World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 507
Europe Pushes Back: Eight Nations Unite After U.S. Threatens Tariffs to Win Greenland
The U.S. announced escalating tariffs on imports from eight European countries to pressure Denmark over Greenland, prompting a united European rebuke and a pledge of coordinated response. The dispute risks triggering trade retaliation, straining NATO ties and accelerating European moves toward greater strategic autonomy.
Explosion at Baotou Steel Plate Mill Kills Two and Injures Dozens, Prompting Probe and Detentions
An explosion at a Baogang steel plate mill in Baotou on January 18 killed two people, left eight missing and injured 84. Authorities have stabilised patients, launched an investigation and taken measures against corporate personnel while promising strict accountability. The incident highlights persistent safety risks in heavy industry, potential local economic disruption and a likely tightening of enforcement and managerial oversight if negligence is found.
Transatlantic Flashpoint: Trump’s Greenland Ultimatum Triggers EU Plan for €93bn Retaliation
A US threat to impose steep tariffs on eight European countries tied to a demand over Greenland has prompted the EU to prepare a roughly €93 billion retaliatory package and consider invoking its anti‑coercion law. The dispute signals a deeper shift: trade is being used as a foreign‑policy blunt instrument, testing NATO trust and accelerating the EU’s drive for strategic autonomy.
China’s Diplomatic New Year: A Flurry of Visits Signals Outreach, Stability and Economic Opportunity
In January 2026 China staged an intensive diplomatic opening, hosting leaders from neighbouring states as well as visitors from Europe and North America while continuing long‑standing outreach to Africa. The visits produced new cooperation agreements and reiterated Beijing’s opposition to the use of force in international disputes, signaling a push for stability, influence and economic partnership as global growth slows.
China’s Early-2026 Diplomatic Push: Neighbours First, Global Reach Next
In the first month of 2026 China staged a sustained diplomatic push, prioritising neighbouring states while courting partners in Europe, North America and Africa. High-level visits, a revived China–Africa cultural year and public opposition to unilateral coercion together project Beijing’s desire to shape the international agenda and deepen economic ties amid global uncertainty.
Europe Mulls Retaliatory Tariffs Against $100bn of US Goods as Greenland Row Escalates
European governments are reportedly considering retaliatory tariffs on about €93 billion of US goods and market restrictions in response to President Trump’s announcement of tariffs on eight European countries to pressure them into selling Greenland. The dispute risks triggering a new transatlantic trade confrontation and further straining NATO cohesion amid rising strategic competition in the Arctic.
Seoul Begins Fielding 'Monster' Hyunmoo-5 Missile, Aiming for Full Combat Status under Lee Administration
South Korea has begun deploying its largest ballistic missile, the Hyunmoo‑5, into field units and aims to complete operational deployment during President Lee Jae‑myung’s term. The missile’s 36‑ton mass and 8‑ton warhead expand Seoul’s strike options and carry significant implications for deterrence dynamics, alliance management and regional stability.
Tariffs on Europe Over Greenland Threaten NATO Cohesion, Denmark Warns
Denmark warns that U.S. tariffs imposed over a row about Greenland risk undermining NATO and the international order. European troop deployments for an Arctic exercise and a contested U.S. bid for Greenland have produced a transatlantic standoff requiring urgent diplomatic repair.
Temporary Military Zone Near Nuuk Signals Growing Arctic Logistics and Security Posture
Greenlandic authorities approved a temporary military storage zone in Nuuk's Qinngorput district to hold equipment, fenced and patrolled for security. The decision — likely driven by Danish or allied requirements — reflects broader increases in Arctic logistical and defence activity amid intensifying strategic competition in the region.
False Wi‑Fi ‘Bomb Threat’ Forces Turkish Airlines A321 to Divert to Barcelona, Exposing Security Gaps
A Turkish Airlines A321 diverted to Barcelona on January 15 after a passenger set an onboard Wi‑Fi hotspot name claiming a bomb threat. The plane was escorted by military jets and searched by multiple Spanish agencies; no explosives were found and an investigation is ongoing.
Eight European States Push Back: Threats of New U.S. Tariffs Warned to Undermine Transatlantic Ties
Eight European countries jointly warned that threats to impose tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous escalation. The coordinated statement highlights anxiety across EU and non‑EU capitals about the political as well as economic consequences of using tariffs as coercion.
Satellite Images Show Japan’s Izumo-Class Ships Becoming Carrier-Capable — A Regional Turning Point
Satellite imagery through November 2025 shows visible progress in Japan’s retrofit of its Izumo-class ships to operate F-35B fighters, with bow reshaping and hangar upgrades under way. Tokyo plans to complete the conversions by fiscal years 2027–2028, a move that enhances U.S.-Japan interoperability but has drawn strong objections from Beijing, which frames the changes as a dangerous turn toward re-militarisation.