World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 476
After Manila Declares No‑Sail Zone at Scarborough, PLA Sends a Stark Message
The Philippines declared a no‑sail zone near Scarborough Shoal, prompting Chinese commentary that the PLA responded with operations intended to ‘‘slap’’ Manila down. The episode highlights the fragile mix of routine maritime measures and high-stakes geopolitics in the South China Sea, with risks of further escalation unless diplomatic de‑escalation follows.
Talks and Triggers: Tehran and Washington Signal Diplomacy as Both Sides Brace for Wider Conflict
Iran and the United States are simultaneously engaging in cautious diplomacy and escalating military postures, with Tehran warning that any U.S. attack would quickly broaden into a regional war. The key impasse centers on uranium enrichment, ballistic missiles and Iran’s regional activities, while naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz and heightened alerts increase the risk of miscalculation.
Iran Masses Around 1,000 Strategic Drones, Raising Regional Stakes
Chinese military media reported that Iran has integrated around 1,000 strategic drones into its combat formations, marking a significant expansion of Tehran's unmanned capabilities. The scale enhances Iran's asymmetric options and complicates regional air-defence planning, raising the risk of escalation and prompting strategic recalibration by nearby states and their partners.
China’s Marriage Registrations Rebound — But Will Babies Follow?
China saw a notable rebound in marriage registrations in 2025 after years of decline, driven by procedural reforms, local cash incentives and expanded leave policies. While the rise eases short‑term demographic anxieties, structural barriers—childcare burdens, career penalties for women and changing social preferences—mean higher marriage rates may not translate into a sustained rise in births without deeper reforms.
US Destroyer Concludes Port Call to Eilat, Reinforcing Red Sea Presence
The USS Delbert D. Black completed a port call to Eilat on 1 February before departing, a move framed by the US Fifth Fleet as routine but strategically significant. The visit reinforces Washington's maritime presence in the Red Sea corridor, signaling deterrence and reassurance to regional partners amid persistent security risks to shipping.
Khamenei Warns U.S. That Any Attack Would Ignite a Wider Regional War
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned that any U.S. attempt to start a war would rapidly spread into a full regional conflict, vowing firm retaliation to any aggression. The statement reinforces Tehran’s deterrent posture, heightens the risk of proxy escalation across the Middle East, and complicates Washington’s military calculus.
China Flies H-6K Bombers over Scarborough Shoal to Signal Control and Reach
China’s Southern Theater Command sent H-6K strategic bombers and fighters to patrol around Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal), signalling Beijing’s assertion of control and showcasing the H-6K’s extended strike and sensing capabilities. The deployment responds to a Philippine move to designate an exercise area covering the shoal and highlights the growing role of long-range Chinese airpower in South China Sea disputes.
China’s J‑20 Moves From Prototype to System: Rare Footage Shows Integrated Manned‑Unmanned Trials
Chengdu has released footage and announced completion of multi‑site, multi‑mode trials for the J‑20, indicating a transition from aircraft development to integrated operational testing. The exercises emphasize manned‑unmanned teaming and system‑level capabilities, signaling a maturation of China’s stealth fighter into a networked combat node.
Pakistan Announces Deadly Balochistan Sweep — 145 Militants Killed in 40 Hours, Officials Say
Pakistani authorities say security forces killed 145 militants in Balochistan during a 40‑hour counter‑terror operation after intelligence warned of imminent attacks. Officials reported significant militant, civilian and security‑force casualties, a development that could heighten tensions in a province critical to Pakistan’s economic and strategic interests.
USS Abraham Lincoln Filmed Replenishing at Sea as Carrier Strike Group Deploys to Middle East
The US released video showing USS Abraham Lincoln conducting underway replenishment in the Arabian Sea on January 27, posted by DVIDS on January 31. The carrier strike group's deployment to the Middle East is framed by CENTCOM as a move to promote regional stability, signalling sustained US naval presence amid heightened maritime risks.
Hamas Warns Any Conditions on Rafah Opening Would Breach Gaza Ceasefire
Hamas said on February 1 that any Israeli imposition of obstacles or conditions at the Rafah crossing would breach the Gaza ceasefire, urging mediators to oversee Israeli actions. Gaza authorities warned the mechanism for reopening remains unclear, with over 18,000 people in need of treatment outside the enclave; Israel conducted a one‑day pilot opening and said the crossing would formally open the following day.
Intercity Bus Plunges Into Ditch in Antalya, Killing Eight and Wounding Dozens
A Tekirdağ–Antalya passenger bus overturned into a ditch on 1 February, killing eight people and injuring 26. Rescue teams and the gendarmerie attended the scene, and an investigation into causes—ranging from road conditions and weather to vehicle maintenance and driver error—is expected.