World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 818
Netanyahu’s Warning to Tehran: A Signal of Possible Unilateral Action, or Diplomatic Pressure on Washington?
Israel has accelerated a high-level visit to Washington after warning that Iran’s ballistic-missile programme constitutes an existential threat; Israeli officials say they may strike unilaterally if Tehran crosses unspecified red lines on missile range and numbers. Tel Aviv still prefers coordinated action with the United States, but the signal of possible independent action is meant to sharpen deterrence and press Washington for support.
Muscat Talks Signal New U.S.–Iran Dialogue Track, Raising Hopes — and Risks — for De‑Escalation
A first round of indirect U.S.–Iran nuclear talks in Muscat has produced unusually positive public signals from both sides and appears to have established a new, more visible dialogue mechanism under Omani mediation. While this reduces short‑term escalation risks, substantive agreement will be hard to achieve quickly given domestic constraints and regional spoilers.
Strike a Carrier, Invite a Response: Why Hitting a U.S. Aircraft Carrier Would Force Washington's Hand
A Beijing commentary argued that an Iranian strike on a U.S. aircraft carrier would almost certainly draw U.S. retaliation. Such an attack would challenge American deterrence, risk rapid escalation across the region, and have immediate diplomatic and economic repercussions for global shipping and markets.
On the Snowline: A Tibetan Sergeant’s Eight Years Guarding China’s Unmarked Frontier
A Tibetan sergeant in the PLA’s Tibet Military District has spent eight years conducting perilous high‑altitude patrols along an un‑demarcated frontier, logging nearly 5,000 kilometres and enduring chronic injury. His story — from rescue in an ice river to representing China in elite mountain competitions and attending the 2025 national parade — is used to personify China’s assertion of sovereignty and its investment in plateau military capability.
Tea, Dumplings and Letters: How China Sends the New Year to Its Frontier Troops
Ahead of the Lunar New Year, Chinese cities and civic groups shipped regional foods, letters and supplies to border and coastal troops to boost morale and signal civilian support. The campaign blends cultural ritual with practical care, strengthening civil-military ties and demonstrating local administrative capacity to mobilise society for state objectives.
PLA’s Five‑Day South China Sea Patrol Raises Stakes as Manila Shifts Tactics and Tokyo Deepens Involvement
China’s PLA carried out a five‑day patrol in the South China Sea in early February, a move framed as a response to Philippine actions around Scarborough Shoal and joint exercises with the United States. Manila has signalled a tactical pivot toward pushing a South China Sea code of conduct during its 2026 ASEAN chairmanship, even as Japan deepens support for the Philippines, widening the dispute’s international dimensions.
Gansu Troupe Brings Lunar New Year Pageant to Nairobi, a Quiet Moment of Sino‑African Cultural Diplomacy
A cultural troupe from China’s Gansu province performed a Lunar New Year show at Nairobi’s national theatre on February 9, part of a broader Chinese festival tour in Africa. The visit illustrates how provincial cultural missions are being used as a low‑cost tool of soft power to support broader Sino‑African ties and public diplomacy.
Iran's Dual Track: Offering Dialogue While Drilling In for a Fight
Iran is simultaneously signaling willingness to negotiate with the United States over nuclear issues while publicly reaffirming military readiness and core red lines. Regional intermediaries like Oman are facilitating indirect talks, but continuing US pressure and Israeli demands risk undermining progress unless both sides adopt reciprocal confidence‑building measures.
China Showcases J-10 Night-Fighting Drills as Air Force Builds Integrated Combat Skills
China’s South Theatre Command released footage and a report on cross–day-and–night opposing exercises featuring J-10 fighters, highlighting system-level confrontation involving reconnaissance, jamming, target locking and escape maneuvers. The release underscores the PLAAF’s push toward networked air operations and serves both readiness and signaling purposes in a strategically sensitive region.
Iran’s Larijani Warns Washington to Snub Israeli Pressure on Nuclear Talks Ahead of Netanyahu Visit
Ali Larijani, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary, publicly urged the U.S. to be wary of Israel’s influence as Prime Minister Netanyahu heads to Washington, accusing Israel of a ‘‘destructive’’ role in shaping nuclear-talks frameworks. The warning highlights Tehran’s concern that Israeli pressure could skew U.S. policy on Iran’s nuclear program and complicate diplomacy.
Radarless F‑35s and Claims of 1,000 J‑20s: A Test of U.S. Production, Chinese Scale and Air‑Power Assumptions
A reported delay in new radars has left a batch of F‑35As delivered without their primary fire‑control sensors, limiting their beyond‑visual‑range capabilities and highlighting U.S. supply‑chain fragility. Parallel claims that China is ramping J‑20 production toward 1,000 aircraft underscore a narrative of shifting industrial balance, though the larger Chinese figures warrant cautious scrutiny.
Iran’s Two‑Track Play: Negotiating Nuclear Talks While Posturing for War
Iran has adopted a deliberate two‑track approach: signalling willingness to negotiate on the nuclear file while visibly reinforcing military readiness and red lines. Analysts advise focusing on incremental, verifiable nuclear concessions, reciprocal confidence‑building measures and broader international mediation to avoid a dangerous breakdown in talks.