World News

Latest world news and updates

Total: 487

Macro photo of a locust perched on a textured leaf surface.
World

“We Were Turning Plague into Weapons”: Full Testimony from a Unit 731 Member Rekindles Evidence of Industrialized Biological Warfare

A newly disclosed full interview with former Unit 731 member Sato Hideo provides direct testimony that the unit sought to weaponize plague bacteria, produced pathogens at industrial scales, and conducted systematic human experiments. Museum curators say the account, corroborated by archival evidence and court testimonies, reinforces the view that these were organised, state-connected crimes rather than isolated abuses.

SoMi2026年1月31日 19:20
#Unit 731#biological weapons#plague
Victorian council chamber in Lancaster Town Hall with elegant wooden decor and skylight.
World

Iran Asserts Conventional Deterrence as IAEA Board May Refer Nuclear File to UN Security Council

Iran’s nuclear chief said Tehran can defend itself without nuclear weapons and warned the IAEA board may refer its nuclear dossier to the UN Security Council in March. The comments signal a diplomatic standoff in which Western capitals press for accountability while Iran stresses conventional deterrence and limited cooperation with safeguards.

SoMi2026年1月31日 19:20
#Iran#IAEA#United Nations Security Council
Aerial shot of a research vessel sailing near Phoenix Island, Sanya, with modern skyscrapers in the background.
World

PLA Bomber Patrols Over Huangyan Signal Beijing’s Harder Line Toward Manila

China’s Southern Theater Command dispatched H‑6K bombers and fighters on patrols over Huangyan Island on 31 January, a move Beijing says enforces its jurisdiction and rebukes Philippine attempts to declare nearby exercise areas. The flights reflect a broader strategy of regularized bomber presence and calibrated coercion intended to deter Manila while emphasising Chinese claims of humanitarian assistance and restraint.

SoMi2026年1月31日 19:20
#China#South China Sea#Huangyan Island
A crow walking on rippled sand during sunset in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province.
World

Explosion Heard at Residential Building in Bandar Abbas, Raising Regional Security Concerns

An explosion was reported at a residential building in Bandar Abbas on 31 January 2026, with early Chinese media accounts offering few details and no immediate official confirmation from Iran. Given Bandar Abbas’s strategic location and history of attacks on Iranian infrastructure, the incident is being monitored for its potential to affect regional security and maritime traffic.

SoMi2026年1月31日 19:20
#Iran#Bandar Abbas#explosion
Explore traditional fishing boats docked in Zhuhai, China, showcasing vibrant maritime culture.
World

Beijing’s Show of Force Over Scarborough: Armed PLA Flights as Manila’s Exercise Zone Escalates Tensions

China staged naval patrols and armed air overflights near Scarborough Shoal after the Philippines included the feature in a declared exercise zone, signalling Beijing’s readiness to defend what it calls sovereign territory. The episode increases the risk of miscalculation and highlights the limits of legal rulings and the growing role of calibrated coercion in the South China Sea.

SoMi2026年1月31日 13:20
#South China Sea#Scarborough Shoal#China
Two stylish young women posing by the waterfront with Manila skyline in the background.
World

The Last Witnesses: Philippine ‘Grandmothers’ and the Unfinished Demand for Japan’s Apology

Survivors of Japan’s wartime system of sexual slavery in the Philippines — known locally as “grandmothers” — are dwindling, yet their demand for a formal apology and compensation persists. Activists warn that unresolved accountability, historical revisionism and geopolitical pragmatism risk allowing the memory of these crimes to be erased for younger generations.

SoMi2026年1月31日 13:20
#comfort women#Philippines#Japan
A scenic view of Scarborough Castle ruins with lush greenery and ocean backdrop.
World

China Flies H-6K Bombers over Scarborough Shoal in Direct Rebuke to Philippine 'Exercise Zone'

China’s Southern Theater Command conducted sea-air combat-readiness patrols over Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) on 31 January, publishing routes that included H-6K bombers and fighters. Beijing framed the flights as both a rejection of Philippine-declared exercise zones and a demonstration of de facto control, raising the stakes in a long-running dispute with Manila.

SoMi2026年1月31日 13:10
#South China Sea#Scarborough Shoal#Huangyan Dao
A military leader instructing young cadets outdoors in Aldershot, England.
World

China’s New Recruitment Push: Local PR, Family Legacies and the Drive for Tech-Savvy Recruits

China’s 2026 recruitment drive blends localised social-media outreach, multigenerational patriotic storytelling and career-focused messaging to attract young recruits, including those with technical skills the PLA increasingly needs. As the state readies for the PLA centenary, the campaign aims to bolster human capital for modern, information-intensive warfare while reinforcing domestic support for military modernisation.

SoMi2026年1月31日 13:10
#China#PLA recruitment#military modernization
Detailed shot of Ukrainian military uniform with flag patch, symbolizing national pride.
World

Canada Proposes Multinational 'Defence Bank' to Mobilise $135bn for NATO Allies

Canada has begun coordinating with more than ten countries to create a sovereign-backed multinational defence bank aimed at raising roughly $135 billion for NATO and European defence projects. The proposal seeks an AAA rating to unlock low-cost capital but faces technical, political and governance hurdles before it can be established.

SoMi2026年1月31日 13:10
#Canada#defense bank#NATO
Women’s rights rally with pro-choice placards in a city square, highlighting activism.
World

Slovak Lawmaker Says U.S. Interest in Greenland Threatens Postwar Order, Urges European Strategic Autonomy

Michal Bartek, vice‑chair of Slovakia’s parliamentary Defence and Security Committee, said U.S. comments regarding Greenland threaten postwar international norms and amount to trade coercion. He urged Europe to pursue greater strategic autonomy and diversify partnerships, including deeper engagement with China.

SoMi2026年1月31日 13:10
#Greenland#United States#European strategic autonomy
Detailed close-up of the Saudi Arabian flag showcasing the elegant Arabic script and vibrant green color.
World

Washington Clears $9bn Patriot Missile Sale to Saudi Arabia While Approving Major Arms Package for Israel

The U.S. has approved a $9 billion sale of 730 PAC-3 MSE Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia and a separate $6.67 billion package to Israel that includes Apaches and JLTVs. Washington frames the transfers as defensive steps to protect forces and advance regional security, but the moves carry risks of prompting countermeasures and political scrutiny in Congress.

SoMi2026年1月31日 13:00
#Saudi Arabia#United States#Patriot PAC-3 MSE
Scrabble tiles spelling 'DOGE' and 'MUSK' on a wooden table, highlighting internet culture and cryptocurrency.
World

New Wave of Epstein Documents—Chinese Media Says Over Three Million Pages Name High‑Profile Figures, Including Musk

Chinese social‑media aggregators are amplifying claims that a newly surfaced trove of Jeffrey Epstein‑related documents exceeds three million pages and names high‑profile figures, including Elon Musk. The headlines raise reputational risks for those named but do not constitute proof of criminality; independent verification and legal assessment are still needed.

NeTe2026年1月31日 12:50
#Jeffrey Epstein#Elon Musk#Epstein files