Washington Post reporter Tara Copp saves the name plaques from various news organizations as she and members of the media pack up their belongings in the press area in the Pentagon

Pentagon bars journalists from its press office

The Defence Department said the space has become "classified".

Tue, Jun 2

Cars sit in traffic on a highway as residents flee following an Israeli threat to strike Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon.

Trump says Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to dial back fighting

Trump announced the development in a social media post following a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Tue, Jun 2

2:54

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukraine hits Russian energy sites, denies striking occupied nuclear plant

Kyiv has stepped up its attacks on Russia's oil and gas facilities, arguing the energy sector funds and directly fuels Moscow's more than four-year invasion.

Mon, Jun 1

Beaufort Castle as seen from northern Israel.

Israel captures castle in deepest incursion into Lebanon in 25 years

The taking of Beaufort castle marked a major Israeli advance in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

Mon, Jun 1

New Zealand Defence Minister Chris Penk speaks during the 23rd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue at the Shangri-La Hotel on May 30, 2026 in Singapore.

Discussion on NZ's anti-nuclear stance could be 'helpful' - Penk

The Defence Minister's comment came as a response to a question at a security forum in Singapore about Australia buying nuclear-propelled submarines.

Sun, May 31

Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi delivers a speech during the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's annual defence and security forum, in Singapore, Sunday, May 31, 2026.

US allies call for global unity to meet new threats

The comments at the Shangri-La conference came the day after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth again chided Western European allies at the forum for not devoting enough resources to defence.

Sun, May 31

An Emirati patrol boat, left, is near a tanker anchored in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from a coastal road near Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Friday, May 1, 2026.

US says it disabled ship trying to breach blockade and reach Iran

With the latest action, the US military has stopped six ships trying to breach its blockade of Iranian ports.

Sun, May 31

The video shows a small vessel floating in the ocean before it's hit and engulfed in a fireball.

US strike on alleged drug boat kills three in eastern Pacific

The US military said it carried out another strike today on a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing three men in the third attack this week.

Sat, May 30

This photo released by Romania's Department for Emergency Situations shows a fire on top of a block of flats after a drone crash caused an explosion and fire on impact

Russian drone targeting Ukraine hits Romanian apartment, injuring two

Officials said the drone was tracked overnight by radar in Romanian airspace, before it crashed onto the roof of the building in the Danube port city of Galati.

Sat, May 30

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelensky presses US for more missiles to counter Russian strikes

Zelensky said he hasn't received a reply to requests he made for more Patriot missiles.

Fri, May 29

Pope Leo XIV attends the presentation of his first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas.

Pope calls for robust regulation of AI in manifesto

Leo said the technology had helped accelerate the "normalisation of war" by desensitising people to its cost.

Tue, May 26

Rescue workers try to put out a fire at a residential building after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine.

Russia uses hypersonic Oreshnik missile in mass attack on Kyiv

At least two people were killed and more than 80 wounded in the mass strike on the Ukrainian capital.

Mon, May 25

The symbol of the United Nations.

UN conference on nuclear non-proliferation fails to reach agreement

The non-agreement comes after a four-week conference, held while US and Iran continue to spar over Iran's nuclear programme.

Sat, May 23

Defence Minister Chris Penk.

Budget 2026: Defence boost of $1.6b for ageing fleet, new drones

Chris Penk said the investment will go towards "drone systems, critical ship maintenance and work to replace our ageing naval fleet".

Sat, May 23

NZDF and Ukraine troops in the UK in 2022.

NZDF personnel to train Ukrainian troops in Poland

The New Zealand Defence Force has joined a multi-national initiative led by Norway to train the troops.

Thu, May 21

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te.

Taiwan defends US arms purchases that Trump called 'bargaining chip'

"Taiwan will not provoke or escalate conflict, but it will also not relinquish its national sovereignty and dignity, or its democratic and free way of life, under pressure," President Lai said in his statement.

Mon, May 18

A house on fire after a Ukrainian attack in Khimki, just outside Moscow, Russia.

Ukraine conducts large-scale drone strikes on Russia, killing 4

A dozen others were wounded in one of Ukraine's largest strikes on Russia.

Mon, May 18

Strombom said the ceramic poppies pictured had been "deliberately and systematically" removed.

Hundreds of ceramic poppies stolen from Auckland veterans' graves

A veterans charity says someone has "systematically" stripped commemorative poppies from multiple graves in cemeteries across Auckland.

Sat, May 16

A panel of military personnel acquitted the accused officer.

Navy officer not guilty of threatening to kill Afghan interpreter

A navy officer accused of threatening an interpreter in Afghanistan has been found not guilty at a court martial.

Fri, May 15

Rescue workers clear the rubble of a house heavily damaged after a Russian strike on a residential neighborhood in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Russia flattens Kyiv apartments, killing 9 on third day of strikes

Dozens of people were injured as Russia launched a third consecutive day of massive drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.

Fri, May 15

Australian Defence Force paratrooper and sniper Lachlan Muddle. (Source: Australian Defence Force)

Experienced Australian paratrooper dies in mid-air collision

Warrant Officer Lachlan Muddle, 50, hit a fellow soldier a few hundred feet above the ground at Jervis Bay Airfield, NSW's south coast, on Monday evening

Tue, May 12

Two Israeli soldiers operate in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

Israeli troops jailed for desecration of Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon

A photo of a soldier, a cigarette dangling from his own mouth and that of the statue, went viral and sparked widespread outrage.

Tue, May 12

Members of the New Zealand Defence Force (file image).

Veteran wins appeal for brain cancer to be treated as service-related

New Zealand army veteran Bob Pearce was deployed to Iraq in 2017 where potentially carcinogenic burn pits were ablaze 24/7.

Mon, May 11

A rocket lifting off from Rocket Lab's Mahia Peninsula facility in 2019.

Record quarter for Rocket Lab, hopes to join Trump's 'Golden Dome'

The New Zealand-founded company was well placed to benefit from the Trump administration's planned "Golden Dome", according to its chief executive Sir Peter Beck.

Fri, May 8

A cloud of smoke pictured over Long Bay Beach this morning.

Cause of 'deep boom' heard near Auckland's Long Bay beach revealed

One resident said she heard an explosion before a dark smoke cloud was pictured in the air above the beach shortly after 9.15am.

Wed, May 6