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.
Kurdish forces in Syria accidentally shot down US Reaper drone
The U.S. recovered parts of the downed Reaper and destroyed the rest.
Trump says he’ll begin Jan. 6 pardons ‘the first hour’ in office
Trump said he would look at each individual case, rather than issue a blanket pardon for all Jan. 6 defendants.
US will send Ukraine $725M in counter-drone tech, anti-personnel mines
President Biden has pledged to spend all of the military assistance funds Congress approved earlier this year for Ukraine before his administration ends.
Chinese warplanes track US Navy aircraft through the Taiwan Strait
A P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft flew through the strait’s international space “in accordance with international law," the Navy said.
Advocates fear dismantling of DOD’s extremism prevention, DEI programs
Trump’s choice for defense secretary said DEI programs eroded the military's values and described anti-extremism policies as a "purge."
Veterans involved in Jan. 6 riot expect Trump to keep pardon promise
Some Jan. 6 defendants, including veterans, are asking the courts to delay their cases as they wait for President-Elect Trump to grant them pardons.
Pentagon announces new batch of drones for Replicator program
The announcement marks the most specific details the Defense Department has released about its secretive, fast-track drone effort.
Militants attacked US positions across Middle East over the weekend
No U.S. injuries were reported, according to the Pentagon.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim shooting down US Reaper drone
The incident is potentially the latest downing of a U.S. spy drone as the militants continue their attacks on the Red Sea corridor.
