US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said progress has been achieved in diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, but emphasized that major challenges remain. Ukrainian officials traveled to Washington, DC, this week for a fresh round of discussions with US diplomats as part of ongoing efforts to negotiate a sustainable peace settlement. Rubio Highlights

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The administration of President Donald Trump has announced an immediate suspension of the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Program), the lottery system through which Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the suspect in the Brown University shooting, entered the United States in 2017. The program, which annually grants approximately 50,000 immigrant visas, has long been a target

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The United States military has carried out large-scale air and artillery strikes against ISIL (ISIS) targets in Syria, following the deaths of two US National Guard members and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra last week. President Donald Trump described the operation as a “massive strike” and a declaration of vengeance for the attack that claimed

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Officials from Israel and Lebanon met in Naqoura, southern Lebanon, on Friday to discuss the ceasefire agreement and the disarmament of Hezbollah, as Israel continues near-daily attacks across Lebanon. This marks the 15th meeting of the committee since the truce was signed in November 2024. Focus of the Talks The discussions involved both civilian and

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Over 84,000 people have fled eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to Burundi following a rebel offensive by the M23 group, which briefly captured the strategic city of Uvira, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Humanitarian Crisis at Burundi Border The UN warns that Burundi has reached a critical point

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Ukrainian forces have reclaimed large parts of Kupiansk and Pokrovsk, challenging Russian claims of total control and undermining Moscow’s official narrative. The developments come amid ongoing high-stakes military and diplomatic activity. Ukraine Regains Kupiansk Ukrainian troops steadily retook control of almost all of northern Kupiansk after isolating roughly 200 Russian soldiers and clearing Russian positions

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US President Donald Trump’s allies have invoked the so-called “war on terror” to defend his military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific. However, legal experts and human rights advocates argue that the comparison to Obama-era drone strikes is misleading and legally unfounded. Legal Experts Reject “War on Terror” Justification Trump’s boat

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Russian President Vladimir Putin used his annual “Results of the Year” press conference in Moscow to underscore a hardline position on the ongoing war in Ukraine, emphasizing that Kyiv refuses to negotiate on territorial concessions. His remarks come amid growing international efforts, led by US President Donald Trump, to broker a peace deal and end

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In Gaza, where over 81 percent of buildings have been damaged or destroyed, a resilient community of young Palestinians is working tirelessly to preserve the enclave’s digital life. Coders, repair technicians, and freelancers are striving to maintain internet connectivity and digital services despite ongoing destruction of telecommunications infrastructure by Israeli forces. Battling Infrastructure Destruction Since

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A deadly Israeli attack struck a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City on Friday, killing at least six Palestinians attending a wedding, just as international mediators held talks in the United States to advance the next phase of the fragile Gaza ceasefire. The assault underscores the continuing volatility in the region and the challenges facing efforts to

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