An 11-year-old boy was rescued from rubble 3+ days after twin earthquakes in Venezuela, where the death toll is 1,430 and tens of thousands are missing amid economic and political crisis.
Five Indian Air Force personnel died when an An-32 military plane crashed while landing at Jorhat air base in Assam on Saturday. The air force expressed deep regret and condolences, stating the co-pilot survived. Images showed smoke and wreckage.
CNN reports that the US military had been planning for months to seize Iran's Kharg Island, a vital oil export hub, but repeatedly postponed due to high risks. Officials believe capturing the island could financially cripple Iran's Revolutionary Guard but would come at a significant cost to American forces.
President Trump reportedly had a heated phone call with Israeli PM Netanyahu, urging him to scale back military operations in Lebanon. Trump warned that an attack could isolate Israel and undermine his Iran mediation efforts. Netanyahu stated Israel would continue strikes as planned, but both leaders later acknowledged a halt in attacks on Beirut.
Thailand's military is establishing a Joint Capabilities Command to develop AI-driven autonomous military systems and enhance cross-domain warfare capabilities, aiming for greater precision and reduced casualties in modern conflicts.
Sebastian Sawe became the first man to run an official marathon in under two hours, clocking 1h 59m 30s at the London Marathon last Sunday, breaking the world record by 65 seconds. The 31-year-old Kenyan runner returned to his home village in western Kenya on Thursday, receiving a hero's welcome at Eldoret airport where he was embraced by family, locals and officials. President William Ruto, who shares Sawe's Kalenjin ethnic background, presented him with 8m shillings (£46,000) at a presidential residence event. Sawe's victory is being celebrated as a defining moment in human endurance, with the runner dedicating his win to his community.
Oil prices surged to their highest since 2022 after reports emerged that US Central Command has prepared plans for potential military action against Iran, including short and powerful strikes and taking control of part of the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude rose almost 7% to $126.31 a barrel before falling back to around $122. The US has threatened to blockade Iranian ports, while Iran has threatened to attack ships in the Strait, through which about a fifth of global energy passes.
Taiwanese analysts have welcomed a US Navy plan to deploy thousands of uncrewed surface vessels across the Indo-Pacific by 2030, saying it could complicate Beijing's military planning and strengthen deterrence. Captain Garrett Miller said the US Navy expected to field more than 30 medium uncrewed surface vessels in the Indo-Pacific by 2030, alongside thousands of smaller drone boats and aerial systems. Analysts noted cheap, expendable vessels could raise the cost of PLA blockade or attack scenarios, but geography and industrial reality could limit capacity around Taiwan.
CNN reports the US military is developing plans to strike Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz, including mine-laying vessels and fast attack craft. The strategy shift focuses on strategically important waterways in the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, and southern Persian Gulf. Potential targets include dual-use facilities, energy infrastructure, and IRGC Commander Major General Ahmad Vahidi.
Peru's defense and foreign ministers have resigned after the country's president stalled a $3.5 billion deal for U.S. F-16 fighter jets
A two-day conference of military experts from about 30 countries begins Wednesday in a London suburb to develop a joint military plan for restoring shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The event follows last week's Paris summit chaired by British PM Keir Starmer and French President Macron, as tensions persist between the US/Israel and Iran following a ceasefire announcement.
A Chinese university student has been charged with unauthorised photography of US military aircraft in Nebraska during a road trip through several states, which included a stop at an air force base in South Dakota. Tianrui Liang, who is studying in Glasgow, was arrested at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport on April 7 as he attempted to return to Scotland, court documents filed in the Eastern District of New York revealed. The 21-year-old has been charged with photographing defence...
Tianrui Liang, 21, a Chinese college student, has been charged with illegally photographing U.S. military aircraft at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska. Liang was arrested April 7 at a New York airport while attempting to depart for Scotland. He admitted to photographing an RC-135 reconnaissance plane and an E-4B Nightwatch, an airborne command center, on a public road near the base in late March. The FBI states it is illegal to photograph defense installations without approval. Liang had also visited Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota and expressed interest in Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.
