France, Germany continue to work on fighter jet project

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday tasked their defense ministries with continuing to work on the Franco-German FCAS fighter jet project, officials said...

China holds live-fire drills in waters near Philippines' Luzon Island

China's military said on Friday it recently conducted military drills including live-fire exercises in the waters east of the Philippines' Luzon Island, calling it "a necessary operation" in respon...

Pentagon email floats suspending Spain from NATO, other steps over Iran rift, source says

An internal Pentagon email outlines options for the United States to punish NATO allies it believes failed to support U.S. operations in the war with Iran—including suspending Spain from the allian...

Lebanon-Israel ceasefire extended by three weeks

A Lebanese official has said Beirut would push for an Israeli withdrawal, the return of Lebanese detained in Israel—and a delineation of the land border in a next phase of negotiations. Tap for the...

EU leaders to discuss mutual assistance pact amid NATO doubts

The mutual assistance clause, contained in the treaty that underpins the EU, obliges countries to come to the aid of a fellow member if it comes under attack. Tap for the full brief.

Finland to spend 3.2% of GDP on defense by 2030, cutting healthcare and social spending

Finland's economy has been ailing since neighboring Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, prompting Helsinki to join the NATO military alliance in 2023 and increase defense spe...

China teases new aircraft carrier in video, vows to build up islands

China teased in a video an aircraft carrier that could be its fourth, and the first using nuclear power, while vowing to further build up its islands—as it looks to boost maritime power, secure res...

Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill journalist, wound another

Israeli airstrikes killed at least four Palestinians in Gaza on Thursday, Palestinian health officials said. Tap for the full brief.

US Navy Secretary John Phelan fired by Pentagon, source says

Navy Secretary John Phelan has been fired, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday—in another wartime shakeup at the Pentagon coming weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ousted th...

Chinese navy brushes past Okinawa islands amid tension with Japan

China said a group of its naval vessels, including a destroyer, passed between two islands administered by the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa on Wednesday as it returned home after training. Tap fo...

Second French soldier dies of wounds after attack on UN force in Lebanon

President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that a second French soldier had died following an attack on United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon last week—which he said was carried out by Iran‑backe...

Iran seizes ships in Strait of Hormuz after Trump halts attacks

Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, tightening its grip on the strategic waterway—after President Trump called off attacks indefinitely with no sign of peace talks restartin...

Germany unveils military strategy, sticks to troop target

Germany set out a military strategy on Wednesday that sticks with a target of 260,000 active troops—despite calls for more by military officials—amid tension with Russia. Tap for the full brief.

US in talks to resettle 1,100 Afghans in Congo, advocacy group says

The Trump administration is in talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo to resettle 1,100 Afghans stranded in Qatar awaiting U.S. visas—according to Shawn VanDiver, founder and president of #Afg...

Myanmar president seeks peace talks within 100 days, rebels reject offer

Myanmar's new military-backed government wants to hold peace talks with opposition armed groups by the end of July, the country’s junta leader-turned-president said, but two key rebel groups reject...