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Military & Defense
ASTS Stock Eyes Third Straight Weekly Gain As ‘Golden Dome’ Defense Buzz Gains Ground

ASTS stock continues to garner attention as it heads for a possible third consecutive weekly gain. At the center of the buzz is the Trump Administration’s “Golden Dome,” an initiative designed to shield against incoming projectiles.

Defense Spending Trends

Modern Weaponry

 ASTS Stock Eyes Third Straight Weekly Gain As ‘Golden Dome’ Defense Buzz Gains Ground
‘We can hunt’: Greenlanders weigh drastic options as US threatens

Greenlanders are grappling with the specter of a potential invasion by the United States. As families plan for the worst, one resident’s vow to “hunt” highlights a community’s determination to protect its way of life.

Global Conflicts

 ‘We can hunt’: Greenlanders weigh drastic options as US threatens
Kurdish forces retreat as government troops advance across northern Syria | CNN

Syrian government troops have advanced east of Aleppo, breaching territory once held by Kurdish SDF fighters. The retreat follows widespread clashes earlier this month, signaling a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict.

Global Conflicts

 Kurdish forces retreat as government troops advance across northern Syria | CNN
US Ratchets Up Criticism of South Africa After BRICS War Games

The United States has heightened its criticism of South Africa following a round of naval exercises with China and other BRICS members. Officials view these drills as part of shifting alliances in international politics, drawing attention to South Africa’s growing strategic connections.

Global Conflicts

 US Ratchets Up Criticism of South Africa After BRICS War Games
Biden’s State of the Union 2022 message: Unity against Russia

President Biden’s 2022 State of the Union underscored solidarity among Western allies responding to Russia’s aggression. By highlighting sanctions, Biden showcased the power of a unified front in deterring potential threats and preserving global stability.

Global Conflicts

 Biden’s State of the Union 2022 message: Unity against Russia
What Americans think about Trump’s military intervention abroad, according to a new AP-NORC poll

A new AP-NORC poll shows that most Americans believe President Donald Trump’s military interventions abroad have exceeded reasonable limits. In fact, 56% of those surveyed say the president has gone too far in using the U.S. military.

Global Conflicts

 What Americans think about Trump’s military intervention abroad, according to a new AP-NORC poll
How Chevron played the long game for Venezuela’s oil reserves

After the removal of President Nicolás Maduro, the fate of the world’s largest oil reserves has drawn intense scrutiny. Chevron, the lone major U.S. company in Venezuela, has used lobbying and political connections to stay in the game, eyeing a bigger global footprint despite a deeply uncertain environment.

Global Conflicts

 How Chevron played the long game for Venezuela’s oil reserves
Maduro’s capture: two hours that shook the world

In a lightning-fast operation, the capture of Nicolás Maduro unfolded in just two hours—an event evoking memories of the 1989 U.S. assault on Panama. Widely described as the fastest regime change in history, this moment may have lasting repercussions far beyond the region.

Global Conflicts

 Maduro’s capture: two hours that shook the world
Russia uses new ballistic missile in major attack on Ukraine

Russia launched a large-scale assault on Ukraine’s capital, deploying hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles overnight. Officials say the attack killed at least four people and marked only the second time a new ballistic missile has been used in the nearly four-year war.

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Modern Weaponry

 Russia uses new ballistic missile in major attack on Ukraine
Philip Martell: The significance of Greenland

Though Greenland may appear remote, its location places it firmly on the front lines of America’s homeland defense. According to the commentary, how the United States approaches this icy expanse will shape our security environment for years to come.

Global Conflicts

Letter: A danger to the working class

The call to protest Washington’s so-called invasion of Venezuela rings loud in a new letter. It warns that the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro, along with President Trump’s own statements, poses a grave danger to working-class interests worldwide.

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 Letter: A danger to the working class
Donald Trump’s Venezuela coup seems to be deja vu all over again

A new commentary likens Donald Trump’s approach to Venezuela to previous conflicts the United States has entered, so-called “forever wars.” Drawing on historical parallels, the author cautions that Trump’s ultimate goals in Venezuela may never be fully realized.

Global Conflicts

 Donald Trump’s Venezuela coup seems to be deja vu all over again
Max Hastings: How to save the US from authoritarianism

Russia’s recent stance against classical art and free speech paints a worrying picture of how power can be used to suppress dissent. Max Hastings urges the United States to heed this example and safeguard its own democratic future.

Global Conflicts

 Max Hastings: How to save the US from authoritarianism
U.S. seizes oil tanker, raising tensions with Russia

The United States’ recent seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker has intensified its confrontation with Russia. Officials indicate this move signals a continued partial blockade on Venezuelan oil resources, especially in light of the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

Global Conflicts

 U.S. seizes oil tanker, raising tensions with Russia
Trump’s proposed battleship is a budget-busting folly that will probably never sail

Donald Trump’s proposal for a battleship bearing his name has been dubbed a “budget-busting folly” by critics. Many question the feasibility of what some have called a “costly white elephant” that could remain forever docked.

Defense Spending Trends

Modern Weaponry

TOP STORIES: $8B missile defense, few new Marines, housing woes as buildup continues

Guam’s $8 billion missile defense project arrives amid housing concerns and a smaller-than-expected Marine presence. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to Andersen Air Force Base highlights both the island’s growing strategic role and the challenges that come with a military buildup.

Defense Spending Trends

Global Conflicts

 TOP STORIES: $8B missile defense, few new Marines, housing woes as buildup continues
Families, Neighbors Informed on Each Other in Assad’s Syria, With Deadly Consequences

Newly uncovered intelligence files from a Damascus prison reveal how Syrians under President Bashar al-Assad’s rule sometimes turned on their own families and neighbors. These betrayals, including a wife’s covert recording of her husband, often led to dire consequences.

Global Conflicts

Gaza’s New Normal

Ongoing clashes in Gaza highlight the reality that sustained conflict often outlasts peace agreements. This piece explores why the region’s future seems guided by unstable truces rather than lasting solutions.

Global Conflicts

 Gaza’s New Normal
Next-gen air dominance and surprise new Air Force leadership: 2025 review

From groundbreaking next-generation aircraft designs to the sudden arrival of new Air Force leadership, 2025 has reshaped the landscape of air warfare. The LGM-35A Sentinel missile and other cutting-edge programs have taken center stage, while key figures like Gen. David Allvin and Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach have helped steer the service in surprising directions.

Modern Weaponry

 Next-gen air dominance and surprise new Air Force leadership: 2025 review
The US Air Force Once Blew Up a Satellite—Just to Prove It Could

In 1985, the U.S. Air Force carried out a historic test, proving that a satellite could be destroyed in orbit by a missile. This marked the first time in history that an orbital target was successfully hit, foreshadowing future advancements in anti-satellite capabilities.

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Modern Weaponry

 The US Air Force Once Blew Up a Satellite—Just to Prove It Could
Carl P. Leubsdorf: Trump’s year — More lows than highs – Sun, 21 Dec 2025 PST

President Donald Trump has faced a challenging year with more setbacks than successes. Despite his success in negotiating an end to the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza, tensions continue, and a permanent peace deal remains elusive.

Global Conflicts

 Carl P. Leubsdorf: Trump’s year — More lows than highs – Sun, 21 Dec 2025 PST
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