November
China’s defence minister under investigation for corruption
US officials say the probe is part of a wider operation to uncover graft in the People’s Liberation Army.
- Demetri Sevastopulo
Donald Trump taps loyalists for top national security and Mid-East posts
The president-elect this week picked a number of loyalists with hardline views who will shape US foreign policy decisions in his new administration.
- Felicia Schwartz, James Politi, Alex Rogers and Lauren Fedor
September
Putin’s propaganda queen admits covertly working to get Trump elected
While the Kremlin has denied US claims of meddling in the election, Margarita Simonyan proudly admits her work is at the behest of the Russian government.
- Robyn Dixon
US Navy Seal unit that killed bin Laden trains for Chinese invasion of Taiwan
Seal Team 6, which is tasked with some of the military’s most sensitive and difficult missions, has been planning and training for a Taiwan conflict for more than a year.
- Updated
- Demetri Sevastopulo
Iran ships ‘hundreds’ of missiles to Russia in ‘huge threat’
Delivery of weaponry to Moscow marks a “dramatic escalation” in the war against Ukraine, Kyiv and Western officials warn.
- Christopher Miller
Ukraine’s offensive has triggered doubts in Russian elite: spy chiefs
CIA director Bill Burns said Kursk was “a significant tactical achievement” that had boosted Ukrainian morale and exposed Russia’s weaknesses.
- John Paul Rathbone
UK, US spy chiefs call for ‘staying the course’ on Ukraine
In their first ever jointly authored article, the heads of the CIA and Britain’s intelligence service said resisting an assertive Russia was more vital than ever.
- Reuters
July
Critical players: The archenemies of Israel killed in two strikes
The abrupt assassinations of a shadowy Hezbollah leader and Hamas’ political chief have shaken the region.
- Mehul Srivastava, Andrew England and Raya Jalabi
June
US, Europe warn Hezbollah to back off from Israel war
Western powers and Arab mediators issued the warning after Iran and Israel traded threats of what Iran said would be an “obliterating” war over Hezbollah.
- Ellen Knickmeyer and Aamer Madhani
Russia starts ‘sham trial’ of US journalist on spying charges
A Wall Street Journal reporter appeared in a Russian court to stand trial in a secret proceeding on charges of espionage, amid US efforts to secure his release.
- Mark Trevelyan
Israel strike on UN Gaza school kills dozens: local officials
Israel’s military said it targeted a Hamas compound inside the school in the Gaza Strip, an attack local health officials said killed at least 30 people.
- Updated
- Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy
May
Dutton’s housing election; Nvidia bulls sell; Millennial set to retire
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
‘We don’t know the truth’, says senior CIA officer
Beth Sanner was Donald Trump’s daily intelligence briefer for two years. Few people know the boundaries between secrecy and democracy so well.
- Kevin Chinnery
AUKUS is ok with Trump, says Morrison
Donald Trump has indicated solid support for the AUKUS submarine deal, according to former prime minister Scott Morrison, who met with the former president at Trump Tower in New York on Wednesday AEST.
- Matthew Cranston
Halting the bombs: Biden’s gamble to rein in Netanyahu
The US president paused a weapons shipment to Israel, piling pressure on Israel’s leader to change course. Will it work?
- James Politi, Felicia Schwartz and Mehul Srivastava
- Analysis
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Benjamin Netanyahu’s dilemma: save the hostages or his government
In one of the biggest gambles of his career, Israel’s premier sent troops into Rafah to raise pressure on Hamas – and buy time.
- Neri Zilber, Mehul Srivastava and Andrew England
White House piles ceasefire pressure on Netanyahu as tanks roll into Rafah
White House national security spokesman John Kirby urged negotiators to come to an agreement after Israel launched a “limited” assault on Rafah, in the south of Gaza.
- Nataliya Vasilyeva, Tony Diver and Abbie Cheeseman
April
- Opinion
- National security
Pezzullo takes first step to redemption
The former Home Affairs secretary admitted his mistakes and accepted his disgrace, and knows he will not be working with the Commonwealth for some time.
- Tom Burton
- Exclusive
- Russia-Ukraine war
On the front line with Ukraine’s youngest commander
Kharkiv’s improbable resistance, led by General Sergei Melnik, faces growing threats from Russia and political stalemate in the US.
- Jack Wright
Havana Syndrome: Inside the mysterious attacks on CIA officers
New evidence points to unexplained health problems possibly caused by energy weapons wielded by Unit 29155 of the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence service.
- Roman Dobrokhotov, Christo Grozev and Michael Weiss