The imperial core is continuing the process of self-cannibalization as the interimperial wars between Europe and the US over resource and territorial control continue. Greenland, populated with less than a hundred thousand heavily exploited people, is the newest territory to fall under Trump's gaze. The main draw is the mineral resources present there, of which it boasts nickel, copper, cobalt, and platinum, and much more than remains unexplored under the ice. But the ice is melting, and profit must be made. There is an additional element of wanting Arctic territory to counter Chinese and especially Russian interests and aims; Russia is increasingly eyeing the northern Arctic route as an alternative to more vulnerable routes through the Suez Canal or around Africa, and is investing heavily in icebreakers for that purpose.
However, even if Europe possessed the desire to resist American annexations - and they absolutely do not, at the end of the day - they do not even have the ability. Denmark may, to a lesser or greater extent, make angry sounds and talk about national honour or some such, but their military would be trampled underfoot by even the New York Police Department, let alone a concerted military effort by the US. If Trump wants Greenland, he will have it. This will naturally increase the grumbling in Europe about reconsidering the Transatlantic alliance, and that grumbling may, in the medium-term future, as the American Empire continues its decline, lead to meaningful results. But in the short term, Europe shall have to bear whatever Trump throws at them, for they obviously cannot now ally with Russia, who was the natural counterweight to American interests for decades before 2022.
Defense Politics Asia's youtube channel and their map. Their youtube channel has substantially diminished in quality but the map is still useful. Moon of Alabama, which tends to have interesting analysis. Avoid the comment section. Understanding War and the Saker: reactionary sources that have occasional insights on the war. Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don't want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it's just the two of them if you want a little more analysis. Simplicius, who publishes on Substack. Like others, his political analysis should be soundly ignored, but his knowledge of weaponry and military strategy is generally quite good.
On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists' side.
Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.
Pro-Russian Telegram Channels:
Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.
https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR's former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR's forces. Russian language. https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one. https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts. https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster's telegram channel. https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator. https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps. https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language. https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language. https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a 'propaganda tax', if you don't believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses. https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.
A major agreement has been reported between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages.
According to American and Israeli media, the concluded agreement provides for a preliminary six-week stage , during which a ceasefire must be observed, a partial withdrawal of the Israeli army must be carried out, and an exchange of hostages must be carried out. The agreement provides for:
Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, partial withdrawal of the IDF and the return of local residents to the north of the region.
Gaza will receive 600 trucks with humanitarian aid .
Hamas will release 33 captured Israelis in stages.
Israel, in turn, will release 30 Palestinian prisoners for each kidnapped person and 50 for each female soldier.
These were the details reported on earlier, still think it's nonsense that, firstly, female Israeli soldiers are being released alongside children, civilian women and men over 50 and not alongside their fellow male soldiers and military aged males (18-50), and secondly, that this issue of female Israeli soldiers held up the ceasefire deal for so long, for over a month. Israel seriously managed to argue that their female soldiers should enjoy the same classification as civilian women just to delay the ceasefire for weeks. That's just malicious negotiation and delay tactics. At least the Palestinians are getting more of their people freed in exchange.
But I'm glad it's finally over. That's the most important part. The genocide will stop, at least for now.
Meh, it's a wedge in their coalition. If they openly treat their female soldiers as inferior it sows at least a little dissent in a force that needs to be cohesive.
It also shows that Israel value them as propaganda chess pieces (this time as the public face for a ceasefire agreement and a negotiation pawn, in the past for TikTok propaganda reels) over their combat ability. Israel clearly don't consider them to be proper soldiers! Their society is deeply screwed up.