US and Qatar Open Joint Air Defense Command Post at Al Udeid Base
The United States and Qatar have launched the Middle East’s first bilateral air defense command post at Al Udeid Air Base, expanding cooperation to counter regional threats from Iran and its proxies.
The facility, opened Monday, was inaugurated by US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Admiral Brad Cooper and Qatari military chief Lt. Gen. Jassim Al-Mannai.
Home to about 10,000 US troops, Al Udeid serves as a key US military hub in the region.
The new command post comes amid renewed tensions following an Israeli airstrike in Doha that angered Qatari leaders.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) opened the first bilateral Combined Command Post for air defense in the Middle East with Qatar at Al Udeid Air Base, Nov. 3. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper and Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Jassim Al-Mannai celebrated the… pic.twitter.com/PAoMKLd5rz
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 3, 2025
Despite that friction, ties between Washington and Doha have deepened, with President Donald Trump pledging to defend Qatar and authorizing new joint military initiatives, including Qatari training at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.
Qatar continues to play a key diplomatic role in mediating between Israel and Hamas.
US Air Force Tightens Grooming Rules, Restricts Mustache Length and Ends Most Beard Exemptions
The US Air Force has issued new grooming regulations limiting mustaches to the corners of the mouth and requiring sideburns to end above the ear opening, according to an October 29 memo.
Beards remain prohibited except for approved medical or religious reasons, and even then must be trimmed to no more than a quarter-inch.
The policy follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s order to standardize grooming standards across the military, ending permanent shaving waivers and most religious exemptions.
The Air Force has new regulations on how long mustaches and sideburns can be.
The new guidance mandates that sideburns must be above the ear opening and mustaches are prohibited from going beyond the corners of the mouth or into a respirator seal zone.
The grooming standards… pic.twitter.com/6pqvdEDLtX
— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) November 4, 2025
The move is part of a broader Pentagon directive to enforce stricter appearance and fitness standards. Hegseth has criticized previous leniency on grooming, calling for a “professional, combat-ready force.”
Service members with medical shaving profiles, including those with pseudofolliculitis barbae, will now face 12-month limits and treatment requirements or potential administrative separation.
Former US Vice President Dick Cheney Dies at 84
Dick Cheney, who served as vice president under President George W. Bush and became one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern US politics, died Monday at 84 from complications of pneumonia and heart disease, his family said.
A key architect of the Iraq War and the post-9/11 expansion of executive power, Cheney redefined the vice presidency into one of unprecedented influence, often steering defense, intelligence, and foreign policy from behind the scenes. He previously served as defense secretary under President George H.W. Bush, leading the 1991 Gulf War, and as a congressman from Wyoming.
Admired by conservatives and vilified by critics, Cheney defended harsh interrogation and surveillance programs, asserting they were vital to national security.
Dick Cheney, the hard-charging conservative who became one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in U.S. history and a leading advocate for the invasion of Iraq, has died at age 84. pic.twitter.com/UPjyG10bdd
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 4, 2025
In recent years, he became a vocal critic of Donald Trump and supported his daughter Liz Cheney’s opposition to the former president.
A five-time heart attack survivor, Cheney underwent a heart transplant in 2012 and often said he viewed each day as “a gift.”
Report Urges NATO to Shift Command Roles to European Generals as US Reduces Four-Star Positions
The downgrading of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa to a three-star command may mark the start of a broader Pentagon effort to hand more NATO leadership roles to European officers, according to a European Council on Foreign Relations report released Thursday.
The report supports Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s goal of reducing US four-star commands and encouraging European allies to take on greater responsibility within NATO.
The council proposed appointing European generals to lead NATO’s air, land, and maritime commands, with US officers serving as deputies, and eventually opening the top NATO post—Supreme Allied Commander Europe—to a European.
The shift follows Lt. Gen. Jason Hinds’s appointment as commander of US Air Forces in Europe and NATO’s Allied Air Command, succeeding Gen. James Hecker.
Chair of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone explains how the alliance can fill potential gaps if the US reduces its military presence and why NATO’s flexibility and resilience remain key.#US #NATO @CMC_NATO pic.twitter.com/gnnE2zagz8
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) November 3, 2025
Hegseth has called for a “European-led NATO” to strengthen deterrence against Russia while the US focuses on China.
The report also aligns with President Donald Trump’s push for allies to raise defense spending to five percent of GDP and contribute more to transatlantic security leadership.
Germany to Boost Ukraine Aid by $3.5 Billion in 2026 Budget
Germany will raise its financial aid to Ukraine by about 3 billion euros ($3.5 billion) next year, bringing total assistance to 8.5 billion euros in the 2026 budget, the finance ministry said Tuesday.
The additional funds will cover artillery, drones, armored vehicles, and the replacement of two Patriot air-defense systems.
❗️🇩🇪Germany plans to increase military support for 🇺🇦Ukraine by €3 billion in 2026 — Handelsblatt
These funds will be used to purchase artillery shells, armored combat vehicles, drones, vehicles and Patriot missiles. At the moment, the German budget has €8.5 billion in… pic.twitter.com/zc8mq8xlcr
— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) November 4, 2025
Germany, already Europe’s largest military supporter of Ukraine with around 40 billion euros provided since 2022, said it will continue backing Kyiv “as long as necessary” against Russia’s invasion.
Finance and defense ministers proposed the increase with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s support, and the plan is expected to be approved soon.
EU Praises Ukraine’s Reform Progress, Warns Serbia and Georgia Over Democratic Backsliding
The European Union (EU) on Tuesday commended Ukraine for advancing reforms toward EU membership despite ongoing war but criticized its limited progress in fighting corruption.
In its annual enlargement reports, the European Commission also warned Serbia and Georgia over democratic backsliding, urging both to reverse declines in rule of law and civil freedoms.
The commission said Montenegro could complete accession talks by late 2026, making it the top candidate to become the EU’s 28th member. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, and Montenegro’s progress shows that “reforms pay off,” but emphasized that faster reform and stronger rule of law are needed.
Today, the European Commission confirmed that Ukraine continues its path to join the EU, making progress this year in multiple areas.
President Zelensky says that the report showed that Ukraine was “confidently moving” toward EU membership. pic.twitter.com/NyqbZMEF8Q
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) November 4, 2025
The report noted that Serbia faces eroding trust due to corruption and crackdowns on dissent, while Georgia has seen a “sharp deterioration” in democracy following its controversial “foreign influence” law. Meanwhile, Moldova and Montenegro were praised for steady progress, though EU internal divisions and Hungary’s vetoes continue to slow enlargement efforts.
Putin Hails New Russian Nuclear Weapons as Key to Security and Future Space Missions
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday praised the country’s latest nuclear-capable weapons, calling them faster, more effective, and vital to ensuring long-term national security and strategic parity.
Speaking at a ceremony honoring their developers, Putin highlighted the Burevestnik cruise missile and Poseidon super torpedo, saying both demonstrated “historic significance” for Russia’s defense.
He said the Burevestnik, powered by a rapid-activation nuclear reactor, flies at more than three times the speed of sound and recently completed a 14,000-kilometer test flight. The Poseidon nuclear-powered torpedo, he added, can outrun any surface vessel and generate massive radioactive ocean waves.
It’s not just Burevestnik and Poseidon
‘I’m talking about…the Avangard system, or the serial production of the Oreshnik missile system…soon the heavy intercontinental Sarmat missile’
Putin’s message is clear: ‘Russia is advancing its nuclear potential’ https://t.co/veWQ3k6gtl pic.twitter.com/SWlinPapqz
— RT (@RT_com) November 4, 2025
Putin also said the technologies behind these systems could support Arctic operations, rare metals extraction, and future lunar missions. He announced that Russia is moving ahead with mass production of the Oreshnik missile, first used in Ukraine in late 2024.
Australian Spy Chief Accuses China of IP Theft and Political Meddling
Australia’s top intelligence official, Mike Burgess, accused China’s security services on Tuesday of extensive intellectual property (IP) theft and political interference, saying Beijing fails to grasp how Western intelligence agencies operate.
Speaking at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general said China’s actions harm Australian interests and vowed to continue calling them out.
Burgess said China often pressures Australian institutions in response to his remarks but does not engage directly with ASIO. He criticized Beijing for misunderstanding the independence of Western security services.
The comments come amid strained Australia-China relations despite recent improvements in trade ties.
Burgess also highlighted close cooperation with the US, saying security collaboration remains strong under President Donald Trump’s administration.
US Sanctions North Korean Money Laundering Network Funding Nuclear Program
The United States imposed sanctions on Tuesday on eight individuals and two firms accused of laundering money from North Korean cybercrime schemes used to finance the country’s nuclear weapons program.
The Treasury Department said North Korean hackers have stolen more than $3 billion in digital assets over the past three years using malware and fraud.
The department described North Korea’s activity as “unmatched by any other country.”
Today, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control took decisive sanctions action against North Korean cybercrime and IT worker fraud that the regime uses to fund its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. Over the past three years, North Korea-affiliated…
— Treasury Department (@USTreasury) November 4, 2025
The sanctioned network allegedly operates through shell companies and financial institutions in North Korea, China, and Russia to move illicit funds.
Among those targeted are North Korean bankers Jang Kuk Chol and Ho Jong Son, accused of managing more than $5 million in cryptocurrency linked to First Credit Bank.
Treasury officials said the sanctions aim to disrupt the regime’s use of cyber theft and fraudulent IT operations to evade restrictions and generate revenue for weapons development.
Sources: News Agencies
Evening Brief: USS Ford Strike Group Leaves Mediterranean, Germany Boosts Ukraine Aid for 2026, Putin Hails New Russian Nuclear Arms
USS Ford redeploys to Latin America, Cheney dies at 84, NATO shifts command roles. Here’s what’s making headlines this Tuesday evening.
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