Pyongyang reportedly tested anti-ship, air defense, and strike systems aboard a 5,000-ton destroyer North Korea has tested a strategic cruise missile and other weapon systems aboard its newest naval destroyer, KCNA state news agency reported Sunday. The country’s leader Kim Jong-un reportedly observed the launch and evaluations of the vessel’s combat systems. Conducted on July 3 aboard the newly built 5,000-ton warship Kang Kon, the tests reportedly assessed the vessel’s target detection and information processing capabilities, integrated firepower system, naval guns, automatic cannons, and electronic warfare equipment as part of its performance evaluation. The news agency cited Kim as hailing the reliability and combat effectiveness of the destroyer’s weapon systems. The North Korean leader reportedly noted that recent advances in domestic weapons development demonstrated the pote...
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Warsaw must introduce a law banning foreign arms supplies without consent from MPs, the deputy speaker of parliament has insisted The parliamentary opposition in Poland has demanded answers from the government of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk after reports of a secret delivery of in-demand Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine. On Saturday, several Polish social media accounts, including prominent blogger Pawel Sokala, claimed that the authorities in Warsaw had handed over a batch of US-made PAC3 interceptors to Kiev in March without announcing it publicly or consulting with parliament. The critical shortage of Patriot missiles due to their heavy use in the Ukraine conflict and the American-Israeli war against Iran had forced Washington to delay the contracted shipments of the interceptors to some of its allies in Europe and Asia in recent months. According to the Center for Strategic and Internatio...
From Prague to Bucharest, flag-lit palaces and elite rituals reveal loyalty, insecurity, and a costly bid for Washington’s favor July 4 – Independence Day in the US – is a surprisingly popular holiday in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. For example, in Prague, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to illuminate the historic Cernín Palace in the colors of the American flag until July 5 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of US independence. In Warsaw, iconic government buildings and bridges are often similarly illuminated. In Romania, the entire country’s leadership is set to gather for a reception at the US Embassy in Bucharest, where slogans such as “strategic partnership with the US is the DNA of Romanian foreign policy” will be clearly articulated. The popularity of this holiday has been repeatedly played up in the movies of the region, wh...
The Russian president has congratulated Donald Trump and the American people on 250 years of independence Russia and the United States bear a “special responsibility” for maintaining global security, President Vladimir Putin has said while congratulating his counterpart Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence. In a letter published by the Kremlin on Saturday, Putin wished Trump and his family “health, well-being and success,” and the American people “happiness and prosperity,” while describing the signing of the US Declaration of Independence as “an important milestone in world history.” He also emphasized the countries’ shared history and special responsibilities as nuclear powers. “We were allies in two world wars, together freed humanity from the horrors of Nazism, and later played an important role in laying t...
The region enters a fragile pause — with diplomacy, deterrence and nuclear risk back at the center At the start of the US and Israeli military campaign against Iran, we identified seven lessons from the new conflict. Sanctions, we noted, are often followed by force; pressure on Iran would be long-term; concessions to the attacking side wouldn’t work; the leadership of the targeted country would become one of the main targets; internal unrest would encourage external intervention; support from friendly states would matter, but wouldn’t solve the victim’s problems, and finally, the balance of power would remain the decisive factor in security affairs. Force answered with force is a crude instrument, but it remains an effective way of halting escalation. Now that the conflict appears to have been paused, we can draw several further lessons, even while recognizing that this pause is likely to ...
The parachutist appeared to clip trees while carrying a giant US flag during an Independence Day event in California A skydiver carrying a giant American flag crashed into a hospitality tent during an Independence Day rodeo in California. The accident happened during the opening ceremony of the Folsom Pro Rodeo near Sacramento, California on Thursday. The event is one of the city’s annual Fourth of July traditions held this year as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence. The event traditionally begins with a parachutist delivering the flag into the arena. Holy smokes!!! Huge crash at the Folsom Pro Rodeo Thankfully he walked away with no injuries 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/z4rYPPlNvL — TONY™ (@TONYxTWO) July 4, 2026 Video circulating on social media shows the banner becoming snagged on trees just outside the arena,...