Israeli officials are expected to arrive in the US early next week for high-level talks about Iran. President Donald Trump has made several threats to Iran in recent days and the Pentagon is developing war plans for the Islamic Republic.

For the first time under President Donald Trump, the US military engaged in trilateral exercises with Japan and South Korea. The move will be viewed as a provocation by the DPRK, which views US-led war games in the region as preparation for regime change in Pyongyang.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military launched a new ground offensive in Gaza and retook the Netzarim Corridor, a strip of land that separates northern Gaza from the rest of the territory, as fresh Israeli strikes killed dozens of more Palestinians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told President Trump in a phone call on Wednesday that he supports the proposal for Russia and Ukraine to halt attacks on energy infrastructure as a first step toward a ceasefire and lasting peace deal.

In a review of Taipei’s military policy, the country’s Defense Ministry concluded that Taiwan should maintain strong security ties with the United States. The Taiwanese officials who authored the document said the partnership with Washington was needed in an increasingly unstable world.

The Pentagon has awarded contracts to two Ukrainian companies that produce long-range drones, offering to test their products as part of a new long-term development project. Western officials have suggested the war in Ukraine presents opportunities to battle-test NATO weapons systems against Russian forces.

A group of Israeli Knesset members claimed that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have now returned to their pre-October 7 strength, suggesting the brutal Gaza war has done little to reduce their numbers.

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that will dismantle Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia, and other US state media outlets.