UK defence secretary resigns over military spending

The UK's Defence Secretary, John Healy, has resigned in a dramatic political crisis, accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Treasury of failing to deliver the funding needed to maintain national security. In a scathing resignation letter, Healy warned that without adequate investment, military readiness would decline and troops would face increased risk—calling the situation a direct threat to national safety. This resignation comes amid a broader political downturn for Starmer’s Labour government, including poor local election results and controversy over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington. The crisis underscores a deep rift between defence ambitions and fiscal reality, as the UK’s Strategic Defence Review had previously highlighted decades of underinvestment leaving the armed forces weakened. Meanwhile, tensions escalate in the Middle East as Iran declares a US ceasefire meaningless after a second round of airstrikes, with President Trump vowing further retaliation. Despite diplomatic efforts by Qatar and Pakistan, analysts remain skeptical about a breakthrough, citing ongoing conflicts like Israel’s war in Lebanon as key obstacles. In a separate story, Pope Leo visits the Canary Islands to meet migrants who survived perilous Atlantic crossings, urging global leaders to create safe migration pathways and condemning indifference to human suffering.