📰 Latest News

The U.S. and Iran resumed indirect nuclear talks in Muscat on 6 February under Omani mediation after intense regional pressure, even as military tensions rose following a U.S. shootdown of an Iranian drone. Fundamental disagreements—over enrichment, missiles and regional influence—remain, making the talks a fragile de-escalation rather than a lasting solution.

The U.S. Defense Department and Raytheon signed multi-year framework agreements to boost annual production of Tomahawk cruise missiles, AMRAAMs, SM-6s and SM-3 interceptors, responding to heavy munitions use in recent crises and growing allied demand. While the increases are significant, analysts warn that even the expanded outputs leave high-end missile stockpiles relatively vulnerable and that rebuilding a resilient industrial base will be a long effort.

A wave of Chinese game companies handed employees gold as year‑end bonuses, reflecting the sector’s recovery and high bullion prices. Firms use gold gifts as both a tangible reward and a public recruiting tool, though the gestures are partly symbolic and hinge on continued financial improvement.

President Trump warned of military action if Iran builds new nuclear facilities as negotiations between the two countries were scheduled to begin in Muscat, Oman. The United States wants talks to cover missiles and regional activities, while Iran insists the agenda be confined to its nuclear programme and sanctions relief, creating a major sticking point that will test whether diplomacy can withstand heightened threats and regional pressure.

The White House said it will withdraw about 700 federal immigration and border officers from Minnesota and pivot to less visible, “smarter” enforcement while preserving its larger deportation objectives. The move is presented as a tactical de‑escalation; its success depends on local cooperation and may shift disputes from the streets to courts and jails.

U.S. threats of military action against Iran are best understood as coercive diplomacy: calibrated pressure meant to force concessions and test Tehran's red lines without triggering full-scale war. The approach raises risks of asymmetric retaliation, regional escalation, and economic disruption while leaving room for back-channel diplomacy to reduce tensions.

China’s Central Propaganda Department has posthumously named Dong Yijun a “Model of the Era,” an honorific designed to elevate exemplary behavior and further official ideological education. The move underscores Beijing’s continued reliance on symbolic figures to shape social norms and reinforce Party authority through state media and institutional channels.

China is marking the first anniversary of Huang Xuhua’s death, celebrating the engineer credited with guiding its early nuclear‑submarine programme. The commemorations frame his deep‑sea test dives in his sixties as emblematic of long‑term technical sacrifice that underpins Beijing’s present naval and nuclear capabilities.

Queen Máxima has joined the Dutch army reserves at 54, undergoing training and receiving the rank of soldier with a promised promotion to lieutenant-colonel upon completion. The enlistment is a symbolic show of solidarity with the armed forces amid broader European efforts to strengthen defence and reduce reliance on the United States.

A coalition of activists plans to send over 100 ships and thousands of people to try again to deliver aid to Gaza starting 29 March, while a parallel convoy will attempt to reach Rafah via Egypt. The renewed flotilla risks confrontation with Israel, legal disputes over blockades and further diplomatic escalation involving South Africa, Egypt and European ports of departure.

China used the Singapore Airshow to showcase both military and commercial aviation progress, with the PLA aerobatic team performing after a six‑year hiatus and a prominent J-35A model displayed amid COMAC’s C919 and C909 airliners. The appearances underline Beijing’s dual pursuit of defence modernisation and aerospace industry internationalisation.

Iran announced technical upgrades to its ballistic missile forces and a shift from defensive to offensive military doctrine after last year's 12-day conflict with Israel. The move is intended to strengthen deterrence, complicate potential strikes against Iran, and bolster Tehran’s leverage ahead of planned nuclear talks with the United States in Muscat.

An F-35C from the USS Abraham Lincoln shot down an Iranian drone about 500 miles off Iran’s coast, a move the U.S. called defensive and Iran described as a reconnaissance aircraft that lost contact after transmitting images. The incident exposes limits in carrier stealth, demonstrates Iran’s surveillance reach, and raises the risk of inadvertent escalation amid rising regional military activity and arms transfers.

President Trump warned on February 4 that the U.S. would strike Iran if it attempted to restart its nuclear programme or build new facilities abroad, saying U.S. intelligence had identified such plans. The public threat raises the risk of escalation, complicates diplomacy and places emphasis on independent verification from institutions like the IAEA.

The United States has urged Israel not to launch unilateral military strikes against Iran during U.S.-Iran talks in Oman, reflecting intense Washington–Jerusalem coordination to avoid derailing negotiations. Tehran confirmed the talks will proceed but remains wary; Washington wants a broader agenda while Iran insists on limiting discussions to the nuclear file.

Meituan has agreed to buy Dingdong Maicai’s China business for roughly $717 million, underscoring consolidation in the instant grocery market now that some players report improving profitability. Alibaba has unified its large-model family under the 千问/Qwen brand to clarify its AI offering and accelerate commercial deployment, reflecting a broader shift from technology race to ecosystem competition.

A company within a PLA group army combines an enduring culture of hero remembrance with practical, grassroots innovation as it adapts to information‑centric combined‑arms warfare. Lessons from a failed 2017 exercise prompted hands‑on retraining, decentralised tactics tied to drone and data networks, and dozens of small technical fixes that have improved readiness.

Iran and the United States will meet in Muscat to discuss Tehran’s nuclear programme, but a dispute over whether ballistic missiles should be on the agenda threatens to overshadow the talks. Tehran insists on a nuclear‑only mandate while Washington seeks broader guarantees, leaving the outcome uncertain and the regional security climate fragile.

Bitcoin fell below $65,000 as leveraged positions were forcibly closed and market turbulence accelerated a four‑month sell‑off. The drop, roughly half from October’s highs above $126,000, highlights structural risks from concentrated leverage and raises questions about liquidity and regulatory safeguards in crypto markets.

A sharp cross-asset sell-off saw silver tumble over 20% and bitcoin drop below $65,000, prompting exchanges to raise margin requirements. The turmoil coincided with geopolitical tensions as US and Iranian delegations prepared to meet in Oman, and with Chinese domestic moves including Meituan’s planned purchase of Dingdong and regulatory action against a financial influencer.