World Echo

US Defence Secretary ​Pete Hegseth urged Asian allies on Saturday to ramp up military spending to counter China's growing power and prevent its dominance in the region, warning of "rightful alarm" ‌over its rapid military buildup. Hegseth, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's premier forum for defence leaders, militaries and diplomats, said a stronger, more self-reliant network of allies is essential to deter aggression and preserve the balance of power. "There is rightful alarm regarding China's historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond," he said. "A Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power," Hegseth said. "No state, ​including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question." The US expects its Asian allies and partners to increase defence ​spending to ...

A federal judge has ordered the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to remove President Donald Trump’s name from its building and branding and temporarily halt plans to close the venue for two years, dealing a significant setback to the institution’s renovation plans. US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on Friday that Congress had established the Kennedy Center’s name and that only Congress could authorise any change to it. The ruling requires the removal of Trump’s name within two weeks. The judge also granted in part a request from Representative Joyce Beatty, an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center’s board, for a preliminary injunction blocking steps towards the planned closure. Cooper found that Beatty had demonstrated that a two-year closure could cause irreparable harm, although he left open the possibility that the board could reconsider the decision after conducting an independent review of its obligations. Beatty welcom...

Thousands of Muslims began to leave the holy city of Makkah on Friday after having completed the Haj in scorching heat and despite the shadow of war across the Middle East. This year, more than 1.7 million people from 165 countries took part in one of the world's largest religious gatherings, against the backdrop of the conflict sparked by US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Since war erupted in February, Tehran has retaliated with waves of drone and missile strikes, hitting infrastructure and energy installations across the Gulf, including in Saudi Arabia. Muslim pilgrims touch the Kaaba's wall at the Grand Mosque, ahead of the annual haj pilgrimage, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, May 18. REUTERS More than 30,000 Iranians made the journey to Makkah, about a third of the 86,000 originally expected. Iran's IRNA state news agency said the "wartime situation" explained the drop. "I can't believe I completed the Haj," said Ahmed Mamdouh, a 37-year-...

An uncrewed Blue Origin ​New Glenn rocket exploded on a Florida launchpad during a test on Thursday, in a major setback for Jeff Bezos’ space ‌venture as it seeks to narrow the gap with Elon Musk's IPO-bound SpaceX. Video posted by NASASpaceflight, which livestreams launches from Florida, showed the towering New Glenn rocket igniting on the pad at about 2100 ET (0100 GMT on Friday) before erupting into a massive fireball that billowed skyward, sending a towering plume of flames and smoke into the air. Blue Origin ​was preparing the rocket for its fourth launch, which was due to deliver 48 Amazon Leo satellites into low-Earth orbit, part of efforts ​to build a broadband constellation to rival Musk’s Starlink network. Amazon Leo satellites were not integrated on the rocket ⁠at the time of the incident, a source familiar with the matter said, asking not to be named due to its sensitivity. The sound of the explosion just arrived at our cams miles away. pic.twi...

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth is the headline speaker at Asia's premier defence summit opening Friday, but China's top officials aren't expected, despite weighty questions like Taiwan and the war in Iran. Beijing's defence minister is to skip the three-day Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore for the second year running, which analysts viewed as a sign of China's rising power. Yet, the forum that brings together top officials from around 45 nations has historically provided a setting for debate as well as quiet and high-profile diplomacy. Defence Minister Dong Jun's absence means no meeting there with Hegseth as China warns the US over its involvement with Taiwan and Washington seeks an end to the Mideast war. The Middle East was the source of 57 per cent of China's direct seaborne crude imports in 2025 -- 5.9 million barrels per day (mbd) -- maritime tracking firm Kpler said. Hegseth's second trip to the Shangri-La Dialogue comes after US President ...

Russia and Afghanistan signed an agreement on military-technical cooperation during the International Security Forum in the Moscow region, as Moscow continues expanding ties with the Taliban-led authorities in Kabul. The agreement was signed Wednesday evening by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu and Afghan Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob. “Interaction with Russia is important for us. Afghanistan and Russia have long-standing historical relations, and we want to continue moving in this direction. We have expanded bilateral relations,” Yaqoob said. Shoigu said Western countries should unfreeze Afghan assets and assume responsibility for rebuilding the country after two decades of military presence. Read: Russia warns Armenia over EU embrace “We are convinced that Western countries should unfreeze blocked Afghan assets, fully recognize their responsibility for their 20-year presence in Afghanistan and bear the burden of the country’s p...