The DEFCON system is a military readiness alert state used by the United States Armed Forces, established in 1959, with five levels ranging from DEFCON 5 (least severe) to DEFCON 1 (most severe), indicating an imminent nuclear war. Controlled by the U.S. president and defense officials, the DEFCON levels dictate specific readiness scenarios for military personnel, although the U.S. has never publicly declared DEFCON 1. The system is distinct from other military readiness measures and has been misrepresented in popular culture.

Ukrainian forces have successfully destroyed a Russian Buk-M3 air defense system valued at $45 million, as reported by Ukraine's Land Forces. The attack was carried out by the "Black Forest" brigade, which shared video footage of the operation, although the claims remain unverified by independent sources.

The article discusses Ukrainian President Zelensky's gratitude towards the United Kingdom and France for their military support, which includes additional Mirage fighter jets and air defense missiles. He highlights ongoing collaborations with European partners for joint weapons production and emphasizes the importance of Ukraine's strong defense against Russian aggression.

The Venezuelan government, led by Nicolás Maduro, claims to have captured alleged mercenaries linked to the CIA, accusing the U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago of planning military provocations against Venezuela. The assertion coincides with a significant U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean aimed at combating drug cartels, which Venezuela links to a potential pretext for war. The Maduro regime warns of threats to its sovereignty and maintains that its armed forces will remain vigilant.

The article discusses the recent push for small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in the UK and the US, highlighting that the motivations behind this movement are more closely linked to military power than to energy security or climate change. Despite claims of a new nuclear renaissance, the authors argue that SMRs may not be competitive with renewable energy sources and that the push is driven by institutional interests rather than genuine energy needs.

The Myanmar military has detained approximately 2,000 individuals during a raid on a cybercrime center, which is believed to be involved in various scams and illegal online activities. The operation highlights the ongoing issues with cybercrime in Myanmar and the military's aggressive approach to combatting it.