Skycutter’s tech is in demand, but with no homegrown orders in the pipeline it may be forced to follow the money to the US or the Gulf

Since he came to office, the defence secretary has removed 20 senior leaders from the US military. History suggests he should tread carefully

A strike on Cyprus highlights the emptiness of debate about whether to back the US’s new Middle East misadventure: we have neither the funds nor the firepower to do so

In response, Iran has been launching its Shahab-3 ballistic missile, including longer-range variants capable of striking Jerusalem

Military analysts are wargaming scenarios in which Russia turns its sights on Estonia as soon as 2028 – putting Nato’s Article 5 to the ultimate test. We look at how events could unfold

On Wednesday, the US seized a Russian-flagged tanker in the Atlantic on the grounds that it threatened the “security and stability of the Western Hemisphere”. Host: Casey Magloire Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Poppy Bullard

The seizure of the Marinera and threats to annex Greenland raise fresh doubts about the viability of an alliance that has secured Europe for 75 years

Russian threats and US antipathy are twin spectres for Europe

A bull run for defence firms looks to be over, before the cash-strapped governments’ rearmament rhetoric has translated into higher spending

This weekend, European leaders were scrambling to prevent US President Donald Trump from forcing Ukraine to sign a peace deal widely viewed as favourable to Russia.   Host: Casey Magloire  Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Matt Russell

A Russian spy ship has directed lasers at Royal Air Force pilots monitoring its movements near UK waters. What is President Vladimir Putin trying to achieve with this latest provocation? Scotland has qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998. Can this rare moment of sporting joy help unite the nation? Meanwhile, councils are weighing up the sale of youth and community centres. What consequences could these closures have for local communities?   Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer's Assistant Sports Editor, Jessica Hayden, Data and Graphics reporter, Becky Pinnington, and Contributing Editor on National Security, Bernard Gray, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.    Get your ticket for the News Meeting Live HERE    **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky    Host: Giles Whitell   Producer: Amalie Sortland   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore    To find out more about The Observer:   Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk  Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists  

Trump and Putin are daring each other to restart live nuclear weapons tests. It would be bad for both of them

Tests of the ‘storm petrel’ appear to be in response to latest sanctions

The UK’s new armaments director may have to learn to say no to expensive procurement programmes

In a speech this week, George Robertson echoed other analysts’ views that UK is in conflict with the Kremlin

On Wednesday, European leaders gathered in Copenhagen to confront a growing threat: Russian drone incursions in European airspace.    Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Rebecca Moore  

Pete Hegseth’s speech to 800 military officers may have seemed surreal, but was chilling in what it might mean for the future rules of warfare

Report calls for overhaul of how MoD awards contracts, at a time when tensions are rising in Europe

The spy show returns to our screens this week and, in the real world, the new C settles in