World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 476
Tokyo’s Fertility Rebound: How Big Cash and Free Services Are Turning Babies Into a Public Good
Tokyo’s bold package of cash payments, free services and subsidies — financed at roughly ¥2 trillion a year — appears to have nudged births higher in 2025 after years of decline. The metropolis’s experiment suggests that reducing the explicit and implicit costs of childrearing can influence fertility, but it raises questions about fiscal sustainability and regional divergence.
Israeli Strikes Kill 21 in Gaza after Army Says Fighters Opened Fire Near Northern Frontline
Israeli strikes across Gaza killed 21 people, including a Palestinian Red Crescent medic, after the Israel Defense Forces said armed men fired on soldiers near the northern "yellow line." Hamas denied the accusation and condemned the strikes, highlighting the fragility of local ceasefire arrangements and the acute humanitarian risks facing displaced civilians.
Gulf States Coax Washington Back to the Table — Iran Talks Restored, Moved to Oman
After urgent lobbying by multiple Middle Eastern leaders, the U.S. agreed to restore Iran talks scheduled for February 6 and move the meeting to Oman. Regional pressure sought to prevent a cancellation that might have increased the likelihood of military action, but U.S. officials remain sceptical about the talks' prospects.
Children of Fallen 'Martyr' Make First Visit to Father's Tomb — A Personal Scene That Resonates Beyond the Cemetery
Two children visited the Beijing martyr's cemetery on 5 February to pay respects to their father, identified as Zhao Hu, in footage that shows them crying while clutching his headstone. The scene is a poignant example of private grief intersecting with China’s institutionalised commemoration of martyrs, a practice that reinforces state narratives of sacrifice and collective memory.
Iran and U.S. to Hold Talks in Muscat on Feb. 6, Tehran Says — A Tentative Diplomatic Opening
Iran’s foreign minister said Iran and the United States will meet in Muscat on Feb. 6 for talks conducted through Oman, a customary intermediary. The encounter is likely to focus on limited, pragmatic issues rather than a comprehensive settlement, serving as a test of whether the two sides can achieve small confidence‑building measures amid persistent strategic differences.
Assassination of Saif al‑Islam Gaddafi at a Fraught Moment Risks Re‑igniting Libya’s Factional War
Saif al‑Islam Gaddafi was assassinated on 3 February in Zintan by masked gunmen who reportedly disabled security cameras before killing him. His death comes at a politically sensitive moment and risks provoking reprisals, deepening factional divisions, and further undermining Libya’s fragile path to national reconciliation.
Four Legs, One Rhythm: China Puts Cavalry Drill on Display to Showcase Military Discipline
Footage released by a Chinese military outlet shows cavalry horses moving in tightly synchronized formations, a ceremonial display that highlights the PLA’s emphasis on discipline, tradition and carefully managed public messaging. While horses have limited battlefield utility today, mounted units remain useful for certain terrains and for projecting an image of military order, not as an indicator of doctrinal change.
Export Rush for the JF-17 Tests Pakistan’s Aerospace Ambitions
Pakistan has received expressions of interest from five countries for the JF-17 fighter, but current production — under 20 jets per year and largely reserved for the Pakistan Air Force — may be unable to meet a sudden export surge. Scaling up will require investment, supply-chain adjustments and raise geopolitical questions about Pakistan’s role as a seller of military hardware.
U.S. Defence Chief Warns Iran: Talks or ‘Other Options’ as Washington Says It Is ‘Very Prepared’
U.S. Defence Secretary Hegseth warned that Iran faces “other options” if nuclear talks fail, saying the military is “very well” prepared, while President Trump reiterated threats of force. Both officials framed diplomacy as possible but secondary to a posture of preparedness, raising concerns about escalation in a region already strained by sanctions and nuclear tensions.
Iran Shows Underground 'Missile City' and 1,000km Anti‑Ship Cruise Missile, Putting U.S. Fleets on the Back Foot
Iran has publicly showcased an underground missile complex and a new anti‑ship cruise missile, "Abu Mahdi," claiming over 1,000 km range and a heavy warhead capable of damaging large U.S. warships. The display underscores Tehran’s reliance on concealment, mobility and asymmetric tactics to complicate U.S. naval operations in the Gulf and Arabian Sea.
Netanyahu Seeks U.S. 'Freedom to Act' on Iran While Pressing Gaza Preconditions
Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. special envoy Witkoff that Israel needs 'freedom to act' on Iran, demanding Tehran halt ballistic missile production and uranium enrichment. The meeting also covered Gaza reconstruction, with Israel insisting on Hamas disarmament, full demilitarization, and exclusion of the Palestinian Authority from Gaza's governance.
Trump Says Talks with Iran Underway — Possible Nuclear Deal in the Offing as Regional Hosts Offer to Broker
President Trump said talks with Iran are ongoing and expressed hope for a deal, while Tehran confirmed plans for imminent negotiations and said Turkey and Oman have offered to host. A meeting between U.S. envoy Witkoff and Iranian foreign minister Araghchi in Istanbul on Feb. 6 has been reported; any agreement faces deep trust deficits, regional sensitivities and domestic political constraints on both sides.