News monitor

The sabre-rattling came as the Israeli prime minister headed into the last week of a tight race for re-election.

DÍLI, 21 October 2026 (TATOLI) — Timor-Leste and Australia have strengthened their defence and security partnership by signing a new cooperation framework backed by an Australian support package worth AUD$62 million. Prime …

Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said President Prabowo Subianto is strongly committed to strengthening ...

A flight-tested attack drone similar to Iran’s Shahed model that its Taiwanese maker says could reach military targets in mainland China is meant to swamp PLA air defences, analysts said. Drawing on …

The Ukrainian president described his talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo a day earlier as productive, saying Ukraine was ready for diplomacy.

SEJONG — Korea plans to provide patient capital for long-term digital infrastructure projects through the country's planned sovereign wealth fund, the second vice finance minister has said. Second Vice Finance Minister Huh …

The Korean Peninsula faces a rapidly evolving threat environment, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson and a senior U.S. official said in back-to-back warnings from Seoul and Washington, raising questions …

The French leader made the remarks as he and his government struggled to get on top of a crisis that has scarred France's image both abroad and in financial markets.

Authorities in Abyei district said the strike on the Amiet market involved the use of multiple munitions and was carried out by the Sudanese army.

Officials had separately provided relief support to a total of 18 soldiers wounded in separate recent hostilities in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat in Region 12 and in Basilan in the Bangsamoro …

The Indonesian president blamed unnamed corporations for the wildfires that have devastated large areas and sent toxic haze into neighbouring countries.

Newtalk新聞 《美國海軍學會學報》（USNI Proceedings）10月號最新文章警告，中國快速核武現代化已形成「雙核對等對手」，可能讓美國在熱核戰爭中陷入戰略劣勢甚至「輸掉」衝突。作者建議美國不應簽署排除中國的雙邊軍控協議，同時加速核武庫現代化，包括更多核彈頭與潛艦，以維持戰略穩定。 文章指出，中國核武庫從2020年約200枚增至2024年超過600枚，並預計2030年前可能突破1,000枚，且拒絕實質性軍控對話，增加誤判與不穩定風險。而若是美俄發生核衝突，依普林斯頓大學「PLAN A」模擬，可能消耗65%至76%的戰略彈頭（約930至1,080枚），導致指揮控制系統受損、人口與設施遭重創，剩餘力量將不足以嚇阻中國「趁火打劫」。 美國海基嚇阻力也出現萎縮狀況，最新哥倫比亞級（Columbia-class）彈道導彈核潛艦計畫建造12艘、每艘16枚發射管，但相較先前俄亥俄級（Ohio-class submarine）潛艦，有效總管數約減少3成；而潛艦目前承載約70%的戰略核彈部署，是美國核三位一體最重要的一部份。文章分析，在面對中俄兩個對等對手條件下，這樣的設計數量將不足以維持可信的二次打擊能力。 文章論點認為，新削減戰略武器條約（Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty，簡稱New START）已於2026年2月5日到期，意味著自冷戰時期以來美俄首次缺乏具約束力的戰略核武規模上限框架。但作者建議美國不能在沒有中國參與的情況下與俄羅斯達成雙邊軍控協議，因為雙邊條約若未納入中國，可能將美俄限制在各約1,550枚部署彈頭的水準，卻無法約束中國擴張，反而削弱美方對兩強的嚇阻。應推動包含俄中的多邊談判，運用政治、安全與經濟槓桿（如海洋領域議題）誘使中國參與軍控談判。 另外，為避免「輸掉」核戰，作者呼籲美國應加速核企業現代化、考慮儲備更多的核彈頭與增建潛艦，以維持戰略穩定。作者自我辯護，強調這不是要挑起軍備競賽，只是確保美國的核威懾能力。斯德哥爾摩國際和平研究所（SIPRI）估計，截至2026年初中國核武庫約達620枚，雖增速放緩但仍持續擴張，且五角大廈報告重申2030年可能超過1,000枚的評估。美國總庫存約3,700枚（部署約1,770枚），仍遠超中國，但多極動態已改變傳統雙邊嚇阻邏輯。延伸閱讀：美日揮「利劍」 普天間首次大象漫步、空自那霸裝載美NMESIS一天2架次運-9擾日 日防省：2026上半年442次緊急起飛99%應對中俄楊宏基觀點》「防衛台灣」是核心利益還是戰略負債？台灣不該「偏聽」中國控美獨立級濱海戰鬥艦LCS-18闖仙賓礁 近年衝突一覽中國製造假車禍要讓黃逸豪「斷手斷腳」 民進黨怒轟：恐怖主義般的行徑

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister visited frontline areas where soldiers are reinforcing the heavily armed border with South Korea and renewed a threat to retaliate …

China’s Type 051C destroyer Shenyang has been spotted undergoing sea trials after a reported refit, as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) begins phasing out legacy warships following the commissioning of a massive …

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Malaysia and Japan are committed to strengthening security cooperation to combat transnatio...

Stephen Hubbard had been serving a nearly seven-year prison sentence in Russia after a closed-door trial in which he was convicted of mercenary activity, a charge he denied.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the group struck a Saudi operations room at Badr camp in Aden with a ballistic missile.

The move follows scrutiny of airport screening after several Malaysians were caught overseas carrying drugs.

China and North Korea opened the New Yalu River Bridge on Oct. 15, 2026, a full 17 years after the two neighbors first agreed to build it. Strained North Korea-China relations explain …

MANILA, Philippines — The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte has requested eight trial days to present its witnesses and evidence on the remaining unexplained wealth charge in her impeachment trial, …

Wednesday marks the first anniversary of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s leadership that has seen her alienate China, rattle markets with her expansive spending and establish herself as a workaholic leader. Here …

North Korea is upping the tension along the inter-Korean border with talk of immediate military retaliation against any South Korean provocations and new firepower units taking up positions along the border. The …

The legislation follows a 2025 UK-Ireland deal to repeal a law ending investigations and prosecutions linked to the Northern Ireland conflict.

Taiwan’s intelligence agency said China has cranked up cyberattacks and the distribution of misleading information against the island democracy ahead of local elections next month. China claims Taiwan is part of its …

Tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang have soared since the South blamed an explosion inside the heavily fortified Demilitarised Zone on landmines laid by North Korea.

The plane went down at 2100 GMT Tuesday near its airbase on the outskirts of Nancy, and a search was underway for the second crew member.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea brought together US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Park Steel and US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier T. Brunson on Wednesday to discuss strengthening the …

Some 5 metres (16.4 feet) underground near one of China’s oldest cities lies the life-size army of thousands of terracotta warriors. The purpose of the army, located 35km (22 miles) northeast of …

A drone strike on a market in Abyei, a border region disputed by Sudan and South Sudan, hit a nearby fuel depot, killing at least 153 people, a local official said on …

COTABATO CITY – Four members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have surrendered along with their firearms, embracing peace under the government’s “Balik-Loob Program” in Maguindanao del Sur. Lt. Col. …

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – Soldiers intercepted at least P29 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during an early morning patrol in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, on Wednesday. Troops from the …

Guest contributor Shafiur Rahman The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government of Bangladesh has a damning verdict on how former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handled the Rohingya crisis: years of theatre, donor-chasing and …

The Army said Wednesday it has built a "smart camp" system using advanced technology at a military base of the Hanbit Unit deployed in South Sudan for a U.N. peacekeeping mission in …

The top U.S. military commander in South Korea called Wednesday for conducting more spread-out combined exercises between the allies throughout the year, rather than relying on the current biannual drills, citing the …

Korean peacekeepers deployed under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan are leveraging advanced agricultural science to help improve food security in one of the country's most vulnerable regions. The initiative, led …

WASHINGTON — South Korea is participating as an observer in a large-scale multinational military exercise involving some 56,000 U.S. and Japanese troops in Japan, according to the Pentagon Tuesday. Keen Sword 2027 …

LIG D&A faces a major setback to its domestic defense business after South Korea's arms procurement agency imposed a two-year bidding ban over alleged bribery, prompting the company to prepare a legal …

Taihan Cable & Solution has appointed Kim Jun-seok as its new CEO, as the Korean cable maker seeks to accelerate global expansion and strengthen its high-voltage direct current and submarine cable businesses. …

The regime in Naypyidaw extended martial law on Sunday for another 90 days in 55 townships nationwide—reducing the number from 58 under the previous order issued on July 21—after removing Mandalay Region’s …

Japanese philanthropist Yohei Sasakawa has long been involved in mediating between Myanmar's military and the armed groups opposed to it.