AnewZ Morning Brief - 6 September, 2025

Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 6th of September, covering the latest developments you need to know.

1. Trump renames Pentagon the 'Department of War' in executive order

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday renaming the Department of Defence as the “Department of War,” reviving a title last used in the aftermath of World War Two. He said the move reflected a new “attitude” for the U.S. military. The Pentagon quickly changed signage at its Arlington headquarters, adjusting Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s title to “Secretary of War” and that of his deputy, Steve Feinberg, to “Deputy Secretary of War.” Hegseth, who has long pushed for the rebrand, said, “We’re going to go on the offense, not just on defense. Maximum lethality, not tepid legality.”

2. Trump says India and Russia 'lost' to China after Xi summit

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that India and Russia appear to have been “lost” to China after their leaders met with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, before later clarifying that Washington had not lost New Delhi. “Looks like we've lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” Trump wrote in a social media post, sharing a photo of the three leaders together at Xi’s summit in China. Later in the day, he told reporters he did not believe the U.S. had lost India.

3. Treasury Secretary Bessent calls for 'entire' review of Fed

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday called for a wide-ranging re-examination of the Federal Reserve’s role and authority, including its control over interest rate policy, as the Trump administration steps up its campaign to assert greater oversight over the central bank. The push reflects a growing effort by the White House to scrutinise an institution long considered independent from day-to-day politics, with its autonomy seen by many economists as essential to maintaining stability and credibility in U.S. financial markets.

4. Zelenskyy meets Slovakia's Fico, says Ukraine will respond to Russia's energy attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday (5 September) that Kyiv would continue targeting Russian energy infrastructure in response to repeated strikes on Ukraine’s own facilities, despite complaints from Slovakia and Hungary over disruptions to their oil supplies. His remarks followed his first high-level meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Uzhhorod, near the Slovak border. The two leaders have previously clashed over energy issues, with Slovakia and Hungary maintaining purchases of Russian oil and gas even as most EU states have reduced dependence since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

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