USS Nimitz Returns to Hawaii, Nearing End of Historic 50-Year Naval Career
The USS Nimitz (CVN-68) recently arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, returning to US waters for the first time since deploying in March. The 50-year-old aircraft carrier, on what is expected to be its final deployment, spent eight months operating across the Indo-Pacific and the Arabian Sea amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran.
Sailors in dress whites saluted as the carrier passed the USS Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri, honoring the Navy’s World War II legacy. Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, head of US Indo-Pacific Command, met with the crew during the port call.
USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Nimitz-class aircraft carrier coming into Pearl Harbor – November 29, 2025 SRC: TW-@reverseops808 pic.twitter.com/NW7x1Mo0VI
— WarshipCam (@WarshipCam) November 29, 2025
The Nimitz’s stop in Hawaii follows two aircraft crashes in October involving a Super Hornet jet and a Sea Hawk helicopter; recovery operations in the South China Sea are ongoing.
The carrier, flagship of Carrier Strike Group 11, will return to Naval Base Kitsap, Washington, before sailing to Naval Station Norfolk by early May for decommissioning. It will be succeeded at Kitsap by the new USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), slated for commissioning in 2027.
Pratt & Whitney Wins $1.6 Billion Contract for F-35 Engine Support
Pratt & Whitney has secured a $1.6 billion US government contract to provide sustainment and support for F135 engines that power the F-35 fighter jet fleet, according to a Department of Defense announcement.
The work, expected to conclude by November 2026, will take place across several locations, with 40% performed at the company’s East Hartford, Connecticut, facility.
The contract covers maintenance, spare parts, engineering, software updates, and training for all F135 propulsion systems used in F-35 production and operations worldwide. Pratt officials said the deal will ensure allied forces remain ready to meet global threats.
Pratt & Whitney‘s military engines business has received a potential $1.6 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to provide sustainment activities for F135 propulsion systems used across the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter fleet
Read more- https://t.co/6KzjI71jmY
_#Contract pic.twitter.com/kFdB3ujEOQ
— GovCon_Wire (@GovConWire) December 1, 2025
The new award follows several recent contracts for Pratt’s F135 and F100 engines, including a $2.9 billion modification announced in August. It comes amid renewed demand for F-35s, including a controversial US plan to sell the jets to Saudi Arabia, which critics warn could risk sensitive technology falling into China’s hands.
Pratt & Whitney, one of Connecticut’s largest employers, recently resolved a machinists’ strike that briefly disrupted engine production earlier this year.
Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail Program Survives on Congressional Lifeline After Pentagon Cancellation
Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft faces an uncertain future after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth canceled the US Air Force’s $2.6 billion contract for up to 26 planes in June, citing program delays, cost overruns, and a strategic shift toward space-based systems.
The decision prompted NATO allies to cancel their own E-7 orders, leaving the program with limited prospects.
Congress, however, intervened in November, allocating about $400 million in stopgap funding to keep the E-7 program alive through a continuing resolution that reopened the government after a 43-day shutdown. Lawmakers earmarked funds for research, development, and prototyping, despite Pentagon opposition.
Analysts say the funding reflects congressional skepticism that the Space Force can quickly replace the E-7’s airborne early warning role.
The E-7, built on the Boeing 737 NG airframe, is already in service with Australia, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Turkey.
Following a period of system testing and evaluation the Royal Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail WT001 conducted a further Functional Check Flight today as it departed @ModBDN en route to @bhx_official as it progresses to the next stage of its modification and test activities. pic.twitter.com/eaVo1LCFyG
— Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) November 28, 2025
Experts remain divided on its US future: some see the congressional funding as temporary “life support,” while others view it as a chance for Boeing to prove the program’s viability. Boeing executives say they are ready to move forward with the first two prototype aircraft, even as questions persist over the plane’s cost, relevance, and long-term demand.
GAO Says Pentagon Lacks Clarity in Indo-Pacific Deterrence Budget Reporting
The Pentagon has not provided Congress with a consistent or complete picture of its Indo-Pacific deterrence strategy, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) warned in a new report.
The November 25 GAO review found that the Defense Department lacks clear criteria for what programs should be included in the annual Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) report, resulting in discrepancies that obscure how US Indo-Pacific Command’s (INDOPACOM) priorities are funded.
The GAO said the Pentagon and INDOPACOM compile their PDI inputs separately, often leading to omissions and inconsistencies across military branches. Some services included maintenance and operations programs, while others did not; some focused on activities west of the International Date Line, others to the east.
The report also noted that certain programs listed were years away from being operational, despite the PDI’s goal of supporting near-term deterrence against China.
Infographic showing total military spending, share of GDP and share of government spending, for selected Asia-Pacific territories. Graphic: Nicholas Shearman/AFP. pic.twitter.com/0u7iV2U665
— Hong Kong Free Press HKFP (@hkfp) November 29, 2025
The watchdog concluded that without reform, Congress cannot accurately assess US progress in countering China’s military expansion.
The Pentagon agreed with the GAO’s recommendations to clarify program criteria and better align INDOPACOM’s needs with its annual budget assessments.
Canada Becomes First Non-EU Member to Join Europe’s $170 Billion Defense Fund
Canada has joined the European Union’s 150 billion euro ($174 billion) Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defense fund, becoming the first non-EU country to do so, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office announced Monday.
The move gives Canadian defense companies access to EU-backed low-interest loans for military equipment procurement and is part of Carney’s effort to reduce reliance on the United States for defense spending.
Carney said participation in SAFE will strengthen Canada’s defense industry, fill capability gaps, and attract European investment. His government is also reassessing its purchase of US F-35 fighter jets while considering alternatives such as Sweden’s Saab Gripen, which offers production in Canada.
Canada has reached a deal to join the European Union’s €150 billion ($174 billion) defense fund, the country’s defense minister said, though the access fee has yet to be announced. https://t.co/IvW1e8NT0V
— Bloomberg (@business) December 1, 2025
The announcement underscores Carney’s strategy to expand ties with Europe following strained relations with Washington under US President Donald Trump.
Canada has pledged to meet NATO’s defense spending target by early next year. Meanwhile, talks for the United Kingdom to join SAFE collapsed last week over funding disputes.
US and Russia Threaten Nuclear Tests, Raising Fears of Global Arms Race
The United States and Russia have both threatened to resume nuclear weapons testing, alarming international observers and challenging the long-standing global ban under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
US President Donald Trump announced in late October that he had directed the Pentagon to restart US nuclear testing “immediately,” prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to warn that Moscow would respond in kind if any CTBT signatory conducted tests.
Experts say renewed testing by the world’s two largest nuclear powers would undermine nonproliferation norms and encourage other states, including China and India, to conduct their own tests.
The US last carried out a nuclear test in 1992, while only North Korea, India, and Pakistan have tested since the CTBT was adopted in 1996.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump announces that he has instructed the “Department of War” to resume the testing of nuclear weapons, in response to testing programs by other countries, citing both China and Russia. The last nuclear test by the United States was carried out on… pic.twitter.com/d640LiyOUM
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 30, 2025
The treaty, signed by 187 countries but not yet in force, has established a strong global norm against nuclear explosions. Russia ratified the pact but revoked its ratification in 2023, citing US inaction.
Trump’s comments have left unclear whether the US plans full nuclear detonations or subcritical experiments, which do not violate the treaty. Analysts warn that any move toward live testing risks reigniting a nuclear arms race and eroding decades of progress in global arms control.
Ukrainian Soldiers Doubt Peace Deal as Russia Advances and Manpower Strains Mount
Ukrainian troops fighting along the 800-mile front say they doubt any peace agreement with Russia will hold, warning that Moscow could use a truce to rebuild its forces and attack again within years. Soldiers interviewed by The Associated Press said only strong security guarantees, such as NATO membership, could prevent renewed conflict.
Commanders also voiced concern over troop shortages, with some front-line battalions reportedly reduced to a few dozen soldiers instead of hundreds.
Despite limited manpower, Ukrainian forces continue to hold key positions in Pokrovsk, Kupiansk, and Vovchansk as Russian forces intensify assaults across Donetsk. Analysts said Russia’s advances have accelerated in 2025 but remain constrained by Ukrainian defenses.
“There is no trust to Russia in any deal.”
Any peace plan for Ukraine must include real guarantees, not just “pieces of paper and good words,” from Putin and his government, says Sviatoslav Yurash, a Ukrainian MP who has fought on the front line. pic.twitter.com/zTUCb8tdpA
— Times Radio (@TimesRadio) December 1, 2025
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s ability to sustain its 1 million-strong military depends heavily on Western aid, with the European Union pledging $50 billion through 2027.
Economists warn that Kyiv’s future finances, and military readiness, hinge on continued international support and the fate of frozen Russian assets.
Russian Tanker Attacked in Black Sea as Turkey Warns of Escalation
A Russian-flagged tanker carrying sunflower oil to Georgia was attacked Tuesday in the Black Sea, the Turkish Directorate General of Maritime Affairs said.
The MIDVOLGA-2 was struck about 80 miles off Turkey’s coast while en route to the port of Sinop. All 13 crew members were unharmed, and the vessel did not request assistance.
The incident came days after Ukrainian naval drones targeted two Russian “shadow fleet” oil tankers, the Kairos and Virat, inside Turkey’s exclusive economic zone.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned those attacks as a “worrying escalation” that endangered regional safety and the environment.
(AP) — The Russian sunflower oil tanker MIDVOLGA-2 was attacked 130 km off Turkey’s coast in the Black Sea, days after two “shadow fleet” tankers were hit by Ukrainian drones. All 13 crew members are safe, and no assistance was requested. pic.twitter.com/G4iLjBztd9
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 2, 2025
The Kairos and Virat, reportedly linked to efforts to evade Western sanctions on Russian oil, were both damaged but their crews survived. While Ukraine has previously conducted naval strikes against Russian assets, such operations have largely been confined to the northern Black Sea until now.
Israeli Forces Kill Two Suspected Palestinian Attackers in West Bank
Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinians in separate incidents Tuesday in the occupied West Bank following attacks that wounded three Israeli soldiers, according to the Israeli military.
Near the settlement of Ateret, troops killed a man who allegedly stabbed two soldiers. Both soldiers were lightly injured.
IDF: A short time ago, following a report of a suspicious individual near the community of Ateret in the Binyamin Brigade, IDF forces were dispatched to the area.
During the inspection, the suspect began stabbing the troops, who responded with gunfire and killed him.
Further…
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 2, 2025
In the southern West Bank, the army said it killed a 17-year-old suspect near Hebron after he carried out a car-ramming attack that injured a female soldier and then tried to flee.
Hamas praised the Hebron attack as a “legitimate response” to ongoing Israeli raids but did not claim responsibility.
The incidents are part of a surge in West Bank violence since Israel’s war with Hamas began in October 2023, with Israeli raids, Palestinian attacks, and rising settler violence contributing to growing instability across the territory.
UN Report Warns AI Boom Could Deepen Global Inequality
A new United Nations (UN) Development Program report warns that artificial intelligence (AI) could widen the gap between rich and poor nations unless urgent action is taken to make the technology more inclusive.
Released Tuesday, the report compares the emerging divide to the “Great Divergence” of the industrial revolution, when Western countries rapidly advanced while others fell behind.
The report says AI’s benefits—such as improved healthcare, disaster response, and agricultural productivity—could transform developing regions but notes that countries lacking electricity, internet access, or technical skills risk being left out of the AI-driven economy. Roughly a quarter of the Asia-Pacific region still lacks online connectivity, the report found.
It also highlights risks tied to data privacy, cyberattacks, misinformation, and heavy energy demands from data centers.
READ NOW | @UNDPasiapac’s flagship report on AI and human development explores how AI is reshaping economies and societies, and why it may widen inequalities between countries that could trigger a next great divergence unless urgent action is taken.
📖: https://t.co/jG4TCVZclB pic.twitter.com/0S7YZYEKei
— UN Development (@UNDP) December 2, 2025
The UN agency urged governments to invest in digital infrastructure, education, and regulations to ensure AI promotes equality rather than entrenching disparities.
“AI is becoming the region’s next essential infrastructure,” the report said, calling for policies that “democratize access” and protect vulnerable communities from disruption.
India Orders Mandatory Installation of Government Cybersecurity App on All Smartphones
India’s Telecom Ministry has ordered smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the government-run Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on all new devices within 90 days and to prevent users from deleting it, according to a directive issued Monday.
The order also requires companies to add the app to older models via software updates, covering nearly all of India’s 1.2 billion smartphone users.
The government says the app helps combat cyber fraud by allowing users to track stolen phones and block fake mobile connections. However, privacy advocates warn that the mandate threatens user consent and could pave the way for expanded government surveillance.
Digital policy expert Nikhil Pahwa said the move removes user control over personal devices and risks setting a precedent for forced installation of future government apps. The directive could also face pushback from major smartphone makers such as Apple, whose policies prohibit preinstalled third-party software.
India has ordered all phone companies to pre-install a government cyber safety app on every device within 90 days, and users will not be able to delete it. pic.twitter.com/9yMtgcZdcU
— Current Report (@Currentreport1) December 2, 2025
The move mirrors similar state-driven digital initiatives in countries like Russia, where critics say mandatory apps are used for surveillance.
Philippines Launches Second Korean-Built Patrol Vessel as Naval Modernization Advances
The Philippine Navy’s second Korean-made offshore patrol vessel, BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS21), was launched ahead of schedule at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard, marking another step in Manila’s ongoing fleet modernization.
The ship is the second in the six-vessel Rajah Solayman class, ordered in 2022 to replace aging World War II-era escorts and expand the Offshore Patrol Force from 11 to 17 ships.
Designed for long-range missions, the vessel will support anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, disaster response, and extended patrols within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.
Philippine officials at the launch highlighted growing defense cooperation with South Korea, which has supplied fighter jets, frigates, and anti-ship missiles and is vying to provide submarines in the future.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries 🇰🇷 is really impressive, on how fast they can build the new HDP-2200 Offshore Patrol Vessels of the @Philippine_Navy 🇵🇭, w/ the launching of BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS-21). Becoz of this track record of HHI, the Philippines will acquire two more Frigates. pic.twitter.com/2V8qlr1u0i
— Para Bellum (@ReHorizon3) November 29, 2025
Hyundai Heavy Industries, which reactivated a Subic Bay shipyard in September, aims to make the Philippines a regional construction and maintenance hub.
The launch underscores Manila’s deepening defense partnership with Seoul as it works to strengthen maritime security and self-reliance.
Sources: News Agencies
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Morning Brief: US Navy Admiral Karl Thomas Takes Command, Russian Tanker Hit in Black Sea, India Imposes Cyber App Mandate
Admiral Karl Thomas takes command as US reshapes fleet; GAO flags Indo-Pacific gaps. Here’s your Tuesday Morning Brief, December 2, 2025.
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