Support us by contributing to StratNewsGlobal on the following UPI ID
ultramodern@hdfcbank
Strategic affairs is our game, South Asia and beyond our playground. Put together by an experienced team led by Nitin A. Gokhale. Our focus is on strategic affairs, foreign policy and international relations, with higher quality reportage, analysis and commentary with new tie-ups across the South Asian region.
You can support our endeavours. Visit us at www.stratnewsglobal.com and follow us on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
र 500 per month
र 1000 per month
र 5000 per year
र 10000 per year
Donate an amount of your choice
र 500 per month
Donate र 500 per month
र 1000 per month
Donate र 1000 per month
र 5000 per year
Donate र 5,000 per year
र 10000 per year
Donate र 10,000 per year
Donate an amount of your choice
Donate an amount of your choice
Trump Orders Renewed Push for 2028 Moon Landing and Space Defence
President Donald Trump has formally set a renewed national target to return American astronauts to the moon by 2028, alongside a directive to defend U.S. interests in space. The decision, issued through an executive order on Thursday, marks the first major space policy move of his second term.
The order followed the swearing-in of billionaire private astronaut and former SpaceX customer Jared Isaacman as NASA’s 15th administrator. It also reorganised the nation’s space policy structure under Trump’s chief science adviser, Michael Kratsios, signalling a new phase in the administration’s approach to space governance.
Overhaul of U.S. Space Strategy
Entitled “Ensuring American Space Superiority,” the order instructs the Pentagon and intelligence agencies to develop a comprehensive space security strategy. It further calls for greater efficiency among private contractors and seeks demonstrations of missile-defence technologies under Trump’s “Golden Dome” programme.
Initially, the order appeared to abolish the National Space Council, a policy body Trump reinstated during his first term. However, a senior administration official clarified that the council would continue operating under the White House Office of Technology Policy, now chaired by the president instead of the vice president.
Return to the Moon and Beyond
The 2028 lunar landing goal revives an earlier directive from 2019, when Trump sought to return astronauts to the moon by 2024 a timeline widely considered unrealistic due to development delays. Persistent challenges with NASA’s Space Launch System and SpaceX’s Starship have pushed back that target. Notably, NASA’s timeline under former president Barack Obama had already set 2028 as the intended landing year.
A successful 2028 mission would mark the first in a series of planned Artemis programme expeditions, aiming to establish a sustained presence on the lunar surface. The order reinforces NASA’s ambition to create the “initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030,” including facilities powered by nuclear energy.
Balancing Ambition and Budget Cuts
While Trump has publicly discussed eventual crewed missions to Mars, Congress has shifted focus back to the moon. Lawmakers have pressed Administrator Isaacman to prioritise lunar exploration, given the billions already invested in Artemis-related programmes.
The administration’s efficiency drive, led by Elon Musk in his role as a government adviser, has seen NASA’s workforce reduced by 20% and its 2026 budget slated for a 25% cut from the traditional $25 billion. These reductions have sparked concern among scientists and officials about the future of vital space-science projects.
Isaacman is expected to deliver his first agency-wide address on Friday, where he is likely to emphasise the dual pursuit of moon and Mars exploration. He has previously argued that a 2028 lunar landing would demonstrate American leadership in space and help the U.S. outpace China, which is targeting its own crewed moon landing by 2030. However, the success of the plan rests heavily on the progress of SpaceX’s Starship lander, which some critics claim is advancing too slowly.
(with inputs from Reuters)
Buddhism In China: More About Lifestyle, Wellness Than Religion
A video that recently (screenshot below) went viral on China’s social media, showed a Buddhist monk outside Chengdu’s Wenshu Monastery, handing out cash to passers-by. There was no bowl, no appeal, no sermon. Some online users jokingly called him a “reverse beggar”, but the monk was only practising “dana” or to give without expecting anything in return, which is what Buddhism preaches.
The video reflected a trend across Chinese digital platforms, where hashtags #中国佛教 (#Chinese Buddhism) , #禅修 (#Zen meditation)#寺庙生活 (#temple life) are frequent, suggesting that Buddhism is acquiring a profile among Chinese but less as a religion and more as a lifestyle, wellness and emotional refuge.
Buddhism resonates particularly among the youth and a search on Weibo yielded thousands of posts, ranging from personal prayer rituals and temple “check-ins” to reflections on inner peace, wellbeing and everyday spirituality.
Last week, clips of Beijing residents “checking in” at Jinghong’s General Buddhist Temple in Yunnan, China’s highest-ranking Theravada Buddhist monastery, went viral, drawing attention to its sacred architecture and serene atmosphere.
Faith Meets the Market
According to a report in the online Sixth Tone, which focuses on content reflecting contemporary trends in China, temples across China are quietly transforming into hubs of lifestyle consumption.
Cafés, vegetarian restaurants, branded souvenirs, wellness services and even venture capital-linked projects now form what some describe as a growing “temple economy”. Sacred spaces are increasingly intertwined with consumer culture, reshaping both visitor experiences and the social role of religious institutions.
As economic pressures and social uncertainty grow, many young Chinese are turning to mysticism, ritual and spiritual symbolism in search of fortune, calm and meaning. Buddhist temples and Taoist shrines have seen a rise in footfalls, but as always there are political boundaries.
Influencer Crackdown
In 2021, Chinese social media platforms cracked down on so-called “foyuan”, or “Buddhist lifestyle” influencers. These users often shared stylised images of prayer, meditation and temple visits, sometimes accompanied by subtle commercial promotion or product recommendations.
According to Sixth Tone, authorities were uncomfortable with Buddhism being packaged as a monetisable personal brand. State media criticised the trend as profiteering under the guise of religion, and platforms such as Douyin and Xiaohongshu removed dozens of related accounts and posts. The action was framed as enforcement of existing bans on commercial religious promotion.
The crackdown did not signal hostility towards Buddhism itself. Instead, it reflected a broader regulatory push against unregulated online religious expression. Faith was permitted, but not as an influencer-driven, independently scalable enterprise beyond state oversight.
Senior Chinese officials visiting Labrang Monastery, one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most influential institutions, called for intensified “sinicisation”. Monastic leaders were urged to align religious practice with political loyalty, Chinese national identity and socialist values, embedding Party ideology into monastic life.
Rinzin Namgyal, a Tibetan scholar and Research Associate at the Foundation for Non-Violent Alternatives, argues that this approach carries deeper implications. When Buddhism is stripped of its moral and spiritual authority, he told StratNewsGlobal, it risks being reduced to an aesthetic shell.
India’s $100 Billion Trade Gamble: Inside the EFTA Deal
Four European nations with a combined population smaller than Delhi NCR— but a GDP that rivals India’s, recently signed one of the most ambitious yet under-reported trade pact with India. The four countries are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland who together make up the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
The deal worth $100 billion in investments holds out the promise of generating one million new jobs. A breath of fresh air indeed, especially when countries like the United States and China are weaponising trade and globalisation is under threat.
Is this then the dawn of a new trade order? Will it lay the foundations for building a new kind of plurilateral and rules-based trade order?
To answer all this and more, StratNewsGlobal.Tech spoke to Roger Gschwend, Head of the World Trade Division, State Secretariat of Economic Affairs in Switzerland on Capital Calculus.
Trump Biography In US Welcome Packet For White South African Refugees?
White South Africans coming to the U.S. as refugees could get a biography of President Donald Trump for children as part of a welcome packet proposed last week by an administration official, emails reviewed by Reuters showed.
The book – “Donald Trump Biography for Kids: An Inspirational Story of One of America’s Most Famous Presidents” – was suggested by Fred Cooper, a Trump appointee serving as
deputy assistant secretary in a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, according to a December 8 internal email reviewed by Reuters.
The 89-page biography, designed for children ages 8 to 12, portrays the Republican president as an inspirational figure whose life “is a masterclass in determination, resilience, confidence, and dreaming big.”
Cooper also suggested the welcome packet include a biography of Andrew Jackson, the seventh U.S. president. Trump has praised Jackson, a fellow populist, although Jackson has faced historical criticism for owning slaves and driving Native Americans from their lands.
“I imagine these books wouldn’t be an issue?” Cooper said in the email, linking to the Trump and Jackson biographies. The email did not say what the U.S. government might pay for the biographies. HHS and Cooper did not respond to requests for comment.
The planned welcome packet, if finalized, would support Trump’s effort to bring thousands of white South Africans to the U.S. as refugees. The program has provoked backlash from the South African government and refugee groups.
Trump froze refugee admissions from around the world after taking office in January but weeks later launched an effort to bring in European-descended Afrikaners from majority-Black South Africa. Trump has said these people were victims of race-based violence and discrimination, claims the South African government strongly denies.
On Wednesday, South African authorities said they would deport Kenyans who were contracted to work on the U.S. refugee program, saying they were using improper visas.
Refugees in the past have received materials explaining U.S. history and culture, but they do not normally promote specific presidents or ideologies, three veteran refugee workers said.
Western Diplomats To Talk To Lebanese Army About Disarming Hezbollah
French, Saudi Arabian and American officials will hold talks with the head of the Lebanese army on Thursday in Paris, aimed at finalising a roadmap to enable a mechanism for the disarmament of the Hezbollah group, diplomats said.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in 2024, ending more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that severely weakened the Iran-backed militants. Since then, the sides have traded accusations over violations with Israel questioning the Lebanese army’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah. Israeli warplanes have increasingly targeted Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and even in the capital.
With growing fear the ceasefire could unravel, the Paris meeting aims to create more robust conditions to identify, support and verify the disarmament process and dissuade Israel from escalation, four European and Lebanese diplomats and officials told Reuters.
With legislative elections due in Lebanon in 2026, there are fears political paralysis and party politics will further fuel instability and make President Joseph Aoun less likely to press disarmament, the diplomats and officials said.
“The situation is extremely precarious, full of contradictions and it won’t take much to light the powder keg,” said one senior official speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Aoun doesn’t want to make the disarming process too public because he fears it will antagonise and provoke tensions with the Shi’ite community in the south of the country.”
With the Lebanese army lacking capacity to disarm Hezbollah, the idea would be to reinforce the existing ceasefire mechanism with French, U.S. and possibly other military experts along with U.N. peacekeeping forces, the diplomats and officials said.
The parties hope to organise a conference at the start of next year to reinforce the Lebanese army as well as a separate conference to help reconstruction, most notably for the south.
China Condemns U.S. ‘Unilateral Bullying’ Over Venezuela Blockade
China has criticised Washington’s decision to impose a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, calling the move an act of “unilateral bullying.” Beijing, however, stopped short of outlining specific measures it would take to support its ally or protect Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
Beijing Defends Sovereignty Amid Rising Tensions
The condemnation followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s order earlier this week for a complete blockade of sanctioned vessels linked to Venezuela, as the United States deployed troops and warships to the region. China, the largest buyer of Venezuelan crude, imports roughly 4% of its total oil supply from the OPEC nation, with shipments in December expected to exceed 600,000 barrels per day, analysts said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed Beijing’s opposition to “unilateral bullying” during a phone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil on Wednesday. He said China supports all nations in safeguarding sovereignty and national dignity. Although Wang did not mention the United States or President Trump by name, he repeated China’s stance against any actions that undermine the UN Charter or violate international norms.
Strategic Interests and Regional Diplomacy
The U.S. has defended its latest sanctions as part of an effort to combat terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. Last week, the U.S. Coast Guard seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, deepening tensions between Washington and Caracas. President Maduro accused the United States of seeking to seize Venezuela’s oil wealth and claimed the military build-up was aimed at toppling his government. Trump, in a recent interview, said Maduro’s “days were numbered.”
China has long maintained strong economic ties with Venezuela, providing billions of dollars in credit under loans-for-oil deals. During a meeting earlier this year in Moscow, Maduro told Chinese President Xi Jinping that he hoped to expand cooperation in energy and trade.
Global Calls for Restraint
Despite its criticism of Washington, Beijing continues to balance its strategic interests, as it works to stabilise relations with the U.S., its largest trading partner. Following months of tense trade negotiations, Trump and Xi reached a temporary consensus in October on managing disputes over tariffs and market access.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for calm and urged both the U.S. and Venezuela to uphold international law and avoid further escalation. Leaders from Mexico and Brazil have also appealed for dialogue.
Russia has voiced similar concerns, with President Vladimir Putin reaffirming his support for Maduro’s government during a phone call last week. On Wednesday, Venezuela requested that the UN Security Council convene an emergency session to address what it described as ongoing “U.S. aggression.”
China’s foreign ministry said it supports Caracas’ request for a Security Council discussion. When asked whether rising tensions could trigger a confrontation between Beijing and Washington, a spokesperson reiterated Wang Yi’s comments but declined to elaborate further.
(with inputs from Reuters)
Sudan: RSF Killed 1000 Civilians In Darfur Camp, Says UN Human Rights Office
Over 1,000 civilians were killed when a Sudanese paramilitary group took over a famine-stricken displacement camp in Sudan’s Darfur in April, including about a third who were summarily executed, according to a report by the U.N. Human Rights Office on Thursday.
For months before the April 11-13 assault, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) blocked entry of food and supplies to the Zamzam camp in Sudan’s western region of Darfur housing nearly half a million people displaced by civil war, according to the U.N. report.
During the takeover, the RSF directed attacks against civilians, the U.N. report said, and survivors reported widespread killings, rape, torture and abductions, with at least
319 people executed in the camp or as they tried to flee.
“Such deliberate killing of civilians or persons hors de combat may constitute the war crime of murder,” said the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk in a statement accompanying the 18-page report.
The findings are based on interviews conducted in July 2025 with 155 survivors and witnesses who fled to Chad.
One of them testified that eight people hiding in a room in the camp were killed by RSF fighters who inserted rifles through a window and shot at the group, the report said.
The RSF did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The group has previously denied harming civilians and said that it will hold its forces to account for any violations.
The April attack was a precursor to the attack on al-Fashir city to the north in late October, where the RSF is accused of summarily executing and kidnapping thousands of people. Most of those thought to have lived in the city are unaccounted for.
iPhone Marketplaces Expand Amid Japan’s Competition Push
Apple announced on Wednesday that it has opened iPhones to alternative app stores in Japan to comply with new laws aimed at stoking competition in that country’s smartphone market.
Under Apple’s new rules, Japanese developers can launch their own app marketplaces on iPhones and pay Apple as little as 5% of sales made through those marketplaces and apps.
Developers will also be able to offer their own in-app payments for apps distributed through Apple’s App Store, though Apple said the option will be offered alongside its own in-app payment system and that developers will still pay commissions.
Apple in Alternative Marketplace
Japan is the latest jurisdiction to pry apart Apple’s App Store business model, where developers long paid commissions of up to 30% on in-app purchases of digital goods and services. While Apple is still litigating over what it can charge developers in the United States, in Europe the U.S. technology company has been required to open the iPhone to alternative marketplaces.
Japan’s framework is fundamentally different from the European one.
Under it, Apple has the authority to approve alternative app marketplaces. It also requires age ratings, as it does in its own App Store, for apps sold on alternative marketplaces.
Apple also said it will run a basic security check called a notarization on all apps distributed through alternative marketplaces.
Japanese developers using Apple’s App Store can provide links to pay outside their apps, for which Apple will charge a 15% commission. Standard App Store purchases will be charged a 26% fee.
Hardware Access
Japan’s law also requires Apple to open up its iPhone hardware to third-party device makers, but does so differently than European law. Apple set up a system in Japan for taking interoperability requests but said it can reject them if they would expose sensitive user data.
“Across these changes, Apple has worked to reduce new privacy and security risks the law creates to provide users in Japan the best and safest experience possible,” Apple said in a blog.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Russia Warns U.S. Against ‘Fatal Mistake’ Over Venezuela
Russia’s foreign ministry on Thursday cautioned Washington against taking drastic action in Venezuela, expressing concern that U.S. policies could endanger global navigation and regional stability. The warning came after President Donald Trump ordered a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela in an effort to tighten pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
Moscow Urges Caution and Dialogue
In a statement, Moscow said it hoped the Trump administration, known for its “rational and pragmatic approach,” would not make what it described as a “fatal mistake.” The ministry reaffirmed that Venezuela remained a close ally of Russia and warned that any escalation by Washington could lead to “unpredictable consequences for the entire Western Hemisphere.”
The comments followed an effective embargo on Venezuelan oil exports after U.S. authorities seized a sanctioned tanker off the country’s coast last week. Several vessels carrying millions of barrels of crude have since remained anchored in Venezuelan waters to avoid the risk of confiscation.
Defence of Sovereignty and Regional Stability
Invoking the words of Venezuelan independence hero Simón Bolívar, Russia reminded Washington that “every nation has the right to choose its own rulers” and that foreign powers must respect this principle. Moscow urged the U.S. to avoid further interference and instead pursue a “normalisation of dialogue” with Caracas.
Russia also reiterated its “solidarity with the Venezuelan people in the face of the trials they are going through,” reaffirming support for President Maduro’s efforts to defend what it described as Venezuela’s national interests and sovereignty.
Strategic and Political Stakes
The latest tensions underscore the deep divisions between Washington and Moscow over Latin America. While the U.S. continues to impose economic sanctions to weaken Maduro’s administration, Russia remains one of Venezuela’s most significant backers, offering political support and energy cooperation.
Moscow’s statement signals its intent to counterbalance U.S. influence in the region while positioning itself as a defender of national sovereignty amid ongoing geopolitical competition.
(with inputs from Reuters)
After Bondi Beach Shooting, Australia Promises New Hate Laws
Australia PM Anthony Albanese on Thursday promised a crackdown on hate speech in the wake of an attack on a Jewish holiday event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, as the youngest of 15 victims was laid to rest.
Yellow toy bees topped the coffin of 10-year-old Matilda, who was remembered as a ‘ray of sunshine’ who loved animals and dancing.
Matilda’s middle name was Bee, which inspired attendees to wear bee stickers and bring bee-themed toys and balloons, while some mourners wore yellow. Matilda’s family has asked the media not to use their surname.
“The tragic, so totally cruel, unfathomable murder of young Matilda is something to all of us as if our own daughter were taken from us,” said Rabbi Yehoram Ulman.
“Matilda grew up like a child would, loving what children love. She loved the outdoors and animals. She went to school, she had friends, everybody loved her.”
The line outside the hall where Matilda’s funeral was held in Sydney’s eastern suburbs snaked down the street. Many mourners who could not get in watched the service on a screen outside the building.
Some were angry at the government, saying it had not done enough to combat a rise in antisemitism since the start of the war in Gaza.
Action On Hate Speech
Albanese said the government will seek to introduce legislation that makes it easier to charge people promoting hate speech and violence. Penalties would be increased, cancelling or refusing visas would be made easier, and a regime for targeting organisations whose leaders engage in hate speech would be developed, he said.
“Australians are shocked and angry. I am angry. It is clear we need to do more to combat this evil scourge,” Albanese told a news conference announcing the reforms.
Albanese’s government has said it has consistently denounced antisemitism over the last two years. It passed legislation to criminalise hate speech, and in August, it expelled the Iranian ambassador after accusing Tehran of directing two antisemitic arson attacks in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne.
Still, antisemitic incidents are mounting. A 19-year-old Sydney man was charged and will face court on Thursday after allegedly threatening violence towards a Jewish person on a flight from Bali to Sydney on Wednesday.
“Police will allege the man made antisemitic threats and hand gestures indicating violence towards the alleged victim, who the man knew to be affiliated with the Jewish community,” Australian Federal Police said on Thursday.
Islamic State Links Investigated
Australia Police allege the Bondi Beach attack was carried out by Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed. Sajid was shot dead by police at the scene, while Naveed Akram was charged with 59 offences, including murder and terror charges, on Wednesday after waking from a coma. His case has been adjourned until April 2026, the court confirmed on Thursday.
The centre-left Labor government has ruled out holding a Royal Commission, a high-level inquiry with judicial powers, into the shootings for now.
On Wednesday, the leader of New South Wales, where the attack took place, said he would next week recall the state parliament to pass urgent reforms on gun laws.
Police are looking into Australia-based Islamic State networks as well as the gunmen’s alleged links to militants in the Philippines.
(with inputs from Reuters)