Moldova’s pro-EU party ahead in polls overshadowed by Russian meddling claims

"Wars in Ukraine & the Middle East show that irregular warfare is not a relic of the past, but a defining feature of contemporary conflict—one that democratic states must be institutionally & operationally prepared to confront." Read more: www.csis.org/analysis/cha...

China’s nuclear stockpile is doubling fast. 2019: ~300 warheads 2025: 600 warheads 2035 (projected): 1,500 warheads Rapid growth is pushing China closer to parity with the U.S. and Russia—and reshaping global nuclear balance. Learn more: www.csis.org/analysis/chi...

Multiple comms cables cut in Red Sea, starting 05:45Z today, acc to Microsoft. I count 17 cables along and numerous across Red Sea. The combination of unknown cables, position and heavy spoofing will make it hard to id a potential ship culprit. @garygnutter.bsky.social might try anyway =)

There was no GPS-jamming of president von der Leyen's aircraft as she approached Plovdiv, Bulgaria this Sunday. Bulgarian authorities made a 180° today and denies any signs of interference. www.politico.eu/article/bulg...

Could China win a war today? That’s still unknown—the PLA hasn’t fought in 40+ years. But one thing is clear: Xi is serious, the military is rapidly modernizing, and the PLA is set to make major leaps in the years ahead. www.csis.org/analysis/chi...

Allegedly a Russian submarine on Sunday "threatened" carrier USS Gerald Ford operating with allies of north Norway. Info seem to come from SUN, so sprinkle with salt but it is clear there has been heavy anti submarine aircraft activity in area last days. www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/mass...

Today’s win sends a powerful message that the Voting Rights Act is still a vital safeguard against racial discrimination in our democracy.

Our analysis maps out in detail the deep investments by UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and Kuwait across six sectors (Infrastructure, Energy, Mining, Ports, Agriculture, and Security) in 12 East African countries.

Elections in Latin America could see a shift to the right, increasing the likelihood that other countries might follow Argentina in delivering painful fiscal reforms. Read @davidlubin.bsky.social's latest for @chathamhouse.org⤵️

"DELVIKA" - false flagged Malawi 🇲🇼🏴‍☠️ Passing under the Great Belt Bridge, loaded with Crude in Ust-Luga. Embarrassed to have lost track of how many false flagged ships we have failed to stop, after @lars-loekke.bsky.social gathered the European leaders to agree to do so. sketchy.boats/9402471

Again, russia has struck a Kharkiv medical clinic. As a result of the explosion, 12 people were injured, including a 12-year-old girl. 1 person was killed. Patients are still trapped under the rubble. Help protect Ukrainians from russia’s terror: u24.gov.ua/sky-sentinel...

🚨 BREAKING: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet Donald Trump on Sunday to discuss trade, as the US president described the prospect of a deal with the EU as "50-50." Full story: www.politico.eu/article/ursu...

🇷🇺 Russia has moved additional electronic warfare equipment within 20km of its border with 🇪🇪 Estonia, acc to Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro. „The systems … are designed to jam communications, disrupt radar systems, and assert control over the electromagnetic spectrum.“

Von der Leyen to meet Trump on Sunday as 30% tariff deadline looms

"The Trump administration’s AI Action Plan is bold, but without foreign policy benchmarks, the United States risks strategic missteps in the very domains it seeks to lead," warns the CSIS Futures Lab. Read more: www.csis.org/analysis/ai-...

"China is more directly providing [Shahed] components to Russia,” @katstepanenko.bsky.social told @theguardian.com. "Integration of Chinese components, where before there was supply from Iran, means the manufacturers now have a lot more available parts,” she said. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

* REUTERS POLL -- NEARLY 90% ECONOMISTS, 89 OF 100, SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF OFFICIAL U.S. ECONOMIC DATA, INCLUDING 41 SAYING VERY CONCERNED @reuters.com

🔒 ‘The #KensingtonTreaty is a huge step – given the strategic threat from 🇷🇺 – to offer European leadership within #NATO to protect free and open nations,’ argues Rob Rider CBE, Rheinmetall #BritainsWorld #BigAsk

China’s regime agnostic diplomacy in Africa—investing in countries irrespective of a government’s adherence to the rule of law—holds inherent risks for Chinese investments and regional stability. africacenter.org/spo...

NEW: Russia will likely implement new policies to augment its military administrative capacity to significantly expand the rate at which Russia can call up a larger volume of conscripts and reservists. (1/8) Read the full update: isw.pub/UkrWar072425

Hackers breached Norwegian dam’s control system for hours buff.ly/J95OCeH

Asking for America, here: is knowingly destroying evidence of war crimes aiding and abetting war crimes? Maybe a question Donald Trump and Elon Musk would like to think about also.

The number of autocracies (91) has just surpassed democracies (88) on this list for the first time in two decades, and nearly three-quarters of humans now live in an autocracy. US could be next, says head of democracy research project. www.cbc.ca/news/world/t...

Several US national security agencies have halted work on a coordinated effort to counter Russian sabotage, disinformation, cyberattacks, easing pressure on Moscow as the Trump Administration pushes Russia to end its war in Ukraine. www.reuters.com/world/us-sus...

Asked what impeachable offenses a judge who ruled against Trump has committed, Jim Jordan reveals he’s got absolutely nothing

The suspension of U.S. assistance for Ukraine is a very unfortunate and significant development, but it may not have immediate impact. Ukraine is far less dependent on the U.S. for day to day battlefield needs in 2025, than it was in earlier periods of the war. 1/

Macron, with Trump scowling next to him, says "the aggressor is Russia"

Macron corrects Trump after he claims "Europe is loaning the money to Ukraine. They get their money back."

Trump's press conference today included remarks on the Middle East. • Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ULZ... • Transcript: www.rev.com/transcripts/... Main Syria section below. There was also some on Iran, Israel, etc.

The poor integration and ongoing communication problems between Russian and North Korean forces will likely continue to cause friction in Russian military operations in Kursk Oblast in the near term.

So you want to be make a difference? Our new series featuring young diplomats, starting with a Brazilian www.passblue.com/2024/12/12/y...

#UN spox: About 1,800 staff remain in #Syria, w/a small proportion international "We continue to work": @stephdujarric.bsky.social

Relatedly, I think Lebanon & Israel-Iran friction was probably a far more important factor than Ukraine, since Hezbollah was Iran’s most agile, quickly deployable force. Also, because the initial, decisive collapse in Aleppo seems to have been in part a result of HTS speed-eating IRGC-led militias.

US program of work for #UN Security Council in December; last presidency for Biden-appointed envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield

“This way Georgia is dragged into Russia’s orbit & there is a feeling of now or never,” a Tbilisi university professor tells me. Our report for BBC News on a fifth night of protests in the Georgian capital. Camera: Anton Chicherov Producer: @bentavener.bsky.social Thanks to @annagvarish.bsky.social

Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Chasiv Yar, and Russian forces recently advanced near Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and Kurakhove. Fighting continued in the main Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast but neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces made confirmed advances. 🧵(1/4) Map: isw.pub/InteractiveU...

Stay strong #Georgian friends! 🇬🇪 #Georgia #Tbilisi #protest

Feuerwerk hält die Schläger des Regimes fern. Ihnen wird ganz warm ums Herz ♨️ #Georgien #Georgia #Tiflis #Tbilisi #GeorgienProteste #GeorgiaProtests 🇪🇺🇬🇪🇪🇺

This is a really shitty nomination. Google "Matt Whitaker toilet" for more.