All posts tagged: defence

British Army member dies in Iraq training accident | UK | News

British Army member dies in Iraq training accident | UK | News

A member of the British Army died in a training accident in Iraq on Sunday, the Ministry of Defence said. UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, confirmed the incident took place in the north of the country on Sunday. The soldier’s identity has not been released and it has not yet known how the incident occurred. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Healey said: “A training accident occurred in Northern Iraq yesterday for which a service personnel from the British Army has died. The family has been informed and asked for a period of grace before further details are released. I know the thoughts of the House are with the family.” A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence added: “It is with deep regret that we can confirm that a training accident occurred in northern Iraq on Sunday 31 May 2026 in which a service person from the British Army died. The service person’s family have been informed and have requested a period of grace before further details are released. Our thoughts and sympathies are …

At least 5 die in horror blast at South Korean defence company plant | World | News

At least 5 die in horror blast at South Korean defence company plant | World | News

Five people have died and two others were injured on Monday after an explosion and fire at a defense company in South Korea, official said. The incident took place on production line at a factory for rocket propellant operated by Hanwha Aerospace 012450.KS, located in the city of Daejeon. The cause of the explosion is not currently known. Emergency official Yoon Seong-su said that the area is a government-designated security facility. At least one of the people injured is in critical conditions, medical official Kim Ju-yeon said. It is understood the victims have not been identified yet. The five dead included two temporary workers in their 20s and all were employed by Hanwha, the company said. The company’s chief executive officer Son Jae-il said “we bow our heads in apology to the victims and their bereaved families”. Seoul immediately stopped operations at the security facility and deployed a massive Level 1 emergency response to the incident. The site is one of Hanwha Aerospace’s key facilities where it develops large-sized propellants and surface-to-surface weapons systems, according …

Outgoing chair Powell delivers defence of Fed independence

Outgoing chair Powell delivers defence of Fed independence

WASHINGTON: Outgoing US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell on Sunday (May 31) delivered a staunch defence of the need for the central bank to maintain independence and credibility, as it comes under assault from President Donald Trump. “Like many other institutions, the Fed has been undergoing a stress test,” he said as he accepted an award from the John F Kennedy Library Foundation. “If any administration finds a way to remove Fed officials over policy differences, then future administrations will do so as well,” Powell said, in a barely veiled reference to the Trump administration’s attempt to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook. “The public would lose faith that the central bank will make decisions based only on what’s best for all Americans.” In his second term in power, Trump has frequently criticised and insulted Powell, alleging he was too slow to lower interest rates. Trump’s Justice Department went so far as to pursue criminal charges against the Fed chair over a building renovation project. The probe was eventually dropped to smooth the path towards Powell’s …

RAF may have to wait until 2040s for £12bn Typhoon replacement fleet | Politics | News

RAF may have to wait until 2040s for £12bn Typhoon replacement fleet | Politics | News

The RAF may have to wait until the 2040s for delivery of fighter jets to replace the Typhoon (Image: Getty) The Royal Air Force may have to wait until the 2040s for delivery of fighter jets to replace its Typhoons, a report suggests. Tempest aircraft entering service will reportedly be delayed until the late 2030s or even the 2040s as funding for the project is pushed back until the middle of the next decade. The Tempest has been hailed by the RAF as promising the deployment of “game-changing” tech. It was due to replace the Typhoon as the RAF’s main fighter from 2035. Its development is part of a joint project with Italy and Japan set to cost £12billion. Britain’s overdue Defence Investment Plan (DIP) will reportedly confirm that funding for the scheme won’t be released until the mid-2030s, the Telegraph reports. READ MORE: Major bombshell as huge new Labour cover-up exposed READ MORE: We asked who should be the next Labour leader – surprise favourite Labour has been accused of bottling the tough decisions …

New Zealand can no longer take its security for granted, says defence minister as military spending rises

New Zealand can no longer take its security for granted, says defence minister as military spending rises

A MORE CONTESTED WORLD  The defence minister said the military investment reflects a changing threat environment shaped by growing strategic competition and conflicts beyond New Zealand’s shores.  “We live in a world where there is competition and contest, even within our region. Further afield, there’s conflict,” Penk said, pointing to wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and their implications for the international rules-based order and global economic security.  “We need to increase our defence investment to resource our navy, army and air force to be able to meet the needs of New Zealand in our region and further afield.”  Maritime capability is one of New Zealand’s most urgent priorities, he said, noting that by the mid-2030s most ships in the nation’s naval fleet are expected to have reached the end of their design life.  The government is evaluating options to replace its frigates and other naval assets, alongside investments in air assets and uncrewed technologies.  DEEPENING ENGAGEMENT WITH ASIA  Alongside military modernisation, Wellington is seeking to strengthen its engagement across Asia.  “The Asia region …

China sends defence university delegation to Shangri-La Dialogue for second straight year

China sends defence university delegation to Shangri-La Dialogue for second straight year

SINGAPORE: China will send a delegation from the People’s Liberation Army National Defence University to this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, marking the second straight year Beijing has opted not to dispatch its defence minister to Asia’s top security summit. The delegation will be led by the defence university’s Major General Meng Xiangqing, the Chinese defence ministry said during a press briefing on Thursday (May 28), seemingly confirming earlier rumours that defence chief Dong Jun would not be attending the weekend event, which starts on Friday.  Major General Meng will speak at the event, as will former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cui Tiankai, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, which organises the annual summit. This year’s edition will see 44 countries in attendance, said Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on Thursday, with 54 ministerial-level delegates and over 42 Chief of Defence Forces-level delegates and senior defence officials from countries across the Asia-Pacific and Europe, as well as prominent academics. Vietnamese President To Lam will deliver the keynote address on Friday night, while …

Bridging the gap in urban-wildland defence

Bridging the gap in urban-wildland defence

Wildfire Water Solutions discusses the evolving challenges of wildfire management and emphasises the importance of deployable infrastructure solutions to enhance water accessibility and improve preparedness in urban-wildland interfaces Across many regions of the world, wildfire behaviour is evolving. Longer fire seasons, increased fuel loading, and more frequent extreme weather events are creating conditions that exceed the original design assumptions of many response systems. In fast-moving wildland-urban interface (WUI) environments, firefighting effectiveness is often shaped not only by expertise and effort, but by logistics – how quickly and reliably critical resources can be delivered to where they are needed. Water access, pressure, and delivery pathways can become limiting under these conditions, particularly where terrain, infrastructure design tolerances, or concurrent demand create friction. This is not a failure of existing systems, but a reflection of the scale and intensity of modern wildfire events. This gap has led to the emergence of a new category: deployable infrastructure. Wildfire Water Solutions (WWS) operates within this category – providing systems that can be rapidly positioned to extend and reinforce existing …

Malaysia seeks over US1 million in compensation from Norwegian firm over scrapped missile deal: Minister

Malaysia seeks over US$251 million in compensation from Norwegian firm over scrapped missile deal: Minister

The minister added that about 30 per cent of the combat ship project components were locally sourced and expressed hope that the percentage could be increased in future naval projects. “This has always been our goal, and this incident involving Norway will push us to further strengthen our focus on ensuring we are not overly dependent on foreign countries,” said Khaled. “In addition, the government must be more cautious in procurement dealings with other countries that could potentially take similar action against Malaysia.”  Khaled reportedly said he hoped that members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc that are not close allies of Norway would learn from Malaysia’s experience and avoid dealing with the Scandinavian nation.  “They refused to issue the export licences because their new policy restricts the export of sensitive defence technology only to allies and close strategic partners.” Khaled was quoted as saying by The Edge Malaysia. “Meaning that the export is limited to members of NATO and countries regarded by Norway as strategic partners,” he said, referring to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.  KDA …

Keir Starmer has finally stood up to Rachel Reeves and the Left but it is too late | Politics | News

Keir Starmer has finally stood up to Rachel Reeves and the Left but it is too late | Politics | News

Reports over the weekend suggest that Sir Keir Starmer is finally set to agree to the funding required for the Ministry of Defence to afford all 62 of the recommendations in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). In a complex, high-threat world, the news is more than welcome, but way overdue. Yet desp[ite being welcome, it poses the bigger question: why now? Why has the Prime Minister waited until his back was against a wall, with threats all around, to agree to the measure that was laid bare nearly a year ago when the SDR was released? The timing poses a second question, does the Prime Minister recognise the threats facing the country or is he simply consumed with self-preservation? An increase to defence spending was obvious long before Rishi Sunak stood umbrella-less in the rain to call a general election. Russia’s war in Ukraine was raging, Iran and Israel were trading missiles and drones and China was expanding its influence across every corner of the globe. Yet Labour have dragged their heels at every opportunity. …

Indonesia to build up defence capabilities with new aircraft

Indonesia to build up defence capabilities with new aircraft

Indonesia received the first batch of three Rafale jets in January, and Monday’s ceremony included an additional three jets for the military, defence ministry spokesman Rico Ricardo Sirait told AFP. He underscored the jets’ importance to strengthen Indonesia’s air defence system and claimed that defence equipment modernisation was also an investment to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty. “The government views the strengthening of defence equipment not merely as the procurement of combat platforms, but as a strategic investment aimed at safeguarding sovereignty, national honour and national defence readiness,” he said. Prabowo, a former military general who came to power in 2024, has sought to modernise Indonesia’s ageing military assets. He met with French President Emmanuel Macron last month in Paris, where the two leaders discussed bolstering strategic cooperation, including through the “procurement of defence equipment and the strengthening of the defence industry”, according to an Indonesian government statement. Source link