TOP NEWS

American defense
Hegseth clears top brass – creates concern in military

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is firing commanders at a pace that is causing concern in the US military, sources tell the New York Times. About twenty have been dismissed since Hegseth took office, often without explanation.

The newspaper notes that military leaders who have been fired have, among other things, praised diversity and questioned the US's attacks on boats in the Caribbean that are allegedly loaded with drugs. But it is not clear that these are the reasons, and defense expert Kori Schake notes that the Trump administration has the right to choose which military leaders they trust.

However, she believes that there is a risk that enormous talent is "wasted".

Putin's Russia
Report of conflict between Putin and Lavrov denied

The Kremlin denies that there is a schism between Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, after reports spread in recent days that Lavrov has fallen out of favor with the president. This is reported by Reuters.

The independent Moscow Times wrote that this was because the conversation between Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not result in a new Russian-American summit.

- I will give you an honest answer: there is no truth in the reports, says Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

European security policy
EU tightens visa rules for Russian citizens

The European Commission has tightened visa rules for Russian citizens who want to travel to the EU, The Guardian reports.

The new rules include a halt to multiple-entry visas, meaning Russian citizens must apply for a new visa before each trip to the EU.

“The aim is to reduce threats to public order and internal security,” the Commission wrote in a statement.

Exceptions can be made in limited and justified cases, for example for independent journalists and human rights defenders.

Situation in North Korea
Japan: North Korea may have fired a ballistic missile

North Korea has fired what may be a ballistic missile, South Korea and Japan say.

The missile is likely to have landed somewhere in the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. According to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, there are no reports of any damage.

North Korea fired several short-range missiles last month.