Global Pulse

标签： North America

北美洲

  • 63 pct of US voters oppose US military action inside Venezuela: poll

    63 pct of US voters oppose US military action inside Venezuela: poll

    A comprehensive national survey conducted by Quinnipiac University has uncovered significant public opposition to U.S. military engagement in Venezuela, with nearly two-thirds of American voters expressing disapproval of such operations. The poll, conducted from December 11-15 among 1,035 registered voters nationwide, reveals a stark political divide on the controversial military stance.

    The findings indicate that 63% of respondents oppose military action within Venezuelan territory, while only 25% support such measures. The opposition cuts across party lines but demonstrates dramatic partisan variations: 89% of Democrats, 68% of independents, and 33% of Republicans stand against military intervention in the oil-rich South American nation.

    This public sentiment emerges amid escalating U.S. military activities in the Caribbean region, where American forces have maintained a substantial presence off Venezuela’s coast for nearly four months. The Pentagon has justified this deployment as part of counter-narcotics operations, conducting strikes on alleged drug vessels that have resulted in at least 95 fatalities in international waters since September.

    The poll further revealed that 53% of Americans disapprove of these maritime strikes, reflecting growing public skepticism about the administration’s approach. Critics, including bipartisan lawmakers, have questioned both the legality of these operations and whether drug enforcement genuinely represents the sole motivation behind the military buildup.

    The Trump administration has simultaneously intensified economic pressure on Caracas, with the president announcing a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan waters this week. Despite these measures, the president has repeatedly suggested that land-based military operations targeting Caribbean drug traffickers could commence “very soon”—a prospect that appears to lack broad public support according to the survey results.

    The Quinnipiac poll carries a margin of error of approximately 3.9 percentage points, providing a statistically significant snapshot of American public opinion as tensions with Venezuela continue to escalate.

  • US Senate passes 901 bln USD defense authorization bill for fiscal 2026

    US Senate passes 901 bln USD defense authorization bill for fiscal 2026

    In a decisive bipartisan move, the US Senate has ratified a comprehensive $901 billion defense authorization package for Fiscal Year 2026, setting the stage for President Donald Trump’s anticipated endorsement. The legislative measure, formally designated as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), cleared the upper chamber with an overwhelming 77-20 vote margin on Wednesday.

    Senator Roger Wicker, presiding over the Senate Armed Services Committee, emphasized the historical significance of this congressional achievement. “This marks the 65th consecutive year that Congress has transcended partisan divides to deliver a robust national defense enhancement package to the president’s desk,” Wicker declared prior to the vote.

    The voluminous 3,000-page legislation incorporates multifaceted provisions including a 4% salary augmentation for military personnel, structural reforms to accelerate Pentagon weapons procurement, and substantial allocations for advancing the Golden Dome missile defense initiative. The bill mandates $400 million in annual military assistance for Ukraine over a two-year timeframe while imposing restrictions on troop reductions in Europe and South Korea without prior consultation with allied nations.

    Notable budgetary authorizations encompass $26 billion for naval vessel construction, $38 billion for aerial fleet modernization, and $25 billion dedicated to munitions manufacturing expansion. The legislation further implements significant policy shifts by eliminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) offices within the Defense Department, reducing climate-related expenditures by $1.6 billion, and permanently rescinding economic sanctions against Syria.

    A particularly contentious stipulation withholds 25% of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel allocation until Congress receives unedited footage of US airstrikes targeting suspected drug trafficking vessels near Venezuela. This follows Hegseth’s recent confirmation that only designated congressional committees would review complete footage of the controversial September 2nd Caribbean operation, which resulted in casualties during a secondary strike.

    Despite broad bipartisan support, the legislation faced criticism from progressive lawmakers regarding the removal of expanded in-vitro fertilization coverage for active duty personnel, while conservative factions expressed dissatisfaction over perceived limitations in scaling back international military commitments. The White House has indicated President Trump will formally enact the legislation within coming days.

  • Unease lingers amid search for Brown University gunman

    Unease lingers amid search for Brown University gunman

    PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island — A palpable sense of apprehension persists at Brown University as law enforcement continues its intensive search for a gunman responsible for a deadly campus shooting that occurred on December 17th, 2025. The incident, which resulted in two fatalities and nine injuries, has left the academic community in a state of heightened alert despite the partial resumption of normal campus operations.

    Authorities from the Providence Police Department have been conducting an extensive manhunt that entered its fourth day on Tuesday. While investigators detained an individual considered a ‘person of interest’ on Sunday, that person was subsequently released without charges, leaving the investigation without a primary suspect.

    The tragedy stands in stark contrast to Rhode Island’s general crime statistics. According to FBI data, the state typically maintains one of the lowest violent crime rates nationwide. However, data from the Gun Violence Archive reveals this incident marks the 393rd mass shooting recorded in the United States this year alone.

    In remembrance of the victims, students gathered for a vigil honoring Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a freshman international student from Uzbekistan, and Ella Cook, a sophomore from Alabama who served as vice-president of the university’s Republican club.

    Eyewitness accounts from students who experienced the lockdown reveal the profound psychological impact of the event. Zico, a graduate student who was working in a laboratory within the engineering building where the shooting occurred, described his immediate response: ‘My first instinct involved rapidly assessing whether to escape or seek shelter. I barricaded the door with office chairs, concealed myself beneath a desk, and maintained absolute silence while awaiting police assistance.’

    His ordeal lasted approximately eight hours from the initial emergency alert until he was finally able to return home around midnight. Zico expressed particular frustration with the investigation’s progress, noting ‘The ongoing inability to apprehend the suspect, coupled with what appears to be limited investigative leads, compounds our collective anxiety.’

    Another student, Bella Wang, recounted her experience of seeking refuge with classmates in a computer science building situated between the library and the engineering complex. ‘Initially, we struggled to comprehend the reality of the situation,’ Wang recalled. ‘Even after several hours in lockdown, part of us questioned whether the events were actually unfolding.’

    The shooting has sparked renewed conversations about campus security protocols and broader national gun violence prevention measures, with many students expressing diminished confidence in their safety within academic environments.

  • Trump announces ‘warrior dividend’ payments for troops

    Trump announces ‘warrior dividend’ payments for troops

    President Donald Trump utilized a nationally televised address on Wednesday evening to announce a special $1,776 payment designated for 1.45 million U.S. service members, characterizing it as a “warrior dividend” honoring the nation’s 1776 founding. The substantial financial allocation, totaling $2.57 billion, will be partially financed through tariff revenues collected by the administration.

    During his 18-minute primetime presentation, Trump assured viewers that distribution was already underway with anticipated delivery before Christmas. The commander-in-chief framed this gesture as appropriate recognition for military personnel, asserting “nobody deserves it more than our military.” Additional funding originates from the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” legislation enacted last July 4th.

    The economic address extensively promoted administration achievements while assigning blame to Democratic predecessors for current financial challenges. Trump specifically referenced former President Joe Biden seven times during the speech, maintaining that under current leadership “they [prices] are all coming down and coming down fast” despite contradictory economic indicators.

    Recent inflation data reveals persistent consumer concerns, with September figures showing 3% inflation alongside declining consumer confidence metrics. Multiple polls indicate widespread public dissatisfaction regarding living expenses, particularly housing, childcare, and healthcare costs that remain elevated despite presidential claims of general price reduction.

    Political analysts note the timing coincides with concerning midterm election projections for Republicans, compounded by recent Democratic victories in Virginia, New Jersey, New York City, Miami and Georgia. The administration faces increasing pressure regarding economic perception, with approval ratings on economic issues dropping 15 points since March according to CBS News/YouGov polling.

    While acknowledging historical patterns where incumbent parties struggle during midterms, the president offered limited policy innovations during the address. Instead, he highlighted previously enacted tax reforms and pointed toward symbolic improvements during upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations of nation’s founding next year.

  • Unstable weather in UAE: Sharjah ready to deal with rainfall, authority says

    Unstable weather in UAE: Sharjah ready to deal with rainfall, authority says

    Sharjah City Municipality has activated full-scale emergency protocols as the United Arab Emirates braces for intensified rainfall and unstable weather patterns expected through December 19th, 2025. The authority has mobilized specialized response teams equipped with advanced machinery and a diversified vehicle fleet to address potential flooding and weather-related incidents.

    The comprehensive preparedness strategy forms part of operational plans designed to ensure public safety during extreme weather conditions. Municipal crews have conducted preemptive drainage cleaning operations to prevent water accumulation and implemented emergency measures to maintain infrastructure functionality.

    Meteorological reports indicate the UAE will experience heavy precipitation, thunderstorms, and potent winds reaching velocities of 60 km/h from southeastern to northwestern directions on Thursday, with turbulent conditions persisting through Friday. The weather system—a low-pressure area that has delivered substantial rainfall across the region throughout the past week—may cause reduced visibility and challenging travel conditions.

    The municipality’s proactive approach emphasizes community protection and individual safety as weather intensities increase. This response aligns with broader national preparations, including Dubai’s announcement of remote work arrangements for government employees on December 19th to minimize mobility during peak weather activity.

  • Silver soars past $66 an ounce, will it hit $70 soon?

    Silver soars past $66 an ounce, will it hit $70 soon?

    Silver prices shattered historical records on Wednesday, catapulting beyond $66 per ounce as a convergence of monetary, structural, and physical market forces created unprecedented momentum in precious metals trading. The white metal’s remarkable ascent—more than doubling in value throughout 2025—represents one of the most dramatic revaluations in modern commodity history.

    The rally accelerated following weaker-than-anticipated U.S. employment data, which signaled a cooling labor market and strengthened expectations for additional interest rate cuts in 2026. Spot silver reached $66.52 per ounce during the session before settling at $66.30 by 9:25 PM UAE time, marking a 4% single-day increase according to Reuters data.

    Market analysts identify three primary drivers behind silver’s extraordinary performance: critically constrained physical supplies, price-inelastic industrial demand, and policy-driven market dislocations. Ole Hansen, Head of Commodity Strategy at Saxo Bank, observed that silver has fundamentally resolved its long-standing identity crisis by simultaneously functioning as both a monetary metal and industrial commodity while facing severe supply limitations.

    The rally originated from gold’s momentum earlier in the year, with the gold-silver ratio reaching above 105 in April—an extreme valuation gap that attracted both speculative and long-term investors. Once technical resistance levels collapsed beginning in August, momentum buying accelerated dramatically, transforming relative value opportunities into outright price discovery.

    Beyond technical factors, broader macroeconomic conditions have strongly favored hard assets amid eroding confidence in fiat currencies. Persistent inflation pressures, expanding fiscal deficits, and debt sustainability concerns have driven robust central bank gold purchasing, with silver benefiting as a higher-beta, more accessible alternative.

    India has emerged as a crucial source of incremental demand, driven primarily by retail investment and jewelry consumption rather than seasonal factors alone. Simultaneously, silver-backed ETFs have absorbed approximately 130 million ounces this year, increasing total holdings by 18% to roughly 844 million ounces—overwhelmingly led by retail participation while institutions predominantly favored gold.

    Vijay Valecha, CIO at Century Financial, noted that physical markets remain extremely tight, with London lease rates elevated near 6%, Shanghai inventories at decade lows, and backwardation signaling immediate scarcity. Industrial demand linked to solar energy, electrification initiatives, data centers, and AI infrastructure continues to accelerate, reinforcing silver’s dual role in both financial and industrial applications.

    Despite the powerful bullish momentum, analysts caution that the rally shows signs of overheating. Momentum indicators reside firmly in overbought territory, and historical patterns suggest such aggressive moves typically precede sharp, short-term corrections. Nevertheless, near-term extensions toward $70-75 per ounce remain plausible given persistent physical tightness and gold’s underlying strength. While volatility will likely continue, the fundamental case for silver’s structural bull market remains intact for now.

  • Watch: Mother polar bear seen interacting with adopted cub

    Watch: Mother polar bear seen interacting with adopted cub

    In an extraordinary display of maternal behavior within the Arctic’s apex predator, wildlife researchers have documented a female polar bear caring for an adopted cub alongside her own biological offspring. This unprecedented observation provides groundbreaking insights into the complex social structures of Ursus maritimus.

    The rare case was captured through remote monitoring in the Svalbard archipelago, where scientists tracked the female bear’s movements over several weeks. The adopted cub, estimated to be approximately the same age as her biological cub, appears to have been fully accepted into the family unit. Researchers observed the mother providing equal access to food resources and protection from potential threats.

    Dr. Alison Lane, lead researcher on the project, noted: ‘This represents one of the few scientifically verified cases of alloparenting in polar bears. The mother’s complete acceptance of an unrelated cub challenges our previous understanding of their maternal instincts and social flexibility.’

    The phenomenon raises significant questions about the adaptive behaviors polar bears might employ in response to changing environmental conditions. As sea ice habitats diminish and polar bear populations face increasing pressure, such flexible social behaviors could become more critical for species survival.

    While infanticide among male polar bears is well-documented, this contrasting behavior shows a previously undocumented capacity for nurturing beyond genetic relationships. The research team continues to monitor the family unit to study the long-term development of both cubs under the mother’s care.

  • Venezuela says oil exports continue normally despite Trump ‘blockade’

    Venezuela says oil exports continue normally despite Trump ‘blockade’

    Venezuela has issued a firm response to President Donald Trump’s announcement of a comprehensive naval blockade, asserting that its crucial oil export operations remain unaffected. The state-owned petroleum company PDVSA released an official statement confirming that “export operations for crude and byproducts continue normally” and that tankers associated with its operations maintain regular sailing schedules.

    The declaration comes directly following President Trump’s Tuesday proclamation instituting what he described as “a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela.” The US President emphasized the substantial military presence deployed to the Caribbean region, notably referencing the world’s largest aircraft carrier, and stated that “Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America.”

    Despite these aggressive maneuvers, Venezuela’s military establishment, which continues to support President Nicolas Maduro’s government, declared it remains “not intimidated” by the show of force. PDVSA further emphasized that historical attempts to disrupt their operations have consistently failed to diminish either their operational capabilities or the determination of their workforce.

    The ongoing confrontation highlights the critical importance of petroleum exports to Venezuela’s struggling economy, which has faced severe challenges under previous sanctions and international pressure. The current standoff represents a significant escalation in the geopolitical tension between the two nations, with potential implications for global energy markets and regional stability in South America.

  • Dan Bongino stepping down as FBI deputy director

    Dan Bongino stepping down as FBI deputy director

    In a significant development within U.S. law enforcement leadership, Dan Bongino confirmed his departure as Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation effective January 2025. The controversial appointee made his announcement via social media platform X on Wednesday, expressing gratitude to former President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve.

    Bongino’s appointment in February 2024 marked a departure from tradition, as he became the first political commentator and podcast host to assume the role typically reserved for career law enforcement professionals. His background includes service as a New York City police officer and U.S. Secret Service agent before transitioning to media, where he cultivated a substantial conservative following through his podcast and regular media appearances.

    The announcement followed public praise from former President Trump, who acknowledged Bongino’s performance while noting his desire to return to broadcasting. Bongino’s tenure was not without controversy, as his appointment faced opposition from the FBI Agents Association, representing approximately 14,000 current and former agents who questioned his qualifications for the high-level position.

    Internal tensions surfaced in July 2024 when CBS News reported a contentious meeting between Bongino and Attorney General Bondi regarding the government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case files. Despite these challenges, Bongino’s departure statement emphasized his appreciation for the opportunity to serve with purpose and extended thanks to the American public for the privilege of service.

    The transition comes at a critical juncture for the FBI, which continues to navigate complex political and operational challenges. The departure of a politically appointed senior official typically triggers a reassessment of leadership structure and priorities within the bureau.

  • Watch: Moment Nick Reiner is arrested after being seen in convenience store

    Watch: Moment Nick Reiner is arrested after being seen in convenience store

    Newly released surveillance footage has revealed the critical moments leading to the arrest of Nick Reiner, a 32-year-old individual now at the center of a devastating family tragedy investigation. The visual evidence depicts Reiner moving aimlessly through a convenience store shortly before law enforcement officials took him into custody regarding the deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner.

    The footage, which has become pivotal to the ongoing investigation, shows Reiner exhibiting unusual behavior while browsing store aisles, providing investigators with crucial pre-arrest behavioral evidence. Law enforcement agencies have confirmed this arrest connects directly to the suspicious deaths of the suspect’s parents, though specific details regarding motives or circumstances remain undisclosed as the investigation continues.

    Authorities have emphasized the importance of this visual evidence in establishing timeline continuity while refusing to comment on whether Reiner was making purchases or merely occupying the commercial space before his apprehension. The arrest occurred without incident according to police reports, though the emotional weight of the situation has deeply affected the local community where the Reiner family was known.

    Criminal psychologists examining the case suggest that such public footage often provides invaluable insights into suspect behavior patterns prior to formal charges being filed. The judicial process continues to unfold as prosecutors prepare their case based on accumulating evidence beyond the surveillance material.