Author: Defenceline Webdesk

Myanmar’s new military-backed government plans to revive the controversial China-backed Myitsone dam project and is expecting to complete it within roughly eight years, according to a report by Reuters. The report cited two sources ​with knowledge of recent comments by Khet Htein Nan, the chief minister of Kachin State, where the $3.6 billion dam is slated to be built. Htet Paing Htoo, a member of the Kachin State parliament, told Reuters that work on the project, which was suspended in 2011 due to widespread public opposition, would “begin shortly.” “An official announcement will be released,” he told the news agency.…

Read More

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his first official visit to New Zealand on 10–11 July 2026, marking the first trip by an Indian leader to the country in 40 years.The visit will centre on Auckland, with a packed programme highlighting the recently signed New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement and deepening ties across trade, investment, and community relations.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced the visit on 3 July, describing it as a historic milestone in bilateral relations. He emphasised that India, as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, is of enormous importance to New Zealand’s prosperity.Luxon stated that the…

Read More

Spain’s first Eurofighter Halcon I rolled out from Airbus’ Getafe facility. Credit: Airbus Defence via X. Spanish Air and Space Force’s first Eurofighter Halcon aircraft has completed its initial engine run at Airbus’ site in Getafe, Madrid. The engine tests confirmed the operation of essential systems, including hydraulics, electrical, and fuel systems, across the engine’s entire power range, from idle to maximum reheat. Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. Find out more In a post on social media, Airbus stated that this development was a key…

Read More

Indonesia’s military says that it has recovered the body of an American pilot who was shot dead by separatist insurgents ​in the eastern region of Papua yesterday, in what the rebels described as a “message” to the U.S. and Indonesian governments. Sebby Sambom, a spokesperson for the ​West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Organization, said yesterday ⁠that its troops shot dead American pilot Nicholas F. Gosselin after he landed at an airstrip in the Yahukimo regency of Highland Papua province. He accused the aircraft of transporting Indonesian military personnel into the area. “We…

Read More

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi have reaffirmed their strong commitment to the Quad framework during high-level bilateral talks in New Delhi.Both leaders stressed that the growing cooperation between India and Japan will directly strengthen and complement the broader Quad efforts, with a clear focus on ensuring a resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific. They also announced plans to fast-track the upcoming Quad Leaders’ Summit, signalling a renewed urgency in advancing collective strategic priorities.According to the joint statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs, the two leaders pledged to deepen practical cooperation across the four foundational pillars…

Read More

How many missions could a drone or satellite fly with a battery pack that can last decades? And what if that battery could be fueled by nuclear waste?That’s the future scientists are working toward in DARPA’s “Rads to Watts” program, which aims to create lightweight batteries with a high energy density. And a recent $3.37 million contract award aims to fund a viable proof-of-concept device that can produce more than 10 watts per kilogram with a yearslong shelf life. “Solar cells directly convert sunlight into electricity…Ours directly convert radiation into electricity,” said Stafford Sheehan, CEO and founder of Project Omega, which…

Read More

Shortly after the military-backed government in Myanmar thumbed its nose at the ASEAN chair and denied its request to meet with ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the regime in Naypyidaw went one step further and announced that Laos was next on the agenda. No date was given for the first official visit to an ASEAN country by self-anointed President Min Aung Hlaing in the Global New Light of Myanmar, which said on July 1 that the visit would take place over the “next few days.” But official scribes across the border had a bit more to say. The state-run Vientiane Times announced that Min Aung Hlaing would…

Read More