Arm

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree, effective immediately, increasing the size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 military personnel. The order replaces all previous decrees on army size and marks the seventh expansion of Russia's forces since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, continuing a steady pattern of manpower increases.

US forces have completed their withdrawal from Iraq, ending a military presence of roughly two decades that began with the 2003 invasion. Observers warn the departure leaves a power vacuum that Tehran is well placed to fill, given its influence over Iraqi political factions and armed groups. The withdrawal marks a major shift in the region's balance of power and raises questions about Iraq's future stability.

Ethiopia's army chief has publicly accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigrayan rebel forces, sharply escalating rhetoric in the Horn of Africa. The allegation, picked up by major international outlets, points to deepening strains between Addis Ababa and its neighbours. Analysts warn the claims could complicate already fragile regional diplomacy, with no confirmation from the accused governments so far.

Sudanese authorities have issued a statement declaring that foreign interference in the country must end and that the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group must be disarmed. The demand comes amid the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which has devastated the country and displaced millions. The government is framing external involvement as an obstacle to peace and calling for international support for the RSF to be halted.

Sudan's civil war has produced two rival centres of power with no internationally recognised government. The army-backed administration under General al-Burhan controls much of the formal state apparatus, while the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces governs territory it has seized. Washington's position that neither side represents legitimate constitutional authority leaves Sudan effectively stateless in diplomatic terms, raising questions about aid, recognition and peace negotiations.

Reports claim Russian forces carried out large-scale strikes on Kyiv, saying the attacks hit Ukrainian military hubs and killed 'NATO specialists'. Russian officials have repeatedly framed strikes against foreign personnel in Ukraine as targeting Western involvement in the war. Ukraine has not confirmed such claims, and figures on casualties or damage remain unverified. The reported strikes add to ongoing Russian bombardment of the Ukrainian capital amid the continuing war.

President Putin has signed off on an expansion of Russia's armed forces, adding 15,500 active personnel and raising the total to 1.55 million troops. The move signals Moscow's continued effort to grow its military despite heavy losses in the war against Ukraine. The increase, announced via a decree, is being widely covered as a sign that the Kremlin is preparing for a prolonged conflict.

A UN news roundup highlights US migration policies triggering what officials call a cascade of human rights violations, alongside warnings over funding shortfalls for refugee programmes. The brief also covers a new global report on the state of the world's forests and progress on restorative justice efforts in Colombia as the country continues dealing with the legacy of its armed conflict.

Taiwan's government says American arms sales to the island continue unchanged, but a large package worth an estimated $14 billion remains on hold and has not moved forward. The statement addresses concerns about the pace of US support as Taiwan faces continued military pressure from China and watches Washington's commitments closely.

A policy analyst told French broadcaster RFI that Washington has 'alienated' Sudan's army amid what he described as a 'complex war' raging in the country. The remarks point to strained relations between the United States and Sudan's military leadership as the conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues, with outside powers struggling to shape the course of the fighting or broker peace.

North Korea has warned the United Nations about what it calls Japan's 'attempts at rearmament', voicing alarm at Japan's expanding defense posture. The statement, reported by Anadolu Agency, reflects Pyongyang's long-standing opposition to Japanese military buildup and adds to regional tensions over security policy in East Asia.

Kazakhstan has offered to host talks on nuclear arms, according to regional reporting. The proposal, if confirmed, would place the Central Asian nation — itself a former nuclear weapons state that gave up its arsenal after independence — in the role of mediator at a time of renewed global concern over nuclear arms control.

A foreign and security policy journal examines what it means to live with nuclear weapons in the current era, arguing that atomic risk is once again a central concern of international politics. The piece revisits debates over deterrence, arms control and proliferation at a time of heightened global tension, prompting readers to weigh how states should manage the bomb's enduring presence in strategic thinking.

A farmer's report to authorities is credited with disrupting a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England. The vigilance of the landowner reportedly prompted police action at the airbase, which hosts US Air Force operations and has been the site of recent security concerns. The story is drawing wide attention, with many praising the farmer's quick thinking and discussing the base's security.

TimesLIVE reports that the head of Hamas' armed wing has been killed in Gaza City. The report marks a significant development in the conflict, as the commander led the group's military operations. Details about the circumstances of the killing and official confirmations from either side have not yet been fully set out in the available reporting.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a new expansion of Russia's military, according to reporting picked up by international outlets including The Brussels Times. The decree adds to a series of build-ups announced since the invasion of Ukraine, as Moscow seeks to enlarge troop numbers and strengthen its armed forces. The move is being watched closely by NATO members and European governments concerned about long-term Russian military capacity.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree expanding the size of the Russian armed forces for the fourth time in 2025, according to Euronews. The move comes as Russia's war in Ukraine continues to generate heavy troop losses, forcing the Kremlin to repeatedly raise recruitment targets. It underscores the mounting strain the conflict is placing on Russia's manpower and military planning.

Discussion is turning to what it means for global warming to exceed the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C threshold. Commentators are explaining that breaching the limit does not mean climate action is pointless, but signals that average temperatures have risen beyond the target, with worsening heatwaves, sea-level rise and ecosystem stress. The debate centres on how overshoot could be temporary and whether warming can be brought back down.

South Korea's military says explosions in the Demilitarized Zone that wounded three soldiers were likely caused by North Korean landmines. The injuries add to concerns over fortified defenses Pyongyang has installed along the border, which pose risks to troops patrolling the heavily armed frontier. Further details about the soldiers' conditions or a possible response have not been announced.

A suspected plot near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire is drawing widespread attention. According to an account circulating online, a farmer driving home in the early hours found three white vans blocking a village road with no one inside, grew suspicious, and turned around before reportedly seeing a group of men nearby. Details remain limited and unconfirmed, with no official police statement summarised in the reporting so far.

European governments are racing to rearm amid security concerns, but their lack of coordination in defence procurement is costing billions. An investigation argues that each country buying separately, rather than jointly, drives up prices, duplicates effort and delays delivery of weapons and equipment. The report adds to ongoing debate about whether the EU and NATO members should pool orders and standardise military capabilities to get better value from rising defence budgets.

Germany is shifting its economic strategy toward large-scale military rearmament, with defence spending increasingly framed as an engine for industrial growth. Observers are debating whether the country can revive its stagnant economy through arms production and defence investment, and what the move means for European security and Germany's fiscal priorities. The debate has drawn wide attention among economics and policy audiences.

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for renewed negotiations among nuclear powers as the country marks 35 years since the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. He warned that global arms-control safeguards are weakening and urged nuclear-armed states to return to dialogue on disarmament.

Sudan's foreign minister has criticised the United States after Washington imposed visa restrictions on the country's army chief. The move follows US steps targeting Sudanese officials amid the ongoing war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Khartoum's top diplomat condemned the decision as unjustified interference, reflecting rising friction between the two governments as international pressure over the conflict intensifies.