Author: Michael

The art of the deal is back, and so is the price tag on alliances. In this context, South Korea’s ambitions to develop nuclear-powered submarines could become a critical factor in shaping its alliance with the United States. While the program is primarily aimed at countering North Korea’s advancing submarine-launched ballistic missile capabilities, it also carries broader strategic implications.

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Belarus and Iran have developed a growing strategic partnership since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. What began as a pragmatic association rooted in mutual economic and political isolation from the United States and its European allies has evolved into a more intimate relationship based on shared security concerns as well as rhetorical and material support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

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U.S. forces killed a senior operative of the al-Qaeda-linked group Hurras al-Din in northwestern Syria this weekend, U.S. Central Command said. 
The Saturday, Feb. 15 strike in northwestern Syria killed a member of the al-Qaeda-affiliated Hurras al-Din group, described by CENTCOM as a “senior finance and logistics official.” Hurras al-Din, a Salafist militant group formed during the Syrian Civil War, said in January that it was dissolving at the direction of al-Qaeda leadership, but U.S. forces have continued to target leaders of the group.

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At this point, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has had a lot go on. It’s been more than 15 years, in and out of universe, since Tony Stark announced he was Iron Man. Since then a vice president committed treason, fascists who infiltrated an international intelligence agency caused a giant aerial fight over the skies of Washington, D.C., half of the universe was wiped out then brought back five years later, and after some jockeying for the official title, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) became the new Captain America.

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