Afghan security forces, backed by US advisers and air strikes, have reportedly regained control of the city of Ghazni, where hundreds were killed or wounded during a Taliban attack. During four days of fighting US Special Forces units helped coordinate air strikes and ground operations and the US military said it launched two dozen air strikes. Diplomats in Kabul said the government had admitted to being taken by surprise by the attack.

Britain will remain a “tier-one” military power, UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said on a visit to Washington, and the UK and US would continue to be “reliable partners for the long term”. This comes after Prime Minster Theresa May refused to confirm that the UK would remain a tier-one military power and reported clashes in government over future defence spending levels.

The UK MoD has partnered with TechVets, a non-profit helping veterans get jobs in the cybersecurity and technology sector, in a bid to increase the numbers of veterans with cyber and tech skills. TechVets will work with the MOD’s Career Transition Partnership, which provides service leavers with training and education opportunities whilst transitioning out of the armed forces.

Chemring’s shares plunged 20% after an employee died and another was injured in an accident at its site near Salisbury in the UK last week. The company said its annual underlying profits could be £10m to 20m lower than expected after it stopped production at the site, with a “corresponding impact on the group’s operating cash flow and net debt”.

Italian shipyard Fincantieri has bought Italian technology firm Vitrociset ahead of its planned merger with France’s Naval Group. Fincantieri is taking over Vitrociset’s defence work while its partner Mer Mec will control the company’s civil work. This gives Fincantiery control of Vitrociset’s aerospace work, including ground support work on the F-35. The move has caused speculation that Fincantieri is trying to bulk up ahead of its deal with Naval Group.