Middle East tensions are rising once again as intelligence warnings suggest Iran could be preparing a major missile and drone strike targeting Israel and Gulf oil infrastructure. At the same time, Tehran has reportedly removed a key negotiator from US-Iran talks, raising speculation of a possible breakthrough deal.
Meanwhile in the United States, Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime assistant Sarah Kellen has testified before Congress, denying she was an accomplice and claiming she too was abused.
In Beijing, Vladimir Putin’s viral “no-jacket” moment during meetings with Xi Jinping sparked major discussion online - while Russia and China quietly expanded their strategic partnership through new agreements and geopolitical coordination.
Watch this detailed World News analysis with Pankaj Mishra.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Headlines
00:41 – Iran Strike Warning Explained
03:18 – Iran Removes Key Negotiator
05:42 – Epstein Assistant Breaks Silence
08:07 – Putin’s Viral Beijing Moment
#Iran #Israel #MiddleEast #Trump #Putin #XiJinping #Epstein #WorldNews #IranNews #RussiaChina #Geopolitics #BreakingNews #GlobalNews #USIran #OilMarket
~HT.410~PR.460~GR.538~PR.282~ED.532~VG.HM~
Meanwhile in the United States, Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime assistant Sarah Kellen has testified before Congress, denying she was an accomplice and claiming she too was abused.
In Beijing, Vladimir Putin’s viral “no-jacket” moment during meetings with Xi Jinping sparked major discussion online - while Russia and China quietly expanded their strategic partnership through new agreements and geopolitical coordination.
Watch this detailed World News analysis with Pankaj Mishra.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Headlines
00:41 – Iran Strike Warning Explained
03:18 – Iran Removes Key Negotiator
05:42 – Epstein Assistant Breaks Silence
08:07 – Putin’s Viral Beijing Moment
#Iran #Israel #MiddleEast #Trump #Putin #XiJinping #Epstein #WorldNews #IranNews #RussiaChina #Geopolitics #BreakingNews #GlobalNews #USIran #OilMarket
~HT.410~PR.460~GR.538~PR.282~ED.532~VG.HM~
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NewsTranscript
00:02On World News Today, fresh intelligence warnings suggest Iran could be preparing a sudden missile
00:08and drone strike targeting Israel and Gulf nations. Tehran removes a key negotiator accused
00:14of blocking talks with Washington, raising hopes of a possible breakthrough deal. In the United
00:20States, Jeffrey Epstein's former assistant breaks her silence before Congress and claims she too
00:26was the victim. And in Beijing, a simple gesture by Vladimir Putin goes viral while Russia and China
00:34quietly deepen one of the world's most important strategic partnerships. I am Pankal Mishra. This
00:41is World News. Fresh intelligence assessments are now raising fears that Iran could be preparing
00:47a sudden and high-intensity military strike across the Middle East. Security officials monitoring the
00:53regions say Tehran may be considering a rapid attack involving ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial
01:00vehicles, commonly known as drones. Potential targets reportedly include not just Israel, but also
01:06Gulf oil fields, refineries and major ports. That matters globally because any attack on Gulf energy
01:14infrastructure could immediately impact oil markets, shipping routes and global fuel prices and their
01:21supply. The timing of these warnings is also significant. They come amid rising tensions between
01:27Washington, Tel Aviv and Tehran over ceasefire negotiations and the future of diplomacy with Iran. One thing is
01:35clear, the message from Tehran appears very direct. Iran wants rivals to know that even under pressure, its
01:43strike capabilities remain intact. And should the talks or the deals fail, then it would be ready for any
01:50possible U.S. attack. And in the Middle East, deterrence over depends not just on weapons, but on the belief
01:58that they can still be used at any moment.
02:09Just as U.S.-Iran negotiations appeared to be entering what mediators call a more constructive phase, a new Israeli
02:17intelligence leak is suddenly warning of a possible surprise Iranian attack. But critics are now asking a different
02:24question. Is this genuine intelligence? Or is Israel building the narrative for a new escalation that could derail
02:32diplomacy? Fresh reports from Israeli officials claiming Iran may launch missile and drone attacks on
02:38Gulf states and Israel are now triggering intense geopolitical debate. But this warning comes at a very sensitive
02:45diplomatic moment. According to multiple international reports, ongoing U.S.-Iran talks, mediated through regional
02:52channels, have recently shown what negotiators describe as slight progress and narrowed gaps between
02:58both sides. And that is exactly why some analysts believe these latest Israeli warnings could be
03:04politically significant. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly expressed frustration with
03:10diplomatic engagement toward Tehran, while reports suggest tensions are growing between Netanyahu and U.S.
03:16President Donald Trump over how to proceed with Iran. Now critics are questioning whether public
03:21warnings about an imminent Iranian attack could create pressure against continuing negotiations.
03:26Iranian officials have long accused Israel of trying to sabotage diplomacy between Tehran and Washington.
03:32Earlier this year, senior Iranian figure Ali Larijani openly claimed Israel was attempting to derail
03:38negotiations and provoke a wider regional conflict. And the timing is difficult to ignore. While mediators from
03:44Pakistan, Gulf countries, and other regional actors push for a ceasefire framework, Israeli intelligence leaks are
03:50once again shifting global focus back toward military confrontation. The central question now being
03:55raised is this. Is Israel warning about an attack because one is truly imminent? Or because diplomacy itself is
04:01becoming a threat to Israel's strategic position against Iran? Supporters of negotiations argue that every time
04:07talks appear to move forward, fears of escalation suddenly dominate headlines again. The broader context also matters.
04:13The current crisis itself began after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year following the
04:18collapse of earlier negotiations. Since then, the region has remained on edge with repeated military
04:23threats, sanctions battles, and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran maintains that it wants sanctions
04:28relief and security guarantees, while also insisting it will not surrender its strategic leverage completely.
04:33At the same time, Washington has hinted there are still openings for a negotiated settlement. U.S. Secretary of State
04:38Margot Rubio recently acknowledged good signs emerging from the latest diplomatic contacts. But
04:43Israeli military preparations are also intensifying. Reports indicate increased intelligence coordination,
04:48expanded operational readiness, and a sharp rise in U.S. military equipment transfers to Israel over
04:52the past month. For critics of Israel's approach, that raises fears that the region could once again
04:56move from diplomacy back toward confrontation. And now the world is watching closely to see whether these
05:01latest warnings become a security reality or a political pressure campaign ahead of a possible U.S.-Iran breakthrough.
05:09Now, in a major political development, Iran has reportedly removed senior figure Mohamed Ghalibaf
05:15from negotiations with the United States. According to sources familiar with the talks,
05:21Ghalibaf has opposed several American proposals and was seen as slowing down the progress towards a
05:27possible agreement. His removal is now being interpreted as a signal that Tehran may be trying to reset the
05:35negotiating process. Some reports even suggest that a breakthrough understanding between Iran and the
05:40United States could emerge within days if not hours if discussions continue moving forward. This matters
05:48because the internal power balance inside Iran often shapes how flexible or confrontational Tehran becomes
05:56during diplomacy. Hardline factions inside the Iranian system have long argued against making concessions to
06:03Washington. And this the world must take note of. A political shakeup inside Iran's negotiating team is
06:11once again being presented online as a fresh, breaking development. But the timeline tells a very different
06:18story. Reports indicate that Mohamed Bakir Ghalibaf, Iran's parliament speaker and a senior conservative
06:25figure, had already stepped back from his role leading Iran-U.S. negotiations weeks ago during earlier
06:33diplomatic talks held in Islamabad, Pakistan. This change is linked to internal power struggles within Tehran's
06:40political and security establishment during the 2025-2026 Iran-U.S. negotiations. At the center of the
06:49dispute were disagreements over the direction of talks, especially whether sensitive issues like Iran's
06:55nuclear program should be fully included in discussions with Washington. According to multiple regional
07:02reports, hardline factions within Iran's establishment pushed back strongly, accusing Ghalibaf of being too
07:09flexible or misaligned with their negotiating approach. Others, however, argued he was attempting to manage
07:16negotiations in a more structured diplomatic framework amid rising regional tensions. As internal
07:23disagreements intensified, his role as lead negotiator was effectively reduced, with alternative hardline
07:30figures reportedly being considered for the position. However, there is no confirmed recent or new dismissal.
07:38What is being circulated now reflects earlier developments from late April 2026, not a fresh official
07:45announcement. At the time, the talks themselves were already under strain, shaped by ongoing conflict
07:52dynamics between Iran, the United States, and regional actors following military escalations and ceasefire
08:00attempts. Despite speculation about potential diplomatic breakthroughs, no final agreement emerged,
08:07and negotiations remained fragmented and politically sensitive. Independent analysis suggests these
08:14developments reflect internal divisions within Iran's leadership, rather than a sudden policy shift.
08:20And as of now, there is no verified indication of a new leadership change in Iran's negotiating team.
08:27The situation remains fluid, but the core fact is clear. This is not a new announcement,
08:33but a continuation of earlier internal political realignments within Iran's negotiation structure.
08:40Back home in the United States, the Jeffrey Epstein scandal has once again returned to the national
08:46spotlight. Sarah Kellan, one of Epstein's longtime assistants, appeared before lawmakers in a closed-door
08:53congressional interview and strongly denied claims that she acted as an accomplice to the convicted
08:59sex offender. Kellan told members of the House Oversight and Reform Committee that she herself was sexually
09:07and psychologically abused by Epstein. She also said she wanted to dispel rumors, conspiracies, and tell the truth,
09:15as Congress continues reviewing the broader federal investigation linked to Epstein's network. The case
09:22continues to attract intense public attention because many questions surrounding Epstein's operations,
09:29associates, and possible production networks remain unresolved years after his death. For critiques of the
09:37investigation, the central concern has always been accountability. Who knew what and who escaped scrutiny?
09:43And Kellan's testimony is unlikely to end those questions. Jeffrey Epstein's long-time assistant,
09:52Sarah Kellan, is now breaking her silence, and her claims are shaking up the entire Epstein case again.
10:00For years, she was accused of helping Epstein recruit and abuse young girls. But now,
10:06Kellan says she was not an accomplice. She says she, too, was a victim.
10:12Sarah Kellan, one of Jeffrey Epstein's most trusted assistants, appeared before the U.S. House Oversight
10:19Committee on Thursday as part of a review into the federal investigation of Epstein. In her opening
10:24statement, Kellan strongly denied years of public accusations that she was a key enabler in Epstein's
10:31sex trafficking network. Instead, she claimed she was trapped inside it.
10:37Kellan told lawmakers that Epstein groomed her, controlled her, and gaslit her until she could no longer
10:43distinguish her own thoughts from his. She said she lived in constant fear of him, claiming Epstein
10:49reminded her daily of his power, his connections, and the consequences of disobeying him.
10:55Kellan even described herself as a literal indentured slave inside Epstein's world. She said Ghislaine
11:02Maxwell referred to her as a slave and minion, and insisted she had zero power or authority.
11:08The testimony is significant because for years, multiple Epstein survivors accused Kellan of helping
11:15organize massages and sexual encounters for Epstein, including contacting young girls. Kellan has always
11:21denied knowing some of those girls were underage, and now she is claiming she too was being abused
11:27throughout that period. She told the committee the abuse happened on a weekly basis and said some
11:33incidents were violent. Kellan also claimed the abuse continued even while Epstein was in jail in
11:38Florida after his 2007 plea deal. She said Epstein would contact her through Skype from inside the Palm
11:44Beach County stockade and order her to undress on camera. Kellan was one of four women who received
11:50immunity from federal prosecution under Epstein's controversial 2007 plea agreement in Florida.
11:56But in her testimony, she claimed she did not even know her name was included in that deal
12:01until after it became public. She accused the U.S. government of branding her a criminal,
12:06without ever interviewing her or hearing her side of the story.
12:09After the closed-door session, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer called the interview
12:15the most substantive and productive testimony the panel has received so far. Comer also revealed
12:20that Kellan provided lawmakers with three new names of people she claims were involved in Epstein's
12:25abuse network. Those names have not yet been made public. Kellan ended her remarks by explaining why
12:30she says she never escaped Epstein's control. She told lawmakers she had nowhere else to go, no money,
12:36no family support, and no belief that she deserved better. And now, years after Epstein's death in a
12:42Manhattan jail cell, her testimony is likely to reignite questions about who knew what, who helped
12:48Epstein, and who may have also been caught inside his web of control. A seemingly simple moment involving
12:54Russian President Vladimir Putin during his Beijing visit has unexpectedly gone viral across Chinese social
13:01media. Cameras captured Putin removing his coat before entering his official vehicle during meetings
13:08with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Many Chinese viewers interpreted the gesture as a sign of comfort,
13:14sincerity, and personal trust between the two leaders. But behind this viral discussion was a
13:21far bigger geopolitical message. Putin and Xi held extensive talks inside Beijing's Great Hall of the People,
13:28where nearly 40 cooperation documents were reportedly prepared and 21 agreements were formally signed.
13:35The agreements reportedly covered areas including trade, energy cooperation, and long-term strategic
13:42coordination. For Russia, China offers economic and diplomatic support. For China, Russia provides
13:49strategic depth, energy access, and a powerful partner in challenging Western influence. And that is why
13:56even small symbolic moments like these during visits now carry global significance far beyond social media trends.
14:06Russian President Vladimir Putin's latest visit to Beijing is making headlines worldwide. But unexpectedly,
14:13it is not just the diplomacy grabbing attention. A simple personal gesture by Putin has now gone massively
14:20viral across Chinese social media platforms. Cameras covering the visit captured Putin repeatedly removing his coat
14:28before entering his official vehicle during meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. And that brief moment
14:34triggered a wave of reactions online. Many users in China interpreted the gesture as a sign of comfort, openness,
14:42and personal trust between the two leaders. Some even described it as symbolic body language, reflecting the growing
14:48closeness between Moscow and Beijing.
14:59The chairs weren't even cold. Less than a week after Donald Trump flew home from Beijing, Vladimir Putin
15:07landed in the same city, walked into the same rooms, and shook hands with the same man.
15:13One world, two superpowers, one very strategic host. Putin's two-day summit with Xi Jinping, scheduled May 19th and 20th,
15:24is
15:24only the second time these two have met in the past year. But the timing is not coincidental. It is
15:31a message, and Beijing is sending it deliberately.
15:37Chinese state media called it extremely rare in the post-Cold War era, hosting the leaders of both the United
15:44States and Russia within a single week.
15:47Xi Jinping isn't just playing host, he's playing kingmaker. Now here's where it gets uncomfortable for Washington.
15:55Trump left Beijing with nebulous agreements, vague commitments on agriculture, some talk on microchips, no firm deal on the Strait
16:05of Hormuz.
16:07Investors were so unimpressed, Dow futures dropped over 300 points the morning after. The headline, historic summit, masked a visit
16:17that analysts called, bluntly, more vibes than substance.
16:20Putin walked in with a different kind of agenda. Russia's oil exports to China grew 35% in just the
16:29first quarter of 2026. Putin himself said last week that Russia is at a very advanced stage of a major
16:37gas and oil deal, and he wants to sign it in Beijing.
16:41This isn't a courtesy call, this is a transaction, and China needs it. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut
16:49down by Iran, Beijing has every incentive to lock in Russian energy supply, and Moscow needs the revenue to keep
16:57funding its war in Ukraine.
16:59Think about what that means. While Trump was busy taking selfies at the Temple of Heaven and calling everything fantastic,
17:08Russia was quietly tightening its grip on China's energy lifeline, and by extension, on China itself.
17:16Putin's visit was officially framed around the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship, ceremonial cover for
17:26something far more transactional.
17:28Xi called Putin an old friend, a term Chinese diplomacy reserves for only its most valued foreign partners.
17:37A Beijing analyst put it plainly, the Trump visit was about stabilizing the world's most important bilateral relationship.
17:46The Putin visit is about reassuring a long-standing strategic partner. For China, these two tracks are not mutually exclusive.
17:55That's the part Trump's team should be reading very carefully.
17:59Beijing just hosted the man trying to contain China, and the man China is quietly keeping alive.
18:07It smiled at both of them. It committed to neither.
18:11Xi Jinping doesn't pick sides. He picks leverage.
18:16And right now, he has more of it than anyone in Washington wants to admit.
18:24So, needless to say, the stories reveal a world entering a more unstable and competitive phase, where military deterrence, diplomatic
18:32reshuffles, elite scandals and strategic alliances are all shaping the next global power equation.
18:39And every signal, however small, now carries a geopolitical weight.
18:45Thanks for watching world news.
18:47Thanks for watching world news.
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