The Pentagon accuses Chinese tech giants of supporting the military

Today’s headlines: Iran and Israel have said they have suspended attacks on each other. Global spending on nuclear weapons is set to reach an all-time high in 2025. A bomb has exploded in southern Thailand near a school. Pope Leo XIV met with victims of sexual abuse by the clergy in Madrid. Women in Kyrgyzstan are being offered the opportunity to work in Russia assembling military drones.

UNITED STATES – CHINA

The Pentagon has accused dozens of Chinese companies, including Alibaba, BYD, Baidu, Unitree and chip manufacturer CXMT, of having links to the Chinese military. According to the State Department, these are companies that operate, directly or indirectly, in the United States, whilst simultaneously supporting China’s efforts to strengthen and modernise its armed forces, often through ‘dual-use’ technologies.

IRAN – ISRAEL

Iran and Israel have said they have, for the time being, suspended mutual attacks, although Tehran has stated it will resume bombing if Tel Aviv targets Lebanon again. Oil prices rose by up to 5% following the series of attacks, before falling when the Iranian military announced the end of the first wave of raids against Israel.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

According to the latest report by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, global spending on nuclear weapons has reached a record level of 9 billion. The world’s nine nuclear-armed states spent .8 billion more on their arsenals in 2025 than in 2024. China ranked second in terms of spending, behind the United States, with an estimated .5 billion, whilst India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea spent sums ranging from 6 million (Pyongyang) to .8 billion (New Delhi).

THAILAND

Three people, two police officers and a civilian, were injured in Thailand this morning after suspected insurgents carried out a bomb attack near a school in the Raman district, in Yala province, where the Muslim and ethnic Malay population has been demanding independence for decades. At the time of the explosion, Special Operations Task Unit 12 was on duty to secure the area and ensure the safe movement of teachers, school staff and students.

INDIA

Jean Drèze, a Belgian economist who has become an Indian citizen, recently received the Global Inequality Research Award in recognition of his work on measuring poverty and inequality in India. “India exhibits every possible form of inequality: not only astronomical economic inequality, but also the caste system, enormous gender disparities, huge inequalities in access to education and so on,” said Drèze during the award ceremony in Paris. “The positive side is that India also has a rich history of resistance to inequality. I have been very fortunate to be associated with some of these movements.”

VATICAN

During his apostolic journey to Spain, Pope Leo XIV met yesterday in Madrid with some victims of abuse committed by the clergy, describing paedophilia as “a scourge” and reaffirming the Church’s commitment to listening and making amends. “ One of the most painful encounters is with those who have been hurt by the very people who were supposed to care for them, including members of the clergy,” said the pontiff. “Faced with this scourge, the Church community is called to respond with listening, truth, justice, reparation and an ever more determined commitment to prevention and a culture of care.”

KYRGYZSTAN – RUSSIA

Young women in Kyrgyzstan are being offered the opportunity to work in Russia assembling military drones, with the promise of great prospects under the Alabuga Start programme. Advertisements seeking volunteers for “skilled labour” have been posted at one of the country’s universities, noting that 150 young women from Central Asian countries have already taken part in the project since 2023.