What The World is FollowingUS Navy faces most intense combat since WWII against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels Credit: Bernat Armangue/AP The US-led campaign against the Houthi rebels, an Iran-backed rebel group based in Yemen, has turned into the most intense running sea battle the US Navy has faced since World War II, its leaders and experts told The Associated Press. The combat pits the navy's mission to keep international waterways open against a group whose former arsenal of assault rifles and pickup trucks has grown into a seemingly inexhaustible supply of drones, missiles and other weaponry. Near-daily attacks by the Houthis since November have seen more than 50 vessels clearly targeted, while shipping volume has dropped in the vital Red Sea corridor that leads to the Suez Canal and into the Mediterranean. The Houthis say the attacks are aimed at stopping the war in Gaza and supporting the Palestinians, though it comes as they try to strengthen their position in Yemen. All signs suggest the warfare will intensify — putting US sailors, their allies and commercial vessels at more risk. Russia-Ukraine War
Russian President Vladimir Putin promised Friday to “immediately” order a ceasefire in Ukraine and begin negotiations if Kyiv started withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounced plans to join NATO. Such a deal appears a nonstarter for Kyiv, which wants to join the military alliance and has demanded that Russia withdraw its troops from all of its territory. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine on Putin's proposal. Putin’s remarks came as G7 leaders from industrialized nations met in Italy and as Switzerland prepared to host scores of world leaders — but not from Moscow — this weekend to try to map out the first steps toward peace in Ukraine. The US and Ukraine this week also signed a 10-year security agreement that they hailed as a milestone in relations. Putin said his proposal is aimed at a “final resolution” of the conflict in Ukraine rather than “freezing it" and stressed that the Kremlin is “ready to start negotiations without delay.” China
Supporters say a Chinese journalist who promoted women’s rights as part of the country’s nascent #MeToo movement has been sentenced to five years in prison on charges of incitement to subvert state authority, almost three years after she and an activist were detained. The verdict provided to The Associated Press stated that Huang Xueqin would also face a fine of $14,000, underscoring the ruling Communist Party’s intolerance of any activism outside its control in a system whose upper echelons are dominated by men. China’s #MeToo movement flourished briefly before being snuffed out by the government. China often silences activists by holding them incommunicado for a long time and then sentencing them to prison. Huang’s release date was listed as Sept. 18, 2026, accounting for her earlier detention. Co-defendant Wang Jianbing was sentenced to three years and six months on the same charge. | 
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Welcome to my geopolitics blog site. This is a Hawaii Island news site focusing on geopolitical news, analysis, information, and commentary. I will cite a variety of sources, ranging from all sides of the political spectrum.