World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 818
Turkish Probe Finds Libyan Military Jet Broke Up on High‑Speed Impact; Engines Were Running
A Turkish preliminary investigation into a December 23, 2025 crash of a Libyan Falcon 50 near Ankara found no mid‑air explosion and that the engines were running at impact; the aircraft disintegrated on high‑speed collision with a 1,252m mountain. Eight people, including Libya’s army chief of staff, died; black boxes sent to Britain are expected to provide the decisive data on why the jet, after reporting an electrical fault, struck terrain at speed.
From Revolutionary Roots to High‑Altitude Fighting: Inside the PLA’s ‘Red Ninth’ Push to Modernise on the Tibetan Plateau
A PLA company in Tibet known as the Red Ninth fused its 99‑year revolutionary heritage with modern high‑altitude combat training, testing new vehicles, drones and information systems while producing its own doctrine. The exercise underscores Beijing’s focus on integrating legacy political cohesion with technological modernisation in strategically sensitive terrain.
Poland Summons Belarus Diplomat After Nighttime Balloon Incursions Carrying Untaxed Cigarettes
Poland summoned the Belarusian chargé d’affaires after dozens of balloon-like objects crossed into Polish airspace on January 17 carrying untaxed cigarettes. Polish authorities seized multiple meteorological-style balloons and told Minsk such incursions were unacceptable. The event underscores ongoing security frictions on the Poland–Belarus border and raises concerns about smuggling tactics and state permissiveness.
From Red Roots to High-Altitude Strike Units: How a 99‑Year‑Old PLA Company is Rebranding Tradition for Modern War
A century‑old PLA company based in Tibet is pairing its revolutionary lineage with rapid operational modernisation, transforming symbolic rituals into practical high‑altitude combat readiness. By improvising manuals, integrating drones and networking new vehicles, the unit illustrates the PLA’s wider push to fuse tradition with informationised, system‑level capabilities.
Iran Warns Any Strike on Its Territory Would Turn All U.S. Bases into Legitimate Targets
On 22 January, a senior commander of Iran’s Hatam al‑Anbiya Central Command warned that any attack on Iranian territory would immediately make U.S. interests and bases legitimate targets, promising swift and destructive retaliation. The statement broadens Tehran’s claimed right to retaliate and raises the risk that a limited incident could escalate into a wider confrontation, complicating U.S. deterrence and regional security.
Trump Dismisses Danish Objections Over Greenland Talk, Elevates NATO Figure in Diplomatic Jab
At Davos President Trump said Greenland is a U.S. "core national-security interest" and implied he would prioritise speaking with a NATO official over Denmark's foreign minister after Copenhagen refused to discuss selling Greenland. The exchange has prompted Danish rebukes, emergency EU consultations and renewed attention to Arctic geopolitics and alliance cohesion.
Beijing Says It Is 'Handling' Appointment of Japan's Chongqing Consul — A Quiet Diplomatic Signal
China's foreign ministry said it is "handling" the appointment of Japan's new consul general in Chongqing, responding to suggestions that Beijing has delayed agrément. The terse statement leaves open whether the vacancy is a routine administrative gap or a subtle diplomatic signal amid complex Sino-Japanese relations.
Mexico Tightens Rules on U.S. Military Flights and Reaffirms Oil Aid to Cuba — A Signal of Greater Strategic Independence
Mexico has restricted routine entry for U.S. military aircraft, requiring Mexican planes to transport nationals to foreign training except under special logistical conditions. At the same time, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico will continue oil deliveries to Cuba on contractual and humanitarian grounds, underscoring a more independent foreign-policy posture that may complicate relations with Washington.
At Davos China Sells Itself as the Calm, Reliable Alternative to an Unpredictable America
At Davos, Vice‑Premier He Lifeng framed China as a sober, reliable partner committed to multilateralism and free trade, positioning Beijing against an assertive, unpredictable American posture. The move aims to win over investors and hesitant allies, but its lasting success depends on concrete policy shifts that address market access and geopolitical anxieties.
Trump Elevates Dutch Leader Over Danish Officials in Davos as Greenland Row Widens
At Davos, President Trump said he would prefer to discuss a potential U.S. purchase of Greenland directly with the Dutch leader present, downplaying Danish officials, as Copenhagen rejected any talks. The comments reignited diplomatic tension over Greenland’s strategic value, prompting swift EU consultations and underlining strains in transatlantic relations.
How China’s Armed Police Are Using Drones, AI and Cameras to Guard an Iconic Bridge
A People’s Armed Police unit in Nanjing has deployed an integrated system of fixed cameras, drones and an intelligent duty‑management platform to monitor and protect the historic Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge. The initiative has reduced manpower needs, improved early warning and response, and exemplifies China’s broader push to fuse technology with domestic security operations.
China’s Southern Theater Steps Up Night-and-Weather Air Drills, Signalling Higher Readiness
State media reported that a Southern Theater Command aviation brigade conducted high‑intensity, cross–day‑and‑night, all‑weather flight training to hone round‑the‑clock combat readiness. The drills underscore China’s focus on continuous operational capability in strategically sensitive southern maritime approaches and function both as genuine training and as signalling to regional audiences.