19 h. ago Philippine defence, military chiefs slam call to dump Marcos as scandal flares

The Philippine defence and military chiefs rejected a call for the country’s armed forces to withdraw support from President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr in response to public outrage over allegations of massive corruption in flood control projects that have implicated several congressmen and public works officials and sparked pockets of street protests. Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr and military chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jnr issued a joint statement late on Friday expressing their...

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3 d. ago China, Russia, North Korea unity just a ‘show,’ says NATO military chief

China, Russia, North Korea unity just a ‘show,’ says NATO military chief  Anadolu Ajansı

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2 w. ago Hamas confirms death of military chief, months after Israeli said it killed him

The Palestinian militant group Hamas confirmed on Saturday the death of its Gaza military chief Mohammed Sinwar, a few months after Israel said it killed him in a strike in May. Hamas did not provide details on Sinwar’s death but published pictures of him along with other group leaders, describing them as “martyrs”. Mohammad Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the Islamist faction’s chief, who co-masterminded the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, and whom Israel had killed in combat...

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2 w. ago Beijing accuses Philippines of ‘causing trouble’ in South China Sea

Beijing has accused the Philippines of “causing trouble” in the South China Sea while also suggesting the United States was to blame for fuelling tensions. On Thursday, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for the Chinese defence ministry, criticised joint drills by the Philippines and Australia. “[Manila] has repeatedly courted influence from outside powers to make waves in this area, playing the role of an ass in a lion’s skin,” Zhang said, using a Chinese idiom to accuse it of “jeopardising regional...

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2 w. ago Air chief urges caution over India’s military reforms inspired by US, China

India’s top air commander has advised caution about an ongoing military overhaul that is the largest in seven decades, in a show of scepticism over a plan Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is embracing. “Disrupting everything and making one structure now at this time” may not be the best way forward, India’s Chief of Air Staff A.P. Singh said on Tuesday at a seminar to discuss new technologies and warfare. India should not pick up “theatre commands” from any other country, Singh said at...

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2 w. ago To counter Beijing in South China Sea, Manila and Canberra forge defence pact

Australia and the Philippines’ push to finalise an “enhanced defence cooperation” agreement by next year underscores how regional allies are accelerating security coordination in response to China’s growing assertiveness in contested waters, a shift analysts say could reshape strategic dynamics in the South China Sea. The talks were announced during a Friday press conference in Manila, where Australian Deputy Prime Minister and defence chief Richard Marles and Philippine Defence Secretary...

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3 w. ago Russia says it must be part of Ukraine talks as Nato military chiefs meet

Russia said on Wednesday it had to be part of any discussion on security guarantees for Ukraine and downplayed the likelihood of an imminent summit with President Volodymyr Zelensky, tempering hopes for a quick peace deal. Nato military chiefs, meanwhile, held a virtual summit on security guarantees for Ukraine, the latest in a flurry of global diplomacy aimed at brokering an end to the nearly three-and-a-half year conflict. “On #Ukraine, we confirmed our support. Priority continues to be a...

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3 w. ago US defence giant makes a soft power play in the Philippines with R&D hub

Lockheed Martin is set to establish an R&D facility in Manila in partnership with a major Philippine university, in a move analysts say will both strengthen the nation’s technological foundations and enmesh it further into Washington’s regional security framework. The American defence giant announced on Tuesday a collaboration with Southern Methodist University (SMU) aimed at boosting innovation, developing advanced technologies and nurturing local talent in partnership with Philippine academic...

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4 w. ago Beijing slams Philippine ships in first comment on South China Sea collision

Beijing on Friday issued its first direct comment on a reported collision in the South China Sea earlier this week, with its Ministry of Defence strongly condemning the Philippine coastguard for “dangerous manoeuvring”. The Philippine vessels “severely jeopardised the safety of Chinese ship personnel”, ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said, referring to the confrontation near the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Monday. Several Philippine coastguard vessels and government ships had “illegally...

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