Toplines Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 25 that he authorized a 40-day intermediate- and long-range strike campaign to influence Russia to end the war in Ukraine.[1] The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) reported on June 26 that Ukrainian drones continued strikes against occupied Crimea as part of the 40-day …

Key Takeaways Iran is using force in an attempt to maintain its control over the Strait of Hormuz in the immediate future. Iran is likely attempting to prevent vessels from using non-Iranian shipping channels with force in the immediate term as it continues negotiations with the Gulf Arab states to …

On February 28, 2026, American and Israeli forces launched Operation Epic Fury. The country they targeted was already in economic crisis: inflation had topped 50%, the currency was in free fall, merchants had shuttered their shops in protest, a major private bank had just collapsed. When the bombs began to …

As the demonstrations in favor of the Pishë Poro-Narta protected area go on, local communities in other parts of Albania are also in turmoil. The symbol of this new wave of protests is the barbed-wire fencing surrounding the areas where new projects are planned. The fence represents power and exclusion; …

Two institutions, one pattern The IMC is the body responsible for regulating the broadcast media sector in Kosovo. It operates under the direct authority of the Parliament, which votes on its annual budget and appoints its seven-member board. RTK, the public broadcaster, has an eleven-member board approved by the Assembly, …

Damascus, Syria – US President Donald Trump declared the memorandum of understanding that would end months of war between the US and Iran “all signed” last week. Those in Syria have been onlookers to the war, often literally, with Iranian missiles targeting Israel frequently visible in the night sky over …

Less than 48 hours after Iran and the United States reached a deal to end the war and begin negotiations on a durable peace, Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon killed at least four people, and Hezbollah carried out two operations against Israeli forces trying to infiltrate deeper into Lebanese territory. …

After over four years of full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine and numerous rounds of sanctions, companies effectively controlled by individuals and entities from Russia and Belarus continue to operate in Poland and across Europe. Wealthy Russians with ties to Sberbank are conducting business as usual in the heart of Europe. …

As negotiations with Iran and Lebanon continue, chaos is at the heart of the Netanyahu government’s calculations. Israel is pursuing its annihilatory campaign in Lebanon under the guise of enhancing its security. However, it has long dawned upon most people in the Middle East (and not a few outside) that …

Although claimed compromises by some of Iran’s proxies are unlikely to result in actual disarmament anytime soon, Washington can still erode Tehran’s illicit financial networks by carefully exploiting the militias’ desire to be treated as normal political actors. Since December, various Iraqi officials—including Supreme Judicial Council chief Faeq Zaidan—have reportedly …