4 d. ago The AI boom needs electricity, but Western grids are strained. Is power China’s power?

Near the end of last year, thousands of European travellers saw their holiday plans unravel after a prolonged power outage in the Eurotunnel – the underwater train passage linking Britain and France – caused by a fault in the overhead supply. For many, this brought back memories of chaotic scenes the previous April, when rolling blackouts struck much of Portugal and Spain. The United States also suffered from multiple power outages last year, including major disruptions in California – most...

Politics

5 d. ago Taiwan and the US launch joint production of 155mm artillery shells amid blockade fears

Taiwan has begun co-producing 155mm (6.1-inch) artillery shells with the US, as the island moves to strengthen wartime ammunition resilience amid Beijing’s escalating military pressure and concern over supply disruptions in a high-intensity conflict. Taiwan’s defence ministry on Monday said Taipei and Washington had launched early-stage joint production of a new type of 155mm howitzer ammunition. Lieutenant General Lin Wen-hsiang, head of Taiwan’s Armaments Bureau, testified during a legislative...

Politics

9 d. ago Syria declares ceasefire in Aleppo after deadly clashes with Kurdish forces

Syria’s defence ministry declared a ceasefire in three neighbourhoods of the northern city of Aleppo early on Friday, a move that could halt fresh fighting between government troops and Kurdish fighters. A fierce exchange of fire extended into the night, with rescuers scrambling to extinguish fires ignited by shelling, before the defence ministry said it would give armed groups a six-hour window to leave the contested areas. The deadly stand-off between Damascus and Kurdish authorities who...

Events

1 week ago How Malaysia’s military tender scandal is bringing ‘opaque’ defence deals to light

Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency is pushing deeper into one of the country’s most opaque corners, the defence procurement system, in a widening investigation into allegations of cartel-like tender fixing, bribery and unexplained cash movements. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has in recent weeks expanded its investigation into the Defence Ministry following a whistle-blower’s claim that documents showed large monthly deposits into accounts linked to a senior military officer and...

Events

1 week ago Europe and US agree to ‘robust’ security guarantees for Ukraine

European and US allies of Ukraine on Tuesday agreed on “robust” security guarantees for Kyiv to come into force after an eventual ceasefire in Russia’s war against the pro-Western country that would see the United States lead a truce monitoring mechanism, French President Emmanuel Macron said. Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky signed a declaration of intent that foresees Britain, France and other European allies deploying troops on Ukrainian...

Events

2 w. ago North Korean missile falls near Japan; Takaichi orders safety checks

North Korea fired a ballistic missile off its east coast on Sunday, South Korea’s military said. “The North has launched an unidentified ballistic missile towards the East Sea,” it said, referring to a body of water also known as the Sea of Japan. Japan’s defence ministry also said it detected a possible ballistic missile, which landed at 8.08am. The projectile is believed to have fallen outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone and no damage to ships or planes has been reported, according to a...

Events

2 w. ago Britain and France bombed suspected Isis arms dump in Syria: UK defence ministry

Britain’s and France’s air forces conducted a joint operation on Saturday evening to bomb a suspected underground arms cache previously used by Islamic State in Syria, Britain’s defence ministry said. Western aircraft have been conducting patrols to stop a resurgence of the Islamist militant group that ruled parts of Syria until 2019. Intelligence analysis identified an underground facility believed to be used to store weapons and explosives in mountains north of Palmyra, Britain said. “Our...

Events

3 w. ago Japan’s record US$782 billion budget to boost military firepower, tame inflation

The Japanese government on Friday approved a record budget for the coming financial year to pay for everything from bigger defence spending to ballooning social security costs as inflation persists. The 122.3 trillion yen (US$782 billion) budget for the financial year from April 2026 will include some 9 trillion yen for defence spending, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aims to accelerate Tokyo’s sweeping upgrade of its military in the face of worsening relations with China. The defence ministry...

Economics

last month Taiwan steps up police patrols after fatal mass stabbing in Taipei Metro

Three people died and 11 were wounded in a rare mass stabbing in central Taipei that rocked Taiwan on Friday night. The suspected assailant exploded smoke and petrol bombs before going on a violent rampage in two subway stations, police said. Police said Chang threw smoke grenades into the Taipei Main Metro station, fatally stabbed one person, then ran to nearby Zhongshan station, where he continued his stabbing spree. The attacker also died after he jumped off a building in an apparent attempt...

Events