World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 487
France Bets on Swarms: Rapid, Trial‑Driven Push to Field Unmanned Naval and Air Systems
France is fast‑tracking unmanned naval and aerial systems by funding prototype competitions and using operational trials to pick winners, aiming to field armed surface drones and new loitering munitions within two years. Procurement reforms favour decentralised, experiment‑led buying and closer ties between start‑ups and large defence firms to accelerate capability delivery and preserve industrial capacity through exports.
US Trials Single-Operator Combat Drone Swarms, Pushing Warfare Toward AI-Driven Asymmetry
The US military has tested a "one-to-many" drone tactic in which a single operator simultaneously controlled three armed drones to hit different targets, showcasing advances in AI-enabled autonomy. The exercise underlines both the tactical promise of swarming—rapid, distributed attacks that confer asymmetric advantages—and the operational challenges of scaling command-and-control and surviving electronic warfare in contested environments.
Netanyahu Vetoes Gaza Rebuilding Until ‘Complete’ Demilitarization, Rules Out Palestinian State
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will not permit the reconstruction of Gaza until it is fully demilitarized, rejected Palestinian statehood, and barred Turkey and Qatar from participating in any international stabilization force. His stance complicates a U.S. plan to move from ceasefire to phased governance, disarmament and rebuilding, and raises the prospect of a prolonged humanitarian and political stalemate.
France Sends Nuclear Carrier to North Atlantic as Greenland Tensions Rise
France has dispatched its nuclear carrier Charles de Gaulle to join Orion 26, a large multinational exercise scheduled for February–April that French media place in the North Atlantic. The deployment, timed with diplomatic talks between Paris, Copenhagen and Greenland’s autonomous government, underlines Paris’s bid to shape security dynamics around Greenland and project high-end naval power in a strategically sensitive region.
India Parades New ‘Hypersonic’ Anti-Ship Missile as It Seeks a Place in a Narrow Club
India used its Republic Day parade to unveil a long‑range, truck‑mounted weapon the government presents as a hypersonic anti‑ship missile, alongside a suite of new indigenous platforms. The display signals New Delhi’s push to join a small group of states fielding advanced high‑speed strike systems, though technical and operational questions about the missile remain.
US Sends Carrier Strike Group and Air-Force Drill into Middle East as Pressure on Iran Rises
CENTCOM has announced a multi-day Ninth Air Force readiness exercise in the Middle East, emphasizing rapid, dispersed deployments, while the nuclear-powered Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has entered the region. The moves heighten military pressure on Iran and signal US intent to deter threats while calibrating operational posture to reduce vulnerabilities from large force concentrations.
Allegations That the U.S. Considered Seizing Greenland Rekindle Arctic Fears and Strain Alliances
Unnamed sources cited by Reuters claimed the U.S. had not abandoned plans to militarily occupy Greenland, provoking alarm in Washington and among allies. While U.S. officials denied the plan was serious, the episode highlights Greenland’s strategic value and the diplomatic strain any such suggestion creates between the United States, Denmark and NATO partners.
Japan Moves to Government‑Own, Contractor‑Run Munitions Plants as It Rebuilds Defence Industrial Base
Japan is considering a GOCO model — government ownership of munitions plants with private contractors operating them — to guarantee ammunition supply in a crisis. The plan, part of a broader defence‑industry reorganisation, is being coordinated with revisions to national security documents and reflects lessons from global ammunition shortages since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Taiwan’s Home‑built Submarine Misses First Dive in Sixth Sea Trial, Delaying Delivery Hopes
Taiwan’s domestically built submarine Hai Kun underwent its sixth sea trial on January 26 but did not complete a first dive, conducting instead a complex pre‑dive systems verification. The programme has been delayed from original schedules, with Taipei imposing contractual fines on the builder as it seeks an accelerated delivery later this year.
U.S. Tells Israel It Is Nearing Readiness for Possible Strike on Iran, Raising Risks of Escalation
U.S. officials have informed Israel that preparations for possible military action against Iran are nearing completion, with operational windows expected to emerge in coming months but final action subject to presidential authorization. Public statements from Washington, Jerusalem and Tehran reflect heightened deterrent signaling that increases the risk of miscalculation and wider regional escalation.
Middle East Tensions Send Oil and Gold Surging as Beijing Manages Domestic Reforms and Tech Shocks
US military moves in the Middle East and reports of possible action against Iran have pushed oil up about 3% and driven gold to record highs as investors seek safety. At the same time China is advancing domestic regulatory reforms, dealing with supply‑chain cost pressures in semiconductors, and showcasing logistics prowess through high‑profile corporate outreach.
From Oars to Missiles: China’s Navy Recasts a Small-Boat Legend to Inspire a Modern Fleet
China’s PLAN staged a ceremonial handover of the “Sea Tiger” honor from Cold War veterans to the crew of the modern frigate Honghe, using storytelling and ritual to link small-boat heroism to contemporary naval professionalism. The event highlights Beijing’s effort to fuse historical legend with technical modernization to strengthen morale and operational culture in a rapidly upgrading navy.