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Vladimir Putin has ordered an expansion of the Russian army, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said North Korea is preparing to deploy additional troops to fight alongside Russian forces. The moves point to an escalation of manpower on both sides as the war in Ukraine continues, raising concerns among Western allies about growing foreign involvement in the conflict.

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree increasing the size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 military personnel, effective immediately. The decree replaces all previous decrees on army size and marks the seventh expansion of Russia's manpower levels since the start of the war in Ukraine. Observers note the move continues a steady pattern of force growth through presidential decrees rather than formal mobilization.

North Korea has told the United Nations that its status as a nuclear-armed state is irreversible and rejected outside pressure to abandon its weapons programme. The declaration signals Pyongyang's refusal to negotiate denuclearization, drawing renewed attention to diplomatic deadlocks and regional security concerns involving the US, South Korea, and other parties.

Ethiopia's army chief has publicly accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigrayan rebel forces, a striking charge against three of Ethiopia's neighbours. The claim escalates rhetoric around the Tigray conflict and threatens to deepen regional tensions, with the accusation reported by major international outlets including the Washington Post and ABC News.

Sudan's government has called for foreign interference in the country to end and for the Rapid Support Forces to be disarmed, according to a report by Middle East Monitor. The demand comes as Sudan's civil war between the army and the RSF continues to displace millions, with Khartoum repeatedly accusing outside powers of arming and backing the paramilitary group.

Sudan remains governed by two rival authorities, with Washington recognising neither as legitimate. The army-backed administration controls much of the formal state machinery, while the Rapid Support Forces exercise power across territory they hold. US officials say neither side represents constitutional governance, leaving Sudan effectively run by competing authorities without international recognition. Observers warn the standoff complicates diplomacy and aid delivery in a country already devastated by war.

The Pentagon is considering a new nuclear strategy intended to deter regional wars rather than solely great-power conflict. Reports indicate the plan would adjust how US nuclear capabilities are postured to discourage limited regional aggressions by nuclear-armed or threshold states. Details of the review, including any changes to employment policy or force structure, remain undisclosed as discussions continue within the Defense Department.

An analyst told RFI that Washington has 'alienated' Sudan's army amid what he described as a 'complex war' in the country. The comment reflects criticism of US diplomacy as Sudan's conflict continues, with debate over whether American policy is undermining relations with a key party to the war.

Russian forces carried out large-scale strikes on Kyiv, with claims that the attacks killed 'NATO specialists' and destroyed Ukrainian military infrastructure. The assertion about NATO personnel has drawn attention, as it suggests direct Western involvement in the conflict. No independent confirmation of the claims is available, and such statements typically come from Russian state-aligned reporting amid ongoing escalation of long-range attacks on the Ukrainian capital.

South Sudan's address to the United Nations General Assembly carried a clear message: 'Ballot must replace the bullets' as the country prepares for its first elections since independence. The statement, made ahead of planned national elections, underscores the government's pledge to shift from armed conflict to democratic politics. Observers are watching closely whether long-delayed polls can proceed peacefully in a nation still recovering from civil war.

Scientists are developing new approaches to control mosquitoes, the animal responsible for more human deaths than any other, as climate change lengthens mosquito seasons and expands the areas where the insects can spread diseases such as malaria and dengue. Reporting highlights that longer warm periods give mosquitoes more time to breed and transmit dangerous illnesses, prompting research into novel targeting methods.

Sudanese authorities have declared that foreign interference in the country must end and that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces must be disarmed. The statement adds to Khartoum's diplomatic pressure as the conflict with the RSF continues, with the government framing outside involvement and the paramilitary's weapons as central obstacles to stability.

A top Iranian army commander has stated that Iran controls both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which a large share of the world's oil passes. The remark underscores Tehran's leverage over global energy shipments and comes amid heightened tensions involving the United States, Israel and regional naval forces.

North Korea has cautioned the United Nations about what it calls Japan's 'attempts at rearmament'. The warning, reported by Anadolu Agency, reflects Pyongyang's long-standing opposition to Japan's military buildup. Details of the specific UN communication and Japan's response were not provided in the report.

The arms embargo on Darfur is due to lapse on Saturday and would have to be renewed by the UN Security Council to stay in force. Discussion tied to the German daily taz highlights the embargo's relevance to Sudan's war, the Rapid Support Forces, and regional actors including the United Arab Emirates, as well as spillover into Libya, Colombia and Puntland.

A suspected bomb plot near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire is under investigation. A farmer driving home in the early hours reportedly found three white vans blocking a village road with no one inside, turned around, and then saw a group of men nearby. Details of the incident are circulating widely in the UK as police respond.

US Ambassador David Perdue says President Trump asked Xi Jinping whether China would be interested in buying American weapons. The remarks come after a Taiwanese minister described the 'severe' military threat posed by Beijing to the self-ruled island, raising questions about US arms policy toward Taiwan and the wider strategic relationship with China.

A 60 Minutes report examines how the race to build artificial intelligence is driving a rapid expansion of data centers across the United States, and the growing resistance from communities where the facilities are being built. Residents have raised concerns over energy demands, water use, noise and strain on local power grids, turning data center approvals into a contested political issue in towns across the country.

The Pope called on Europe to return to the path of dialogue rather than military buildup, saying this is the only way to end what he described as a 'senseless slaughter'. His remarks push back against rising rearmament across the continent and argue that diplomacy, not arms, offers a real route to peace.

Ukraine's digital minister Mykhailo Fedorov is pushing a plan to deploy an 'army of robots' to replace soldiers on the front line, Le Parisien reports. The initiative aims to use unmanned ground and aerial systems to reduce troop losses in the war with Russia, as Kyiv struggles with manpower shortages and continues positioning itself as a pioneer of battlefield technology.

Pope Leo is taking on an increasingly prominent statesman role, using his platform to call for peace amid a period of renewed armed conflict around the world. According to The Washington Post, the pontiff has framed his appeals for diplomacy and reconciliation as a central theme of his leadership, drawing attention to the Vatican's moral voice at a time of escalating wars.

The European Union has agreed on five priority areas for defense investment, creating a framework to channel joint spending among member states. The move is part of broader efforts to coordinate European defense capabilities and reduce fragmentation across national armed forces. Details of the specific priority areas and funding mechanisms are expected to shape future EU defense cooperation.

A farmer near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire raised the alarm after spotting suspicious activity, leading to arrests over an alleged plot targeting the airbase. The report is credited with prompting a rapid police response and preventing a potential attack. The story is drawing wide attention as an example of vigilance by a member of the public playing a key role in counter-terrorism efforts.

Fuel prices are climbing worldwide as threats issued by Donald Trump and ongoing armed conflicts weigh on energy markets. Traders and analysts are tracking how sanctions rhetoric, military escalation and supply disruption risks could push crude oil and refined fuel costs further up, leaving governments and consumers bracing for more expensive energy in the weeks ahead.