Sunday, March 15, 2026
Geopolitics
AP News · Reuters · BBC
President Trump threatened further strikes on Kharg Island, Iran's oil-export hub, and urged allies including the UK, France, China, Japan and South Korea to deploy warships to keep the key artery for global energy supplies open. Tehran said it would intensify its response, warning that the UAE and other Gulf states were now legitimate targets. [BBC]
Geopolitics
AP News
Gulf Arab states intercepted new missiles and drones fired from Iran, as Tehran threatened to widen the conflict beyond its ongoing exchange with the US and Israel. The UAE and Saudi Arabia, despite unofficial ties to Israel, are now actively defending against Iranian attacks. The International Energy Agency warned global oil supply could fall by 8 million barrels per day in March. [Reuters]
Geopolitics
AP News · Reuters
US and Chinese officials opened trade talks in Paris, paving the way for a potential summit between Trump and Xi Jinping. The talks come as Trump seeks to close a $1.6 trillion revenue gap with new tariffs. Meanwhile, China is looking to cement its influence in Latin America—something the US is also actively pursuing as both powers compete for regional sway. [Reuters]
Geopolitics
BBC News
Uganda's military chief had said Bobi Wine was wanted "dead or alive," although some ministers denied he was being sought. The opposition leader has now gone abroad after two months in hiding. Student activists who risked beatings and detentions under Maduro's rule in Venezuela now feel safer speaking out—a contrast to the ongoing crackdowns in Uganda. [AP]
Tech & Science
AP News
The Trump administration is pursuing a raft of new tariffs to close a massive revenue gap. The trade war with China, combined with the Iran conflict disrupting global energy markets, creates compounding economic headwinds. US-China talks in Paris aim to de-escalate tensions before they further impact global supply chains.
Tech & Science
BBC News
At least 62 people have been killed in severe flooding in Kenya, with heavy rains continuing to devastate the region. Eleven people were rescued overnight after a minibus taxi got stuck in rising floodwaters in Nairobi. The flooding is part of a broader climate pattern affecting East Africa.