late on Tuesday, UK Maritime Trade Operations said a verified source had reported a cargo vessel struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 May 2026 00:00 LONDON
Michael Marx charged after shooting near JD Vance motorcade in Washington, DC
A court filing has given new details about a shooting near the Washington Monument and along the route of JD Vance's motorcade in Washington, DC.It says Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, was walking near the intersection of 15th Street and Independence Avenue when officers spotted him after a Secret Service report that he had been seen near the White House complex with a concealed firearm.According to the affidavit, Marx pulled a gun from his waistband as he ran from officers and fired at one of them.A bystander behind the officer was shot in the leg, while officers returned fire... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 05 May 2026 07:00 LONDON
US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany as NATO and Europe respond to Iran war pressure
The United States has announced it will withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, prompting fresh attention on Washington's military role in Europe and the wider response to the Iran war.The Pentagon said on Friday that the troops would be removed from Germany, where more than 36,000 US personnel are currently stationed.Donald Trump said the following day that he would go "a lot further" than the initial drawdown.The move comes as NATO and European leaders assess how to adapt to a possible reduction in the US commitment to the continent's security.Mark Rutte, the NATO chief, said Europeans had "gotten the message" and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 04 May 2026 09:30 LONDON
Rubio to meet Pope Leo in Rome after Trump row over anti-war remarks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to travel to Italy this week for meetings in Rome, including a planned audience with Pope Leo, according to Vatican and Italian sources.The meeting is understood to take place on Thursday.Reports said the visit is intended to help ease tensions after weeks of strain linked to criticism from US President Donald Trump of the pope's anti-war rhetoric.Rubio is also expected to meet Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.An Italian government source said he had asked for a meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and media reports... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 03 May 2026 21:00 LONDON
US indictment of Mexican governor fuels corruption scandal in Mexico
A US indictment of a Mexican governor has triggered a corruption scandal in Mexico and put renewed attention on alleged cartel links.The case has also strained relations between Mexico and the United States.The only confirmed details in the supplied material are that the indictment involves a Mexican governor and that it has become a political issue in Mexico.The row does not name the governor or set out the charges.The development has placed President Claudia Sheinbaum in a difficult position, according to the supplied material.It is also being seen as a test of how Mexico responds to allegations that reach into... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 03 May 2026 11:31 LONDON
Two Gaza flotilla activists appear in Israeli court after interception
Two activists from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla have appeared before an Israeli court after being brought to Israel for questioning, according to the rights group representing them.Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila were taken to Ashkelon after Israeli forces intercepted a flotilla of more than 50 vessels in international waters off Greece early on Thursday.Israel said it had removed about 175 activists in the operation, with two taken to Israel for interrogation.The court appearance came as the state sought to extend their detention by four days, Adalah said.The group said its lawyers had met the two men... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 03 May 2026 10:30 LONDON
Iran says US has responded to latest peace proposal via Pakistan
Iran says it has received a US response to its latest peace proposal, with the reply delivered via Pakistan and now under review, according to Iranian state-linked media.The reported exchange comes amid continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington, and follows comments by US President Donald Trump that he would soon review the plan but could not imagine it being acceptable.Iranian state media said the 14-point proposal calls for an agreement within 30 days and for hostilities to end, including fighting beyond Iran.It also reportedly seeks the withdrawal of US forces from near Iran's borders and an end to the naval... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 03 May 2026 08:30 LONDON
US troop cuts in Germany draw criticism from top Republicans and NATO concern
Two senior US Republican lawmakers have criticised the Pentagon's decision to cut 5,000 US troops stationed in Germany, saying the move could undermine deterrence and send the wrong signal to Russia.Roger Wicker and Mike Rogers, who chair the Senate and House armed services committees respectively, said the troops should be moved further east rather than withdrawn from Europe.Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the decision followed a thorough review and took account of theatre requirements and conditions on the ground.NATO said it was seeking clarification from Washington.The dispute matters because Germany hosts more than 36,000 active-duty US troops and remains a... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 03 May 2026 06:29 LONDON
Trump unsatisfied with Iran peace proposal amid stalled talks
US President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Iran's latest peace proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between the two countries.The proposal was submitted via Pakistan, which has been mediating between Washington and Tehran.Trump stated that the terms contained in the Iranian offer were unacceptable and that he was "not satisfied" with the deal.He warned that negotiations may fail and that conflict could resume if an agreement is not reached.The ceasefire between the US and Iran has been in place for three weeks, temporarily halting hostilities that began after US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.Despite this pause, talks... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 01 May 2026 19:30 LONDON
Deadly Israeli strikes continue in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire
At least nine people, including two children, were killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday, according to the Lebanese health ministry.The strikes targeted Hezbollah infrastructure despite a ceasefire that has been in place since 16 April.In addition to the fatalities, 23 people were wounded, including eight children and seven women.Hezbollah responded with attacks on Israeli forces in the south, including a drone strike targeting soldiers in the Bint Jbeil district.The violence persists even though the ceasefire was announced following direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington.Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the ongoing Israeli military actions, describing... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 30 Apr 2026 22:30 LONDON
The Great Uncoupling: Abu Dhabi’s Sovereign Gambit
The UAE’s decision to cut ties with OPEC is far more than a mere adjustment of energy policy, for it functions as a political telegram written in barrels and sent directly to the heart of the global order. For nearly six decades, Abu Dhabi operated within the rigid architecture of producer discipline, where it accepted the rituals of quotas, the formality of communiqués, and the heavy burden of collective restraint. It played the long game of oil diplomacy with a patient hand, balancing its own massive national ambitions against the gravity of cartel discipline and the delicate logic of Gulf... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 30 Apr 2026 09:50 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
The Glass Elevator to Nowhere: A World Trapped in a Chocolate Factory
As a journalist in my mid-fifties, I thought my skin had thickened to the point of being impenetrable. I have covered the rise and fall of regimes, the grinding gears of the Cold War's leftovers, and the digital revolutions that promised to unite us. I thought I had seen every trick in the political playbook. Then came Donald Trump’s 2026 foreign policy, and I realized I was not watching a statesman; I was watching a child play with a chemistry set he does not understand. The Willy Wonka of the West: Rule by Whim Walking into a press briefing lately... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 02 Apr 2026 09:44 LONDON
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
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
