Pentagon chief to visit Philippines for security talks, envoy says
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to visit the Philippines, the first stop in his first trip to the Indo-Pacific next week.
Flashpoints
Putin agrees to ceasefire on energy, infrastructure targets in Ukraine
The Russian leader stopped short of backing a broader 30-day pause in fighting that the U.S. administration is pressing for.
Islamic State leader for Iraq and Syria killed, Iraq says
Al-Rifai was killed in an operation by members of the Iraqi national intelligence service and U.S.-led coalition forces, Iraqi officials said.
Putin says he supports US proposal for 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the terms of the ceasefire need to be worked out, including a mechanism to control possible breaches of the truce.
US arms flow to Ukraine again as the Kremlin mulls ceasefire proposal
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it’s important not to “get ahead” of the question of responding to the ceasefire, which was proposed by Washington.
China’s shipbuilding dominance a national security risk for US: Report
A report details how China has grown to be the dominant global player in shipbuilding, dwarfing the U.S., which now has only 0.1% of the global market.
US agrees to resume military aid, intel sharing with Ukraine
The U.S. and Ukraine agreed to an “immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire,” which could be extended but first hinges on Russia’s acceptance.
Ukraine-US talks on ending war with Russia start in Saudi Arabia
The talks come after President Trump paused U.S. military aid to Ukraine last week, along with some intelligence sharing.
North Korea fires missiles after US, South Korea military drills
The launch happened hours after South Korean and U.S. troops kicked off their large annual combined drills, which the North views as an invasion rehearsal.
Trump administration pauses flow of intelligence to Ukraine
U.S. officials said the pause may be lifted when Ukrainian officials show they're serious about pursuing an end to the war on Trump's terms.
Trump expresses Russia-Ukraine war nearing end as he meets with Macron
President Donald Trump also said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine.
Russia, US agree to work towards improving ties and ending Ukraine war
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine wouldn’t accept any outcome from the talks since Kyiv didn’t take part.
New Orleans attack suspect identified as Army vet ‘inspired by ISIS’
The man who reportedly drove a truck into a crowd of New Year's revelers in New Orleans, killing 15, has been identified as a U.S. Army veteran.
Biden announces nearly $2.5 billion in military aid for Ukraine
Biden's administration is working quickly to spend all the money it has available to assist Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Russian air defenses may have downed Azerbaijani plane: U.S. official
Moscow officials have not addressed statements from aviation experts who blamed the crash on Russian air defenses responding to a Ukrainian attack.
China unveils amphibious assault ship that can launch fighter jets
The Sichuan is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult that will allow fighter jets to launch directly off its deck.
Rollback of DOD anti-extremism efforts coming in 2025, experts predict
The piecemeal progress of extremism-prevention efforts during the past four years is more than can be expected out of the Pentagon in 2025, experts said.