World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 818
Snow, Sand and Steeds: How Chinese Border Troops Ride into the Lunar New Year
In Xinjiang’s remote northwest, a Chinese border unit relies on military horses to patrol harsh terrain during the Lunar New Year period. The patrol—through sand ridges, marshes and blizzard—highlights the continued operational value of horses, the human cost of frontier service and Beijing’s messaging about persistent readiness.
Oman Plays Go-Between as Tehran Holds Last-Minute Talks Ahead of US Negotiations
Ahead of scheduled talks between Tehran and Washington, Iran’s foreign minister met with Oman’s top diplomat, highlighting Oman’s continued role as a mediator. The meeting signals preparatory diplomacy aimed at narrowing gaps and managing expectations, but entrenched domestic and regional constraints make a substantive breakthrough uncertain.
China’s PLA Keeps Up a Tempo of Constant, Realistic War-Ready Training
China’s military media describe an unrelenting training tempo across air, land, sea, cyber and space domains, with realistic blue‑force opposition and data‑driven evaluation mechanisms. The portrayal signals both domestic reassurance and an international message of deterrence as the PLA prioritizes joint, high‑intensity readiness.
Muscat Hosts US–Iran Backchannel as Oman Reasserts Role as Regional Broker
Iran and the United States held indirect talks in Muscat on 6 February, hosted by Oman and attended by Iranian foreign minister Araghchi and a U.S. delegation including a presidential envoy and Jared Kushner. The session underscores Oman's long‑standing role as a discreet intermediary and opens a cautious channel for pragmatic, limited diplomacy amid significant domestic and regional constraints.
White House Pulls Back Roughly 700 Federal Officers from Minnesota, Recasts Immigration Tactics
The White House said it would withdraw about 700 federal immigration officers from Minnesota and shift enforcement tactics away from visible street operations toward custody-based measures. Officials called the move a tactical de-escalation while maintaining that aggressive removal objectives remain intact, drawing criticism from Democrats who say the reduction is too limited.
Fragile Diplomatic Thaw: US and Iran Resume Indirect Talks in Muscat Amid Military Tensions
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.
U.S. Orders Major Ramp-Up of Tomahawk, AMRAAM and SM-Series Missiles as Stocks Deplete
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.
With Talks Set in Oman, Trump Warns of Military Strike if Iran Builds New Nuclear Sites
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.
Why Washington Is Reviving the Threat of Force Against Iran: Coercion, Probing, and the Risk of Miscalculation
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.
Remembering Huang Xuhua: The Engineer Who Took China’s First Nuclear Submarine Deep — One Year On
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 Joins Dutch Army Reserves — A Royal Signal on European Security
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.
Defiant Flotilla to Reattempt Gaza Aid Run, Raising Prospect of New Confrontation with Israel
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.