US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday conveyed to Asia the same message he has emphasized to European allies, portraying the relationship in transactional terms while avoiding the region’s most significant military flashpoint.

The big question hanging over this year's Shangri-La ​Dialogue, Asia's premier defence forum, is: "Where is China?"

The Pentagon reported on Tuesday that the war with Iran has cost nearly $29 billion, as President Donald Trump comes under increasing scrutiny over the conflict and its effects on U.S. military readiness.

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back will travel to the United States despite apparent disagreements between the two countries on several alliance matters, including the proposed transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul.

Thursday marked 60 days since the start of Trump’s failed war in Iran. The US Constitution (Article I, Section 8) gives Congress the power “To declare War,” and the War Powers Resolution of 1973 — enacted over Nixon’s veto — mandates that troops be withdrawn within 60 days unless Congress extends the deadline or declares war.

The administration of Donald Trump has thrown its support behind legislation that could significantly change how benefits are paid to thousands of disabled veterans, potentially paving the way for long-awaited financial reforms.

While the unexpected incident has understandably taken the spotlight, people online have also focused on a less consequential detail of the evening: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's wife, Jennifer Rauchet, and her outfit choice for the event.

Russia proposed taking possession of Iran's highly enriched uranium as a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict, but Washington turned the offer down, - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

A top Iranian military commander has sharply rebuked American threats to bomb the Islamic Republic “back to the Stone Age,” warning US leaders that they are only “digging graves” for their own troops.