By Isabella Egerton United States President Donald Trump has signed three executive orders designed to accelerate domestic drone innovation, enhance airspace security, and expand commercial drone operations. The orders seek to ease regulatory barriers, authorise beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights, and strengthen defences against criminal, terrorist, and foreign misuse of drones within United States airspace. White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios said: “Decades of regulatory gridlock have grounded advancements in drones, flying cars, and supersonic flight in the US. With today’s executive orders, the Trump Administration is giving America’s innovators greater ability…

By Sean Rayment Israel has launched a large-scale attack against Iran, assassinating the head of the Islamic regime’s armed forces in what it described as a “pre-emptive strike” on Tehran’s nuclear programme. General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s chief of the military staff, was killed along with several top commanders and nuclear scientists as Israel launched waves of attacks, including a strike on Natanz, Tehran’s uranium enrichment facility. Israel stated that more than 200 combat jets were deployed in the operation, and 100 targets were struck. The attacks came amid growing concerns in Israel that Iran was just weeks away from developing…

By Sean Rayment The UK has agreed to take a £17.8 billion stake in the Sizewell C nuclear power plant in a move that the government claims will reduce carbon emissions and even make money for the taxpayer. Ministers also said that the project could create up to 3,000 jobs and power the equivalent of three million homes. The war in Ukraine has brought renewed focus on the UK’s energy security and Britain’s and Europe’s hitherto reliance on Russian oil and gas. Ministers also set out proposals to kick-start a generation of small modular reactors (SMRs) that supporters claim can…

China has claimed to have developed a new nuclear weapon 200 times more powerful than the bombs that devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The DF-5B missile is said to have a range of 7,500 miles, meaning it is capable of reaching Europe and the United States from launch sites in China. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV recently shared details of the upgraded intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with information previously having been closely guarded. The Chinese-made DF-5B ICBM represents significant progress in the country’s missile technology from the earlier DF-5 model developed during the Cold War, according to Global Defence News. The weapon’s Multiple…

By Sean Rayment China is attempting to become the global leader in artificial intelligence by building hundreds of highly specialised data centres, experts have warned. A new report titled China’s AI Infrastructure Surge, by the Special Competitive Studies Project and the intelligence firm Strider Technologies, has revealed a Chinese state-led plan to create more than 250 AI data centres across the country. The data centres will be equipped with high-performance processors with immense power capacity, capable of handling the heavy computing loads required to support economic, military and space projects. “The People’s Republic of China is executing a state-directed campaign to…

By Sean Rayment Britain faces a “new era of threat”, including dangers posed by novel weapons of mass destruction, and must rebuild its military to prepare for war, a major defence review has warned. The UK’s strategic defence review warns that the increasing likelihood of full-scale conflict means Britain “must pivot to a new way of war”. With defence spending rising significantly, the army’s size will also increase by almost five per cent to 76,000 soldiers, the navy will receive 12 new hunter-killer submarines, six new armament factories will be built, and a missile defence shield constructed. Artificial intelligence and…

By Isabella Egerton Up to 41 Russian strategic bombers have been destroyed in a long-range Ukrainian drone attack – in what Kyiv has described as its most successful attack in the war so far. The operation, codenamed Pavutyna, or Spider’s Web, was conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and struck military airfields at Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya and Ivanovo. According to SSU chief Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk, the targets included Tu-95, Tu-160 and Tu-22M3 bombers, as well as A-50 airborne early warning aircraft. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky personally supervised the planning and execution of the strike, which had been in preparation…

By Sean Rayment Japan is rapidly increasing its cybersecurity capabilities through new legislation, international partnerships, and training schemes, following an escalation of threats from hostile states and criminal groups. The initiative has prompted a meeting in Tokyo between the country’s Defence Minister, Gen Nakatani, and his Lithuanian counterpart, Dovile Sakaliene, during which both sides agreed to deepen cooperation on cybersecurity. As part of the agreement, a Japanese defence ministry expert will be dispatched to Lithuania in June to learn from the Baltic nation’s cybersecurity specialists, who are widely regarded as among the best in the world due to their experience…

By Ben Farmer Russia welcomed African military and security officials to Moscow this week, amid fears it is expanding its footprint on the continent by exploiting the West’s failure to counter jihadists. The Kremlin showcased its security expertise and arms industry to representatives from over 100 countries at the 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues in Moscow. Attendees, including Iran and China, discussed security challenges ranging from counter-insurgency and financial crime to artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and cyber attacks. Offering security expertise has become a potent selling point in the Kremlin’s efforts to engage with governments and gain…

Russia will deploy its latest fibre-optic drones when its anticipated summer offensive in Ukraine begins, military analysts have said. Fibre-optic drones are controlled via a cable, making them immune to electronic jamming. The drones are operated through a 15km-long fibre-optic line — similar to fishing wire — which transmits images to the pilot instantaneously. These weapons have already been used to fly along forest tracks, attack Ukrainian supply lorries, and penetrate bunkers to kill soldiers. According to a new report by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), the British defence and security think tank, Russia has developed a tactic using…

Russia has proposed holding a second round of peace talks with Ukraine on June 02 in Istanbul, as tensions rise over Germany’s decision to support the joint production of long-range missiles on Ukrainian soil. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Kremlin has offered both a date and location for further negotiations and is awaiting Kyiv’s response. Vladimir Putin’s chief envoy, Vladimir Medinsky, confirmed direct contact with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and said Moscow’s delegation is ready to meet “in the coming days” to exchange memoranda on a potential settlement. Lavrov’s comments came just hours after newly appointed German…

Defence chiefs are being accused of attempting to prevent the Army from supporting SAS veterans facing murder charges for shooting dead IRA terrorists during The Troubles. The revelation follows the disclosure that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has ordered all regimental headquarters and serving military personnel not to support a petition calling for protection of Northern Ireland military veterans against prosecution. This move by the MoD comes after it emerged that up to 20 SAS veterans could face murder charges for shooting dead armed IRA terrorists more than 30 years ago. The MoD has instructed all Army headquarters not to…