World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 489
Iran Declares Full Military Readiness, Threatens Widespread Response from Hormuz to U.S. Interests
Iranian parliamentary security officials said on January 25 that the country's armed forces are on full alert and warned of broad retaliation — from the Strait of Hormuz to U.S. regional assets — should Tehran face any attack. The rhetoric follows U.S. announcements of increased naval and missile‑defence deployments, heightening the risk of miscalculation with implications for regional security and global energy markets.
China Coast Guard Rescues and Hands Over 17 Filipino Seafarers Near Disputed Scarborough Shoal
The China Coast Guard rescued 17 Filipino seafarers after a cargo vessel capsized near Huangyan (Scarborough Shoal) on January 23, handing them to Philippine authorities on January 25. Two crew members died and four remain missing, and the operation highlights both humanitarian cooperation and the geopolitical sensitivities of conducting rescues in contested South China Sea waters.
US Air Force Probe Finds Safety Failures After Helicopter Windblast Kills Teacher at Kadena
A U.S. Air Force investigation found that an HH-60 demonstration helicopter at Kadena Air Base flew too close to spectators on April 22, 2025, creating a windblast that toppled a Japanese teacher who later died of head injuries. The report cites planning and oversight failures and has provoked public outcry in Japan over transparency and base safety. The incident amplifies long-running tensions in Okinawa over U.S. military presence and raises questions about operational discipline, accountability, and the political costs for both Tokyo and Washington.
A $1 Billion Seat and an Uninvited Chair: U.S. 'Peace Committee' Deepens Rift with Israel over Gaza
The U.S. initiative to launch a Gaza 'peace committee' chaired by President Trump, featuring a controversial $1 billion offer for permanent seats and a roster including Turkey and Qatar, has triggered a rare public rebuke from Israel. Deep disagreements over who should oversee Gaza, the scope of demilitarization, and the legitimacy of parallel technocratic bodies leave reconstruction and long‑term peace prospects tenuous.
Trump’s Dismissal of Allies’ Role in Afghanistan Draws Sharp Rebukes from Britain, Australia and NATO
President Trump’s comments that NATO and other allies ‘‘hid behind’’ the U.S. in Afghanistan drew strong rebuttals from Australia, the UK and NATO leadership. Leaders emphasized the heavy costs borne by their forces and sought to reassure that alliances remain intact, even as the episode highlights risks to coalition cohesion and U.S. credibility.
Fragile Ceasefire Extended in Syria as Integration Deal with SDF Stalls
Syrian authorities extended a nationwide ceasefire by 15 days after clashes with the SDF in northern Aleppo, buying time for stalled talks over integrating SDF forces into state structures. The pause highlights fragile stability in the north and east, where damaged infrastructure and competing external influences complicate any lasting settlement.
Israel Says It Destroyed a 4 km Hamas Tunnel in Southern Gaza as Rafah Finds Fuel Concerns Over Militancy
The Israel Defense Forces say they have destroyed an approximately four‑kilometre Hamas tunnel complex in southern Gaza and released video of the operation. The IDF also reported finding weapons, explosive devices and rocket launchers in Rafah after a firefight that killed six militants; Hamas has not commented.
Federal Immigration Agents Kill Minneapolis Man, Sparking New Wave of Protests and Tension
Federal immigration enforcement officers shot and killed a 37-year-old U.S. man in Minneapolis on January 24, triggering protests and renewed tension in a city still sensitive to police violence. The incident raises urgent questions about federal authority, transparency, and accountability and could reshape local and national debates on immigration enforcement.
Quit-and-Rebuild: How Washington’s ‘Drop-Out’ Strategy Is Unravelling Postwar Rules
The US is pursuing a twin strategy of withdrawing from established multilateral institutions while proposing new, US‑centred bodies, citing redundancy and mismanagement. That approach may save money short term but risks eroding long‑term credibility, allies’ trust and the dollar’s safe‑haven status.
White Coats on the Front Line: Hospital Team Braves Mud and Waves to Treat China's Coastal Defenders
A medical team from Zibo No. 148 Hospital spent eight days and over a thousand kilometres delivering frontline care to coastal garrisons in Bohai Bay, treating more than a thousand servicemen and women. The outreach combined mobile physiotherapy, traditional medicine and institutional cooperation with local veterans’ authorities, reflecting China’s emphasis on troop welfare and civil‑military medical integration.
Soldier-Teachers on the Himalayan Edge: How PLA Tutoring Bolsters Schools and State Presence in Tibet
A Tibet Military District unit has piloted a “one soldier, one household” tutoring programme in a Lhoba village that pairs well‑educated soldiers with schoolchildren for weekend home visits, homework help and civic activities. The initiative has improved academic outcomes, deepened civil‑military ties and been institutionalised as part of a broader national‑defence education push in a strategic border region.
China Shows Off Armed Z-20T Helicopter in Live‑Fire Drill, Signalling Faster Army Aviation Modernisation
Chinese media published footage of the Z-20T helicopter conducting live‑fire exercises, highlighting improvements in the PLA’s armed rotorcraft capabilities. The demonstration underscores Beijing’s progress in weapons integration and tactical aviation, with implications for regional rapid‑reaction and littoral operations.