World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 818
Iran Claims Fleet of 1,000 Strategic Drones, Redrawing Regional Power Dynamics
A Chinese outlet reported that Iran has integrated about 1,000 strategic unmanned aerial vehicles into its combat formations, marking a significant expansion of Tehran’s drone capabilities. The development heightens regional security tensions by enhancing Iran’s ability to conduct long-range surveillance, strikes and saturation attacks while raising proliferation risks through exports to proxies.
Eight Mostly Muslim Foreign Ministers Condemn Israel, Warning Ceasefire at Risk
Eight foreign ministers — from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey — issued a joint denunciation of Israeli violations of a Gaza ceasefire, blaming the incidents for over 1,000 Palestinian casualties. The uncommon cross-regional statement warns that continued breaches could derail the ceasefire's second phase, undermine reconstruction and escalate regional tensions, while renewing calls for Palestinian self-determination and a political solution.
PLA Navy Unit Escorts Honoured Sailors and Families on Cultural Pilgrimage to Cement Cohesion
A PLA naval brigade in the Eastern Theater took recently decorated servicemen and their families on a cultural tour of local museums and heritage sites to strengthen morale and family support. The event illustrates how the Chinese military uses recognition, traditional values and family engagement as tools of personnel management and political work.
Blind Veteran in Rural Guangxi Keeps a Farm and a Code: ‘Don’t Be a Burden’
A blind veteran in Guangxi sustains himself through pig farming, adapting to total sight loss and recovering from a devastating 2019 swine fever outbreak. Regular visits from local veterans and social-welfare agencies and a pending housing renovation subsidy illustrate China's blend of targeted assistance and an expectation of individual self-reliance among beneficiaries.
US Destroyer Departs Eilat as Fifth Fleet Reaffirms Routine Presence in Red Sea Corridor
The US destroyer USS Delbert D. Black left the Israeli port of Eilat on 1 February after a routine visit, US Central Command and the Fifth Fleet said on social media. CENTCOM also released images of maintenance aboard another deployed destroyer, underscoring ongoing US naval presence and sustainment operations in the Middle East maritime corridor.
Why a Burst of High-Level US–Japan Engagement Is the Region’s New Signal
An increase in top‑level U.S.–Japan interactions is meant to demonstrate a tighter, more adaptive alliance across defence and economic domains. The moves are designed to deter rivals and reassure partners, but they also raise the stakes for crisis management and regional stability.
After Manila Declares No‑Sail Zone at Scarborough, PLA Sends a Stark Message
The Philippines declared a no‑sail zone near Scarborough Shoal, prompting Chinese commentary that the PLA responded with operations intended to ‘‘slap’’ Manila down. The episode highlights the fragile mix of routine maritime measures and high-stakes geopolitics in the South China Sea, with risks of further escalation unless diplomatic de‑escalation follows.
Talks and Triggers: Tehran and Washington Signal Diplomacy as Both Sides Brace for Wider Conflict
Iran and the United States are simultaneously engaging in cautious diplomacy and escalating military postures, with Tehran warning that any U.S. attack would quickly broaden into a regional war. The key impasse centers on uranium enrichment, ballistic missiles and Iran’s regional activities, while naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz and heightened alerts increase the risk of miscalculation.
Iran Masses Around 1,000 Strategic Drones, Raising Regional Stakes
Chinese military media reported that Iran has integrated around 1,000 strategic drones into its combat formations, marking a significant expansion of Tehran's unmanned capabilities. The scale enhances Iran's asymmetric options and complicates regional air-defence planning, raising the risk of escalation and prompting strategic recalibration by nearby states and their partners.
China’s Marriage Registrations Rebound — But Will Babies Follow?
China saw a notable rebound in marriage registrations in 2025 after years of decline, driven by procedural reforms, local cash incentives and expanded leave policies. While the rise eases short‑term demographic anxieties, structural barriers—childcare burdens, career penalties for women and changing social preferences—mean higher marriage rates may not translate into a sustained rise in births without deeper reforms.
US Destroyer Concludes Port Call to Eilat, Reinforcing Red Sea Presence
The USS Delbert D. Black completed a port call to Eilat on 1 February before departing, a move framed by the US Fifth Fleet as routine but strategically significant. The visit reinforces Washington's maritime presence in the Red Sea corridor, signaling deterrence and reassurance to regional partners amid persistent security risks to shipping.
Khamenei Warns U.S. That Any Attack Would Ignite a Wider Regional War
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned that any U.S. attempt to start a war would rapidly spread into a full regional conflict, vowing firm retaliation to any aggression. The statement reinforces Tehran’s deterrent posture, heightens the risk of proxy escalation across the Middle East, and complicates Washington’s military calculus.