Israeli forces captured the strategic, Crusader-era Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon and pushed north of the Litani River -- their deepest incursion in 26 years -- with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it a 'dramatic shift' in the campaign against Hezbollah. The military issued sweeping evacuation orders for areas south of the Zahrani River and said troops would remain at the fortress, as Lebanon's death toll since early March reached 3,371. France condemned the expansion as a 'major fault' and requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio was reported set to unveil a new Israel-Lebanon ceasefire on Tuesday.

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son said the Japanese group will invest 75 billion euros ($87.5 billion) in artificial-intelligence infrastructure in France, the largest such commitment in Europe, including 45 billion euros on data centres in Hauts-de-France by 2031. Built with Schneider Electric -- whose chief Olivier Blum called it the largest project ever undertaken in the sector in France -- the plan starts with sites at Dunkirk, Cambrai and Amiens and aims to lift French data-centre capacity from about 1.5 GW toward 5 GW. Son cited France's status as an energy exporter and Macron's personal commitment, landing as the president opens an investment conference at Versailles on Monday.

The French interior ministry has been developing an AI assistant called Astrée since 2023 to process mass litigation, primarily immigration cases. Deployed experimentally in some prefectures since late 2025, it is expected to be generalized by 2027. Critics warn of algorithmic bias, lack of transparency on costs, and that it will reinforce stereotyped administrative responses rather than address root causes of litigation.

The French Air and Space Force is advancing its collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) program, HypAIRion, using modified Mirage 2000D jets as testbeds for AI algorithms. The project aims to develop reusable, stealthy drones to accompany manned fighters like the Rafale F5, saturating enemy defenses. The Mirage 2000D's open-architecture computer allows rapid software updates, unlike the proprietary systems of the Rafale F4. Initial CCA deliveries are expected by 2028, with the Rafale F5 entering service around 2030.

The French Defense Innovation Agency (AID) revealed details of the 'Planche Motorisée Submersible' (PMS), a submersible motorized board developed by Major Benjamin of FORFUSCO. Designed to reduce operator physical strain and enable rapid extraction, the PMS enhances stealth infiltration capabilities for naval commandos. The project is part of broader French efforts to modernize underwater delivery systems, including the PSM3G and SDV Coryphene.