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Featured Notes Owei Lakemfa Syria World

Ousting Assad was more tragic than the West canonising jihadists

When Aleppo, Syria’s second largest city fell on Friday, November 29, 2024 , I thought it was a big blow, but that the Syrian Armed Forces would quickly recover and fight to retake it. However, in the following days, as the Syrian military melted away in the face of advancing Islamic terrorist rebels of al-Qaeda, Islamic State, ISIS and al-Nustra, now Read More…

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Russia Top Story Ukraine World

Zelensky makes a bold move, willing to cede territory for peace

In a surprising shift, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday night his willingness to cede territory to Russia to end the ongoing war. This marks the first time Zelensky has publicly considered such a concession. Speaking to Sky News, he emphasised that Ukraine could temporarily give up land in exchange for a “NATO umbrella” Read More…

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Russia Top Story Ukraine World

Russia takes aggressive stance as Ukraine’s counter-offensive fails

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a warning on Tuesday, suggesting that Ukraine’s statehood could face an “irreparable blow” if the current war pattern persisted. Putin’s comments followed Switzerland’s agreement to host a global summit at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s request. Dismissing proposed peace formulas, Putin asserted Russia’s determination not to abandon the gains it had Read More…

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Russia Top Story Ukraine World

Russian militants call on Wagner Group to defect amid revenge claims

A faction of Russian militants who are aligned with the Ukrainian forces has issued an appeal to the Wagner Group of mercenaries, urging them to defect and join their ranks in retaliation for the deaths of Wagner’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and their commander, Dmitry Utkin. Russian aviation authorities have confirmed that Prigozhin, Utkin, and eight Read More…

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Russia Top Story World

Crash of Prigozhin jet fuels speculation of Putin’s involvement

The wreckage of a jet carrying Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, which crashed with no survivors, has prompted widespread speculation about President Vladimir Putin’s possible involvement, given Prigozhin’s history of challenging the army’s leadership. Two months prior, Prigozhin led a mutiny against the military, positioning himself as a significant threat to Putin’s authority. “Putin’s silence Read More…

REUTERS/Johanna Geron
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Finland joins NATO on Tuesday

Finland will join NATO on Tuesday, completing the Nordic country’s quick entry into the military alliance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, authorities said. Finland has a 1,300-kilometer (810-mile) border with Russia, which means NATO’s border with Russia would approximately quadruple in length, prompting Moscow to commit to strengthening its military in border regions. “Tomorrow we Read More…

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China Russia Top Story World

Putin cosies up with Xi as ‘dear friends’ meet in the Kremlin

Vladimir Putin had tea with his “dear friend” Xi Jinping in the Kremlin on Monday, demonstrating his rapport with his most powerful ally just days after an international court ordered his arrest for war crimes in Ukraine. US condemned Xi’s visit, claiming that the timing demonstrated that China was helping Moscow with “diplomatic cover” to Read More…

Russia Top Story Ukraine World

ICC wants Putin arrested for Ukraine war crimes against children

In a decision that has infuriated the Kremlin, the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of the war crime of the forcible deportation of children from Ukraine. After Muammar Gaddafi of Libya and Omar al-Bashir of the Sudan, Putin is the only other sitting Read More…

Sports Tennis

Russia’s Medvedev sad for Ukrainian athletes competing in wartime

Daniil Medvedev has expressed sympathy for Ukrainian players competing in tennis tours in the midst of unrest in their country, which Russia invaded last year. Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine withdrew from her match against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka at Indian Wells, citing a panic attack triggered by a conversation with WTA Chief Executive Steve Simon about Read More…

Russia Ukraine World

Ukraine refuses to abandon Bakhmut despite incessant Russian attacks

Ukraine’s top military commanders have vowed to continue defending the besieged city of Bakhmut, where Russia hopes to make its first major wartime gain in more than a year, and to strengthen their defences, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. In the midst of some of the bloodiest fighting of the over-a-year-long invasion, Moscow says capturing Read More…