1+ hour, 27+ min ago (265+ words) Iran Guards seize foreign ship carrying 'smuggled' fuel Pope Leo heads to Lebanon Sunday under shadow of Israeli strikes Trump ramps up Venezuela threats, warns airspace 'closed' As MAGA turns on Zionism, Israel First right stokes Islamophobia How Yalla! Let's Talk became the Arab diaspora's leading podcast Inside Amir: A quiet portrait of leaving Iran Iran's Revolutionary Guards have seized a ship flying the flag of Eswatini and carrying "smuggled fuel", state media reported Sunday. Iranian forces regularly target tankers illegally transporting fuel in the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. "A vessel carrying 350,000 litres of smuggled fuel operating under the flag of Eswatini was seized and taken to Bushehr" in the south-west, state television said, quoting a local Revolutionary Guards commander. "There are 13 crew members on board, all from a neighbouring…...

10+ hour, 44+ min ago (880+ words) Key Points and Summary " In the 1970s, the U.S. Navy seriously considered building a class of 50,000"60,000-ton CVV medium carriers to bulk up its aviation power during Vietnam and the broader Cold War. -Conventionally powered, cheaper, and faster to build than Nimitz-class supercarriers, the CVV was meant to supplement aging Midway-class ships, create more dispersed carrier battle groups, and cover neglected theaters like the Indian Ocean and Arctic. US Navy Aircraft Carrier. Image Credit: Creative Commons. -But costs ballooned from $550 million to roughly $1.5 billion, and the ship's smaller air wing and limited capacity ultimately killed the idea. -The result: a lost chance to field more, smaller carriers when America was stretched thin. The U.S. Navy in the past came close to constructing a class of medium-sized aircraft carriers to supplement its fleet. The option was considered during the Vietnam War " the Navy wanted…...

16+ hour, 40+ min ago (126+ words) The "Kurdistan" floating base is a "port-city platform capable of providing extensive support to naval and non-naval units at sea," Tasnim News Agency reports.It's unveiling also saw the "Sahand" destroyer returning to active... Iran adds new floating base to its navy The "Kurdistan" floating base is a "port-city platform capable of providing extensive support to naval and non-naval units at sea," Tasnim News Agency reports. It's unveiling also saw the "Sahand" destroyer returning to active duty after reconstruction. It suddenly sank at the Bandar Abbas pier in 2024, requiring 14 days of technical and rescue operations to be brought to the surface, Tasnim notes. The unveiling ceremony was presided over by Iran's Army Chief Major General Amir Hatami, it adds....

20+ hour, 3+ min ago (881+ words) Key Points and Summary " Admiral Kuznetsov was never a normal carrier. Born as a "heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser" to slip through the Montreux Convention, it sailed with balky mazut engines, thick black smoke, and chronic breakdowns that made it the butt of NATO jokes. -Yet Moscow kept it alive for decades after the Soviet collapse, using the ship to preserve carrier expertise, prop up shipyards, and signal great-power status from Syria to the Barents Sea. -A botched refit, dry dock disaster, fires, and corruption finally pushed the program to the brink. Now, as Russia debates scrapping Kuznetsov, its lone carrier shows both ambition and decay. The Admiral Kuznetsov is notorious for its grossly inefficient design, its mechanical problems, and the immense amount of funds the vessel has sucked up. Even back during the times of the USSR, when it was considered…...

20+ hour, 9+ min ago (138+ words) MANILA, Philippines " Philippine and French warships jointly sailed the waters of Eastern Mindanao on Friday in another bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) aimed at enhancing interoperability between the two forces for maritime security and improved maritime domain awareness. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it deployed a combination of naval and air assets, including the BRP Artemio Ricarte, a C-208B aircraft, a Black Hawk helicopter and three FA-50 fighter jets. For its part, the French Armed Forces fielded its own military assets including a frigate and a helicopter. It also had a Replenishment-at-Sea Approach, a skill-intensive maneuver essential for sustaining naval operations over long durations. The AFP said defense cooperation between the Philippines and France has grown steadily in recent years "and this MCA marks another milestone in their strategic engagement....

1+ day, 4+ hour ago (223+ words) Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has emphasised that India's strategic future will be shaped by its maritime strength, stating that the nation's destiny lies in the oceans. Highlighting the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific and global sea trade routes, he said the Indian Navy must evolve as the primary driver of military capability and national security. With India emerging as a major economic and geopolitical power, Chauhan underscored the need for stronger naval preparedness, advanced maritime infrastructure, and cutting-edge technology to safeguard national interests at sea. He reiterated that maritime dominance will be key in determining India's role on the world stage in the coming decades. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has emphasised that India's strategic future will be shaped by its maritime strength, stating that the nation's destiny lies in the oceans Highlighting the growing…...

1+ day, 8+ hour ago (71+ words) Possible launches of up to 6 Kalibr cruise missiles from 1 "Varshavyanka" submarine off the coast of Cape Myskhako, Krasnodar Krai.Unconfirmed as of now. Possible launches of up to 6 Kalibr cruise missiles from 1 "Varshavyanka" submarine off the coast of Cape Myskhako, Krasnodar Krai Possible launches of up to 6 Kalibr cruise missiles from 1 "Varshavyanka" submarine off the coast of Cape Myskhako, Krasnodar Krai. Unconfirmed as of now....

1+ day, 17+ hour ago (355+ words) The vessel will conduct maritime security operations, sea control, and deterrence activities in crucial operational areas. The US Navy has received the future USS Cleveland (LCS 31), the 16th and final vessel in the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) programme, from Fincantieri Marinette Marine on 26 November 2025. The delivery acceptance at the shipbuilder's facility in Marinette, Wisconsin, marks the conclusion of the construction effort that involved US Navy personnel, industry partners, and programme management teams for more than 20 years. Upon commissioning in early 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio, the vessel will be based at Mayport, Florida. The US Department of Navy (DON) Program Executive Officer, Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) Melissa Kirkendall said: "With the final Freedom-variant LCS now delivered, we celebrate the successful outcome of years of innovation and commitment. This highly capable and lethal warship is ready to assert maritime dominance and…...

2+ day, 2+ hour ago (540+ words) The Navy accepts delivery of the future USS Cleveland on Nov. 26, 2025. The ship is the 16th and final Freedom-class littoral combat ship slated for service. (U.S. Navy) The Navy now is in possession of the final Freedom-class littoral combat ship after a milestone moment this week for a troubled collection of vessels once valued for their promise as stealthy multimission combatants. The future USS Cleveland, the 16th and last ship of the class, was delivered to the fleet Wednesday, the Navy said in a statement the same day. After commissioning in Cleveland early next year, the ship will be homeported in Mayport, Fla., supporting "forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence in key operational theaters," the Navy said. "This highly capable and lethal warship is ready to assert maritime dominance and protect global waters with unparalleled precision and power," Melissa Kirkendall, program…...

2+ day, 3+ hour ago (684+ words) Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam with Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing and Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo at Exercise Highcrest on Nov 28. Published'Nov 28, 2025, 05:00 PM Updated'Nov 28, 2025, 05:56 PM SINGAPORE " A potential attack from the sea could result in a crisis, affecting maritime trade, which accounts for about 7 per cent of Singapore's gross domestic product. So, it is critical for Singapore to swiftly identify and deal with any such threat, said Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam. He was speaking to the media on the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) Independence-class Littoral Mission Vessel RSS Justice on the fifth and final day of Exercise Highcrest, an annual counter-terrorism exercise. It was held from Nov 24 to 28, and involved more than 240 personnel from the RSN, Police Coast Guard, Maritime and Port Authority…...