World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 501
China’s ‘Silk Road Ark’ Docks in Montevideo — Quiet Expansion of Naval Soft Power
China’s hospital ship Silk Road Ark arrived in Montevideo on January 20 for a four-day technical stop, the first time a Chinese naval vessel has docked in Uruguay. The visit, framed as humanitarian and goodwill outreach, advances China’s pattern of naval soft-power engagement in distant waters and expands its routine presence in the South Atlantic.
Trump Declares Greenland Bid 'Irreversible' as Europe Mobilises Against U.S. Pressure
President Trump declared the U.S. pursuit of Greenland "irreversible," refusing to rule out force and threatening tariffs on European countries that oppose the acquisition. The remarks provoked swift condemnation from European leaders, prompted an EU emergency summit and raised questions about NATO cohesion, Arctic security, and the use of economic coercion in foreign policy.
Beijing Calls Drone Patrol Near Dongsha 'Legal Training' as Cross‑Strait Tensions Flare
Beijing defended a Southern Theater Command drone flight near Dongsha Island as legitimate training after Taipei said a mainland reconnaissance drone entered within 12 nautical miles, calling the action provocative. The incident underscores rising use of drones for signalling and surveillance amid unresolved sovereignty claims and heightens risks of miscalculation in the Taiwan Strait.
Trump’s Greenland Gambit: A Social‑Media Provocation Testing NATO, Transatlantic Trust and the International Order
President Trump’s social‑media images suggesting U.S. ambitions for Greenland have provoked sharp pushback from European leaders and Canada, exposing widening fractures in NATO and stressing the norms that underpin post‑war order. The stunt appears aimed both at domestic audiences ahead of a critical political year and at coercing concessions from allies, while Beijing uses the episode to champion multilateral institutions.
Eastern Theater Navy Begins Intensive Training for Squad and Station Leaders to Harden Frontline Command
An Eastern Theater Navy brigade has begun institutionalized training for squad and station leaders to strengthen political reliability and small-unit capabilities. The program mixes ideological instruction and practical exercises and will be expanded into a regular mechanism to raise frontline leadership across the unit.
U.S. Treasury Says China Is Delivering Rare Earths and Soybeans — but Risks Linger
At Davos U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said China has fulfilled commitments to purchase U.S. soybeans and to supply rare earths, with rare‑earth flows reportedly above 90 percent compliance. Officials present this as a pragmatic easing of trade tensions, but farmers’ doubts and the strategic concentration of rare‑earth processing in China mean risks remain.
From County Strongman to Charity CEO: Why Chen Xingjia’s Payfight Matters for Chinese Philanthropy
A disclosure that former county party chief Chen Xingjia earned about RMB 730,100 from a Shenzhen charity in 2024 ignited debate over pay and professionalism in China’s philanthropic sector. After public scrutiny and a new RMB 1.5 million advisory contract with New Oriental’s founder, Chen pledged to stop drawing a foundation salary, highlighting tensions between market wages, governance transparency and public trust.
At Davos, China Pitches Stability: Calls for Open Trade, Rules-Based Multilateralism and Deeper Cooperation
At Davos, Vice Premier He Lifeng delivered a comprehensive defence of open trade, multilateralism and China’s role as a stabiliser in a fracturing global economy. He promised expanded imports, deeper market access, cooperation on technology and green transition, while pressing for WTO-centred reforms and equal treatment in international rules. The speech is a clear diplomatic push to reassure global business and shape the narrative on globalization amid trade tensions and geopolitical rivalry.
Withdrawing but Not Paying: How U.S. Arrears Are Reshaping Global Institutions
The United States is simultaneously withdrawing from some UN agencies and refusing to pay billions in assessed and voluntary contributions, creating cash shortfalls and prompting institutional adjustments across the UN system. Officials say arrears must be settled before formal exits take effect, while agencies relocate staff and curtail services in response to tighter finances.
Paramilitary Sharpening Its Edge: Guangxi Unit Runs Rigorous Coach Training to Boost Combat Instruction
A Guangxi unit of the People’s Armed Police ran a 2026 coach-training course to produce standardized, proficient combat instructors. The programme focused on close-combat skills and lesson-plan standardisation, part of a broader PAP effort to professionalise training and boost grassroots readiness.
Germany’s Armed Forces Reach 12-Year High as Recruitment Surges
Germany’s Bundeswehr has grown to 184,200 active-duty personnel, the highest in 12 years, marking the largest intake since the suspension of conscription. The increase reflects post‑2022 defence policy shifts but leaves open questions about training, equipment and long-term sustainability.
A Transatlantic Test: Greenland, Tariffs and the Strain on NATO’s Foundations
A US threat linking tariffs and territorial demands over Greenland has ignited a transatlantic dispute that tests NATO’s foundational premise: that allies do not coerce one another with force. European states have protested, sent symbolic military contingents to Greenland and accelerated talks about strategic autonomy, raising the prospect that NATO’s character could shift from mutual defence to a more transactional arrangement.