U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
Australia Progresses AUKUS Review as U.S. Affirms Strong Support 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has officially disbanded the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, a panel established in 1951 to advise on policies affecting women in the military. The committee historically focused on recruitment, retention, integration, well-being, and treatment of women serving in the armed forces. Over the decades, it submitted more than 1,100 recommendations to Pentagon leadership, with nearly 94% fully or partially implemented, shaping significant policy changes for female service members.
Hegseth, however, argued that the committee had shifted toward what he described as a “divisive feminist agenda” that undermined military combat readiness. A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed his decision, stating that the defense secretary’s current priorities center on “uniform, sex-neutral standards” across all branches of the Department of Defense rather than gender-specific initiatives. The move effectively ends the work of one of the oldest advisory bodies in the U.S. military.
The disbandment follows a series of actions by Hegseth targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs since assuming his post. Earlier, he canceled a congressionally mandated initiative, signed into law in 2017 by then-President Donald Trump, which aimed to expand the participation of women in national security leadership roles. He has also ended Pentagon recognition of identity month commemorations, including Black History Month, and overseen the removal of several books—such as Maya Angelou’s memoir—from the Naval Academy curriculum.
Critics argue that eliminating the committee reverses decades of progress in supporting women in uniform and risks sidelining issues that directly impact military readiness, such as retention and treatment of female personnel. At the same time, U.S. media organizations have expressed concern about new Pentagon rules restricting coverage of military affairs, raising broader questions about transparency and free speech under Hegseth’s leadership.
