World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 818

Iran’s Foreign Minister Accuses Netanyahu of Trying to Drag Washington into a War with Tehran
Iran’s foreign minister accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to drag the United States into a war with Iran, alleging Israel has favored military solutions and even struck multiple regional targets. Tehran says some U.S. officials prefer diplomacy, and frames its charges as both deterrence and a bid to shape international opinion amid heightened regional tensions.

Beijing Scoffs at Taiwan’s Talk of Forward‑Deploying HIMARS, Warns of ‘Annihilation’ if Fighting Starts
China’s defence ministry rebuked proposals from Taiwan to forward‑deploy HIMARS rocket systems to offshore islands and dismissed the idea of a Taiwanese “pre‑emptive strike” as reckless. Beijing framed the proposal as justification for tough deterrence measures and warned that any armed provocation would face annihilation by the PLA.

Trump Weighs Sending Second Carrier to Middle East as Iran Talks Hang in Balance
President Trump said he may send a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East as a contingency if talks with Iran fail, even as indirect negotiations continue after meetings in Muscat. The planned deployment would signal U.S. resolve but risks creating coverage gaps elsewhere and heightening the chance of escalation.

Seoul’s Risky Bid to ‘Co-Manage’ the DMZ: A Play for Autonomy That Could Unravel Stability
Seoul has proposed joint South Korea–US management of the DMZ, a move framed as a compromise but seen by critics as an attempt to reclaim authority from US command. The plan risks undermining alliance cohesion, provoking North Korea, and creating operational confusion unless accompanied by deeper changes to wartime command arrangements and renewed diplomacy.

Scaling Karst Cliffs to Keep Cross‑Border Trains Running: Inside China’s ‘Climbing Tiger’ Rail Crew
A specialised maintenance team on China’s Xianggui railway routinely climbs karst cliffs to identify and neutralise hazardous rocks that threaten China–Vietnam international rail traffic. Their work combines drone and AI detection with dangerous manual interventions, and underlines the human backbone of infrastructure resilience amid growing reliance on cross‑border rail links.

Beijing Signals It May Grant Visa-Free Access to British Citizens—Details to Follow
China has told reporters it is considering unilateral visa-free access for British citizens, with detailed terms to be announced after internal procedures are completed. The move, floated during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit, would be a high-profile confidence-building step with uncertain scope and timing.

Iran Rejects ‘Zero Enrichment’ Demand, Flashes Missile Muscle and Seeks Backup from China and Russia
After secret talks in Oman, Iran has rejected U.S. demands for a complete halt to uranium enrichment and set strict red lines excluding missiles and regional influence from negotiations. Tehran’s public briefing to Russia and China and a high‑profile missile display signal it is preparing for both diplomacy and deterrence, raising the stakes for Washington and its allies.

Climbing for Safety: How a Chinese Railcrew 'Registers' Rocks to Keep Trains Crossing the China–Vietnam Border
On the Xianggui railway’s Nanning section, a specialised maintenance team known as the “climbing tigers” inspects and mitigates rockfall risks on karst cliffs that threaten China–Vietnam rail traffic. Combining drone-AI scans with dangerous cliffside work and a rigorous record-keeping system that operators call “giving stones household registration,” the crew keeps trains running safely during busy travel periods.

Iran Declares It Does Not Seek Nuclear Weapons and Offers Unspecified Inspections as U.S. Military Pressure Rises
Iran’s president declared the country does not seek nuclear weapons and said Tehran would accept any inspections, a statement delivered against heightened U.S. military pressure and ongoing indirect talks in Muscat. The offer is politically significant but vague on verification details, and its credibility will hinge on the scope of access granted and reciprocal incentives such as sanctions relief.

China Signals Possible Visa-Free Entry for British Citizens as Starmer Visits — Details Pending
China has indicated it will announce details “in due course” about a possible unilateral visa-free regime for British citizens, a proposal raised during UK prime minister Keir Starmer’s visit. The move would be a pragmatic confidence-building measure with potential economic upside, but its impact depends on the specific terms and security safeguards.

Washington Rewrites the Rules of the Arms Market: Prioritising Spending and Strategic Value
On February 6, 2026, the U.S. replaced its long-standing "first-come, first-served" approach to arms sales with a policy prioritising high defence spenders and partners deemed strategically important. The shift tightens the link between weapons exports and U.S. national interest, reshaping alliance dynamics and the global arms market.

Beneath the Congratulations: Trump’s Frustration over Slow $550bn Japan-to-US Investment and the High-Stakes Bargain Ahead of a March Summit
President Trump publicly congratulated Japan’s newly strengthened LDP government while privately pressing Tokyo over slow progress on a $550 billion investment package pledged to the United States. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s March visit will bring proposals such as joint rare-earth development and the first tranche of investments, but deep mutual distrust and high American demands risk turning the bargain into a geopolitical lever rather than a simple economic pact.