World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 482
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Japan's Deep‑Sea Gamble: Mining the Pacific to Escape China’s Rare‑Earth Grip
Japan has begun sea trials to harvest rare‑earth‑rich mud off Minami‑Tori‑shima, seeking to reduce reliance on China’s dominant refining industry. The tests face steep technical, economic and environmental hurdles, and even successful extraction would not immediately displace China’s lead in processing and supply chains.
UN Warns of Cash Collapse by July as Member Arrears Mount — U.S. Now Largest Debtor
UN Secretary‑General António Guterres warned the United Nations could run out of money by July unless member states pay assessed dues or the organisation changes its financing rules. Outstanding arrears have surged to about $1.56 billion, with the United States now the largest debtor after cutting payments following President Trump’s return to office in January 2025.
On the Brink: US Carrier Group, Strike Assets and Iranian Alerts Raise Risk of Rapid Escalation
U.S. military forces have massed in the Gulf and a carrier strike group has entered the Arabian Sea as Washington signals it may be poised to strike Iran imminently. Tehran has publicly offered talks but has mobilised forces and warned that any attack would prompt regional retaliation, leaving the region dangerously close to rapid escalation.
After 15 Years, the Kennedy’s Sea Trials Highlight a Growing U.S.–China Carrier Gap
The John F. Kennedy began sea trials in January 2026 after a 15‑year build that highlights persistent technical and industrial challenges in the U.S. Ford‑class programme, notably the unreliable EMALS catapult. China’s carrier programme, which reportedly started construction of a Type 004 nuclear carrier in 2026, is advancing more rapidly, raising questions about future balance of naval power in the Indo‑Pacific.
Close Encounters Over the South China Sea: US MQ‑4C Patrols and Beijing’s Firm Response
US MQ‑4C Triton drones flew repeated reconnaissance missions near Taiwan, Guangdong and Hainan between Jan 25–28, prompting Chinese military aircraft to intercept and drive them off. The encounters underscore the information‑war advantages of persistent ISR and the rising risk of miscalculation in the crowded airspaces of the western Pacific.