By Staff Writer Nationwide protests and strikes spread across Iran this week, leaving at least 36 people dead and more than 2,000 arrested, as opposition groups and exiled figures urged demonstrators to sustain pressure on the Islamic Republic’s leadership. The latest unrest was triggered by a general strike called by Kurdish political parties, prompting shop closures across Kurdish-majority regions and demonstrations in dozens of cities, including Isfahan, Kerman, Lahijan and Hamadan. According to the Critical Threats Project (CTP) and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), 89 protests have been recorded across 21 provinces since 6 January, including 19…

By Sean Rayment China’s accelerating military modernisation is eroding the long-held assumption that Western powers would dominate the skies in any Pacific conflict, according to a new assessment by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). The report argues that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has reached a point at which US and allied air superiority can no longer be taken for granted, particularly in a confrontation centred on Taiwan. Chinese advances in aircraft production, missile technology and integrated air defence systems mean that Western forces would face unprecedented risks in the opening stages of any conflict. Central to this shift…

By Sean Rayment Six European allies have rallied to support Denmark following renewed insistence by the United States that it must have control over Greenland. “Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations,” the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark said in a joint statement. On Sunday, President Donald Trump said the US “needed” Greenland, a semi-autonomous region of fellow Nato member Denmark, for security reasons. He has refused to rule out the use of force to take control of the territory, and Danish Prime Minister…

By Sean Rayment President Donald Trump renewed his threat of US intervention in Iran as protests over the country’s failing economy have continued. Videos published online showed demonstrations in Tehran, as well as in Fars, Ilam, North Khorasan and Semnan provinces. Human rights activists said protests had taken place in 26 of the country’s 31 provinces since last week, and that at least 19 protesters and one member of the security forces had been killed. Trump has again warned that Iranian authorities would be “hit very hard” if more protesters died. “We’re watching it very closely. If they start killing…

By Andre Pienaar Today marks a watershed moment in the long and painful saga of narco-trafficking and narco-terrorism that has spilled over from Venezuela into the very heart of the United States. The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by US law enforcement, and their transfer to New York to face federal charges, is not only justified; under the law and in the interests of American national security and the rule of law, it is necessary.For decades, Maduro’s regime has been accused of morphing from a deeply corrupt government into a criminal enterprise. According to…

To truly understand just how and why the British Army is in so much trouble with Ajax, it is necessary to examine the situation and poor decision-making of the past 23 years. In the following article, guest writer Colonel (Retd) Harry Fullerton OBE provides a unique account of his experience of that time: Black Bag and Main Building In the autumn of 2003, it was time for a new military posting, which was often referred to as a major’s ‘Black Bag’ appointment. The name Black Bag was a throwback to the days when officers working at the Ministry of Defence…

President Trump leads new U.S.–Nigeria counterterrorism allianceAn op-ed on lawful partnership, civilian protection, and dismantling narco-terror revenue, by Andre Pienaar. Maps Map 1. Nigeria and Sokoto State (northwest operational area). Map 2. The Sahel belt across Africa (regional operating environment). Source: Munion, “Map of the Sahel,” Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. On December 25, 2025, US Africa Command announced that, at the direction of the President of the United States and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, US forces conducted strikes against ISIS camps in Sokoto State, with an initial assessment that multiple ISIS operatives were killed. Counter-terrorism works best when…

China has fired rockets close to Taiwan in a series of military exercises designed to test planning for an invasion of the island.Beijing deployed new amphibious assault ships alongside destroyers and bomber aircraft, on the second day of drills rehearsing a blockade of Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.Donald Trump said he was not concerned by the provocative action, which China launched days after Washington approved £8bn in arms sales to the self-governing island.The “Justice Mission 2025” exercises – the largest by area and closest to Taiwan yet – began on Monday with Beijing deploying troops, warships, fighter…

Russian forces under the direct orders of President Vladimir Putin are executing prisoners of war as they intensify attacks during peace negotiations, one of Ukraine’s most decorated soldiers has said. Major Oleh Shyriaiev, who was granted the highest national decoration of Hero of Ukraine for his leadership on the battlefield, said that he regularly intercepted transmissions in which Russian military leaders gave orders to kill surrendering servicemen. Evidence of the war crimes has become overwhelming in recent months, according to combat observers. Footage filmed by Russian soldiers or Ukrainian reconnaissance drones shows troops being lined up and shot with automatic…

US defence chiefs believe China is expanding and modernising its weapons stockpile faster than any other nuclear-armed power, a draft Pentagon report highlighting Beijing’s growing military ambitions has revealed.China has loaded more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles across its latest three silo fields and has no desire for arms control talks, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a Chicago-based non-profit.Beijing has described reports of a military buildup as efforts to “smear and defame China and deliberately mislead the international community.”Last month, US President Donald Trump said that he may be working on a plan to denuclearise with China…

By Isabella Egerton Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is preparing to deploy its Oreshnik hypersonic missile system to Belarus, a move he said would threaten several European countries. The relocation of the Oreshnik system to Belarus is nearing completion, and Ukraine knows where it will be deployed, he said in a statement. “We are sharing this information with our partners. The partners themselves can assess this threat and understand how to respond,” he said. “We previously warned our European and American partners that Russia would deploy Oreshnik in Belarus,” Zelensky added. “We showed the operational range of…

By André Pienaar The US State Department’s December 2025 condemnation of the doxing and harassment of American officials by the South African government marks a rare and deeply troubling escalation in diplomatic relations between Washington and Pretoria. Governments may disagree. They may protest policy. They may even pursue litigation or sanctions. What they may not do, without crossing a national security red line, is weaponise personal data against foreign officials. That is precisely what the United States now alleges South Africa has done. According to the State Department, South African government actors publicly disseminated sensitive personal information belonging to US…