Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
North Korea says it will build up defenses in response to ‘rapid aggravation’ of U.S., Japan, South
North Korea on Sunday blamed the U.S., Japan and South Korea for the "rapid aggravation of the security environment of the Korean peninsula," and said it will quickly build up its defensive capabilities in response. Published July 4, 2022
U.S.: Israeli bullet ‘likely’ killed Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
Israeli gunfire "likely" killed Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) raid in the West Bank city of Jenin last month, U.S. officials said Monday following an extensive analysis of the bullet that struck the prominent reporter. Published July 4, 2022
Ukrainian troops withdraw, Russia captures key city of Lysychansk: Reports
Russian forces over the weekend captured the key city of Lysychansk in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, marking a major strategic win for Moscow while bringing virtually all of the disputed Luhansk province under Kremlin control. Published July 3, 2022
Ukraine’s drone blitz loses its edge as Russian invasion advances
The early weeks of the war in Ukraine were dominated by social media posts showing Russian tanks decimated by small, cheap drones that helped level the playing field and largely negated Moscow's massive advantage in personnel and equipment. Published July 2, 2022
U.S. bolsters long-term troop presence in Europe as Russia-Ukraine war drags on
The future of America's long-term troop presence in Europe came into focus Wednesday as President Biden announced new plans to permanently place fresh U.S. personnel in Poland, air defense batteries in Italy and Germany, and a host of other steps as NATO reinforces its front line as relations deteriorate badly with Russia in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Published June 29, 2022
NATO expansion on course as Turkey OKs bids for Sweden, Finland
Turkey on Tuesday dropped its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, seemingly clearing the way for the two nations to enter the trans-Atlantic alliance and delivering a major boost to Western solidarity amid the Russia-Ukraine war. Published June 28, 2022
Turkey drops opposition to Sweden, Finland NATO bid
Turkey on Tuesday dropped its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, seemingly clearing the way for the two nations to enter the trans-Atlantic alliance and delivering a major boost to Western solidarity amid the Russia-Ukraine war. Published June 28, 2022
Military will continue some abortions in states that ban practice, Pentagon says
Limited abortions will continue at U.S. military facilities even in states that ban the practice, Pentagon leaders said in a memo Tuesday. Published June 28, 2022
As U.S. troops reach 100K in Europe, questions mount over endgame, long-term effects
The number of American troops in Europe has risen sharply in the four months since Russia invaded Ukraine, jumping from about 65,000 in mid-February to 100,000 today. Published June 26, 2022
Ukraine gets EU invite, in rebuke to Putin
The European Union on Thursday formally made Ukraine a candidate for membership in the 27-nation alliance, delivering what could be a major morale boost for Ukrainian troops while dealing a significant blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin's drive to pull Kyiv away from the West. Published June 23, 2022
Bringing back Bibi? Israeli political shake-up has Netanyahu back in the mix
The Benjamin Netanyahu era seemed to meet its definitive end last summer. Published June 21, 2022
Russia still holds major leverage on world’s economy despite losses
The global economic damage sparked by Russia's war in Ukraine may get much worse. Published June 17, 2022
Western solidarity tested as Europeans divided over immediate end to Russia-Ukraine war
Cracks are deepening across Europe over how to handle the Russia-Ukraine endgame, according to new data released Wednesday, as a growing number of Europeans favor immediate peace over the continuation of a hard-line anti-Russia stance that's defined Western policy since the start of the war nearly four months ago. Published June 15, 2022
‘It helps them do their job’: AI’s behind-the-scenes role in U.S. military expands rapidly
From predicting equipment failures on an F-16 before they happen to sorting through a mountain of data to correct overhead video in real time for a U.S. special forces team, the rapidly expanding role of artificial intelligence in today's military is often much less exciting than its critics suggest, but more important than most realize. Published June 13, 2022
U.S., Chinese military chiefs exchange broadsides over Pacific policy
The U.S. is to blame for rising tensions in the Pacific, and America's Indo-Pacific strategy to further divide the region is "doomed to failure," a leading Chinese military official said Sunday. Published June 12, 2022
U.S. ‘doomed to failure’ in Pacific vows Chinese military official
The U.S. is to blame for rising tensions in the Pacific, and America's Indo-Pacific strategy will only further divide the region and ultimately is "doomed to failure," a Chinese military official said Sunday. Published June 12, 2022
Russia launches rockets into western Ukraine Sunday as more troops mass in east
Russia is massing more troops and could soon dispatch fresh battalions for its major ground offensive in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, foreign intelligence officials said Sunday, while Russian rocket attacks on the opposite side of the country reportedly injured more than 20 Ukrainians. Published June 12, 2022
West must aid Ukraine in ‘war of attrition’ with Russia, NATO chief says
The fight in Ukraine has become "a war of attrition" and Western aid for Kyiv against Russia is more vital than even, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday, offering a grim assessment of the bloody conflict as it nears the 100-day mark but also expressing deep solidarity with the embattled government in Kyiv. Published June 2, 2022
Frozen war: Russia’s slow, bloody slog in eastern Ukraine ushers in new phase of fighting
With Friday marking the 100th day of the invasion, it has become clear Russian President Vladimir Putin has scaled back his once-lofty ambitions of immediately decapitating the Ukrainian government and bringing most, if not all, of the country under Moscow's thumb. Published June 1, 2022
U.S. eyes new generation military tools for a potential clash with China
The increasingly futuristic nature of war calls for a new generation of tools for the American military -- including heat-sensing cameras that can detect enemy machine gun nests miles away, cutting-edge inflatable boats that can be dropped from helicopters, and handheld underwater controllers capable of operating drones overhead. Published May 26, 2022
