A day after Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria fell last December, the Israeli Army crossed over the border from the occupied Golan Heights into the southern part of the country. One year later, Israeli forces continue to occupy southern Syria, and the frequency of Israeli military raids on towns is increasing. Israel’s invasion of the town of Beit Jinn in late November left at least 13 Syrians dead, including 2 children.
(“Fears in Southern Syria Over Israel’s Growing Occupation,” Guardian, Dec. 9, 2025; “Joint Syrian-US Patrol Comes Under Attack,” Al-Jazeera, Dec. 9, 2025)
For months, Venezuelan military forces have tracked tin and coltan mineral traffickers backed by Colombian guerrilla groups and chased them into Colombia’s Amazon River Basin. Massive and destructive illegal mining of rare earth minerals in the region followed a recent spike in demand for these elements that are critical to the manufacture of electric vehicles, high-tech electronics and advanced military weaponry. The rapid deforestation linked to these mining operations has alarmed environmental activists worldwide.
(“The Lawless Rush for Rare Earth Minerals in Venezuela,” Guardian, Nov. 7, 2025)
With little notice, the Trump administration is handing out hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts to some of the country’s most profitable companies and wealthiest investors. The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service, through a series of notices and proposed regulations, are giving tax breaks to giant private equity firms, crypto companies, foreign real estate investors, insurance providers and a variety of multinational corporations. These tax breaks come in addition to nearly $4 trillion in tax cuts that President Trump signed into law in July.
(“How the Trump Admin is Giving Even More Tax Breaks to the Wealthy,” New York Times, Nov. 8, 2025)
