Following President Trump’s attempts at peace negotiations, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna advocates for a unified US and European approach to pressure Russia. This pressure should involve intensified sanctions and the seizure of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s reconstruction. Tsahkna emphasizes the need for a strong stance against Putin, citing potential Hungarian obstruction of EU sanctions and suggesting Trump could influence Hungary’s position. Ultimately, he believes that only significant pressure will elicit a meaningful response from Putin.
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Prime Minister Modi announced that India will prioritize its own water usage, effectively curbing water flow to Pakistan. This decision follows India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a 1960 agreement allocating river water between the two nations, in response to a recent terror attack. Modi’s statement reflects a broader policy shift prioritizing national interests over international concerns, a change he credits with significant economic reforms, including strengthening the banking sector. This new focus, he argues, has led to India’s progress over the last decade.
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A Senate hearing revealed alarming data from the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS): 18 million Filipino junior and senior high school graduates (2019-2024) are functionally illiterate. This means they lack the comprehension skills to understand simple text, despite completing their basic education. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Department of Education to address this crisis proactively, ensuring all students achieve functional literacy before graduation. The findings corroborate earlier studies highlighting a severe learning crisis in the Philippines.
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Pakistani military aircraft intercepted and shot down unidentified aircraft violating Pakistani airspace. The action was deemed necessary in self-defense to protect national sovereignty. No further details regarding the aircraft’s origin or purpose were immediately released by the spokesperson. The incident underscores ongoing security concerns along Pakistan’s borders.
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Former President Biden criticized Donald Trump’s proposed concessions to Russia in Ukraine as “modern-day appeasement,” fearing it would embolden Russia and other European nations. Biden contrasted this with his own administration’s approach, which he argued provided Ukraine with the necessary support to resist invasion while carefully avoiding a broader conflict, including the risk of nuclear escalation. He maintained that Putin views Ukraine as historically Russian territory and that concessions would only encourage further aggression. Biden asserted his administration successfully prevented World War III through calculated responses to Putin’s threats.
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In retaliation for a recent terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, striking multiple terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Ten members of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar’s family, including his sister and brother-in-law, were killed in the Bahawalpur strikes. The operation targeted terrorist camps, not military installations, with no reported civilian casualties outside of Azhar’s family. While Pakistan claimed the attacks were an “act of war,” India asserted the strikes were a response to cross-border terrorism and warned against further escalation.
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Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India launched retaliatory airstrikes against nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. Subsequently, Indian officials contacted counterparts in the US, UK, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to explain the military action. The strikes were a direct response to the attack, which killed 26 civilians. India asserted its commitment to holding those responsible accountable. These actions occurred two weeks after the initial attack.
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Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions of a desire to acquire Greenland for strategic reasons, European Parliament President Kaja Kallas delivered a strong rebuke. Kallas firmly defended Greenland’s right to self-determination, emphasizing that any decisions regarding its future must be made by the Greenlanders themselves. This stance underscores the EU’s commitment to upholding international law and respecting the sovereignty of nations. The rules-based international order, Kallas stated, depends on the unwavering respect for territorial integrity and national borders.
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India’s reduction of the Chenab River’s flow by 90 percent, due to maintenance at the Baglihar dam and planned work at the Kishanganga dam, has heightened tensions with Pakistan. This action follows India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and other retaliatory measures in response to recent attacks and border clashes. Pakistan views any water diversion as an act of war, issuing strong warnings and conducting missile tests. The situation reflects the long-standing conflict over Kashmir and threatens further escalation.
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Following an attack on Hindu tourists in Kashmir, India launched airstrikes on nine alleged “terrorist infrastructure” sites within Pakistan, resulting in at least eight deaths and numerous injuries on both sides. Pakistan responded by claiming to shoot down Indian jets and declaring the strikes an “act of war,” escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed nations. The Indian military claimed its actions were measured and targeted, while Pakistan’s defense minister denied this, stating civilian areas were struck. International concern is high, with the UN urging both countries to exercise maximum restraint.
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John Q. Hosedrinker