It is hard to know what is most surprising about the fatal depot story: the timing, the scale of the Czech response, or the operation itself. It can be disconcerting to discover you have been at war for seven years. The Czech government’s announcement that Russia was behind an explosion …
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April, 2021
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21 April
Turkey’s Tightrope Between Russia and the United States
One question has been irking Turkish commentators since January: why won’t U.S. President Joe Biden speak to his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan? All the key world leaders have had phone conversations with the new U.S. president—Russia’s Vladimir Putin included—but Turkey’s president has been given the cold shoulder. Erdoğan must …
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21 April
Is Ukraine Ready for the Next Russian Invasion?
Though it is clear that Kiev cannot win in any scenario involving a solo defense against a Russian invasion, it can possibly prevent Moscow from achieving a blitzkrieg-style outcome through persistent military and civilian resistance. In recent weeks, the Kremlin executed the largest military build-up on the Russian-Ukrainian border since …
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21 April
Russia Plans to Withdraw From ISS, Deploy Its Own National Space Station
Russia will exit the International Space Station (ISS) initiative in 2025 and will inform its international partners about that decision, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov told broadcaster Rossiya 1 on Sunday. According to the TV channel, the decision to withdraw was made during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin …
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21 April
Egypt, Sudan to build port in border area
Egypt and Sudan agreed to set up a joint committee for the development of the port of Wadi Halfa in Sudan, as part of efforts to boost bilateral relations. At a meeting held in Khartoum April 12, and chaired by Sudan’s Minister of Transport Mirghani Mousa, Egypt’s Minister of Transport …
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21 April
EU To Meet Over Alleged Russian Links To 2014 Czech Depot Blast, As Russia Warns Of Retaliation
The Czech Republic says it has informed NATO and the European Union about Russia’s alleged involvement in a deadly ammunition depot explosion in 2014, an accusation Russia called “absurd” and a sign of Washington’s influence on Prague. Prague expelled 18 Russian diplomats on April 17, accusing them of being spies …
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21 April
Egypt, Sudan refuse Ethiopian proposal on filling Nile dam reservoir
Egypt and Sudan refused Ethiopia’s proposal for a partial agreement to form a mechanism to exchange data about the measures to implement the next stage of filling the GERD reservoir. Following the failure of the Kinshasa talks — which according to Egyptian officials may have been the last chance to …
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21 April
A Czech Explosion, Russian Agents, A Bulgarian Arms Dealer: The Recipe For A Major Spy Scandal In Central Europe – Analysis
The explosion was massive, blowing out windows of houses kilometers away, leaving a smoldering crater in the eastern Czech forest, not far from the border with Slovakia. The blast, on October 16, 2014, destroyed a cache of ammunition and related weaponry. The bodies of two men who worked at the …
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21 April
Suez Canal receives giant dredger in planned upgrade
The Suez Canal Authority is talking about plans to widen the southern section of the canal, only days after the giant Panama-flagged container vessel, Ever Given, went aground and became wedged across the international maritime passageway, causing a weeklong blockage. A giant dredger has made it to the Great Bitter …
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21 April
Hamas welcomes Abbas’ rivals in Gaza Strip
As the Palestinian elections near, dismissed Fatah leader Nasser al-Qudwa arrived in the Gaza Strip in a rare visit after obtaining the approval of Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, as President Mahmoud Abbas’ rivals step up their moves to build counterelectoral lists. Nasser al-Qudwa, dismissed member of Fatah’s Central …
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