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Terrorist Attack in Crocus City Hall Russia is in morning after a terrible attack by armed gunmen leave more than 130 people dead and 140 injured in Moscow's Crocus City Hall. Russian civilians were stunned to witness a terror assault on innocent people on a random evening; so was the world. The question being asked instantly by the international community was who is responsible for this terror attack - a very reasonable question in this period of high world tensions. A group which many had not heard from in some time has returned and is at the center of the worlds attention - ISIS. Crocus City Hall after the Attack With the gunmen behind this act of terror being caught they are currently under Russian Federal custody and being interrogated. Many nations on the international stage condemned this terror attack including Ukraine who released a statement emphasizing that they were not behind the attempt and accusing Russia for using the event as a false flag operation to escalate the war. Russia's Response President Putin released a statement emphasizing some key points. Speeches very often have hidden meanings and can show the intention behind them. In this case Putin signaled and mentioned the below: - Theme of vengeances: "Rightfully and inevitable punished." Russia aims to use unleash its full power on the attackers. He is making it very clear that Russia will not be tread on and will punish those responsible harshly signaling strength. - Theme of Conspiracy: "Whoever they are and whoever directed them" - "We will identify... everyone who stood behind the terrorists." Here President Putin is trying to imply that there is a deeper enemy behind this attack and that these terrorists where not acting alone. That they were supposedly ordered by someone. He does not mention ISIS yet even though they official took responsibility suggesting it either does not fit his narrative or he simply does not believe it was them. - Theme of patriotism: "Attack against Russia, Against Our People." Very often in national emergencies and times of mourning state leaders need to act as a beacon to the people and use such situations to rally national unity and use them to also boost their popularity. Similar to President Bush's speech after the horrific attack 9/11, President Putin is trying to establish this as an attack on all of Russians and the country itself to create a feeling of unity amongst the people and bring them together through this attack. Furthermore, Putin claimed in his public address that they caught 11 perpetrators fleeing to Ukraine. This very likely will lead to an increase between the two nations since President Putin has made it very clear throughout the war that an attack on Russia soil or any form of attack hurting Russian civilians will be punished to a great extent. President Putin's Public Address after the Attack Overall, in a time with such high tensions this attack this attack could have two purposes, unify the West and East - morally at least - in condemnation against this atrocious attack or further increase tensions with Russia drawing links between the attackers and Ukraine.

Riad Salameh was the governor of the Lebanese central bank from 1993 to 2023, suspected of money laundering, forgery, embezzlement as well as other financial crimes. In late February 2024, German prosecutors in a Munich court added to the now 6 European countries investigating Riad and his brother Raja, as well as a Lebanese inquiry probe. Allegedly stealing hundreds of millions of American dollars from the central bank of Lebanon, the brothers used the money to facilitate money laundering overseas at the expense of the Lebanese administration. A portion of the money was invested in real estate, notably in Germany, and was sent to Europe through a letterbox company based in the British Virgin Islands. Three commercial properties in Munich and Hamburg, valued at approximately 28 million euros ($30.3 million), were seized in an investigation involving associate authorities from France and Luxembourg, according to the prosecutor's office. Furthermore, shares in a real estate business based in Dusseldorf were seized, worth around 7 million euros, or $7.5 million. Salameh was the subject of a red notice from Interpol and a warrant for arrest from the French authorities last year. Beginning his position in 1993 as a beacon of hope towards recovery for the Lebanese people after a 15 year civil war, he has left his occupation as a wanted man in Europe, and in Lebanon is widely believed to be the cause of the economic catastrophe that hit the nation in the middle of 2019. He was viewed by many financial experts as the mastermind behind the fragile economic system that fell apart after decades of widespread corruption and poor leadership from Lebanon's major parties, which was not helped by the country's supply of dollars rapidly fading. As hard cash was drained at the banks, the crisis crushed the Lebanese pound and decimated many people's savings. Salameh, for his part, has consistently refuted the accusations made against him and maintained that his inheritance of homes and assets, as well as his prior position at Merrill Lynch as an investment banker, are the sources of his fortune.

The controversial –previously charged with crimes- cabinet and the contentious bill abolishing the anti-graft prosecutor. On October 25 2023, as no single party or alliance reached the 76 seats needed for a majority, a coalition government of Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, and SNS was formed. A new government with Robert Fico as prime minister, with a coalition of three parties ranging from the left to the far right was sworn in by the president Zuzana Caputova. Fico returned to power and took over as prime minister for the fourth time after being forced from office in 2018  by mass protests following the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová. Under the next government, courts convicted over 40 people connected to the Fico coalition, mostly for abuse of office and corruption, including judges, senior police and intelligence officers, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and public servants. Fico’s newly nominated cabinet features politicians who had previously been legally prosecuted including Fico himself, suggesting another policy agenda to the ruling coalition. The agenda of protecting key allies and/or accomplices from legal jeopardy. More specifically, per reports by politico.com “such politicians include Fico himself, former Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák, who now has the defense portfolio and Deputy Justice Minister Pavol Gašpar.. Cases against all three men were later dropped. But Pavol Gašpar’s father, Smer MP Tibor Gašpar, remains indicted as the alleged head of a criminal group that operated within the police — as is central bank governor Peter Kažimir, a former finance minister appointed by Smer.” “Smer is not a social democratic party — it’s not a political party at all. It was established in 1999 as a business project by oligarchs together with Robert Fico, and the only reason was to strengthen the position of those oligarchs. And, let’s make a long story short, to rob the country blind” claimed Michal Vašečka, a political scientist from Bratislava Policy Institute. Other controversial figures in Fico’s cabinet incorporate Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová and Deputy Environment Minister Filip Kuffa. Šimkovičova, long time TV presenter was fired in 2015 for mocking refugees and disparaging homosexuality and now works for TV Slovan; a well known for peddling conspiracy theories and disinformation television channel. As for Kuffa, the 36-year-old, along with his (MP) father was charged with the criminal offence of making dangerous threats to a neighboring farmer. In addition, as substitute to the Environment ministry, he proposed culling protected species like bears and reducing the protection of national parks. Internationally, Slovakia’s new government raises concerns as to the potentiality of a liability to the unity of NATO and the EU. Fico, during his campaign pledged to put a stop to Slovak military aid to Ukraine claiming that “the war in Ukraine is not our (Slovakia’s) problem”. Indeed, Slovakia “hasn’t sent another bullet to Ukraine” halting military support to Kyiv and making a dramatic shift from the strongly pro-Ukraine stance. Moreover, Fico campaigned heavily on pledges to make Slovakia’s foreign policy independent of EU partners and the U.S., and get tough on keeping out migrants seeking to make it to western Europe. Another dramatic turnaround in the country’s foreign policy that could strain a fragile unity in the European Union and NATO, setting a different course than Slovakia’s previous pro-Western one. Despite the party’s claims of representing the Slovak people and the nation's traditional values, only 23% of the electorate voted for Smer, with the people’s discontentment already coming to be apparent through protests all across the country. Demonstrations have recently soared with the passing of the anti-graft bill. The Anti-Graft law The Fico administration has ignited a firestorm of controversy with its recent legislative manoeuvres. In a move that has sparked widespread condemnation both domestically and internationally, lawmakers voted to pass an amendment to the country's criminal code, significantly altering penalties for various offenses and effectively dismantling key anti-corruption measures. The amendment, which passed with the support of 78 members in the 150-seat Parliament, introduces alarming changes to the penal code. Among the most contentious provisions is the reduction in penalties for corruption-related crimes. For instance, accepting or demanding a bribe exceeding €700,000 will now carry a maximum sentence of 5-10 years, down from the previous 10-15 years. Equally concerning is the drastic reduction in the statute of limitations for major offenses, including rape. Under the new law, victims of rape will have only 10 years to secure a verdict, compared to the previous 20-year window. This change raises serious concerns about justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators of heinous crimes. However, perhaps the most alarming aspect of the legislative package is the decision to abolish the office of the special prosecutor, which plays a crucial role in tackling corruption and major crimes such as organized crime and extremism. Instead, these critical cases will be entrusted to prosecutors in regional offices, despite their lack of experience in handling such complex matters. The move to dismantle the anti-graft prosecutor's office has been met with vehement opposition from both within Slovakia and beyond its borders. Thousands of Slovaks have taken to the streets in protest, with demonstrations spreading from the capital, Bratislava, to more than 30 cities and towns across the country. International observers have also expressed alarm at the erosion of anti-corruption measures in Slovakia, warning that it could have far-reaching implications for the rule of law and democratic governance. Considering the accusations against members of the Slovakian government in the past, the introduction and passing of this bill is interpreted by many as an absence of progress or repentance and as a potential threat to the country’s rule of law and democracy.

Ever since Trump’s presidency, there has been an on-and-off trade war between the United States and China. It all started in 2018 with new American trade tariffs on goods related to green technology like solar panels and electric vehicles. Under Trump, the trade war continued to ramp up with steel and aluminum tariffs Initiated, all with the end goal of preventing China from stealing American technology With the election of Joe Biden, some hoped for a renewed focus on restoring relations with China and ending the trade war. However, under President Biden, there has been no end to Trump-era tariffs and the Democrat administration has put forth new actions to punish and prevent China from continuing what they saw as intellectual property theft. In October 2022, a new list of sanctions came out to block Chinese tech companies like Huawei, and also blocking the sale of powerful chips made by companies like NVIDIA to China. This has been the most recent step taken by the United States government to put a limit on the availability of cutting-edge semiconductors in China. This is done with the fear of Chinese artificial intelligence development, rising Chinese tensions in the South China Sea, and Chinese threats to the largest cutting-edge semiconductors of them all, Taiwan. Even as more restrictions come in the way of technology sales, China is still one of the biggest marketplaces on the planet. NVIDIA quickly began working on workarounds with a less powerful chip, made specifically for the Chinese market. The less powerful chip allowed NVIDIA to keep its large market share in China even as the trite regulations came into effect. Publicly, AMD did not announce anything related to a weaker chip for China, so the recent news of AMD being blocked by the Commerce Department to be sold to China was the first way the new chip made its way into the public eye. Even though AMD made a far weaker chip, U.S. officials still told AMD that the chip was too powerful to be sold in China, and the company must obtain a green light from the Commerce Department. Even though the news of an AMD chip being made to be sold in the Chinese market was good news for many, AMD shares still fell 3% in the pre-market as the sale was still blocked by the Commerce Department. It is clear to many that now, AMD is gearing up to be a real competitor against NVIDIA in the AI chip market. Right before this, in December, AMD launched a new MI300 to compete with processors from NVIDIA in the West. As the Chinese-tailored chip is still facing roadblocks it is unsure how long it would take for AMD to secure a license from the Commerce Department and begin selling chips in China once more, but when the time comes it will be a new chapter in the AMD vs NVIDIA chip war and a footnote in the China-U.S. trade war.

To no surprise, multiple changes in the economic, political, social, and cultural landscape have occurred since Joe Biden's presidency. These changes, despite being implemented contradicting many of his 2020 promises, have caused a surge in extremism on both sides. Of all of Joe Biden’s failures—false claims of autonomy, failure to provide care for homelessness, circumvention of promises, and frivolously spending abroad while penny-pinching at home—the most interesting is the sudden influx of illegal immigrants. Just a year after Biden was elected, he proposed a bill to offer legal status to an estimated 11 million people in the country. Additionally, keep in mind that this bill was requested to be legislated with over 10 million immigrants entering the United States under his presidency. Furthermore, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), they had encountered over 8.5 million illegal immigrants from fiscal 2021 through November. Despite Biden’s request for legislating citizenship for illegal immigrants, a more substantial and alarming report was released. This report outlined how ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) had underreported the number of illegal immigrants released from custody who aren’t on electronic monitors by more than 18,000%. This was done for multiple reasons: Influence on Electoral Outcomes: By significantly underreporting these numbers, ICE aims to discreetly enhance the number of people who might vote for their side of the spectrum.  Allowing more undocumented immigrants the opportunity to vote could sway election results in their favour. Public Perception Management: ICE aims to manage public opinion by minimizing the perceived scale of undocumented immigrants released without monitoring. A smaller reported figure could mitigate potential backlash or controversy surrounding their policies and practices, particularly from those concerned about immigration control. Legislative and Policy Manipulation: By controlling the narrative around immigration numbers, ICE aims to influence policy debates and legislative outcomes. This manipulation allows them to further their agenda under the guise of seemingly less impactful figures. Empowering a Specific Voting Bloc: ICE believes that undocumented immigrants will predominantly support their political goals, and increasing their voting power discreetly could be seen as beneficial. This tactic would aim to create a loyal voting bloc without attracting widespread attention to the scale of their actions. Recent news on Immigration: Recently, we have now discovered that Joe Biden has secretly flown 320,000 illegal immigrants from Latin American airports to 43 U.S. cities. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection office is refusing to identify which airports they are being shipped to. “The program at the center of the FOIA litigation is perhaps the most enigmatic and least-known of the Biden administration’s uses of the CBP One cellphone scheduling app, even though it is responsible for almost invisibly importing by air 320,000 aliens with no legal right to enter the United States since it got underway in late 2022,” said journalist Todd Bensman. “Under these legally dubious parole programs, aliens who cannot legally enter the country use the CBP One app (mobile application that serves as a single portal to a variety of Customs and border protection services) to apply for travel authorization and temporary humanitarian release from those airports. The parole program allows for two-year periods of legal status during which adults are eligible for work authorization.” This directly implies that the Biden administration no longer feels the need to protect its borders in general and that all the state troops who pledged they were given orders to leave the borders unprotected were being truthful. Furthermore, since August, it was officially concluded, using the information provided by the CBP and ICE, that there are more illegals arriving each month than there are children being born to American mothers. This revelation not only challenges the narrative of national security but starkly contrasts with the administration's public statements on immigration enforcement. It lays bare a significant shift in policy, executed away from the public eye, that fundamentally alters the country's approach to its borders. With a rising number of arrivals now surpassing the birth rates of American citizens, it's evident that the impact of these actions extends far beyond the immediate political and social landscape, hinting at a profound and potentially lasting transformation of the American demographic fabric. https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-legislation-immigration-barack-obama-5274d5912b062989cc4f2856f3741cd6 https://thehill.com/opinion/4423296-matthews-illegal-immigrants-double-under-biden-and-thats-just-the-start/ https://dailycaller.com/2022/12/01/biden-ice-border-immigration-reporting/

Macron in a press conference suggested that a NATO Intervention was not out of the question. This comment was perceived as provocative by the Russian Federation who interpreted Macron's statement as a threat. The European leaders however had a very different opinion from President Macron. Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that no such thing would happen and he was followed by the leaders of Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the Czech Republic. Macron Speaking at a Conference in Support of Ukraine This response by the European Leadership and also the Secretary of NATO however has raised questions about the unity of the collective West and its determination in supporting Ukraine. With Biden facing opposition at home in sending aid to Ukraine by the ever growing MAGA movement unity is not just a multilateral issue but a domestic one. All around Europe pro-Russian candidates like Marine Le Pen's National Rally Alice Weide's AfD in polling right behind the incumbent parties, the future of the West as an anti-Russian alliance is questionable. In Hungary Viktor Orban continues to stand against Ukraine while frequently criticizing even the current level of intervention in Ukraine. Overall, the future French and German elections could determine the future of not just NATO but the West as a whole with new leadership being a catalyst of change for the status quo concerning the unified Western alliance against Russia. In regards to Macron's statement, in classic Putin fashion the Russian President began his response by stating history, more specifically mocking leaders like Napoleon who tried to conquer Russia which ultimately led to their downfall. Putin Speaking at the Federal Assembly "We remember the fate of those who once sent their contingents to the territory of our country. But now the consequences for possible interventionists will be much more tragic. They should, after all, understand that we also have weapons — and they know about it, just now I said — there are also weapons that can hit targets on their territory. And that everything they come up with now scares the whole world, that all this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons — and therefore the destruction of civilization. Don't they understand that?"

On February 19, a Houthi attack in the Bab el-Mandeb strait damaged the 32,200-dwt, 1997-built vessel, putting it in danger of sinking and prompting the crew to escape. Houthis have stated for the vessel to be retrieved, assistance should be sent to Palestinian territory of Gaza as the fuel-leaking vessel is sinking at the stern carrying 22,000 tonnes of fertiliser that were headed for Morocco, which cannot be contained if the situation gets worse. In Hodeidah, the Houthis had also shot down an American drone. The US military's Central Command reported that the event resulted in a 29-kilometre oil slick and serious damage to the ship. The Rubymar, registered to a UK-based owner and flying the Belizean flag, is dangerously taking on water and is dramatically lopsided. The ship is currently in the region of the Hanish Islands, Additionally, the owner intends to tow the ship to western Saudi Arabia after the hull break is repaired, according to a statement made to Reuters by the chartering broker of the ship, Blue Fleet Group of Lebanon. The Iran-backed group's leader, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, has explicitly stated that a salvage operation will only be permitted if humanitarian aid is delivered to Gaza. The US Central Command claims: "US aircraft and a coalition warship shot down five Houthi one-way attack (OWA) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the Red Sea" The US Navy and coalition warships in the vicinity, as well as commercial vessels, were immediately threatened by these UAVs, which they identified as coming from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The partly submerged Rubymar vessel

"Make no mistake - Putin is responsible for his death. Putin is responsible". Asserted POTUS Putin's most prominent opposition leader, Alexey Navalny, has been imprisoned since 2021 in a maximum security prison in the far north part of the Russian Arctic Circle. According to the statement made by the prison, "Navalny felt unwell after a walk almost immediately losing consciousness. An ambulance team was called, resuscitation measures were carried out, and ambulance doctors stated the death", "The causes of death are being established". Navalny's Chief of Staff responded to the statement by saying it amounted to a confession by the Russian authorities without, however, confirming the claim. But who was Alexey Navalny? He made a name for himself as an anti-corruption campaigner who was big on social media, attempting mainly on YouTube and X- to investigate and uncover cases of corruption by President Putin. A noteworthy example is one of his most popular videos of an investigation into a billion-dollar palace he said belonged to Putin. Navalny got into politics and led massive anti-government street protests. “There is just one goal. To make Russia a normal, rich country where citizens profit, in some way, from the richness of their country, that’s why we are fighting this regime,” said Navalny in 2017”. He ran for mayor of Moscow in 2013 and, in 2016, announced he was running for the 2018 presidential election. However, he was banned from doing so because of what his supporters said were politically-motivated criminal charges. In 2020 Navalny was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok, falling sick during a flight from Tomsk to Moscow, and spending months recovering in Germany. They tried to kill me, and I survived, he claimed on video in 2021, blaming the Kremlin, which denied the allegations. On his return to Russia he was immediately arrested and had been imprisoned ever since. President Biden claimed he was “prisoned for fabricated crimes” In the TV documentary “Navalny”, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature of 2023, Navalny firmly accuses the Kremlin of his poisoning and leaves a message to the viewer for the case of a successful attempt on his life. He explicitly says: If they decided to kill me, don't give up. if they do it, it means we are incredibly strong and calls for supporters to utilize that power against Putin and the government. However, on a more controversial aspect, Navalny was not seen by everyone as the person the TV documentary tries to depict. The freedom fighter who aspired to save the Russian people from oppression and tyranny was openly in alliance with far-right, imperialist Russian beliefs. When Russia attacked Georgia in 2008 he publicly supported the invasion. He has claimed that Ukrainians are the same nation as Russians, promoted the view of Russian domination and the idea of Crimea remaining under Russian control as well as criticized the 1954 transfer of Crimea to Ukraine in the first place. He is also known for his history of racist and xenophobic comments, including using an ethnic slur against Ukrainians and making derogatory statements about other peoples, like Georgians, calling them “rodents.” It is most apparent that Navalny was prominently anti-Putin and sought change in Russia but being anti Putin does not negate Navalny’s imperialist and chauvinist views. “Was Navalny anti-Putin? Yes. Was he wrongfully imprisoned by the Kremlin for this? Absolutely. Is he anti-war? He says so. But does he reject the colonial approach and idea of Russian superiority/dominance over other nations? Definitely not. And this is something to keep in mind”, tweeted journalist Ostar Yarysh.

The history of Christians in Palestine is deeply intertwined with the region's rich religious and cultural scene. Dating back to antiquity, Christianity flourished in the Holy Land following the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Early Christian communities established themselves in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and other biblical sites, becoming integral parts of the diverse population of the region. Throughout the centuries, Christians in Palestine endured periods of prosperity and persecution, influenced by shifts in political power and religious dynamics. During the Byzantine era, Christianity became the dominant religion in Palestine, with churches and monasteries dotting the landscape. However, the Arab-Muslim conquest in the 7th century brought significant changes to the region, ushering in a new era of Islamic rule. Despite these shifts, Christians continued to practice their faith, contributing to the cultural and intellectual life of Palestine. Over time, the community faced challenges such as Crusader conquests, Ottoman rule, and modern tensions involving Israel. Today, Palestinian Christians represent a minority within the broader Palestinian population, facing ongoing challenges related to religious freedom, political conflict, and socioeconomic marginalisation. Despite these obstacles, they continue to maintain their religious traditions and cultural heritage, contributing to the vibrant mosaic of identity in Palestine. Christians in East Jerusalem today form a small but resilient community within the diverse fabric of the city. Amidst the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the challenges of living in a divided city, East Jerusalem's Christians strive to preserve their religious heritage and cultural identity. Despite facing socioeconomic disparities and occasional tensions with neighboring Jewish settler communities, East Jerusalem's Christians play an essential role in dialogue and promoting peaceful coexistence in deeply contested Jerusalem. As for the current situation between Israel and Hamas, the world’s third oldest church is located in Gaza City. The Greek orthodox church of St. Porphyrius was serving as a shelter for the displaced, with all religions welcome and it has been for all previous occasions of conflict with Israel. This church has been bombed two separate times since October 2023. The bombings and raids of churches, mosques and hospitals by the IDF are concerning as people in Gaza are asking where it is actually safe to take shelter. The damage to St Porphyrius in Gaza City, Gaza.

New threats from China to the U.S. have emerged concerning the recent space race between the two countries. The Chinese space program has more than doubled in advancements in the last five years. The U.S. is starting to develop new technology in hopes of countering the new Chinese advancements. The United Launch Alliance's factory in Alabama has been working on defenses against Chinese technology such as new satellites that are capable of using a robotic arm to grab onto American satellites and throw them out of the set orbit. This would mean that China could disable crucial American communications satellites. Americans fear that the Chinese government will gain intelligence from the American satellites that are actively in orbit. China is now taking the lead in this Chinese-American space race, not only in space, but in the sky above us as well. China has developed and put spy balloons and hypersonic missiles into use. According to Dean Shang, China is militarily almost equivalent to the U.S. and could “give us a real good run for our money” in a conflict. Another advancement made by the Chinese is the use of cyber attacks to be able to remotely control American spacecrafts and satellites. This could be used to program satellites to go out of orbit and make them crash into the Earth, costing the U.S. billions of dollars. Another way the Chinese can use these cyber attacks is to delay American missile defense systems and cause them to not send a report when a missile from China is launched. This could be devastating to the Americans and allow the Chinese to be able to launch a large attack without the Americans even knowing. U.S. officials have already stated that China can do all of these things and also be able to launch their own refueler into space, meaning that they will be able to keep their satellites in space for longer than they have previously. Officials believe that the U.S. could still be months away from reaching this technology that the Chinese are currently using. The most concerning part for the Americans is that China launched a hypersonic missile with the capability of orbiting the globe multiple times, then suddenly falling to Earth before the large majority of missile defense systems can identify it and respond. The U.S. is still studying these technologies and trying to figure out how they can replicate it for themselves, as this is still a recent advancement for China. The U.S. believes that lasers are the best option to counter China’s new technology due to the fact that it would be impossible for them to be able to “outmaneuver” a laser that is traveling at the speed of light. Some are speculating that China’s space program and military program are linked together in this space race, and that China plans to use these anti-satellite weapons and other weapons to take control over the orbit around Earth. Some go as far to believe that China plans to use “space nukes” as means to take over space. In November, a 721 page report was released by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a congressional advisory body, concluded that China’s lasting attempts to create a space-based nuclear weapon “has the potential to threaten the U.S. homeland with a new global strike capability.” (It’s largely believed that Beijing has been designing a vehicle for a weapon like this for multiple years.) In response to this, the U.S. has been hoping to develop a nuclear powered rocket, but as of now, there has been no clear indicators on whether they have even attempted it yet or not.

DJI, a prominent player in the drone industry,  and has recently introduced its latest product, the FlyCart 30 cargo transporter to the global market and  claims that it marks the beginning of a new era in dynamic aerial delivery. However, its significant influence might extend beyond civilian applications, potentially serving as a formidable heavy drone for military purposes, such as bombing, gunship operations, minelaying, and logistical support—despite DJI's attempts to discourage the military utilisation of their products. DJI, headquartered in Shenzhen, China  and holds a dominant position in the global consumer drone market since it  claims over 70%  of the market share. Their Mavic series, which is globally celebrated for its compact foldable design, is especially renowned for capturing steady aerial videos and expansive shots, easily fitting into cargo pockets. Beyond recreational use, Mavic drones have become essential tools in the Ukrainian conflict, serving as an  effective tool in   battlefield scouts utilized by both sides for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering to identify concealed targets from far away distances. Small drones are versatile enough to greatly improve artillery efficiency ,with their precision targeting improving artillery performance by five to ten times. Drones now play a crucial and major role in guiding artillery ranging from 155mm howitzers to 30mm automatic grenade launchers, enabling tanks to achieve indirect-fire kills from previously inaccessible distances. Furthermore, small drones have been repurposed as bombers, equipped with 3D printed bombing rigs to carry one or two grenades, typically Russian VOG-17 or American M433 "Golden eggs." These modified quadcopters target foxholes, trenches, or exploit hatches to eliminate abandoned vehicles. Despite DJI's unequivocal disapproval of the military use of their drones and the company's sales ban in Ukraine and Russia since April 2022, the demand for their products persists. The term 'Mavik' has become a generic descriptor for any small drone in Ukraine, similar to how 'Hoover' and 'Fridge' are used for specific types of products. In October 2023, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal claimed that his country had procured 60% of the Mavic drones produced, a statement promptly refuted by DJI. While this figure appears improbable given DJI's extensive production scale, it underscores the significant role these drones play in the Ukrainian context, with their impact measured in the hundreds of thousands rather than millions.

In the 2023/2024 crop year, the European Union estimated a yield of 1.5 million tons of olive oil, 9% above the historic low of the previous season (1.384 million tons)—an estimation suggesting that the supply shortage of olive oil will be overcome in the following year. During 2023, many of the major olive-oil producing nations in the European Union followed challenging harvests, including: Spain, Italy, Greece, and others. Olive oil production in Greece has a long history, dating back thousands of years. It is a central part of the Greek and Mediterranean diet, accounting for 9% of total agricultural production value in Greece and contributing 0.4% to the nation's GDP. Although the predictions for the European Union's olive oil production look optimistic, Greece's expected olive oil yield is set to drop by a staggering 20% in the 2023/2024 crop year. Specifically, in the Halkidiki region of Greece, the crop shortage in 2023 exceeded 90% due to the lack of flowering of the olive trees. Climate change has led to late winters and warmer temperatures, therefore delaying and even reducing total crop yields in the country. Furthermore, a recent study also predicted a further increase in the average temperature in the local temperature, and less rain, something bound to affect the quality and yield of fruit. In mid-November, temperatures in Polygyros, Halkidiki were still over 15 degrees Celsius. The loss of revenue and the overall economic impact on farmers has been significant, an estimated loss of 200 million from just the Halkidiki region alone. This change is not only affecting growers, but also producers. In the last year, olive oil processing and production also saw a decrease at least 60%. Additionally, the incidents of olive oil shelf from olive groves and warehouses saw an increase in reports, adding to the challenges faced by all stages of production. This can be attributed to the increase in price due to the supply shock, the price of olive oil in Greek supermarkets having rose by an average of 29% in 2023 compared to the previous year, extra virgin olive oil retailing at an average of around 15 euros per kilogram. Additionally, producer prices saw an extreme price increase, mainly happening in the summer, where there was a price soar from around 3.5 euros per kilo to around 8-8.5 euros per kilo. Despite this, Greek olive oil exports were still on the rise. As seen in the figure above, Greece had a rise from 2021-22 to 2022-23, however, the predicted numbers for the 2023/2024 do not look to be optimistic. Although Greece finally managed to surpass Italy in olive oil production, it is set to lose this lead within the next crop year. The European Union produces around 67% of the olive oil in the world, Greece being the country with the highest per capita consumption with the European Union. An issue with this investigation into olive oil prices is the fact that there are many Greek people consuming unregulated olive oil, many people still buying olive oil from friends and family with their own olive farms.