Andrii Yermak, Head of the President’s Office, has asserted that President Zelenskyy is not involved in any corruption schemes within the energy sector, emphasizing Zelenskyy’s role in initiating the fight against corruption in Ukraine. Yermak highlighted that Zelenskyy must remain above suspicion, as he has supported independent investigations. However, Yermak also suggested that certain political entities may be leveraging anti-corruption investigations to undermine Ukraine’s leadership. Furthermore, he noted the importance of awaiting court decisions and investigation results before drawing any conclusions regarding those under investigation in the recent energy sector corruption case, which includes associates of the President.
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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky recently showcased the “Long Neptune” cruise missile, a variant of the original R-360 Neptune, which boasts a range of up to 1,000 kilometers and is being actively used in combat against Russia. This domestically produced missile allows Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory, a strategic move aimed at pressuring the Kremlin and targeting critical assets like oil facilities. Simultaneously, Ukraine is also ramping up the production of its new “Flamingo” cruise missile, which has an estimated range of 3,000 kilometers, to further enhance its long-range strike capabilities. These developments come amid ongoing conflict, with recent overnight strikes by Russia targeting Kyiv and other regions, resulting in casualties and prompting responses from both sides.
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The US military has launched Operation Southern Spear, targeting “narco-terrorists” in Latin America, as announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This operation comes amid a significant build-up of US military presence in the region and follows the 20th reported US attack on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in four fatalities with no survivors. The US claims these attacks are focused on disrupting drug trafficking, despite a lack of evidence or legal justification. This increased military activity, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R Ford, is widely perceived as a move to pressure Venezuela, with both Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his defense minister condemning the US actions as threats to regional sovereignty.
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Canadian travel to the US has been declining for ten consecutive months, with air and car travel significantly dropping compared to last year. This trend reflects a broader response to US policies and trade actions, particularly tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The US Travel Association notes a 3.2% decrease in international spending, largely due to fewer Canadian visitors who previously represented a significant portion of international tourism. Despite some efforts by US destinations to attract Canadians, the relationship remains strained, and the boycott appears to be continuing.
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Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, announced the allocation of almost 6 billion euros to Ukraine during a speech on November 13th. This funding comes under the ERA loan and the Ukraine Facility, supporting Ukraine’s financial needs for the next two years. The EU is exploring multiple options for sustained financial support, including raising funds in capital markets, an intergovernmental agreement, and a reparations loan based on immobilized Russian assets. This strategy aims to ensure long-term support for Ukraine’s defense and economy, sending a clear message to Russia.
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The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has reported thwarting a series of planned terrorist attacks in Kyiv allegedly orchestrated by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). These attacks were intended to destabilize the capital and included plans for explosions in public spaces and assassinations of prominent Ukrainians. The SBU identified a resident of Crimea, recruited by the FSB, as the organizer of the operation, who traveled to Kyiv to recruit individuals and carry out targeted killings. The alleged recruiter has been charged with high treason, terrorism, and illegal handling of weapons but remains at large in Russian-occupied territory.
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The Trump administration has implemented new guidelines for visa officers, instructing them to consider certain chronic health conditions when reviewing applications. These conditions include obesity, along with other serious ailments such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. The new policy allows visa officers to deny applications from individuals deemed likely to become a public charge due to their health. This directive underscores the administration’s focus on the financial burden immigrants may place on the US healthcare system.
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The UK government, led by Keir Starmer, has announced that three small modular reactors (SMRs) will be built in north Wales by British manufacturer Rolls-Royce SMR, with an investment of £2.5 billion. This decision has sparked criticism from the US, who hoped a US manufacturer would be chosen, particularly Westinghouse Electric Company, which recently signed a large deal. The government’s decision to utilize a British company to produce homegrown clean power has also been met with some criticism from labor unions, but the project is viewed as a positive move by the Nuclear Industry Association. This project at Wylfa, which previously housed a nuclear power plant, is a part of the government’s plan to embrace nuclear energy and provide the opportunity for a large new export industry in SMRs.
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Astronomers, utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), believe they may have discovered Population III stars, some of the universe’s earliest stars, within the distant cluster LAP1-B. These stars, theorized to have formed shortly after the Big Bang, were observed thanks to gravitational lensing, where the foreground cluster MACS J0416 magnified and distorted the light from LAP1-B. The observed spectra and other characteristics of these stars align with predictions for Population III stars, suggesting the stars formed in a low-metallicity environment and had unique initial mass functions. This discovery provides insights into the early stages of galaxy formation and evolution.
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John Q. Hosedrinker