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Afghan Returnees Crisis Deepens
Afghanistan is experiencing mounting pressure as large-scale returns from Pakistan and Iran continue, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Nearly one million Afghans have returned from Pakistan over the past 18 months, with 145,000 arriving in April 2025 alone—eight times the February…
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PM Resigns as Romania Heads to Presidential Runoff
Romania is heading into a second round of presidential elections on May 18, after George Simion, candidate for the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR, right-wing nationalist party) secured over 40% of the vote in the first round on May 4. Simion will face Nicușor Dan from the Save Romania Union (pro-European liberal party),…
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Serbia’s Passport Loophole: The Backdoor to Europe for Russian Elites
The Russian investigative outlet Vazhnye Istorii has uncovered a citizenship scheme that allows Russian nationals—many with ties to the Kremlin or defense sector—to travel freely across Europe despite sanctions. Since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has imposed extensive sanctions on Russia, including travel bans targeting hundreds of government officials, military personnel, and…
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Georgian Authorities Raid Protest-Linked NGOs and Activists
On April 29, Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office conducted coordinated home searches targeting civil society figures and organisations accused of financially supporting anti-government, pro-European Union protests. The searches, based on court-issued warrants, were carried out at the homes of prominent figures involved in civil society and activism, including journalist Nanuka Zhorzholiani and human rights defender Aleko…
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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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Ex-Kursk Governor Detained Over Military Funds Fraud
Alexey Smirnov has been placed in pre-trial detention for two months by the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow. He is accused of large-scale fraud in connection with misappropriation of state funds meant for military fortifications, allegedly committed by an organized group using official positions. Smirnov’s former deputy, Alexey Dedov, faces the same charges. Smirnov is…
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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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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…