World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 818
Two Small-Plane Crashes in the U.S. Leave One Dead and Prompt Federal Probes
A small aircraft crashed near Gilbert, South Carolina on February 6, killing one person and injuring another, while a separate crash occurred in Idaho the same day with local firefighters on scene. The FAA and NTSB have opened investigations that will examine mechanical, human and environmental factors and could lead to safety recommendations affecting general aviation oversight.
US Pulls Two F-22s from Super Bowl Flyover as Operational Tempo Near Iran Rises
The US Air Force pulled two F-22 stealth fighters from the Super Bowl flyover after reassigning them to operational tasks amid heightened activity related to Iran. The move highlights the limited availability of fifth‑generation assets and signals that the Pentagon is prioritizing real‑world missions over public displays during a period of increased tension in the Middle East.
US Diplomatic Facility in Baghdad Reports 'Controlled Explosion', Details Sparse
The US embassy in Baghdad reported a "controlled explosion" at a US diplomatic support facility on February 7 but provided no details about causes or casualties. The terse notice, first noted in regional media, underscores persistent security risks to diplomatic sites in Baghdad and leaves open questions about whether the incident was disposal of a device, an exercise, or something else.
Leaked Draft Shows U.S. Tying Iran Deal to Cuts in Oil Sales to China — A Strategic Move Beyond the Gulf
A leaked draft published by Israeli sources shows U.S. negotiating demands on Iran include a reduction of Iranian oil exports to China, turning a nuclear and regional-security dialogue into a broader U.S.–China contest. Tehran is unlikely to accept terms that undermine its deterrent capabilities and economic lifelines, and the clause risks pushing Iran closer to Russia and deepening great‑power geopolitical rivalry.
In the Cold of Night: How China's Rocket Force Drills Mobility, Concealment and Survival
A Rocket Force unit conducted a night-time, long-range mobility exercise in sub-zero conditions to rehearse concealment, field repairs and protection against aerial and chemical threats. The drills emphasise winter-specific equipment degradation, the value of pre-surveyed routes and the institutional focus on reducing human and procedural friction under stress.
A Military Mess Hall Goes Viral — What China’s Kitchen Showcase Reveals About PLA Modernisation
A viral post showcasing a Chinese military cook squad reflects a broader PLA effort to professionalise logistics and improve public outreach. While modest in subject, the footage highlights how personnel welfare and supply-chain competence are being emphasised as part of China’s wider military modernisation.
Trump Envoy and Kushner Join CENTCOM Chief Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln After F‑35C Downs Iranian Drone
A U.S. presidential special envoy, the CENTCOM commander (named in Chinese reports as Brad Cooper), and Jared Kushner visited the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on February 7, meeting crew who had been involved in shooting down an Iranian drone. The encounter—an F‑35C shot down an unmanned Iranian aircraft near the carrier—illustrates rising maritime tensions, the deployment of advanced carrier airpower against drones, and the political signaling inherent in senior visitors joining forward naval forces.
From Yimeng Hilltops to the Littorals: How a PLA Navy Company Marries Revolutionary Heritage with Tactical Innovation
A PLA Navy unit called "Daigu Company," descended from an Eighth Route Army company famed for resisting Japanese forces in 1943, is marrying revolutionary heritage with hands‑on tactical innovation. The unit has institutionalized political education alongside iterative development of air‑assault and littoral tactics, gaining recognition and seeing its methods promoted within the service.
US Releases Footage of Trump Envoy and Son‑in‑Law Aboard Carrier in Arabian Sea, Raising Protocol and Political Questions
The Pentagon released video showing a delegation including a former president’s special envoy and his son‑in‑law aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. The visit highlights tensions between public diplomacy, operational security, and the risk of politicizing military assets in a contested maritime theatre.
Iran Signals Flexibility on Enrichment but Warns Talks May Move as Muscat Round Ends
Iran signalled cautious flexibility in indirect talks with the United States, saying the second round’s venue may change while reiterating opposition to exporting uranium but openness to reduced enrichment levels. Tehran stressed it does not want regional war but warned that U.S. military action would complicate negotiations, which remain contingent on an environment free of threats and pressure.
Washington Lines Up 30 Allies and $12bn Stockpile to Blunt China’s Rare-Earth Leverage
The U.S. has launched a diplomatic and financial effort to reduce reliance on Chinese-controlled processing of critical minerals by creating a roughly 30-country partnership and a $12 billion stockpile. Short-term measures can mitigate shocks, but long-term resilience requires building refining capacity, recycling and sustained industrial investment that cannot be solved by hoarding alone.
A Mexican Warship, Humanitarian Aid — and a Crack in Six Decades of U.S. Isolation of Cuba
A Mexican navy vessel has delivered humanitarian supplies to Cuba, a symbolic breach of the U.S. embargo that has constrained the island for more than six decades. The shipment underscores growing Latin American willingness to challenge Washington’s policy and raises the question of whether regional actors can erode the embargo’s practical effectiveness through solidarity and alternative supply lines.