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Chinese-Made J-10C Fighter Jet Downs At Least One French Rafale in Pakistan-India Clash, Sources Say

A Chinese-made J-10C fighter jet used by the Pakistani Air Force shot down at least two Indian military aircraft in a confrontation on Wednesday, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters. One U.S. official cited by Reuters claimed that the J-10C jets used by Pakistan are equipped with PL-15 air-to-air missiles. A second U.S. official corroborated that at least one of the downed jets was a French-built Rafale. (Read More)​

Druze Communities in Syria Refuse to Surrender Weapons Amid Fears of Further Attacks

Druze communities near Damascus are refusing to surrender their weapons to the new Syrian government, citing fears of further attacks by Sunni militants, according to a Reuters report. The report stated that the new government, led by Islamist groups, has negotiated arrangements allowing Druze fighters to protect their territories as enlisted members of Syria’s security forces. (Read More)​​​​

Iran’s IRGC Unveils New ‘Underground Drone City’

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has publicly revealed an underground drone base operated by its Navy. The announcement was made Thursday during a visit by IRGC Commander-in-Chief Major General Hossein Salami, as reported by Iran’s state-run broadcaster Islam Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). The exact location of the base was not disclosed. ​(Read More)​​​​​

NSA to Cut Up to 2,000 Civilian Jobs Under Federal Downsizing Plan

The National Security Agency (NSA) is preparing to cut between 1,500 and 2,000 civilian jobs by the end of the year as part of a broader Trump administration effort to reduce the size of the federal government, according to The Record. The report revealed that the reduction will affect roles across the board, from administrative support to cybersecurity operations. The agency plans to implement the reductions by year’s end. (Read More)​

Israel Deploys Drones Originally Designed for Farming and Filming in Gaza Military Operations

Israel’s military is using commercial drones designed for farming and filming, to carry out attacks and surveillance in Gaza, according to an investigation by Al Jazeera’s Sanad verification agency. The investigation found that drones developed by Chinese technology company DJI such as Agras, Mavic, and Avata, have been modified for military operations. (Read More)​

Denmark to Test US-Made Saildrone Voyager Sea Drones

The Danish Armed Forces will begin testing four U.S.-made Saildrone Voyager unmanned surface vessels (USVs) in June 2025, Saildrone announced on Thursday. The Saildrone Voyager, introduced in 2023, is a 10-meter (33-foot) USV designed for near-shore ocean mapping and maritime security missions. Powered primarily by wind and solar energy, the Voyager also features electric propulsion for low-wind and near-shore operations. (Read More)​

UK Court Hears Spy Ringleader Claimed He Could Supply Nukes

Former Wirecard executive Jan Marsalek, wanted for large-scale fraud and suspected of being a Russian spy directing espionage operations across Europe, claimed in private messages that he could supply nuclear weapons for the right price. The messages were uncovered during an investigation into the case of six Bulgarian nationals arrested for spying on behalf of Russia in the United Kingdom and across Europe. (Read More)​​

Real ID and Facial Recognition Now Required at US Airports

All passengers must present a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or another approved ID to board domestic flights. This requirement is part of the implementation of the Real ID Act, passed in 2005 to establish uniform national standards for state-issued IDs. Under the new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) directive, passengers who present a state-issued ID that is not Real ID-compliant at TSA checkpoints, and who do not have another acceptable form of ID, will be notified of their non-compliance and may be directed to a separate area for additional screening. (Read More)​

South Korea’s ‘Sea Women’ are Genetically Adapted for Their Tough Trade | Popular Science

New research shows that Jeju Island’s Haenyeo—elderly women who free dive for seafood—have genetic traits that help them dive safely in cold water. These include lower blood pressure, better cold tolerance, and improved oxygen use. Unlike other diving groups, their main adaptation isn’t a bigger spleen but blood pressure control, possibly linked to diving while pregnant. The study shows how generations of diving shaped both their bodies and their genes. (Read More)​