World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 818
U.S. Moves Fighter Jets to Jordan as Washington Tightens Military Posture in the Middle East
The U.S. has moved around a dozen fighter jets and support aircraft from Europe to Jordan while a carrier strike group advances toward the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf, reinforcing American air and naval presence amid rising tensions with Iran. The deployments enhance rapid-response and sustained operations but also increase the risk of escalation with Tehran and its regional proxies.
Why Washington’s Greenland Gambit Collapsed — and Why It Still Matters
President Trump’s public retreat from paying to “buy” Greenland highlights the mismatch between strategic ambition and political, legal and fiscal reality. While Greenland’s location and mineral wealth make it strategically valuable, any change in its status would face steep constitutional hurdles, allied resistance and large, hard‑to‑define costs.
Beijing Signals 'Decapitation' as an Option for Taiwan — A New Escalation in Cross‑Strait Posturing
Beijing’s defence ministry has publicly framed targeted strikes against Taiwan’s leadership as an available option, an unprecedented rhetorical escalation that follows a US cross‑border special operations episode. The move aims to deter secessionist moves, complicate allied intervention calculus, and has prompted regional hedging such as Singapore’s proposed contingency troop withdrawal.
Attacks on UN Personnel Spike in 2025, Undermining Peacekeeping and Aid Operations
A UN report found at least 21 UN personnel were deliberately killed in 2025, a sharp rise from prior years and concentrated in hotspots such as Abyei, the DRC and the Central African Republic. The figure excludes at least 119 UNRWA staff killed in the Israel–Palestine conflict, underscoring a wider crisis in protection for humanitarian and peacekeeping personnel that threatens operations and humanitarian access.
When the Canteen Is Hit: A Chinese Correspondent’s Close Encounter with Kabul’s Violence
A blast outside a Chinese-run restaurant in Kabul killed at least one local employee and injured others, bringing the everyday risks of exile life into sharp relief for the small Chinese community in Afghanistan. The attack highlights the vulnerability of China’s expanding non-military presence in Kabul and raises questions about how Beijing will protect its citizens while maintaining engagement in a fragile, impoverished country.
Luohe Enters the Fleet: China’s 5,000‑ton 054B Frigate Narrows the Gap with Destroyers
China’s first 054B frigate, the Luohe (545), has completed its first year in service, showcasing notable improvements in stealth, sensors and weapons density compared with the previous 054A. The 5,000‑ton ship narrows the capability gap with destroyers and Western frigates, fitting Beijing’s strategy of producing a higher number of capable, cost‑effective surface combatants for extended far‑sea operations.
Beijing Offers Cautious Response on Reported Trump, Chinese and Starmer State Visits
China’s Foreign Ministry declined to confirm media reports of a prospective April visit to China by U.S. President Donald Trump or a reciprocal year‑end visit by a Chinese leader, while offering similarly cautious language about a possible visit by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The non‑committal response reflects Beijing’s preference for tightly managed summit diplomacy amid high strategic stakes in U.S.–China and China–U.K. relations.
Beijing Keeps Cards Close as Questions Mount Over Trump, Xi and Starmer Visits
China’s Foreign Ministry declined to confirm media reports that President Trump will visit China in April or that China’s leader will visit the U.S. later this year, while also saying details of a possible UK prime ministerial visit will be announced in due course. Beijing framed summit diplomacy as essential but offered no specifics, signaling a cautious, tightly managed approach to top‑level engagement.
China’s New 054B Frigate Marks a Step Change in Stealth, Sensors and Firepower
China celebrated the one-year anniversary of the 054B frigate Luohe entering service, highlighting stepped-up stealth, sensors and weaponry in a 5,000-ton hull. The class narrows the capability gap with destroyers and Western frigates, and is intended to provide scalable, cost-effective escort and blue-water capability for the PLAN.
China Tightens Scientific Standards to Broaden and Sharpen Pilot Selection for Modern Air War
The PLA has issued a comprehensive revision of medical standards for selecting flight cadets, effective 1 August 2026, shifting selection toward a scientific, combat-oriented model. Key changes include human–machine fit adjustments, a composite visual assessment, upgraded psychological screening, 24-hour ECG monitoring, and the relaxation of some non-essential exclusions to widen the candidate pool.
US Navy Dismisses ‘Toilet Crisis’ as Isolated Faults, but Ford-Class Design Questions Persist
The US Navy says sewage-system failures aboard the carrier USS Gerald R. Ford are isolated and short-lived, and do not harm combat readiness. Still, repeated breakdowns, frequent repair requests and design similarities in forthcoming carriers raise questions about habitability, logistics and procurement choices across the Ford-class.
China Coast Guard Rescues Dozens After Philippines Crew Ship Capsizes Near Scarborough Shoal, Highlighting Humanitarian Role and Geopolitical Significance
China Coast Guard ships Dongsha and Sanmen conducted a search-and-rescue operation after a foreign cargo vessel carrying 21 Filipino crew capsized near Huangyan Island on January 23, recovering 13 people so far. The rescue underscores the humanitarian role of China’s coast guard while highlighting the geopolitical sensitivities of operating near the disputed Scarborough Shoal.