world

Paris: France’s Air Force recently conducted large-scale exercises with its Rafale fighter jets, firing SCALP cruise missiles as part of preparedness drills against potential threats from Russia. The operation, named “Topaz”, involved the deployment of the 30th Fighter Wing, including 20 Rafale jets and 120 personnel. While France did not officially name Russia, the exercise scenario treated Russia as a simulated adversary. On January 27, the jets were rapidly redeployed to a different airbase, with pilots practicing maneuvers to avoid enemy attacks at the Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in southwestern France. According to French media reports, the jets took off from four groups of civilian airports in Cognac, Cazaux, Bordeaux, and Clermont-Ferrand. The exercise emphasized rapid decision-ma...

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has openly acknowledged the formal role of the military in the country’s governance, confirming long-standing speculation about a hybrid civilian-military system. Speaking at an event addressing exporters and business leaders in Islamabad on Friday, Sharif praised Field Marshal Asim Munir, describing the Pakistani military as the country’s “economic engine.” Military-Civil Partnership Formalized Analysts have compared the 27th Constitutional Amendment, approved in November 2025, to a constitutional coup, as it effectively institutionalized the military’s involvement in governance. Following the amendment, Field Marshal Asim Munir was appointed Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), granting him control over all three branches of the m...

The government of Burkina Faso, a key nation in Africa’s Sahel region, has officially dissolved all political parties in the country. The order also transfers the assets of these parties to the state, marking a historic consolidation of power under the military leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré. “Political Parties Divide Society” Since taking power following a coup in September 2022, Captain Traoré has enacted a series of sweeping measures, consolidating control over the West African nation. In its latest decree, the government justified the dissolution of political parties by arguing that they foster social division and weaken the national fabric. Minister of Interior Emile Jerbo stated that the decision is part of a broader national reconstruction plan. “Our review found that...

The United States has significantly intensified its military presence around Iran, effectively surrounding the country from air, sea, and land. According to American media reports, dozens of US military transport aircraft, including C‑17 Globemaster III and C‑5 Galaxy, are continuously landing at multiple military bases across the Middle East, delivering large quantities of weapons and strategic equipment. The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has already reached the region and is currently positioned in the Northern Arabian Sea. The carrier is accompanied by three guided‑missile destroyers and a full carrier air wing comprising F/A‑18E Super Hornet, F‑35C Lightning II stealth fighter jets, and EA‑18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft. In addition, three US Navy destroyers—U...

The Trump administration has approved a massive arms sale to two key US allies in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and Israel, totaling over $15 billion. The sale includes Apache attack helicopters, Patriot missiles, and a range of other military equipment. Details of the Sale:According to ABC News, Israel will receive $6.67 billion worth of arms, while Saudi Arabia will get $9 billion. The US State Department announced the approvals late Friday night, following notification to Congress. The announcement comes amid rising tensions over potential US military action against Iran and President Donald Trump’s efforts to advance a ceasefire plan for Gaza, aiming to end the Israel-Hamas conflict and rebuild Palestinian territories after two years of war. Saudi Arabia Receives $9 Billion in We...

The discovery of two Nipah virus (NiV) cases in West Bengal, India, has triggered global concern, with countries from Pakistan and China to Thailand, Singapore, and Australia issuing alerts and tightening health screening at airports. The Indian Ministry of Health confirmed that in December 2025, two individuals in West Bengal tested positive for Nipah virus. Contact tracing tested 196 people, all of whom were found negative for the infection. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely. Global Response:Australia’s Health Minister Mark Butler stated on Friday that the government is closely monitoring the outbreak in Asia. “Nipah virus has never been reported in Australia, but following the two cases in India last December, the situation is being taken very seriously,” he told ...

India and Russia are jointly working on a hypersonic upgrade of the BrahMos cruise missile, a move that could significantly alter the strategic balance in Asia and pose a serious challenge to China’s air defence and missile deterrence systems. The announcement was made by Alexander Leonov, Director General and Chief Designer of Russia’s leading hypersonic missile manufacturer NPO Mashinostroyenia, who confirmed that efforts are underway to enhance the speed and performance of the BrahMos missile system, currently classified as a supersonic weapon. “We are continuously modernising these missile systems and improving their performance. Under the BrahMos project, work is ongoing on compact missiles and hypersonic weapons,” Leonov said in Moscow, according to Russia’s state news agency ...

The interim government of Bangladesh led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is preparing to take a major policy decision that could significantly impact India–Bangladesh trade relations, particularly in the strategically vital textile sector. The Yunus administration is considering imposing a customs duty of 10 to 20 per cent on imported cotton yarn, most of which is sourced from India. India is Bangladesh’s largest supplier of cotton yarn, a critical raw material for the country’s export-driven garment industry. Any move to impose duties is expected to have direct economic consequences for Indian exporters while also reshaping Bangladesh’s domestic textile landscape. India Dominates Bangladesh’s Cotton Yarn Imports According to trade data, India exported USD 3.57 billion worth of c...

Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir on Friday held a high-level meeting with General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, Chief of the Turkish General Staff, at the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, amid escalating tensions across the Middle East and growing uncertainty in the Gulf region. The meeting comes at a time when the Middle East is witnessing heightened instability, with fears of a potential US strike on Iran, deteriorating relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and renewed regional security concerns. According to Arab News, the two military leaders discussed strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, regional security dynamics, and evolving geopolitical challenges. Focus on Defence Cooperation and Regional Security In an official statement, Pakistan’s military ...

Balochistan witnessed intense violence on Saturday after the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched the second phase of its military campaign, ‘Operation Herof-2’, targeting Pakistani security forces across 12 cities, including the provincial capital Quetta. The attacks have pushed the region into war-like conditions, with heavy gunfights, explosions, and aerial assaults reported throughout the day. According to claims made by the BLA, at least 20 Pakistani security personnel were killed, including eight soldiers in the Noshki area alone. The militant group alleged that Pakistani forces were forced to retreat from several locations and later resorted to combat helicopter strikes to regain control. The violence erupted following the reported killing of 41 civilians by Pakistani securit...