China takes gold, bronze at UAE SWAT Challenge 2025

Chinese police teams secured the top spots at the sixth edition of the UAE SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Challenge 2025, which concluded on Wednesday in Dubai's Al Ruwayyah Training City.

The competition drew a record-breaking 105 teams from 46 countries, setting a new Guinness World Record for the number of participating nations in this type of event.

China sent three teams to this year's challenge, with the Zhejiang SWAT team clinching the championship title and the Anhui SWAT team taking home the bronze medal.

Following their debut in last year's competition, the Chinese teams—designated A, B, and C (China SWAT Special Operations Team, Zhejiang SWAT Team, and Anhui SWAT Team)—competed in five demanding events: rapid assault tactics, firepower strikes, officer rescue missions, tower operations, and extreme obstacle courses. Each event tested participants' physical fitness, mental resilience, tactical skills, proficiency, and teamwork.

Zhejiang SWAT member Huang Hong expressed gratitude for the support from their compatriots.

"Competing abroad and seeing the support from our overseas compatriots was truly touching. Every time we're on the field, much of our strength comes from them and from our entire nation," said Huang.

Wu Xiaoyan, head of the Chinese police delegation, emphasized the significance of their participation.

"We cherish this opportunity to showcase the prowess of Chinese SWAT teams on the international stage, and I believe we have succeeded," she said.

China takes gold, bronze at UAE SWAT Challenge 2025

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Saturday that nuclear power plant sites or nearby areas must never be attacked, following a fourth strike near an Iranian nuclear power plant.

The IAEA said on social platform X that, according to the information from Iran, a projectile hit the nearby area of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on Saturday morning. This was the fourth such incident in recent weeks, it said.

One staff member at the site was killed by a projectile fragment, while a building on the site was affected by shockwaves and fragments, the IAEA said, citing the Iranian authorities. There was no increase in radiation levels reported, it added.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed his deep concern about the incident, stressing that nuclear power plant sites or nearby areas "must never be attacked." He warned that the auxiliary site buildings may contain vital safety equipment.

Grossi once again stressed the paramount importance of ensuring nuclear safety and security during a conflict, calling for maximum military restraint to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident.

Iran's nuclear facilities have been struck several times since the joint Israeli-U.S. military actions against the Islamic Republic started on Feb. 28.

Nuclear power plants must never be attacked: IAEA chief