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NATO leaders gathered in Ankara for a summit marked by billions in procurement deals and pledges of unity, while tensions with US President Donald Trump over defence spending and the Iran conflict loom large. Secretary General Mark Rutte defended the alliance's strength and Trump's commitment, despite criticism and questions about unity.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was expected to visit Israel on Wednesday to meet with Israeli leaders, but reports differ on whether the visit is still on. The backdrop is renewed US strikes against Iran, which Iran says have caused injuries and prompted retaliatory claims by its Revolutionary Guards.
Three tankers, including a Qatari LNG vessel, were struck in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Qatar to summon Iran's deputy ambassador and warn of legal responsibility. The US revoked a licence for Iranian oil sales amid rising tensions over navigation fees and regional security.
A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, catching fire. The incident has heightened concerns over shipping security in the vital waterway, with reports of multiple vessels attacked and suspicion falling on Iran.
China has test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine into the Pacific Ocean, marking a first for Beijing and drawing mixed reactions across the region. While China called the launch a routine training exercise with relevant countries informed in advance, some regional leaders and analysts expressed alarm, viewing it as a demonstration of China's growing military power.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi inaugurated the Octagon, a sprawling new military and administrative complex in the new administrative capital east of Cairo. The facility, described by observers as the world's largest defense ministry building, marks a major step in Egypt's military modernization and has drawn attention in Israel and across the region.
The US Commerce Department lifted export controls on Anthropic's Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models, allowing the company to restore global access. The decision followed security concerns that had prompted a June 12 ban, with Anthropic agreeing to cooperate on security protocols.
The US is set to invest over $4bn in upgrading its military and spy bases across the UK, including new bunkers in Suffolk reportedly for nuclear weapons, according to official documents and plans presented at a military engineering conference. The largest expenditure, $1.6bn, will go to RAF Lakenheath, with additional funds for RAF Mildenhall, RAF Fairford, and Menwith Hill.
Viktor Medvedchuk, leader of the Other Ukraine movement, has accused the US of using biological safety work in Ukraine as a cover for developing biological weapons, alleging that US-funded laboratories caused swine flu deaths in 2016 and hepatitis A outbreaks in 2017. He cited Russian Investigative Committee findings and US intelligence documents, while calling for a transparent investigation.
Viktor Medvedchuk, head of Ukraine's Other Ukraine movement, claims that around 28 US-affiliated biological laboratories were built or modernized in Ukraine under former President Viktor Yanukovich, and that human experiments leading to deaths occurred under President Vladimir Zelensky. The allegations, published on Medvedchuk's movement's website, also trace the program's origins to earlier administrations and include calls for closure of the labs.
Following Iranian missile and drone strikes that damaged multiple US installations in the Middle East, Washington is considering relocating parts of its military footprint, including to Israel. Reports detail severe damage to the Fifth Fleet's Bahrain base and ongoing deliberations over the future of US posture in the Gulf.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched missile and drone attacks on US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain in response to continued US airstrikes, escalating the conflict as diplomatic efforts falter. Both sides accuse each other of violating the truce, while Gulf states condemn the attacks and the UN Security Council convenes.
International rescue teams and aid arrive in Venezuela nearly two days after twin earthquakes struck near Caracas, killing at least 920 people and leaving more than 50,000 missing. The United States sends a senior military official to coordinate relief, while the government declares a state of emergency and pledges a $200m reconstruction fund.
The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to at least 589, according to acting President Delcy Rodriguez, while a separate report puts the figure at 235. International aid, including from the U.S., China, and Germany, is arriving as rescue efforts continue.
US artificial intelligence company Anthropic has accused Chinese tech giant Alibaba of orchestrating a large-scale campaign to extract capabilities from its Claude AI model through "distillation attacks." In a letter to US senators, Anthropic alleged nearly 29 million fraudulent interactions and urged Congress to impose penalties. The companies have denied the allegations, and Alibaba has filed a lawsuit against the US government over its blacklisting.
The Trump administration has formally asked Congress for $87.6 billion in additional spending, with roughly $67 billion earmarked for Defense Department needs linked to the war with Iran. The request, sent by the Office of Management and Budget, also covers farm aid and Ebola response funding and arrives amid congressional resistance and a recent war-powers vote.
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, toppling buildings in Caracas and trapping people under rubble. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed at least 164 dead and nearly 1,000 injured, while a website tracking missing people listed over 24,000 as unaccounted for. The USGS predicted the death toll could run into the thousands.
The Pentagon has reinstated mandatory flu vaccinations for all military recruits after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the shots optional in April. The decision comes as a flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base has sickened hundreds, with vaccines set to expire at the end of June and new doses not expected until August.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf Arab allies that any deal with Iran would take their interests into account, as he wrapped up a regional tour in Bahrain. The visit aimed to sell the preliminary US-Iran accord to skeptical partners, while Iran's negotiator called the deal a 'declaration of America's defeat'.
On day 118 of the Iran war, Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned against an alternative shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Bahrain for Gulf Cooperation Council talks. Tehran called its interim deal with Washington a 'declaration of America's defeat,' and the US sought to reassure Gulf allies of its commitment to their interests.