Author: Frank Deux

European NATO countries have more than doubled their arms imports over five years, with 60 percent sourced from the US, a leading conflict think tank reported Monday. Ukraine emerged as the world’s top arms importer, while the US solidified its lead as the principal weapons exporter, accounting for 43 percent of global exports. European arms imports surge, US expands lead as top global weapons exporter

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Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of France on Saturday to mark International Women’s Day. While Femen activists in Paris marched with the US or Russian flag painted across their naked chests along with a swastika, the Eiffel Tower was lit up with a message of solidarity for Afghan women living under the oppressive Taliban regime.    Thousands of French take to streets to mark International Women’s Day

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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday raged against what he called “bullying” tactics to force the Islamic Republic to engage in negotiations about its nuclear programme. On Friday, US President Donald Trump threatened Teheran by saying Iran can either “make a deal” or be handled militarily. Iran says will not be ‘bullied’ into nuclear talks with US, has not received letter from Trump

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President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday condemned Russia’s “brutal” new strikes on Ukraine, warning that Moscow is “not thinking about how to end the war”, but said his country remains fully committed to constructive talks with the US next week. Russia, meanwhile, said it had recaptured three more villages seized by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region last August.   Zelensky condemns Russia’s ‘brutal’ strikes on Ukraine, Moscow claims advances in Kursk region

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The Trump administration announced Friday that it is pulling $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia University, saying the university failed to take action against anti-Semitism on campus. The statement said that the cuts were just the “first round of action”.   Trump administration cuts $400 million from Columbia University over Gaza protests

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In today’s edition, The United States is no longer part of a climate agreement that should have helped South Africa to switch from coal to green energy. Also, Rwanda faces recurring accusations of exploiting neighboring DRC natural resources. And Africa has the highest rate of female entrepreneurial activity in the world, but many obstacles continue to hold women back. US pulls out of energy partnership with South Africa

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Ukraine’s energy and gas infrastructure was “under massive missile and drone shelling” by Russia on Friday, a Ukrainian minister said. This comes hours after EU leaders, shaken by the prospect of US disengagement, agreed to boost the bloc’s defences at a crisis summit on Thursday. Follow our live blog for the latest developments. Live: Ukraine says energy infrastructure under 'massive' Russian attack

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SpaceX carried out another launch of its Starship rocket Thursday but quickly lost contact with the vessel as it roared over the Gulf of Mexico. The rocket scattered debris over parts of the Caribbean, prompting numerous flight diversions around Turks and Caicos and ground stops at four Florida airports. SpaceX loses another Starship rocket during eighth test flight

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The Champions League round of 16 kicked off with a tight Real Madrid win over Atlético Madrid in a derby matchup on Tuesday, North London club Arsenal smashed seven goals past Dutch side PSV Eindhoven and Aston Villa continued its stellar campaign with a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge. French side Lille held last year’s runner-up Borussia Dortmund to a 1-1 draw. Champions League: Real Madrid bests Atletico as English teams run riot

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The use of rape as a weapon of war has been uncovered in the midst of a major conflict. Investigators for the UN children’s agency say hundreds of little girls and boys, some not even a year old, more than a dozen under the age of five, have been horrifically sexually abused by armed men in Sudan’s civil war. Both the army and RSF paramilitaries have been accused of the atrocities, adding a horrific new dimension to a brutal war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since April.  UN : Children raped as weapon of war

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Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday thanked President Trump for releasing previously withheld US munitions to assist Israel’s efforts against Iran’s influence, including its nuclear ambitions and proxy groups including the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Israeli leader made similar remarks last month, at a news conference with visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Netanyahu thanks Trump for weapon support to 'finish the job' against Iran axis

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that European leaders, showing strong support for Ukraine at a London summit, agreed to draft a peace plan for Ukraine to present to the US. The initiative aims to secure essential security guarantees from Washington to deter Russian aggression, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s disastrous Washington visit. Starmer says 'coalition of the willing' to present Ukraine peace plan to Trump

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