Pentagon chief Jim Mattis arrived in Singapore on Friday ahead of a key defence summit where longstanding US allies will look for clear messages about America’s regional security goals under President Donald Trump. Mattis’s visit, his second to the region, is the latest in a string of appearances by top US officials who have scrambled … Read more
An Australian soldier has died during a training exercise in the Northern Territory. The man was taking part in a “routine” activity at the time, the Department of Defence said. It did not give details of the incident. The army has suspended all training exercises involving combat brigades while it reviews safety procedures, officials said. … Read more
Turkey on Wednesday slammed as “unacceptable” a US announcement that Washington would supply arms and military equipment to Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State jihadists in Syria. “The supply of arms to the YPG is unacceptable,” Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli told A Haber television. “Such a policy will benefit nobody”. “We expect that this mistake … Read more
US President-elect Donald Trump has said he wants to cut government costs by cancelling the order for new planes to carry the American president. Mr Trump tweeted: “Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!” The government has … Read more