World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 818
U.S. Gears Misawa Base to Host 48 F-35A Stealth Fighters, Signalling a Pacific Posture Shift
The Pentagon is preparing Misawa Air Base in Japan to host 48 F-35A stealth fighters to replace 36 F-16s, part of a 2024 modernization plan. The upgrade strengthens U.S.-Japan deterrence, requires significant base infrastructure and will reverberate across regional strategic dynamics.
Indonesia Takes Delivery of First Rafales as Defence Build‑Up Accelerates
Indonesia has received three Rafale fighters from France, the first deliveries under a multibillion‑dollar defence deal that includes up to 42 jets plus naval vessels. The move advances Jakarta’s military modernisation and has implications for regional security and France’s role in Southeast Asia.
US Carrier Group Deploys to Middle East as Tehran and Proxies Sound Alarms
The U.S. has positioned a carrier strike group and additional air and missile-defence assets in the Middle East to deter Iran, which has entered maximum readiness and warned its response to any attack would not be limited to U.S. bases. Hezbollah and Israel have signalled that the confrontation could draw in regional proxies and force civil contingencies, while Gulf states worry that military action could trigger widespread instability and economic shocks.
NATO’s Rutte Tells Europe: Without the U.S. You Can’t Defend Yourselves — and Good Luck Raising Arms
NATO secretary‑general Mark Rutte told European lawmakers that, absent U.S. support, Europe cannot defend itself and would need sharply higher defence spending and the loss of the American nuclear umbrella. His comments, made amid rows over Greenland and Trump’s Afghanistan remarks, have intensified debate over transatlantic ties and European strategic autonomy.
Trump Keeps Door Ajar for Talks with Iran While Sending Carrier to the Gulf
President Trump said he has not ruled out diplomacy with Iran even as he deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to the Central Command region and kept military options open. The administration’s stance blends deterrence with a rhetorical openness to talks, leaving outcomes dependent on Tehran’s response and choices by regional actors.
As USS Abraham Lincoln Heads to the Gulf, Iran Mixes Military Readiness with Diplomatic Outreach to Avoid an All‑out War
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is moving to the Middle East, prompting Iran to declare maximum military readiness and threaten strikes on U.S. bases. Tehran is simultaneously engaging in active diplomacy to limit the political space for American action and to rally regional support, while analysts warn the situation carries high risks of miscalculation and wider regional escalation.
US Carrier Strike Group Near Iran Heightens Risk of Regional Escalation as Tehran and Allies Issue Stark Warnings
A US carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has moved into the Indian Ocean, prompting stern warnings from Iran and its regional allies. Washington signals readiness to deter while keeping a door open to talks, but proxy forces and incendiary propaganda raise the risk of a wider regional confrontation.
U.S. Ambassador Threatens Ottawa: Spurn F‑35s and U.S. Fighters Will Patrol Canadian Skies More Often
U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra warned that Canada’s decision not to buy 88 F‑35 fighters would force changes to North American defence arrangements and lead to more frequent U.S. fighter operations in Canadian airspace. The remarks intensify a fraught Canadian procurement debate over interoperability, cost and sovereignty, and highlight the diplomatic leverage Washington can exert over allied defence choices.
Deadly Ferry Sinking Exposes Chronic Safety Failures in the Philippines
A passenger ferry sank off Basilan on 26 January, leaving at least 18 dead, 24 missing and more than 300 rescued. The accident highlights persistent maritime safety failures in the Philippines — from poor maintenance and rough seas to inadequate enforcement and limited rescue capacity — and will likely spur calls for regulatory and operational reforms.
China’s Rocket Force Sharpens Night-time Mobility and Resilience in Realistic Launch Drills
A PLA Rocket Force unit held a realistic night exercise to test the autonomous combat capabilities of dispersed launch teams under drone surveillance and simulated harassment. The drill emphasised rapid concealment, quick emplacement, integrated logistics and simulated launches to improve resilience and complicate adversary targeting.
Beijing Rebukes Japan’s Sanae Takaichi, Says Tokyo Has ‘No Right’ to Intervene in Taiwan
China’s foreign ministry publicly rejected Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi’s suggestion that Tokyo and Washington could act together in the event of a Taiwan Strait crisis, saying Japan has "no right" to interfere. Beijing invoked post‑war treaties and historical grievances to frame Tokyo’s remarks as irresponsible and a threat to regional stability.
Another Philippine Ferry Sinks, Laying Bare Long‑standing Maritime Safety Failures
A passenger cargo ferry sank off southern Philippines on 26 January, with at least 317 rescued, 18 confirmed dead and dozens missing. The disaster highlights chronic maritime safety shortcomings—poor maintenance, severe weather, and weak enforcement—that regularly imperil travel between the country’s islands.