Originally launched in 1962, the CIA’s World Factbook is no longer available.
The World Factbook was one of the CIA’s oldest and most recognizable intelligence publications, serving as a longstanding, one-stop reference on countries and communities worldwide.

Iranian authorities deployed military-grade electronic equipment to disrupt Starlink satellite internet services during last week’s communications blackout, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

Geolocation of fire at Karaj Municipality District 5.
35.820768, 50.947217

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Aleppo conflict map by Levant24 showing today’s advances by Syrian government forces in the city.
x.com/i/status/200...

(Semafor) - The New York Times and Washington Post learned of a secret US raid on Venezuela soon before it was scheduled to begin Friday night — but held off publishing what they knew to avoid endangering US troops ..

@semafor.com
www.semafor.com/article/01/0...

“We’re going to be very strongly involved in it,” Trump says about the future of Venezuela’s oil industry on Fox News

Behold: the first-ever list of news outlets that have banned generative AI in their reporting. As of today, this is literally information that you cannot find on Google.

My goal is to fill the starter pack, so please send over suggestions with supporting evidence!

go.bsky.app/8cn1XfT

What Syrians Want New survey data shows the promises and perils facing the country’s new government.

Interesting results from (from my knowledge) the first comprehensive survey done in post-Assad Syria.
www.foreignaffairs.com/syria/what-s...

European Commission: Ukraine makes moderate progress in freedom of speech – Enlargement Package The European Commission, in its annual report Enlargement Package, which was published on Tuesday in Brussels, states that Ukraine is between a certain and moderate level of preparation regarding freedom of speech.

European Commission: Ukraine makes moderate progress in freedom of speech – Enlargement Package #Ukraine

Gen. Drapatyi to head new task force amid Ukraine’s military controversial corps reorganization The announcement comes amid long-documented tension between Syrksyi and the 42-year-old Drapatyi, one of Ukraine's most highly-regarded generals.

⚡️ Gen. Drapatyi to head new task force amid Ukraine’s military controversial corps reorganization.

The announcement comes amid long-documented tension between Syrksyi and the 42-year-old Drapatyi, one of Ukraine's most highly-regarded generals.

⚡️Hungary says Putin has nothing to fear from the ICC warrant if he comes to Budapest for the summit with Trump.

FM Péter Szijjártó said Hungary will “respectfully welcome" Putin.

Estonia summons top Russian diplomat after helicopter violates Estonian airspace The incident, which Tsahkna said was the third of its kind in 2025, occurred near Vaindloo Island, located approximately 28 km north of Estonia's mainland in the Gulf of Finland.

⚡️Estonia summons top Russian diplomat after helicopter violates Estonian airspace.

Estonia summoned the Russian charge d’affaires at Moscow's embassy in Tallinn on Sept. 8 after a Russian MI-8 helicopter violated Estonian airspace over the Baltic Sea, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on X.

Ukraine detains fugitive lawmaker suspected of collaboration with Russia The Kyiv Independent's law enforcement source identified the suspect as Fedir Khrystenko, a 41-year-old lawmaker and a former member of the now-banned pro-Russian party, Opposition Platform — For Life...

⚡️ Ukraine detains fugitive lawmaker suspected of collaboration with Russia.

The Kyiv Independent's law enforcement source identified the suspect as Fedir Khrystenko, a 41-year-old lawmaker and a former member of the now-banned pro-Russian party, Opposition Platform — For Life.

Norway pledges $8.5 billion in aid to Ukraine in 2026 The move underscores Norway’s growing role in supporting Ukraine’s defense as Western partners move closer to finalizing security guarantees amid a push to organize a high-level meeting between Kyiv and Moscow.

⚡️Norway pledges $8.5 billion in aid to Ukraine in 2026.

The move underscores Norway’s growing role in supporting Ukraine’s defense as Western partners move closer to finalizing security guarantees amid a push to organize a high-level meeting between Kyiv and Moscow.

Romania reportedly suspects Russian sabotage behind Azeri crude oil contamination The crude mixed with organic chloride, which was transported through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, could have seriously corroded infrastructure at OMV Petrom’s Petrobrazi refinery, potentially trig...

⚡️ Romania suspects Russian sabotage behind Azeri crude oil contamination, Romanian media reports.

Tsunami alert issued for Pacfiic islands after magnitude-8 earthquake Hazardous waves from strong magnitude 8 quake are possible on the coast of Russia and Japan, USGS says A tsunami alert has been issued for Pacific islands, Russia and Japan after a magnitude 8 earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey says. The quake was shallow and strong enough to cause waves or a tsunami, it said. Continue reading...

Tsunami alert issued for Pacfiic islands after magnitude-8 earthquake

Ukrainians take to streets for 4th day as Zelensky backtracks on anti-corruption law Ukrainians on July 25 participated in mass protests against a controversial new law impacting anti-corruption agencies for the fourth day in a row. President Zelensky earlier addressed criticism of th...

⚡️Update: Ukrainians take to streets for 4th day as Zelensky backtracks on anti-corruption law.

Ukrainians on July 25 joined mass protests for the fourth day in a row, calling on the government to restore independence to the country's anti-corruption agencies.

UPDATE: Zelensky signs law destroying independence of Ukraine's key anti-corruption bodies President Volodymyr Zelensky approved the law on July 22 despite large-scale protests against the law, which critics say undermines years of pro-democracy reforms.

⚡️BREAKING: Zelensky signs law destroying independence of Ukraine's key anti-corruption bodies.

President Zelensky approved the law on July 22 despite large-scale protests against the law, which critics say undermines years of pro-democracy reforms.

BREAKING: Ukraine's parliament passes bill destroying independence of key anti-corruption bodies The legislation grants the prosecutor general new powers over investigations led by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and cases led by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's ...

⚡️ Update: NABU head asks Zelensky to veto bill destroying independence of anti-corruption agencies.

NABU chief Semen Kryvonos warned that the bill recently passed by the parliament threatens Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration efforts.

Slovakia agrees to approve EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia, Fico says All negotiating options have been exhausted for now, and continuing our blocking position would now endanger our interests," Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said.

⚡️Slovakia agrees to approve EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia, Fico says.

Slovakia is ready to approve the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia after vetoing the measure six times, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on July 17.

Ukraine's ambassador to US will be replaced, foreign minister confirms "She is extremely effective and charismatic, but surely every diplomat has a rotation cycle," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said of Ambassador Oksana Markarova.

⚡️Ukraine's ambassador to US will be replaced, foreign minister confirms.

"She is extremely effective and charismatic, but surely every diplomat has a rotation cycle," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said of Ambassador Oksana Markarova.

EU to impose 'toughest' sanctions on Russia in coordination with US senators, French foreign minister says "This (war) cannot continue; it must stop. To achieve this, in coordination with American senators, Europe is preparing to introduce, based on French proposals, the toughest sanctions we have imposed ...

⚡️EU to impose 'toughest' sanctions on Russia in coordination with US senators, French foreign minister says.

Trump says he made ‘no progress’ with Putin on ending the war in latest call — Meduza U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin has no intention of ending the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing Trump’s remarks.

After yesterday’s phone call with Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes the Russian leader has no intention of ending the war in Ukraine. “I’m very disappointed,” Trump told reporters.
meduza.io/en/news/2025...

Eric Andre Show meme, “now is the time for peace”

BREAKING Loud explosions rang out in Jerusalem early Monday, an AFP journalist heard.

It came shortly after Israel's army warned of a new missile salvo from Iran and advised the public to take cover until further notice

The Israeli government doesn't care about what happens to Iran once the IRGC threat is neutralised by shattering the Iranian state. Netanyahu probably views postwar Iran as a problem for US, China and the EU to fix.

This is not a repeat of American wars in the region.

It's much worse.

Satellite data shed light on Russia’s modern-day gulags for Ukrainian children A Canadian-funded effort is tracking the movements of Ukrainian children taken during wartime

Russia’s newly created gulag system for Ukrainian children.
A Canadian-funded Hala Systems company has mapped 136 Russian concentration camps holding abducted Ukrainian children. Some are over 3,000 km from Ukraine—in Siberia. The children are required to participate in regular military drills.

Russia’s invasion united different parts of Ukraine against a common enemy – 3 years on, that unanimity still holds Ukraine has a sizable minority of Russian speakers, largely in the east. They also overwhelmingly blame Russia for hostilities.

Thanks to @us.theconversation.com for publishing well-researched, very informative articles such as this one theconversation.com/russias-inva...

Moscow Says It Will Honor Victory Day Ceasefire Despite Ukraine’s Rejection - The Moscow Times The Kremlin said Tuesday it still plans to honor a 72-hour ceasefire unilaterally proposed by President Vladimir Putin during this week’s Victory Day celebrations, despite Ukraine’s rejection of the t...

Putin ordered the ceasefire from midnight on May 8 through May 11 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Kremlin spokesman claims 'progress' in peace talks but says energy ceasefire period has expired "There are already some developments, but, of course, there are still many complicated discussions ahead," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

⚡️Kremlin spokesman claims 'progress' in peace talks but says energy ceasefire period has expired.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the one-month period for a ban on energy infrastructure strikes had expired.

kyivindependent.com/kremlin-talk...