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Russia’s Advance Is Slowing: Russia’s offensive in eastern Ukraine is moving more slowly than at any point in more than a year, according to a new assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The news comes as Moscow continues to suffer enormous personnel losses on the battlefield and continued economic disruption caused by Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign.

New data published by the Washington-based ISW this week suggests that Russia’s territorial gains have collapsed in the first half of 2026, despite numerous offensives across the front in Donetsk.

The French Rafale fighter program on July 4, 2026, marked 40 years since the first flight of its first technology demonstrator in 1986, with the program having since evolved into by far the most successful in Europe in the post-Vietnam War era. The French Air Force began defining requirements for the fighter in 1983, just three years before its first flight, although major development delays meant that it would be 18 years before the aircraft could be belatedly brought into service in 2001.

Chinese state media has for the first time unveiled images of the terminal stage of its DF-26D intermediate range ballistic missile, after the missile was first unveiled in October 2025 to modernise the People’s Liberation Army’s land attack and anti-shipping capabilities against targets in the mid-Pacific and beyond.

A recent report to the U.S. Congress by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has confirmed that preliminary design work on the DDG(X) next generation destroyer program was initiated in June 2025, and that the program is also conducting land-based test site construction activities and procurement of long-lead time materials. This follows confirmation in mid-June that the U.S.

U.S. officials are increasingly viewing advanced artificial intelligence (AI) as a strategic technology comparable in importance and destructive potential to nuclear weapons, particularly because of its potential to transform cyber warfare and intelligence operations. These concerns were recently highlighted by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who noted that advanced AI-powered cyber capabilities could be considered “digital nuclear weapons.” He stated that AI would dramatically increase the stakes in strategic competition with U.S.

Footage released by the state run Korean Central News Agency has shown the Korean People’s Army Navy’s new Choe Hyon class destroyer, the Kang Kon, launching the largest salvo of cruise missiles ever seen in a peacetime exercises, with consecutive launches of 12 missiles from its vertical launch system. The launches were conducted as part of the most comprehensive known naval weapons trial in the history of the North Korean surface fleet, which included an evaluation of the ship’s broader combat systems.

The Egyptian Armed Forces have for the first time publicly displayed the 9A83ME Transporter Erector Launcher and Radar from the S-300VM long-range surface-to-air missile system, drawing attention to one of the country’s most significant defence procurements made in decades. The launcher was unveiled during the official inauguration of Egypt’s new Strategic Command Headquarters, commonly known as the Octagon.

Putin Is Under Pressure At Home: Ukraine’s long-range strikes against Russia continued overnight, with drones and missiles hitting more energy infrastructure. This time, an oil terminal near St. Petersburg was hit, igniting a major fire and causing explosions that were recorded and shared online. Additional attacks hit power infrastructure in the Belgorod region and military facilities supporting the war effort. It’s just the latest round of attacks in an ongoing Ukrainian barrage that is forcing Moscow to rethink how it fights this war.

Public Domain

250 years ago, today, July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. Written by Thomas Jefferson, the proclamation officially severed our political ties to England and asserted our status as an independent nation. It was the shot across the bow by thirteen colonies against the most powerful nation in the world.
250 years ago, the British Navy ruled the seven seas with more than 270 vessels, including a hundred heavily armed warships called “ships of the line” the Aegis guided missiles Cruisers of the day.

According to reports, America has warned the government of NATO-member Poland that Russia is planning an armed “provocation” against the Central European nation in order to test the alliance’s solidarity and the members’ willingness to fulfill their Article 5 obligations of the transatlantic charter.

The exact scenario is unclear, but the most plausible is that Polish critical infrastructure could be targeted by Russian missiles and drones.