China's National People's Congress removed six senior military officers and two political figures, including former Politburo member Ma Xingrui and ex-financial regulator Li Yunze, from their lawmaker positions. This action is seen as part of President Xi Jinping's ongoing anti-corruption campaign targeting the country's establishment.
Three senior defence figures, including former ministers John Healey and Al Carns, and Chief of Defence Staff Rich Knighton, have criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for underfunding the military. They argue the current defence investment plan is insufficient for future operations and alliances, urging for radical policy changes and increased spending.
Britain's military may have to scale back operations and exercises in the coming years if the Ministry of Defence doesn't receive additional funding. Chief of Defence Staff, Rich Knighton, expressed concern over day-to-day budgets, noting a shift from capital to resource spending over two decades.
NATO's top military officer is developing alternative defense plans for Europe amid US military asset reductions. The US is scaling back its commitment to focus on the Indo-Pacific, prompting European allies and Canada to consider filling the gaps with aircraft and naval vessels. Separately, NATO is reducing its security force in Kosovo.
The FSB announced the thwarting of a terrorist act against a Russian Ministry of Defense serviceman, planned by Ukrainian special services. A foreign national detained in the Moscow region confessed to being recruited by the SBU in an EU country to carry out the assassination.
NATO's top military officer, Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, stated that no further US troop drawdowns from Europe are expected soon beyond the 5,000 announced by President Trump. The move, which blindsided NATO, involves canceling deployments to Poland and Germany.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered top military officials to bolster front-line units and fortify the southern border into an "impregnable fortress." The plans, informed by modern warfare and regional conflicts, aim to deter war and raise the "outlook on the arch enemy," likely referring to South Korea.
Former Ukrainian military personnel, concealing their identities, are training NATO forces in drone usage during the Crystal Arrow 2026 exercises in Latvia, though the drills' methodology contrasts with the intensive drone swarm tactics seen in Ukraine's conflict.
A senior Iranian military officer said Saturday that renewed fighting with the US is likely, hours after President Trump said he was not satisfied with Iran's negotiating proposal delivered to mediator Pakistan. The war launched by the US and Israel in late February has been on hold since April 8, with one failed round of peace talks having taken place in Pakistan.
Three-year deal includes funding for a riot squad to ‘disperse’ people trying to board small boatsThe UK government has agreed to pay France another £660m to curb the number of asylum seekers travelling across the Channel, including plans to fund a riot squad to “contain and disperse” people trying to board small boats.Under a three-year deal to be signed on Thursday by the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, 1,100 enforcement, intelligence and military officers – an increase of 40% – will be employed to track down smuggling gangs and people seeking refuge. Continue reading...
