News From UFC to the G7: Trump’s Birthday Weekend Ends in Versailles Trump heads to the G7 with an official schedule packed with meetings, but history suggests the real story may be what he does once he gets there. By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
News Nordic and Baltic Leaders Back Ukraine’s Security Push Ahead of NATO and G7 Summits Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined leaders from the Nordic and Baltic countries in Tallinn on Tuesday, using the Ukraine–NB8 Summit to press for stronger military cooperation, enhanced air defense capabilities, and continued support for Ukraine’s path toward European Union and NATO membership. The summit brought together leaders from By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
The Artemis III crew poses for an official portrait (from left: Andre Douglas, Luca Parmitano, Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio). Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford News NASA Names Artemis III Crew as Moon Program Moves Toward Historic 2027 Test Mission NASA has announced the four astronauts selected for Artemis III, a critical test mission scheduled for 2027 that will help pave the way for humanity’s return to the Moon and future missions to Mars. The crew includes NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik (commander), Andre Douglas, and Frank Rubio, alongside European By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
News Everything You Need to Know About the Middle East Right Now From Israel-Iran tensions and fighting in Gaza and Lebanon to Hormuz security risks, Gulf investments, sanctions and diplomacy, here is the complete overview of the developments shaping the region. By Olga Nesterova • 4 min read
AI for All? Canada Says Innovation Must Serve People First News Canada’s Human Rights Watchdogs Welcome New AI Strategy — But Warn Safeguards Must Come First Officials welcome the government’s new AI for All strategy but say stronger oversight, accessibility safeguards, and accountability measures are needed before AI systems shape decisions on jobs, healthcare, housing, and public services. By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
Prime Minister Carney speaks with the Heads of Canada’s missions in Ottawa, Ontario. Photo: PMO News Carney Heads to Europe as Canada Prepares for a High-Stakes G7 Summit Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to France, Ireland, and the G7 Leaders’ Summit as Canada seeks deeper partnerships in trade, defense, AI, and critical minerals amid growing geopolitical uncertainty. By Olga Nesterova • 1 min read
News Pentagon Raises Alarm Over Israeli Espionage Concerns The U.S. Department of Defense has reportedly elevated its counterintelligence threat assessment regarding Israel to its highest level, amid concerns that Israeli intelligence services may have monitored sensitive American negotiations with Iran. According to reporting by The New York Times, U.S. officials believe Israel may have attempted to By Olga Nesterova • 1 min read
Photo: BalkanWeb.com News Thousands Protest Kushner-Linked Luxury Resort Project in Albania Thousands of people gathered in Albania’s capital, Tirana, this week to protest a proposed €1.4 billion luxury resort development linked to Jared Kushner’s investment firm, Affinity Partners. Demonstrators marched under the slogan “Albania Is Not For Sale,” accusing the government of prioritizing foreign investment over environmental protection By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
News Nine European Countries Push for Tougher Restrictions on Russian Tourist Visas A group of nine European countries has called on the European Commission to introduce stricter and more uniform restrictions on tourist visas for Russian citizens. In a joint letter sent to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, ministers from Estonia, Czechia, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
Photo: President Zelenskyy Office News Zelenskyy Publishes Open Letter to Putin, Calls for Direct Talks to End the War The unusually personal message comes as Ukraine expands long-range strikes inside Russia and Kyiv signals readiness for direct negotiations under a ceasefire. By Olga Nesterova • 8 min read
News Trump’s New Customs Order Is About More Than Customs At first glance, President Trump’s latest executive order looks like a technical customs reform. In reality, it is an attempt to fundamentally change who can sell goods into the United States and under what conditions. The central idea is simple: if a company wants access to the American consumer By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
News Israel and Lebanon Move Toward Direct Negotiations. Hezbollah Is the Real Target. “The ceasefire is contingent on a complete cessation of Hizbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hizbollah operatives from the South Litani Sector.” Buried inside a lengthy U.S.-brokered statement between Israel and Lebanon is a sentence that reveals the real significance of the agreement. While presented as a By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
