Draw the draft

As President Trump prepares his "major statement" on Russia, the world watches to see if the administration can reconcile its differing internal approaches and, more importantly, if it can craft a strategy that acknowledges the full historical and ge Washington, D.C. - As the Russia-Ukraine war continues its grinding trajectory, a complex and at times contradictory approach is emerging from within the Trump administration, highlighting a fundamental disconnect between the White House’s business-centric view of the conflict and the Department of Defense’s (DoD) military assessment. This internal friction, however, overlooks a crucial historical nuance: the deep and often intertwined relationship between Russia and Ukraine, which many analysts believe contributes to the war’s enduring nature. President Trump, in a recent interview with NBC News, expressed disappointment with Russia’s ongoing aggression and hinted at a “major state...

The success of this diplomatic maneuver hinges not just on what Rubio says, but on how he navigates the unpredictable currents of his own government's foreign policy.…. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – In a diplomatic high-wire act underscored by a confusing and contradictory policy back home, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia. The meeting comes just days after President Donald Trump expressed palpable frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the protracted war in Ukraine, yet simultaneously navigated an erratic course on U.S. military aid to Kyiv. The backdrop to this critical encounter is a recent, bewildering series of events concerning U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine. Last week, without informing the White House or catching Secretary Rubio off guard, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directed a pause in certain ar...

While Brussels celebrated a new milestone in European integration, in the quiet corners of Bulgaria, the transition to the euro was met not just with anticipation, but with a profound, historical skepticism that time and official reports might strugg In a sun-dappled park on the outskirts of a quaint Bulgarian town, the murmur of spring leaves blended with the hushed conversations of its elder residents. Among them, a small group of old ladies, their faces etched with the wisdom of decades, gathered on a worn wooden bench. Their usual discussions of grandchildren and garden woes soon turned to a topic that had recently dominated the national news: the euro. “Do you know,” began one, leaning forward conspiratorially, “the Bulgarian currency, the lev, is going to be replaced by the euro.” A collective sigh rippled through the group. “When?” another asked, her voice laced with a familiar apprehension. “Starting next year, they say. Ja...

As the night deepened, the lights of their van, and countless others, stood as silent beacons of a community grappling with both the forces of nature and the consequences of its own choices.…. The relentless downpour on Independence Day, 2025, transformed central Texas into a disaster zone, claiming over 100 lives across six counties. The Guadalupe River, a tranquil ribbon just hours before, surged by an astonishing 26 feet in 45 minutes, a furious testament to the power of water unleashed.1 While the immediate cause was exceptional rainfall – over 10 inches in a few hours – a new study by ClimaMeter, a European-funded initiative, points to a more profound driver: human-made climate change.2 Comparing weather patterns from 1950-1986 to 1987-2023, ClimaMeter researchers concluded that natural variability alone cannot account for the catastrophic scale of these floods.3 Their findings reveal a concerning trend: temperatures south of th...

The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the path forward for Thailand's embattled government.…. Thailand’s political landscape is in turmoil as the administration of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra grapples with an escalating crisis of confidence, ignited by a leaked phone conversation with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen. This unprecedented event, set against a backdrop of persistent border skirmishes, has sent shockwaves through the government, threatening its very foundation. The 17-minute audio clip, which emerged in mid-June, has plunged the Pheu Thai-led government into a deep crisis. The leaked recording, in which Ms. Paetongtarn reportedly spoke critically of a high-ranking Thai military official and used deferential language towards Hun Sen, including referring to him as “uncle,” immediately sparked public outrage and accusations of betraying national interest. Compounding the issue, the conversation reporte...

Khamenei's public return during a significant religious observance serves as a powerful reminder of this deep-seated, religiously informed resolve within the Iranian leadership, signaling that the path to a lasting resolution remains as complex and e Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, made his first public appearance in several weeks on Saturday, attending a religious gathering marking the eve of Ashura. His presence, captured in video footage by state media outlet Press TV, showed him waving to a crowd of black-clad worshippers who greeted him with cheers and chants. This return to the public eye comes after a period of absence following a significant escalation in regional tensions, which saw Israel unilaterally bomb Iranian military and nuclear sites on June 13, followed by targeted strikes by the United States on three key Iranian nuclear facilities before a ceasefire was declared by US President Donald Trump. Khamenei...