US Communications Regulator Targets Chinese Tech for Security Risks
The Federal Communications Commission announced a series of measures aimed at curbing security risks posed by Chinese‑origin communications equipment. The rules require carriers to identify, assess, and, where necessary, replace hardware and software from firms such as Huawei and ZTE by the end of 2026. The FCC also introduced reporting obligations and penalties for non‑compliance, signaling a more aggressive stance than previous voluntary guidelines. The move follows heightened geopolitical tension and recent intelligence reports linking Chinese tech to espionage threats.
Why Is Beijing on a Stronger Footing to Discuss Taiwan with Trump This Time?
Beijing believes it holds greater leverage on Taiwan as President Trump prepares to meet Xi Jinping, a contrast to the more confrontational tone of his first term. Analyst Wu Yongping says Trump now needs Chinese cooperation on trade, tariffs and...
The Boss of Italy’s Defence Champion Fell Foul of Politics — and the Army
Leonardo, Italy’s flagship defence and aerospace group, saw its chief executive forced out after a protracted clash with the government and senior army officials. The dispute centered on the company’s handling of a €1.5 billion (≈$1.6 billion) helicopter programme and accusations that...
US Top Diplomat Rubio Discusses Iran, Strait of Hormuz with Britain and Australia
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate telephone conversations on May 11 with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to address Iran’s aggressive actions in the Strait of Hormuz. The talks focused on restoring freedom...
US Navy Open to Building Ships Overseas, New Plan Says
The U.S. Navy’s FY2027 shipbuilding plan introduces the option to contract allied shipyards for certain vessels. It earmarks $2.3 billion to buy five fuel tankers and $450 million for a consolidated replenishment tanker, potentially built abroad. The plan seeks to expand the...
UAE Attacked Iran in April: Sources
The United Arab Emirates launched missile and drone strikes on Iran's Lavan Island refinery in early April, targeting a facility that processes about 60,000 barrels of crude daily. The attacks occurred just as President Donald Trump announced a cease‑fire in...
Japan’s New Spy Agency Receives FBI Backing with Eyes on China and Russia
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pushing legislation to create the nation’s first centralized intelligence agency since World War II, converting the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office into a hub for analysts, technologists and operatives. The FBI has publicly endorsed the...
Groups to Protest Slashed Defense Budget on May 23
A coalition of civic groups announced a protest in Taipei on May 23 against the legislature’s sharply reduced special defense budget of NT$780 billion (≈US$24.8 billion). The opposition‑controlled legislature capped the first round of U.S. arms procurement at NT$300 billion (≈US$9.6 billion) and the second...
Kyodo News Digest: May 12, 2026
In a week of geopolitical and economic developments, President Donald Trump announced he will discuss U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with China’s Xi Jinping during their Beijing meeting, while G7 finance ministers plan to address AI‑driven cyber threats at their...
US Senators Urge Expedited Arms Sale
U.S. senators have urged President Donald Trump to approve a stalled $14 billion arms package for Taiwan ahead of his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The sale, cleared last year, was paused to avoid disrupting the upcoming US‑China talks, prompting bipartisan...
BETA Technologies Inc (BETA) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
GE Aerospace reported a robust first‑quarter 2026, with total orders jumping 87% and revenue climbing 29% year‑over‑year. Operating profit rose 18% to $2.5 billion, while EPS increased 25% to $1.86 and free cash flow reached $1.7 billion. The company’s backlog now tops...
Navy Plans to Buy 15 Costly Trump-Class Battleships by 2055
The U.S. Navy’s latest long‑range shipbuilding plan calls for at least 15 new Trump‑class battleships to be built by 2055, expanding the earlier proposal of three vessels. Each ship is estimated to cost a minimum of $14.5 billion, outpacing the $13 billion...
Trump Says He Will Discuss U.S. Arms Sales to Taiwan with China's Xi
President Donald Trump announced he will raise U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi during their upcoming Beijing talks. The discussion follows China’s objection to recent U.S. approvals, including a $11 billion weapons package approved in December. A senior...
Air Force MQ-9 Downs Aerial Targets with Cheap Air-to-Air Missiles
General Atomics announced that an Air Force MQ‑9 Reaper equipped with the laser‑guided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) successfully downed aerial targets during a Nevada Test and Training Range demonstration. The APKWS costs roughly $25,000‑$40,000 per missile, a fraction...
Trump Rejects Latest Iran Peace Proposal, Says Ceasefire on 'Life Support'
President Donald Trump rejected Iran's latest peace proposal, calling the cease‑fire "on life support" because it omitted nuclear concessions. The White House announced a new round of sanctions and said Trump would meet senior military commanders to consider next steps....
Robert Kagan on Why He Believes U.S. Faces Likely Defeat in Iran
Robert Kagan, senior fellow at Brookings, warned that the United States is likely to suffer defeat in the ongoing Iran conflict unless it undertakes a full‑scale invasion to remove Tehran’s regime. He argues the U.S. lacks viable options to reopen...
Spain Calls for Creation of EU Army Amid US Unreliability
Spain’s foreign minister announced a push for a permanent EU army, arguing that Europe can no longer rely on unpredictable U.S. policy. The proposal comes as the bloc prepares to allocate roughly $943 billion to defence spending by 2030, a level...
New DFARS Rule Would Expand FOCI Requirements Beyond Classified Contracts
The Pentagon has issued a proposed Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) rule that would extend foreign ownership, control or influence (FOCI) disclosure requirements to any contractor or subcontractor seeking DoD business on contracts exceeding $5 million. The rule mandates initial...
FirstFT: Donald Trump to Press Xi Jinping on China’s Support for Iran at Summit
Donald Trump announced he will confront Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming summit, demanding answers on Beijing's alleged military and logistical support for Iran. The move signals a direct U.S. challenge to China’s growing influence in the Middle East....
Nations Brace for Long-Term Economic Woes as Trump Calls Iran Truce Plan ‘Garbage’
President Trump dismissed Iran's latest cease‑fire proposal as "garbage," warning that the truce is on "massive life support" and reigniting fears of prolonged economic pain. Tehran’s counter‑offer, delivered through Pakistani mediators, seeks U.S. war reparations, recognition of Iranian sovereignty over...
Hegseth's Latest Attack on Kelly Underlines Alarm over US Weapons Stockpiles
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly accused Sen. Mark Kelly of revealing classified details about U.S. munitions, reigniting a feud that spotlights the rapid depletion of America’s weapons stockpiles amid the two‑month war with Iran. Kelly cited briefings showing heavy use...
Trump's and Rubio's Escalating Rhetoric Show a Cuban Invasion Could Be Imminent
President Donald Trump has intensified rhetoric against Cuba, pairing public threats of a military operation with a surge in U.S. surveillance flights off the island since February. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced fresh sanctions that target Cuba's economy and...
Everything You Know About Contracting Has Changed
Federal procurement leaders say the traditional multi‑year, ROI‑focused contracting model is giving way to rapid, short‑term wins. Agencies now prioritize pilots, measurable outcomes within 30‑90 days, and policy‑driven sales tied to executive orders. Workforce shortages and retiring contracting officers are...
The Pentagon Needs a Diet, Not an Even Bigger Slice of the Pie
The Trump administration is urging Congress to approve a $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget, the largest since World War II, despite the Defense Department’s chronic financial mismanagement. The Pentagon has failed every audit since 2018 and continues to purchase costly, underperforming weapons systems....
New Trump Sanctions on Chinese Firms: Leverage on Xi or Overkill?
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned ten mainland China and Hong Kong entities and individuals for supplying Iran with drone materials, missile components, and satellite‑imagery support. The designations target carbon‑fiber suppliers, procurement agents, financiers, and two satellite‑imagery...
PACAF Commander Visit Highlights Kadena’s Indo-Pacific Role
The Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) commander visited Japan’s Kadena Air Base to evaluate its operational readiness and reaffirm the installation’s strategic importance in the Indo‑Pacific. The tour highlighted the HH‑60W Jolly Green II rescue aircraft of the 33rd Rescue Squadron, demonstrating its...
Understanding the President’s FY 2027 Budget Request for the Department of War
The White House’s FY 2027 defense budget request totals $1.5 trillion, a 44 percent increase over FY 2026 and the largest peacetime rise since the Korean War. It combines $1.15 trillion in discretionary authority with $350 billion of mandatory funding routed through a reconciliation bill. Major...
Space Force to Overhaul Key Early Warning, Surveillance Radars Around the World
The U.S. Space Force announced a Ground Based Radar Digitization (GBRD) effort to modernize eight legacy missile‑warning and space‑surveillance radars worldwide, converting them from analog to digital. The upgrade will replace front‑end antennas, back‑end processors and software across sites in...
Trump Is Right About Something for Once
President Trump’s recent social‑media post correctly called Iran’s counter‑proposal to the U.S. cease‑fire offer “totally unacceptable.” Iran’s demands include ending the war, lifting sanctions, releasing frozen assets, and retaining control of the Strait of Hormuz. Despite more than 13,000 Iranian...
55th Fighter Squadron Pilots Earn Distinguished Flying Cross
The U.S. Air Force announced that pilots from the 55th Fighter Squadron have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary aerial performance during recent operations. The citation highlights multiple high‑risk combat sorties, precision strike missions, and exemplary leadership under...
The Army Wants to Reinvent How It Feeds Soldiers in the Field
The Army Combat Capabilities Development Command issued a source‑sought notice seeking alternative‑protein technologies to overhaul field rations. It is looking for long‑shelf‑life, lightweight, nutrient‑dense meals produced via fermentation or precision fermentation, explicitly excluding lab‑grown meat and insect protein. The initiative...
How Government Decisions During War Echo Long After Service Ends
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that the combatant‑activities exemption in the Federal Tort Claims Act does not shield defense contractors from state tort claims, allowing the lawsuit against Fluor over a 2016 suicide bombing at Bagram to proceed. Justice...
Air Force Reserve Wants to Put 24 F-35s at Homestead
The Department of the Air Force has named Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida as the top candidate to receive 24 F-35A Lightning II fighters, replacing the 482nd Fighter Wing’s aging F-16s. The basing decision will undergo a strategic review...
Rahm Emanuel: US Military Needs a Revolution
Former Chicago mayor and ex‑White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel argued in a Wall Street Journal op‑ed that the U.S. military must undergo a sweeping reform to fight both conventional and unconventional wars at once. He points to Ukraine’s drone‑driven...
Smart Shooter Receives Follow-On U.S. Army Award for SMASH 2000LEFire Control Systems for Individual C-sUAS
Smart Shooter secured a follow‑on U.S. Army contract worth roughly $10.7 million for its SMASH 2000LE fire‑control system, slated for delivery in the third quarter of 2026. The award, processed through PAE Defensive Fires and Atlantic Diving Supply, expands the Army’s fielding...
US Air Force Reassigns Combat Training Units to Enhance Readiness
The U.S. Air Force announced a reorganization that moves several combat training units from their legacy commands into the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The shift consolidates advanced fighter, bomber and electronic warfare curricula under a single authority, aiming...
Trump Says War on Iran Not ‘Done’ — but Concerns Rise About Munitions Shortages
President Donald Trump told reporters the war against Iran is not over despite formally ending Operation Epic Fury on May 1. He claimed roughly 70% of Iranian targets have been hit and warned the U.S. could resume strikes within weeks. Israeli...
GA-ASI and USAF Demonstrate APKWS on MQ-9A Reaper
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and the U.S. Air Force successfully flight‑tested the laser‑guided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) on an MQ‑9A Reaper at the Nevada Test and Training Range. Multiple shot profiles, including moving aerial targets, were executed flawlessly,...
UK Spent More than $22 Million for Starlink Supplies, Report Shows
The British Ministry of Defence has spent more than $22.6 million on SpaceX’s Starlink satellites and terminals over the past four years, funding both Ukrainian resistance and British forces abroad. Over 50,000 terminals have been shipped to Ukraine since the 2022...
Stronger, Smarter, Sharper: Incirlik Airmen Elevate Tactical Skills Through European EOD Exercise
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Airmen from the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, participated in Operation Deterrent Viking II at Germany’s Baumholder Military Training Area. Hosted by the 786th Civil Engineer Squadron, the exercise featured live‑fire demolition, UXO...
Connecticut National Guard Hosts Cyber Yankee 2026
The Connecticut National Guard is staging Cyber Yankee 2026, a two‑week regional cyber‑defense exercise at Camp Nett from May 4‑15. The drill brings together over 360 military, civilian and international participants to simulate attacks on critical utilities such as gas, water and electricity....
Army Uses Ground Robots & Combat Vehicles in First Assault Warfare Test
The U.S. Army’s airborne units conducted the first assault‑warfare test using ground robots and combat vehicles during the African Lion 26 exercise in Morocco. Dozens of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) were paired with infantry squads and platforms such as the...
Google Disrupts Hackers Using AI to Exploit an Unknown Weakness in a Company's Digital Defense
Google’s threat‑intelligence team disrupted a criminal group that used a large‑language‑model AI to locate a previously unknown zero‑day vulnerability and bypass two‑factor authentication on a major system‑admin platform. The attackers’ AI‑assisted approach marks the first confirmed case of a large‑language...
MBDA and Indian Air Force MICA Missile Support Agreement
France’s MBDA and the Indian Air Force have signed a support agreement to establish a domestic MICA missile overhaul facility. MBDA will supply tooling, test equipment and training, while the IAF and Indian industry will operate the center. The move...
Starlink Shuts Down Its GPS-Style Cheat Code. Researchers May Unlock It Anyway.
SpaceX's Starlink has abruptly disabled the location‑data feature that let users access its satellite‑based positioning and navigation (PNT) service via the mobile app. The move comes despite growing interest in Starlink as a resilient alternative to GPS, which is increasingly...
Marines Expand Arctic Footprint with New Alaska Rotation
The Marine Corps announced Campaign‑Alaska, creating a rotating Marine Rotational Force‑Alaska (MRF‑Alaska) and a permanent Supporting Arms Liaison Team‑Alaska (SALT‑Alaska). The permanent unit will be stationed at Joint Force Elmendorf‑Richardson by fiscal year 2027, incorporating elements of the 6th Air...
After Drones & Missiles, Iran Stuns U.S. in Propaganda War Thanks to AI Lego Videos & Embassy Blitz
Iran has transformed its embassies into a high‑impact propaganda engine, using AI‑generated Lego‑style videos on X to portray the United States and Israel as reckless aggressors. Since the war began on Feb. 28, diplomatic accounts like Iran‑in‑India (≈100 k followers) have posted...
Red Hat and Core42 Set the Standard for Sovereign AI Infrastructure
Red Hat announced a partnership with Core42, a G42 subsidiary, to deliver sovereign cloud and AI services for the UAE public sector, defense and regulated industries. The collaboration leverages Red Hat OpenShift and Red Hat AI to create both private...
Kroenig Published in Foreign Policy on Iran’s Uranium Enrichment
Atlantic Council vice president Matthew Kroenig published a piece in Foreign Policy on May 11, arguing that Iran has no legitimate right to enrich uranium. He urges that any future U.S.‑Iran agreement, including under a Trump administration, should embed a...
5 US Bases Selected for Anti-Drone Pilot Program
The Joint Interagency Task Force 401 has chosen five U.S. military installations—Fort Huachuca, Fort Bliss, Naval Base Kitsap, Grand Forks AFB, and Whiteman AFB—for an anti‑drone pilot program that will evaluate directed‑energy weapons. The effort follows recent laser tests in...