Evening Brief: US Army Identifies Nine Sites for Microreactors, NORAD to Hold Air Defense Drill, Zelenskyy Heads to Turkey for Talks

The selected sites were chosen based on mission requirements, infrastructure, and environmental factors. Officials said not all listed bases will necessarily receive microreactors, but anticipate expanding the program to more installations over time. 📰 Army announces next steps on Janus Program for next-generation nuclear energy As part of next steps for the Janus Program, the Department of the Army has selected nine installations for consideration in which to site microreactor power plants, and the Defense Innovation Unit… pic.twitter.com/HvdTxEvY8J — U.S. Army (@USArmy) November 18, 2025 The Defense Innovation Unit has invited companies to submit prototype proposals by December 15, with operational reactors expected before 2030. US Army officials said the microreactors will include built-in safety systems, operate independently from the power grid, and be subject to Army oversight. The service pledged transparency and engagement with surrounding communities as planning progresses.   Historic SS United States to Become World’s Largest Artificial Reef off Florida The SS United States, a legendary 1950s ocean liner and holder of the trans-Atlantic speed record, will be sunk off Florida’s Gulf Coast in early 2026 to create the world’s largest artificial reef. Okaloosa County officials confirmed the ship will rest about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin and 32 nautical miles southeast of Pensacola, at a depth of 180 feet. The project, part of a $10.1 million county plan, includes a museum and long-term tourism campaign. The initiative is supported by Pensacola tourism officials and Coastal Conservation Association Florida, which contributed $2 million combined. Once submerged, the nearly 1,000-foot vessel (longer than the Titanic) will sit close to the popular USS Oriskany dive site and join the county’s 500 existing artificial reefs. Environmental groups say the new reef will boost marine habitats and dive tourism across northwest Florida. BREAKING! 20 Nov 10am ET @NYCCouncil vote on 0649-2024 ‘Resolution calling on the US Congress to pass, and the President to sign, legislation declaring SS United States a historic location, allocating funds for restoration and relocation to the city of New York.’#SSUnitedStates pic.twitter.com/o6BqbHKoYs — Titanic New York (@TitanicNewYork) November 18, 2025 After years of stalled restoration efforts, officials said reefing the SS United States prevents it from being scrapped. Built in 1952, the ship famously crossed the Atlantic in just over three days, a record that still stands for an ocean liner.   NORAD to Hold Overnight Air Defense Exercise Over Washington, D.C. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will conduct a live-fly air defense exercise, dubbed Exercise FALCON, over the Washington, D.C., area early Wednesday between midnight and 2 a.m. ET. The drill will involve F-16 fighter jets, a US Coast Guard MH-65D Dolphin helicopter, a US Army UH-60 helicopter, US Navy King Air aircraft, and Civil Air Patrol C-182 planes, some flying as low as 1,000 feet and visible from the ground. The exercise is part of NORAD’s ongoing mission to identify and intercept potential air threats to North America and monitor US and Canadian airspace and waterways. In case of bad weather, the training will be moved to the same time on Thursday.   Trump Defends Saudi Crown Prince Over Khashoggi Killing President Donald Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House on Tuesday, dismissing US intelligence findings that the Saudi leader likely approved the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Calling Khashoggi “extremely controversial,” Trump said the crown prince “knew nothing about it” and praised him for “incredible” progress on human rights. The meeting marked the crown prince’s first White House visit in seven years, signaling a full restoration of US-Saudi ties. During the visit, the crown prince announced plans to boost Saudi investments in the United States to $1 trillion, while Trump confirmed a deal to sell Riyadh F-35 fighter jets despite internal concerns about technology security and Israel’s military balance. The two also discussed expanding the Abraham Accords, though Prince Mohammed reiterated that normalization with Israel requires a “clear path” toward a Palestinian state. .@POTUS nukes Fake News ABC (many such cases): “Who are you with?” “I’m with ABC News, sir.” “Fake News. ABC Fake News. One of the worst in the business.” Then proceeds to answer her dumb question anyway. pic.twitter.com/YSEYyJp3xK — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 18, 2025 Human rights advocates condemned Trump’s remarks as dismissive of Khashoggi’s murder and pointed to his family’s growing business ties with Saudi developers. The visit included formal ceremonies, a White House dinner, and plans for a high-profile investment summit featuring major US and Saudi companies.   Israeli Airstrike on Lebanon Refugee Camp Kills 13 in Deadliest Attack Since Ceasefire An Israeli drone strike on the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in southern Lebanon killed 13 people and injured several others Tuesday, according to Lebanese officials. The attack, which hit a car in a mosque parking lot, was the deadliest in Lebanon since the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire a year ago. The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas training compound used to plan attacks against Israel, while Hamas denied the claim, saying the strike hit a sports playground. Hamas fighters blocked journalists from accessing the site as emergency crews evacuated victims. Reports say Israel struck a vehicle in the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon, deep in southern Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/axYVVXQdH3 — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) November 18, 2025 The strike comes amid ongoing Israeli operations in Lebanon following last year’s war with Hezbollah, which left more than 4,000 people dead in Lebanon and 127 in Israel. Since the ceasefire, Israeli strikes have killed more than 270 people and wounded about 850, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.   Zelenskyy Heads to Turkey for Peace Talks as US Sanctions on Russia Loom Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Tuesday that he will travel to Turkey this week to seek progress in peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s nearly four-year invasion. Talks in Ankara will focus on achieving a ceasefire and long-term settlement, according to Turkish officials. Russia confirmed it will not participate, while earlier reports that US envoy Steve Witkoff would attend were later retracted. The visit follows Zelenskyy’s stops in France and Spain, where he sought additional military and political support. His trip coincides with new US sanctions on Russia’s oil sector, set to take effect Friday, which Washington hopes will pressure Moscow into talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will pay a working visit to Türkiye Ankara talks ‘to focus on bilateral ties, current developments on Russia-Ukraine war’ https://t.co/xllJkUcGn4 pic.twitter.com/uPnNyLT9LL — Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) November 18, 2025 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia remains open to negotiations but will not take part in the Ankara meeting. Meanwhile, Ukraine launched drone strikes on Russian-occupied areas of Donetsk, damaging two thermal power stations and cutting power to hundreds of thousands. Domestically, Zelenskyy continues to face fallout from a $100 million corruption scandal involving senior officials, prompting resignations and calls from former President Petro Poroshenko for the government’s dismissal.   Poland Blames Russian Secret Services for Sabotage of Rail Line Supplying Ukraine Polish authorities said Tuesday that evidence indicates Russian intelligence ordered explosions that damaged key railway lines used to transport aid to Ukraine. Government spokesman Jacek Dobrzyński called the incident “an act of sabotage” linked to Moscow’s secret services. Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the attacks, one near the village of Mika southeast of Warsaw and another near Puławy, as “unprecedented.” The blasts disrupted passenger and freight traffic but caused no injuries. Polish prosecutors opened a terrorism-related investigation, citing the threat of a major rail disaster. Two Ukrainian citizens behind Polish railway explosion — Poland’s PM Tusk He added that despite their nationality, they were allegedly working for Russian intelligence The names of the suspects and any concrete evidence of their alleged connection to Russia were not disclosed https://t.co/3d1dR2vHxS pic.twitter.com/4Jz3MbojmW — RT (@RT_com) November 18, 2025 Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said investigators found a surveillance camera near one of the damaged tracks and have deployed army patrols to secure other critical infrastructure in eastern Poland. Officials said the attacks appeared aimed at derailing trains on the route that connects Warsaw to Ukraine.   MI5 Warns Chinese Spies Using LinkedIn to Target UK Lawmakers and Officials Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, warned on Tuesday that Chinese intelligence operatives are using LinkedIn and recruitment fronts to contact and cultivate UK lawmakers and other influential figures. In a letter to Parliament, House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said MI5 issued an “espionage alert” after discovering Chinese nationals linked to the Ministry of State Security were conducting large-scale outreach through fake headhunters and cover companies. The alert named two suspected recruiters, Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen, whose LinkedIn profiles were allegedly used as espionage fronts. Home Office Minister Dan Jarvis told Parliament that the activity extended beyond lawmakers to economists, think tank analysts, and civil servants, calling it a “covert and calculated attempt” to interfere in British affairs. 💬 ‘I have a very good company looking for a political consultant to cooperate now, do you have interest?’ Security service says Chinese agents are using LinkedIn in attempt to recruit Britons Read more: https://t.co/Yl4VXapjvO pic.twitter.com/PAmEprCcx0 — The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 18, 2025 The Chinese Embassy dismissed the claims as “malicious slander.” The warning follows the collapse of a high-profile espionage case against two men accused of spying for China, raising questions about the government’s handling of national security threats. MI5 Director-General Ken McCallum recently said Chinese state actors pose a daily threat to the UK through cyberespionage, technology theft, and political interference.   Pakistan Says 38 Militants Killed in Raids Near Afghan Border Pakistani security forces killed 38 militants in a series of intelligence-led raids in the country’s northwest near the Afghan border, the military said Tuesday. The operations, conducted over two days, targeted hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Troops killed 10 militants in Dera Ismail Khan on Sunday and five more, including a commander, in North Waziristan. On Monday, twin raids in Bajaur and Bannu districts left 23 militants dead, according to the army. The military described those killed as “Khawarij,” a term it uses for insurgents allegedly supported by Afghanistan and India—claims both countries deny. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a close ally of Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban, has intensified attacks inside Pakistan since 2021, when the Taliban seized power in Kabul. Many TTP fighters are believed to operate from Afghan territory, adding strain to Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.   Sources: News Agencies