Overnight, Ukrainian forces launched coordinated strikes against targets in southwestern Russia, including a key oil tanker loading terminal in Tuapse via kamikaze drones and robot boats. The attack resulted in explosions and fires within the port area, despite Russian claims of interception and minimal damage. Simultaneously, Ukrainian drones targeted railroad infrastructure in Rostov, prompting air travel disruptions and reports of damage, alongside an extensive drone campaign against Russian energy infrastructure. These attacks are part of a broader strategy aimed at disrupting Russian oil exports and retaliating for Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, with a notable increase in strikes against power grids and heating plants.
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A new report indicates that Drax power plant, the UK’s largest carbon emitter, continues to source wood from old-growth forests in Canada despite claiming to use only sustainable sources. The Stand.earth report alleges Drax’s Canadian subsidiary received hundreds of truckloads of logs, likely including trees hundreds of years old, throughout 2024 and into 2025. This raises questions about Drax’s sustainability claims, especially as it receives substantial green energy subsidies. The report highlights that Drax has sourced from areas with a high percentage of old-growth forests, even though they claimed to have stopped sourcing from designated protected areas.
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Cameroon’s 92-year-old President Paul Biya was sworn in for his eighth term, vowing to restore order amidst post-election violence. Biya, who won the election with 54% of the vote, offered condolences for victims of protests that arose from allegations of fraud. He praised the electoral process and promised to focus on issues affecting women, young people, corruption, and security. Despite the unrest and criticisms of his long rule, Biya urged citizens to work with him in building a prosperous nation.
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A recent investigative report reveals the Russian Ministry of Defense has recruited convicted murderers and violent offenders for combat operations in Ukraine, offering early release in exchange for service. The report details the cases of Vagan Safaryan and Yuriy Hrytsenko, both convicted of multiple murders, who were deployed to the “Special Military Operation” zone after signing military contracts. These individuals, despite their violent histories and, in Hrytsenko’s case, a history of mental instability, were released from prison under this controversial program. The practice, which began with the full-scale invasion, has prompted concerns about public safety and a potential surge in violent crimes committed by returning ex-convicts.
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A high-intensity blast occurred in a car near Delhi’s Red Fort, resulting in eight fatalities and approximately 20 injuries. The explosion, involving a Hyundai i20, caused significant damage to nearby vehicles and prompted immediate responses from authorities. The incident occurred amidst a heightened state of alert, with security agencies, including the NIA, deployed and the Indo-Nepal border under increased scrutiny. This event follows the recent recovery of a large quantity of explosives and the arrest of several individuals, including medical professionals, in connection with a suspected terrorist plot involving Jaish-e-Mohammed and al-Qaeda-affiliated groups in Faridabad and Jammu & Kashmir.
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A powerful explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening resulted in at least ten fatalities and numerous injuries, occurring within a Haryana-registered vehicle. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA) are investigating all possible angles surrounding the blast, which occurred at a traffic signal. Authorities have taken the registered owner of the vehicle into custody for questioning, although officials have clarified that this incident is not connected to a recent arrest of an interstate terror module. High alerts have been issued across several cities, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Noida, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh, with increased security measures and intensified surveillance in place.
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After three weeks in prison, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was released and allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence at home. He had been convicted of criminal conspiracy regarding illegal campaign funding from Muammar Gaddafi’s regime. While he denies any wrongdoing and is appealing the verdict, the court has imposed strict conditions on his release, including prohibiting him from contacting any officials in the Justice Ministry and others involved in the case. Sarkozy, who served as France’s president between 2007 and 2012, has previously been convicted in separate cases, with retrials scheduled for next year.
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In a recent move, a Justice Department official announced that former U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned several of his allies, including Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, who were accused of supporting efforts to overturn the 2020 election. This “full, complete, and unconditional” pardon, detailed in a signed proclamation, also included conservative lawyers and individuals involved in submitting false certificates. The pardons, explicitly excluding Trump himself, underscore his ongoing attempts to reinterpret the election results, a move that follows similar pardons for those charged in the January 6th riot. This action, described as a step towards “national reconciliation,” targeted individuals facing state charges, while Trump himself had an indictment abandoned due to his victory over Kamala Harris.
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The Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal from Kim Davis, the former Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, leaving the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges decision intact. This decision comes amidst concerns from LGBTQ advocates about the conservative court potentially revisiting the 2015 same-sex marriage ruling, especially after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. While the court did not explain its reasoning, the denial of the appeal maintains the constitutional right to same-sex marriage, leading to relief among LGBTQ+ advocates. The case focused on technical questions regarding religious protections, but the primary concern was whether the court would reconsider the Obergefell decision.
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Bill Gates believes that the current AI investment landscape mirrors the dot-com bubble, with many companies being overvalued, despite the technology’s transformative potential. He stated that a significant number of these investments will ultimately fail, leading to “dead ends.” However, Gates emphasized that the overall value of AI, like the internet, is extremely high. While acknowledging the potential for frenzy and overspending, Gates highlighted the importance of distinguishing between companies that will succeed and those that will struggle.
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John Q. Hosedrinker