But the unified front hailed by Putin and amplified by Russian state media is only part of the story. For a portion of Russian society, Victory Day is an excruciating annual reminder of the current war in Ukraine, which they see as tarnishing their country’s reputation and distorting its history, as well as that of … Read more
“Pashinyan needs to go,” one middle-aged demonstrator told POLITICO, saying he preferred not to give his name as he feared reprisals. Asked who should take his place as prime minister, or how another leader would avoid conflict with Azerbaijan while still keeping the four villages, the demonstrator said: “Someone else will have a better plan.” … Read more
Asked whether the withdrawal of the Russian border guards, formally part of the country’s FSB security service, had been discussed at the meeting, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said “yes,” according to state newswire TASS. On Sunday, long convoys of Russian military vehicles were seen leaving Armenia’s border regions, heading toward the capital, Yerevan. Dozens … Read more
A floral tribute at the funeral of a senior official on Monday suggests China’s former defence chief and rocket army veteran Wei Fenghe may be politically safe, after his absence from state events sparked months of speculation about his fate. Wei’s name was spotted on a wreath at the funeral of Oyunqemag, 81, who served … Read more
When Egypt hosted in 2022, activists used the event to highlight the government’s crackdown on political opponents. Last year saw widespread criticism when COP28 host the United Arab Emirates appointed the man tasked with expanding the country’s oil and gas output to lead the talks. Likewise, the incoming president of COP29 is a former Azerbaijani … Read more
Held-up cash The European Commission announced in March that it would continue to fund UNRWA, the U.N. relief agency for Palestine refugees, after Israel claimed in January that UNRWA staff were involved in the Oct. 7 attacks. However, parts of the financial support for the Palestinian territories and member countries’ contributions to the agency are … Read more
The Canadian military could have modern satellite coverage in the Arctic a decade earlier than envisioned if the federal government is willing to follow the example of other countries and embrace commercial options in space, a House of Commons committee heard Monday. Mike Greenley, chief executive officer of MDA Canada, told committee members Canada has fallen behind … Read more
Kamyshin said his country’s arms industry can produce about $20 billion worth of weapons. The Ukrainian government plans to issue contracts for $6 billion, while another $4 billion would come from local partners; Ukraine’s allies could supply the missing $10 billion. Denmark is leading the way, announcing last month that it will allocate 200 million … Read more
The Israeli military on Monday called on civilians in eastern Rafah to evacuate as it prepares for an expected ground offensive in the southern Gaza city. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it would communicate its message to people in Rafah through “flyers, SMS messages, phone calls and media broadcasts in Arabic.” … Read more
His team is preparing for a possible legal appeal, such as a judicial review, if the case is referred to the High Court. The inquiry chair could also decide it simply would not be in the public interest to legally pursue a minister who in other ways has been of assistance. In the meantime, there’s … Read more
