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Trump and Zelensky Meet at Vatican During Pope’s Funeral
US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met briefly inside St. Peter’s Basilica on April 26, during the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome. It was their first meeting since their tense encounter at the White House earlier this year. Both leaders described the exchange as positive and productive, and agreed to pursue…
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Zelensky: 150+ Chinese Citizens Fighting for Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that more than 150 Chinese nationals are participating in the war in Ukraine on the side of Russia, with Ukrainian authorities having identified 155 individuals by name and passport number. On April 8, Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese nationals fighting in Donetsk. The individuals are currently held by Ukraine’s…
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The Gromyko Method: How Putin Channels Soviet Diplomacy
Andrei Gromyko (1909-1989) was a Soviet diplomat and politician who served as the USSR’s Foreign Minister from 1957 to 1985 and as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet from 1985 to 1988. Renowned for his firm négociation style, he earned the nickname “Mr. No” in the West, and the method he gave his…
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Kursk Recaptured: Russian Forces Push Toward Sumy
Russian retook most of the Kursk Oblast and advances toward Sumy, amid continued strikes on energy infrastructures.Amid escalating hostilities in northeastern Ukraine, Russian forces have regained control of most of the Kursk region and are pushing toward Sumy. Intensified drone warfare, North Korean troop involvement, and strikes on critical infrastructure mark a volatile phase in the conflict. Territorial Gains and Military Operations Russian forces have retaken nearly all of the Kursk…
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Partial Ceasefire Reached Without Ukraine at the Table
Combats continue in Donbas despite a brokered partial ceasefire. CREDIT: Ukrainian Presidency.A two-hour phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 18 resulted in a series of preliminary agreements concerning the ongoing conflict in Donbas. Notably, Ukraine was not included in these negotiations. This call marked the first direct contact between the two leaders in a month and came amid…
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UN Leads Cyprus Peace Talks in Switzerland
Switzerland is hosting UN-backed informal Cyprus peace talks. The discussions aim to explore potential steps toward resolving the island’s division between the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which has remained separated since 1974. In addition to its partition, significant areas of the island remain under the…
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Morocco: New Host for Turkish Drone Manufacturing?
Atlas Defense, a company newly registered in Rabat in January 2024, is expected to become the first production facility for Turkish military drones in Africa. The company’s stated activities include: “the design, manufacturing, development, and maintenance of drones.” The company is owned by Haluk and Selçuk Bayraktar, leaders of Türkiye ‘s Baykar defense firm. Baykar…
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Syria SitRep: Alawite Uprising Crushed, Mass Executions Reported
Today, we revisite the latest developments in Syria’s ongoing crisis. CREDIT: Rafael Medina.Armed clashes erupted on March 6 in the Syrian provinces of Latakia and Tartus, strongholds of the Alawite minority, after insurgents attacked security forces in Beit Ana. The violence escalated as pro-Assad militias also seized military positions, prompting a large-scale government military response. The Alawites The Alawites are a branch of Shia Islam, making up…
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Morocco Plans Military Airport in Sahara with US and French Support
Morocco is considering the construction of a military airport in the extreme south of the Sahara to address the alleged growing threat posed by terrorist groups in the Sahel. The project, reportedly involving cooperation with the United States and France, is intended to reinforce regional security as Western forces gradually withdraw from the area. The…
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Gaza Ceasefire Talks Stalled, Blocking Humanitarian Aid
Israel has halted all humanitarian aid into Gaza, citing Hamas’s rejection of Israel’s proposal to extend phase one of the ceasefire brokered in January 2025, instead of moving to phase two as originally planned. The decision, announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, follows the expiration on March 2 of a 42-day ceasefire part of…