World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 818
China’s 48th Escort Flotilla Demonstrates Blue‑Water Reach with At‑Sea Replenishment off East Africa
China’s 48th escort flotilla completed an underway replenishment between the replenishment ship Taihu and the destroyer Tangshan off East Africa after taking part in the “Peace Will‑2026” exercise. The operation highlights the PLAN’s growing ability to sustain long‑range deployments and maintain a persistent naval presence far from home ports.
Washington Reorders Priorities: Defense Strategy Pivots to the Western Hemisphere and Demands Allies Pay Up
The U.S. 2026 National Defense Strategy reorients American priorities toward securing the homeland and the Western Hemisphere, explicitly protecting strategic corridors from Greenland to the Panama Canal while urging allies to shoulder more defence responsibilities. It downplays naming China as the principal threat and omits Taiwan, opting instead for deterrence measures in the Indo‑Pacific, a stance that has unsettled European, Latin American and Asian partners.
China’s J-15T Adapted for Catapult Launches, Signalling a Step-Change in Carrier Aviation
China has introduced a J-15 variant equipped with a catapult tow bar, allowing it to launch from catapult-equipped carriers. This adaptation signals a broader move toward CATOBAR operations that could enhance payload, range and sortie rates for Chinese carrier air wings, though operational and logistical challenges remain.
Hamas Says It Has Handed Over Israeli Detainees and Remains, Urges Israel to Honor Ceasefire Commitments
Hamas’s armed wing says it has handed over all surviving Israeli detainees and the bodies it held to mediators, urging Israel to honor ceasefire commitments. Israel confirms ongoing searches for the last missing body in northern Gaza, while verification and political tensions leave the ceasefire’s durability in doubt.
China Hands Over 17 Rescued Seafarers to the Philippines, Signalling Humanitarian Cooperation at Sea
China publicly handed over 17 rescued seafarers to the Philippines, with footage highlighting the humanitarian handover. The episode underscores the potential for practical maritime cooperation to complement, but not resolve, broader territorial tensions in the South China Sea.
Iran Declares Full Military Readiness, Threatens Widespread Response from Hormuz to U.S. Interests
Iranian parliamentary security officials said on January 25 that the country's armed forces are on full alert and warned of broad retaliation — from the Strait of Hormuz to U.S. regional assets — should Tehran face any attack. The rhetoric follows U.S. announcements of increased naval and missile‑defence deployments, heightening the risk of miscalculation with implications for regional security and global energy markets.
China Coast Guard Rescues and Hands Over 17 Filipino Seafarers Near Disputed Scarborough Shoal
The China Coast Guard rescued 17 Filipino seafarers after a cargo vessel capsized near Huangyan (Scarborough Shoal) on January 23, handing them to Philippine authorities on January 25. Two crew members died and four remain missing, and the operation highlights both humanitarian cooperation and the geopolitical sensitivities of conducting rescues in contested South China Sea waters.
US Air Force Probe Finds Safety Failures After Helicopter Windblast Kills Teacher at Kadena
A U.S. Air Force investigation found that an HH-60 demonstration helicopter at Kadena Air Base flew too close to spectators on April 22, 2025, creating a windblast that toppled a Japanese teacher who later died of head injuries. The report cites planning and oversight failures and has provoked public outcry in Japan over transparency and base safety. The incident amplifies long-running tensions in Okinawa over U.S. military presence and raises questions about operational discipline, accountability, and the political costs for both Tokyo and Washington.
A $1 Billion Seat and an Uninvited Chair: U.S. 'Peace Committee' Deepens Rift with Israel over Gaza
The U.S. initiative to launch a Gaza 'peace committee' chaired by President Trump, featuring a controversial $1 billion offer for permanent seats and a roster including Turkey and Qatar, has triggered a rare public rebuke from Israel. Deep disagreements over who should oversee Gaza, the scope of demilitarization, and the legitimacy of parallel technocratic bodies leave reconstruction and long‑term peace prospects tenuous.
Trump’s Dismissal of Allies’ Role in Afghanistan Draws Sharp Rebukes from Britain, Australia and NATO
President Trump’s comments that NATO and other allies ‘‘hid behind’’ the U.S. in Afghanistan drew strong rebuttals from Australia, the UK and NATO leadership. Leaders emphasized the heavy costs borne by their forces and sought to reassure that alliances remain intact, even as the episode highlights risks to coalition cohesion and U.S. credibility.
Fragile Ceasefire Extended in Syria as Integration Deal with SDF Stalls
Syrian authorities extended a nationwide ceasefire by 15 days after clashes with the SDF in northern Aleppo, buying time for stalled talks over integrating SDF forces into state structures. The pause highlights fragile stability in the north and east, where damaged infrastructure and competing external influences complicate any lasting settlement.
Israel Says It Destroyed a 4 km Hamas Tunnel in Southern Gaza as Rafah Finds Fuel Concerns Over Militancy
The Israel Defense Forces say they have destroyed an approximately four‑kilometre Hamas tunnel complex in southern Gaza and released video of the operation. The IDF also reported finding weapons, explosive devices and rocket launchers in Rafah after a firefight that killed six militants; Hamas has not commented.