World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 818
Pandas Return to China as Beijing Invites Japanese Visitors — A Quiet Soft‑Power Move
Two pandas from Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, returned to China on January 27 under existing agreements. Beijing used the occasion to invite Japanese visitors to see pandas in China, underscoring the animals’ role as instruments of cultural diplomacy amid broader bilateral tensions.
Sailors' Notebooks and a Navy's Confidence: Inside the Baotou Ship's 'Voyage Diaries'
Personal voyage diaries kept by sailors aboard the PLAN destroyer Baotou provide a window into the Chinese navy’s operational learning, technical integration and morale-building during long deployments. The entries illuminate both the quotidian work of mastering new systems and the strategic aim of projecting steady, professional maritime presence.
U.S. Carrier Deploys to Middle East as Iran Vows Firm Response — Risk of a Limited Strike Spirals into Wider Regional Stakes
The Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has entered the U.S. Central Command area, signalling heightened U.S. military readiness near Iran while Tehran declares maximum alert and vows retaliation. Washington retains multiple strike options but faces significant strategic risks — including regional escalation, threats to Gulf bases and energy-market shocks — making calibrated action and diplomacy the likeliest near-term path.
Azerbaijan Detains Three Suspects Allegedly Directed by IS-K to Target an Embassy in Baku
Azerbaijan has arrested three men accused of plotting an attack on a foreign embassy in Baku at the direction of IS‑K. The detainees, born in 2000 and 2005, face charges of preparing terrorist activities as investigations continue and the targeted embassy remains unnamed.
Israel Probe Finds 'Systemic Flaws' in Arms Procurement, Raising Security and Political Alarms
A government committee found systemic defects in Israel's military procurement processes after reviewing German submarine and corvette deals, renewing past bribery allegations linked to Thyssenkrupp and an associate of Prime Minister Netanyahu. The report also criticised Israel's chaotic handling of Germany's sale of submarines to Egypt and recommended formal procedures requiring expert input on arms decisions.
Trump Raises Tariffs on South Korean Imports as U.S. Markets Digest Tech Wins and Intel Weakness
President Trump announced an increase in U.S. tariffs on South Korean autos, timber and pharmaceuticals from 15% to 25%, blaming Seoul for not ratifying a bilateral trade deal. U.S. markets closed higher as investors focused on upcoming tech earnings and Microsoft’s launch of a new AI chip, while Intel slumped on weak guidance.
Nearly Half of China–Japan Flights Axed as February Schedules Shrink
Flight-tracking data show a sharp rise in cancellations on China–Japan routes: 49 routes have no scheduled February flights and January cancellations hit 47.2 percent, up nearly eight points from December. Airlines have extended free refunds through March 28 as they contend with volatile demand and operational uncertainty, a development that could dent Japan’s inbound tourism recovery.
Ex-Soldiers Turn Teachers: Nanjing’s ‘Jinling Vanguard’ Brings Military-Style Volunteering to China’s Mountain Schools
A Nanjing-based network of retired university student soldiers, the Jinling Vanguard, is running volunteer teaching programmes in Jiangxi’s mountain schools, combining military-style management with classroom instruction and patriotic education. Since 2021 the initiative has mobilised thousands of veterans, raised funds and books, built cloud classrooms, and been incorporated into broader municipal and national efforts to integrate veterans into civic life and sustain revolutionary memory.
The Gobi’s Ironman: How a Sergeant-Engineer Became the PLA’s Frontline Fixer in Xinjiang
Sergeant Lei Yaoming, a 23-year veteran stationed in Xinjiang, has become a multi-skilled technical leader in PLA construction units by combining on-the-job learning, innovation and frontline courage. His career underlines the PLA’s reliance on experienced non-commissioned officers to adapt new equipment, solve maintenance challenges in remote areas and train junior technicians as the force modernises.
From Stone Huts to Box Rockets: How an Eastern Theatre Artillery Unit Keeps Combat-Ready on the Move
Soldiers from an Eastern Theatre Command rocket-artillery battalion have spent over a year living and training away from their garrison in improvised sites while operating new long-range containerised rocket systems. Their experience illustrates the PLA’s shift toward dispersed, mobile operations, with implications for logistics, personnel endurance and regional deterrence dynamics.
Hezbollah Holds Mass Rally in Beirut to Signal Readiness to Defend Iran, Warning of Wider Regional War
Hezbollah held a large rally in Beirut on January 26 to publicly back Iran and warn that it would not remain neutral if Israel or the United States launched military action against Tehran. The demonstration underlines Hezbollah's role as both a domestic political force and a regional military actor, increasing the risk that any confrontation with Iran could spill across the Levant.
UK Budget Strain Forces Delay in Japan–UK–Italy Sixth‑Generation Fighter Deal, Jeopardising 2035 Goal
A planned contract to move the Japan–UK–Italy sixth‑generation fighter programme into full development has been delayed because the UK has not finalised its funding amid rising defence bills. The pause risks derailing the partnership’s 2035 deployment target, forcing national workstreams and raising coordination, cost and capability risks for all three partners.