Saturday, April 25
EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius proposed a 100,000-strong joint European military force to potentially replace US troops, citing concerns over Washington's long-term commitment. He also advocated for a European Security Council to expedite defence decisions, with Ukraine's war as a top priority.
Somalia's defence minister claims Israel plans to move Palestinians to Somaliland. He calls this a violation of international law. Israel and Somaliland deny these allegations. Somalia's president previously stated Somaliland accepted Israeli conditions. The issue has drawn regional attention and condemnation from the OIC.
A man was arrested near Philadelphia's Mount Moriah Cemetery with approximately 100 human skulls and other body parts, linked to weeks of grave robberies. Investigators found extensive remains, including torsos and mummified limbs, at the suspect's home and a storage unit. The motive for the desecration of the historic burial ground remains under investigation.
Syrian security forces deployed in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsoud after days of clashes with Kurdish fighters, which resulted in dozens of casualties and displacement. An explosive drone later struck a government building, with state TV blaming Kurdish forces, a claim they deny. Military operations have reportedly halted, with Kurdish fighters being transferred out of the area.
The US military’s E-4B Nightwatch, the airborne command centre designed for nuclear war and national catastrophe, was spotted on an unusual multi-city flight, prompting scrutiny. The rare public appearance drew attention to the aircraft’s role as the National Airborne Operations Center, its extreme survivability features, and its function within the US nuclear command system during worst-case scenarios.
A Ukrainian drone strike ignited a fire at a Russian oil depot in Volgograd on Saturday, with no immediate reports of casualties. This incident follows a large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine, which included the use of a hypersonic missile. Both nations continue to target energy infrastructure amidst escalating conflict.
Syria's army said it had completed a "security sweep" on Saturday of a neighbourhood in Aleppo where it clashed with Kurdish forces, who denied losing control of the area after defying calls to surrender. The army announced Saturday the "completion of a full security sweep of the Sheikh Maqsud neighbourhood", while urging residents to stay in their homes due to the continued presence of Kurdish forces.
