World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 489
Trump Raises Tariffs on South Korean Imports as U.S. Markets Digest Tech Wins and Intel Weakness
President Trump announced an increase in U.S. tariffs on South Korean autos, timber and pharmaceuticals from 15% to 25%, blaming Seoul for not ratifying a bilateral trade deal. U.S. markets closed higher as investors focused on upcoming tech earnings and Microsoft’s launch of a new AI chip, while Intel slumped on weak guidance.
Nearly Half of China–Japan Flights Axed as February Schedules Shrink
Flight-tracking data show a sharp rise in cancellations on China–Japan routes: 49 routes have no scheduled February flights and January cancellations hit 47.2 percent, up nearly eight points from December. Airlines have extended free refunds through March 28 as they contend with volatile demand and operational uncertainty, a development that could dent Japan’s inbound tourism recovery.
Ex-Soldiers Turn Teachers: Nanjing’s ‘Jinling Vanguard’ Brings Military-Style Volunteering to China’s Mountain Schools
A Nanjing-based network of retired university student soldiers, the Jinling Vanguard, is running volunteer teaching programmes in Jiangxi’s mountain schools, combining military-style management with classroom instruction and patriotic education. Since 2021 the initiative has mobilised thousands of veterans, raised funds and books, built cloud classrooms, and been incorporated into broader municipal and national efforts to integrate veterans into civic life and sustain revolutionary memory.
The Gobi’s Ironman: How a Sergeant-Engineer Became the PLA’s Frontline Fixer in Xinjiang
Sergeant Lei Yaoming, a 23-year veteran stationed in Xinjiang, has become a multi-skilled technical leader in PLA construction units by combining on-the-job learning, innovation and frontline courage. His career underlines the PLA’s reliance on experienced non-commissioned officers to adapt new equipment, solve maintenance challenges in remote areas and train junior technicians as the force modernises.
From Stone Huts to Box Rockets: How an Eastern Theatre Artillery Unit Keeps Combat-Ready on the Move
Soldiers from an Eastern Theatre Command rocket-artillery battalion have spent over a year living and training away from their garrison in improvised sites while operating new long-range containerised rocket systems. Their experience illustrates the PLA’s shift toward dispersed, mobile operations, with implications for logistics, personnel endurance and regional deterrence dynamics.
Hezbollah Holds Mass Rally in Beirut to Signal Readiness to Defend Iran, Warning of Wider Regional War
Hezbollah held a large rally in Beirut on January 26 to publicly back Iran and warn that it would not remain neutral if Israel or the United States launched military action against Tehran. The demonstration underlines Hezbollah's role as both a domestic political force and a regional military actor, increasing the risk that any confrontation with Iran could spill across the Levant.
UK Budget Strain Forces Delay in Japan–UK–Italy Sixth‑Generation Fighter Deal, Jeopardising 2035 Goal
A planned contract to move the Japan–UK–Italy sixth‑generation fighter programme into full development has been delayed because the UK has not finalised its funding amid rising defence bills. The pause risks derailing the partnership’s 2035 deployment target, forcing national workstreams and raising coordination, cost and capability risks for all three partners.
US Helicopter Display in Okinawa Broke Safety Rules, Killed Teacher, Military Report Finds
A US military probe found a helicopter display at Kadena Air Base in April 2025 violated safety rules and caused rotor wash that fatally injured a 60-year-old Japanese teacher. The aircraft was far closer to spectators than both the event plan and US Air Force guidance allowed, prompting admissions of planning and supervision failures and intensifying long-running local grievances in Okinawa.
China Marks 13 Years of the Y-20
China celebrated the 13th anniversary of the Y-20 "Kunpeng" heavy transport’s first flight, highlighting its transition from prototype to an operational platform used for parades, disaster relief and long‑range missions. State media framed the aircraft as evidence of growing strategic airlift capacity that strengthens the PLAAF’s reach and supports both practical operations and national prestige.
China Coast Guard Rescues Filipino Sailors Near Disputed Shoal, Underscoring Humanitarian Cooperation Amid Tension
Chinese coast guard vessels rescued 17 sailors after a cargo ship capsized near Huangyan Island; two died and four remain missing. Filipino survivors publicly thanked Chinese rescuers, and a formal handover to the Philippine coast guard took place on January 25, an episode that temporarily eases tensions in a disputed maritime area while carrying broader strategic implications.
Not Leaving the Indo‑Pacific: How the US Is Rebalancing, Not Abandoning, Its Presence
Despite headlines about a US tilt to Europe, Washington has maintained and adapted its Indo‑Pacific posture through forward deployments, new security pacts and defense funding lines. The US is redistributing resources rather than abandoning the region, but doing so raises risks of overstretch, allied hedging and potential miscalculation with China.
Iran Unveils Anti‑US Mural as USS Abraham Lincoln Heads for Gulf — A Warning Shot at Sea
Tehran unveiled an anti‑US mural in Revolution Square warning that an attack on Iran would see US carriers targeted, as the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group moves into the region. The artwork is a deliberate signal to both domestic audiences and international actors, heightening risks of naval escalation and economic fallout in a volatile maritime theatre.