World News
Latest world news and updates
Total: 818
U.S. Hesitates on Strikes Against Iran as Allies Warn a Single Blow Won’t End Regime — and Could Spark Retaliation
Top U.S. advisers warned President Trump that a large-scale strike on Iran would be unlikely to topple the regime and could provoke wider retaliation, prompting allies including Israel, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to urge caution. Washington is moving forces and missile-defence assets into the region to preserve options while internal debate continues over whether limited strikes can deliver meaningful results without triggering broader conflict.
US Lawmaker Warns Any Forced Seizure of Greenland Would Fracture NATO Cohesion
A US lawmaker warned that any US use of force to seize Greenland would pit Washington against NATO allies and violate alliance norms. The remark highlights Greenland’s strategic importance in a competitive Arctic and the diplomatic, legal and operational costs of unilateral action against an allied territory.
From Return to Ruins: How West Bank Refugee Camps Became the New Frontline of Displacement
Systematic demolitions and infrastructure clearances in West Bank refugee camps since January 2025 have displaced over 40,000 Palestinians, marking the largest displacement since 1967. What began as a military security operation has produced a protracted humanitarian crisis that is lowering Palestinians' expectations from a political "right of return" to the immediate right to regain their refugee‑camp homes.
Denmark Stays Away From Davos as Greenland Dispute Deepens Transatlantic Rift
Denmark will not attend the World Economic Forum in Davos this week amid a dispute sparked by U.S. tariffs tied to President Trump’s demand that the U.S. be allowed to purchase Greenland. European governments have condemned the move as damaging to transatlantic relations, raising the prospect of diplomatic and trade escalation.
As U.S. Leaves Al Asad, Iraq Seizes a Symbolic Moment — and a Daunting Responsibility
Iraq announced full control of Al Asad Airbase on 17 January, a move that carries heavy symbolic weight after decades of foreign intervention and recent anti‑U.S. sentiment. While returning the base to Iraqi hands addresses sovereignty concerns, it does not resolve deep governance, security and regional‑influence challenges that will determine whether the transfer helps stabilise the country.
Blast in Kabul Kills Seven, Including One Chinese National, Raising Questions About Foreign Security in Afghanistan
An explosion in Kabul on 19 January killed seven people, including one Chinese national, and injured several others. The blast near a Sino‑Afghan restaurant has prompted a Chinese embassy security advisory and highlights the ongoing risks to foreign nationals and projects in Afghanistan.
Beijing Says China-Cambodia Crackdown on Cross‑Border Telecom Fraud Is Showing Results
China’s foreign ministry said it has achieved notable results working with Cambodia to combat cross‑border telecom and internet fraud, and that its embassy in Phnom Penh is coordinating with Cambodian authorities after reports of Chinese nationals escaping fraud compounds. The comments underline Beijing’s emphasis on protecting overseas citizens and the diplomatic pressure on Cambodia to act against criminal networks operating on its soil.
Trump’s “Peace Commission” Risks Becoming a U.S.-Led Alternative to the U.N.
The Trump administration’s newly announced “Peace Commission,” initially framed as overseeing Gaza’s transition, has a leaked draft that suggests a global remit and concentrated authority under Trump. The proposal has prompted international unease, legal questions about its mandate beyond Gaza, and criticism for sidelining Palestinian representation while potentially undercutting the U.N.
From Return to Ruins: How West Bank Refugees’ Smallest Right — to Go Home — Has Been Shrunk to a Van and a Promise
Israeli military operations in West Bank refugee camps since January last year have displaced over 40,000 Palestinians, with at least 850 buildings destroyed in Nur Shams, Jenin and Tulkarm by the end of 2025. For many refugees the once-grand political demand of a return to ancestral lands has been hollowed out into a basic plea: permission to return to the makeshift homes inside the camps. The demolitions carry acute humanitarian costs and broader political consequences, potentially entrenching dispossession and complicating any prospects for a negotiated settlement.
A Soldier’s Promise: How a Veteran Kept a War-Time Oath to Care for a Comrade’s Mother for Four Decades
A retired Chinese soldier, Yu Shuirong, has visited the mother of his fallen comrade every month for more than 40 years after making a battlefield pledge in 1984 to care for her. His sustained attention turned a wartime oath into a multigenerational bond that resonates with broader Chinese values of loyalty and filial piety.
EU Emergency Talks Expose Rift Over Response to U.S. Tariff Threats
EU ambassadors held an emergency meeting after U.S. tariff threats tied to the Greenland dispute, but failed to agree on activating the bloc’s strongest countermeasures. A €93 billion tariff list exists as a deterrent, yet internal divisions — notably between France and Italy — left Brussels favoring delay and diplomacy ahead of a possible leaders’ encounter with President Trump at Davos.
Danish F‑35s Extend Arctic Reach in Joint Refuelling Drill with French Tanker over Greenland
Two Danish F‑35 fighters and a French aerial tanker completed a joint refuelling exercise over Greenland on 19 January 2026. The drill highlights NATO interoperability and the logistical importance of air refuelling for sustained operations in the strategically sensitive Arctic region.