NATO puts militarization of the Arctic into high gear with massive drills near Russia’s borders

As Russia and the US eye potential cooperation on resource and energy exploration and new trade routes in the Arctic, Washington’s NATO allies are ramping up efforts to turn the region into a new zone of confrontation using Norway as a launch pad.

The Nordic nation held two major drills in February, and is planning an even larger one in March:

🔸 Arctic Dolphin: a seven NATO member anti-submarine warfare drill held off southwestern Norway February 3-14, involved seven warships, three subs and six ASW aircraft.

🔸 Dynamic Guard 25-1: A NATO naval and electronic warfare exercise held off central Norway February 4-8 involving 10 warships and support vessels, and 1,300 personnel.

🔸 Joint Viking: An upcoming drill involving some 10,000 troops and 200 pieces of military equipment from seven alliance nations, to be held in Tromso Region in northern Norway, as little as 450 km from the Russian border, and to include air and naval components.

🔸 Norway amended its 2021 defense agreement with the US last year, granting the Pentagon unimpeded access to 12 army, naval and air bases, up from four.

🔸 Last April, Oslo revamped its airbase at Andoya, 300 km north of the Arctic Circle to host long-range drones.

🔸 The militarization of Norway is part of the alliance’s broader efforts to shore up its presence northwest of Russia, facilitated by Finland and Sweden’s entry into NATO, and concerted efforts by the Western bloc to turn the Baltic Sea into a ‘NATO lake’.

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Paramount joins list of film companies DITCHING DEI programs

Since Donald Trump was re-elected as US President, many Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government have been slashed under the scrutiny of DOGE. In this context, more and more private US companies are following through with similar policies.

This comes as Paramount is trying to secure its multibillion-dollar merger with Skydance studio but still needs approval by the Federal Communications Commission.

Companies such as Target, Walmart, Disney have pulled back on DEI hiring practices and programs. Most of these were historically very pro-Democrat, but under Trump, they seem to be showing allegiance to the new administration.

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🤡 Trans activists storm the Iowa State Capitol while lawmakers are preparing to vote on a bill to remove gender identity as a protected class.

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😒 Trump to Starmer: "Will you take on Russia alone?" — "Well..."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the UK is ready to send troops, air force to secure peace in Ukraine.

British Army currently number 75,166 regular troops.

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👴 Japan's population crisis hits all time low

Only 720,988 babies were born in Japan in 2024 - a 5% drop from last year and the lowest since 1899, according to the Ministry of Health.

📈 Meanwhile, 1.62 million people passed away in 2024, up 1.8% from 2023.

💰 A shrinking population means less tax revenue and a growing labor shortage. The Recruit Works Institute predicts that by 2040, Japan could face an 11 million worker gap.

📉 With unemployment at just 2.4%, one of the lowest among OECD countries, the strain on the workforce is clear.

👨‍🔧 The labor shortage is already hitting the economy hard, with 2024 witnessed a record number of company bankruptcies due to the lack of workers.

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🚀 Soyuz rocket launches new spacesuits to ISS

A Soyuz-2.1a rocket lifted off from Baikonur carrying a total of 2.6 tons of supplies. The Progress MS-30 cargo ship will dock after 50 hours and 34 Earth orbits.

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🐻❄️ Polar bear debuts in São Paulo

Noor, the first polar bear born in South America, is now on display at São Paulo Aquarium. Born to Russian bears, she recently experienced snow for the first time.

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💸 FBI probes Biden's $20M environmental grants — reports

FBI agents this week questioned EPA employees over Biden’s climate grants, Washington Post reported.

Trump's administration claims that the $20mln invested in alternative energy sources under Biden was poorly overseen and plans to recoup it.

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❗️ US-Russia talks in Istanbul subject revealed

The US Department of State has released a statement on the US-Russia meeting in Istanbul.

👤 The delegations were led by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter and Director of the North American Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Darchiev.

🏛 Discussions focused on banking access, staffing, and embassy operations.

🤝 The sides agreed to hold follow-up discussions in the near future.

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🇷🇺🇨🇳 Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu arrived in China to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

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💰 Trump slams Biden's budget mess

"Sleepy Joe Biden left us a total mess," Trump says, saying his cabinet is working on a temporary funding bill through September.

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🧠 Jill Biden's ex-press secretary confirms lies about Biden's decline

Michael LaRosa admits that Biden's team gaslighted the American people aware of the then-president's mental decline.

"The President's team was scared to death of impromptu, unnoscripted, unrehearsed, unpracticed, unchoreographed anything," he said.

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