For generations, U.S. presidents‘ first ladies have had the opportunity to make significant contributions to American society. Abigail Adams advocated for women’s rights, while Eleanor Roosevelt championed civil rights. Betty Ford and Rosalynn Carter brought attention to substance abuse and mental health awareness. Hillary Clinton worked on health care reform, and Michelle Obama led health…

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the continued deployment of American forces in Syria is necessary to block the Islamic State (ISIS) from resurging and destabilizing the region. Speaking at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Wednesday, Jan. 8, Austin stressed the role of approximately 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria, particularly in overseeing detention camps…

Lebanon’s Parliament broke more than two years of gridlock on Thursday, Jan. 9, to elect a new president. It’s a crucial move to bring the country closer to stability as it recovers from economic collapse and a war between Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah and Israel within its borders. Lawmakers elected U.S.-backed Gen. Joseph Aoun, who…

An alleged high-ranking leader of Japan’s Yakuza crime syndicate has pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to trafficking weapons-grade nuclear material, believing it was destined for Iran’s nuclear program. The case sheds light on a sprawling international smuggling operation involving drugs, weapons and radioactive materials. Takeshi Ebisawa, 60, entered his plea Wednesday, Jan. 8,…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s approval ratings have dropped to 52% as of December 2024, down from 90% in March 2022, according to a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology published on Jan. 7. The survey indicates that trust in Zelenskyy has fallen to 39%, reflecting a decline in popularity amid ongoing military challenges…

Ukraine’s Magura V5 unmanned surface vessels (USVs), nicknamed ‘Sea Babies,’ are pound-for-pound some of the deadliest craft on the water. Just ask Russia’s Black Sea fleet. Those Sea Babies just learned a couple of new skills. Straight Arrow news previously reported on how Ukraine is using Magura V5s as portable launching platforms for aerial drones.…

The Biden administration is preparing what could be one of its final major weapons packages for Ukraine. This comes as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin heads to Germany this week for a critical meeting with international allies. Austin is expected to announce the aid during the 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein…

In a wide-ranging press conference from Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump touched on a bunch of topics, including a $20 billion foreign investment to build data centers in the U.S. He also discussed plans to revoke Biden’s recent ban on offshore oil and natural gas drilling as well as expansion strategies for the United States.…

Three massive wildfires are burning out of control in Southern California, putting thousands of homes at risk. And President-elect Donald Trump shares his plans to acquire Greenland, the Panama Canal and bring Canada as the 51st state. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Southern California wildfires force thousands to evacuate…

This week on Weapons and Warfare, host Ryan Robertson talked to an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officer about the events of Oct. 7, 2023. Maj. Govrin shares his personal experiences from that morning, the challenges faced by the IDF, and the devastating impact on soldiers and civilians. This conversation offers critical lessons from this pivotal…