World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 487
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.
Canada’s Fighter Pick at Crossroads: Saab’s Hybrid Fleet Proposal Ups the Stakes in F-35 Debate
Canada’s long-running fighter replacement programme is back in flux after Sweden’s Saab proposed a mixed fleet that would pair retained F-35s with Gripen E jets and GlobalEye AWACS. The offer emphasises lower acquisition and operating costs and promises local production and technology transfer, forcing Ottawa to weigh alliance interoperability and American political sensitivities against industrial sovereignty, Arctic surveillance needs and budget pressures.
Tehran Announces 1,000 'Strategic' Drones Joined to Combat Units — Capabilities Kept Under Wraps
Iran announced that 1,000 strategic drones have been formally folded into its combat units, described as strike, reconnaissance and electronic‑warfare types. The move signals a potential expansion of Tehran's asymmetric military toolkit, but the absence of imagery or technical detail leaves their true capability and impact uncertain.
On Tehran’s Streets, Normal Life and a Nation Braced for Possible American Strikes
Tehran’s streets appear outwardly normal but carry visible scars from recent unrest and the 2025 conflict, while Iranians privately fear imminent U.S. military action. Washington’s mix of threats and offers to negotiate, together with active regional mediation, has produced a high-stakes standoff whose outcome will shape regional stability, energy markets and Iran’s internal politics.
Israeli Military Confirms Roughly 70,000 Palestinian Dead in Gaza, Validating Local Toll
The Israeli military has confirmed roughly 70,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza since October 2023, aligning closely with figures published by Gaza’s health ministry. That convergence heightens humanitarian, legal and diplomatic pressure and complicates prospects for reconstruction and a political resolution.
US Deploys Tenth Warship to Middle East — Naval Posture Signals Readiness for Action on Iran
The US has increased its Middle East naval presence to at least ten warships with the destroyer Delbert D. Black joining the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group. Movements of CV‑22 Ospreys and HC‑130J rescue aircraft suggest preparations for contingencies, raising the risk of escalation with Iran and pressure on regional security and global energy markets.
Trump Signals Willingness to Talk to Iran While Pressing Hardline Demands and Deploying Naval Forces
President Trump said he has contacted Iran and plans further dialogue but issued two firm demands—no nuclear weapons and an end to lethal repression of protesters—while noting a substantial U.S. naval deployment in the region. The public mix of diplomacy and military threat raises the stakes for Tehran, risks regional escalation, and complicates the scope for quiet, multilateral negotiation.
China’s Southern Military Turns Cross‑Domain Joint Drills into a Routine Tool to Harden Forces
China’s Southern Theatre Command is institutionalizing cross‑domain joint drills—linking sea, air and land units through integrated command systems and realistic scenario training—to harden wartime readiness. The routineization of such exercises boosts the PLA’s coordinated response but raises risks of faster escalation and complicates regional security calculations.