U.S.-Cuba relations have been notoriously bad since Fidel Castro rose to power in 1959, with the Caribbean island nation sometimes even relying on foreign powers (traditionally the Soviet Union) to prevent an outright U.S. invasion. But with the decline of both Russia and the Castros, some experts have wondered if Cuba might be capable of…

Russia launches its largest air assault against Ukraine since the war began, targeting critical infrastructure in the country. And the Department of Justice is appealing a judge’s decision last month to toss out former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024. Russia launches largest…

Former President Donald Trump laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery in honor of the 13 U.S. service members who died in Kabul during the Afghanistan withdrawal. Monday, Aug. 26, is the third anniversary of the suicide attack that killed the military members and 100 Afghans. “These are people that should have never been killed,”…

Ukrainian incursions into Russian home territory, alongside reports of Russian troop desertion and exposed vulnerabilities, have reassured Ukrainian soldiers and their Western allies. In response, however, Russia launched a string of large-scale missile barrages against key Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, and hit vital Ukrainian energy, water and utility targets. The renewed ferocity of fighting on…

The arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov is raising questions about the accountability tech executives face over content shared on their platforms. Durov, the billionaire behind the encrypted messaging app Telegram, was detained at a Paris airport amid an ongoing investigation by French authorities. The investigation alleges that Telegram’s lack of content moderation has enabled…

The National Guard of Russia said that four inmates in a prison in the Volgograd region have been “neutralized.” The inmates proclaimed themselves militants of the Islamic State, and took the prison hostage, leading to snipers being called. The deadly revolt at the remote high security IK-19 Surovikino penal colony ended after the snipers killed…

Ukraine caught much of the world by surprise when it invaded Russia on Aug. 6. Ukrainian Armed Forces now control around 1,200 square kilometers of Russian territory, or roughly 500 square miles. The advance is accomplishing one of the primary goals of the campaign: Create a buffer zone around Sumy Oblast in northern Ukraine. “As…

Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is leaving civilians caught in the middle, and now many are fleeing. The residents said they feel abandoned by Moscow as reported on Thursday, Aug. 22. While many of these Russians blame Kyiv for the recent attack in Kursk, they wonder if their own government truly cares about them…

A NATO air base in Geilenkirchen, Germany, elevated its security measures to “Charlie,” the second-highest alert level on Thursday, Aug. 22. The move came after intelligence indicated a potential terrorist threat. There has also been a series of suspicious incidents at military facilities across Germany, raising concerns about possible sabotage. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned…

The growing presence of China in Africa has captured the attention of Western leaders, who warn that Beijing is exploiting Africa’s precious minerals and showing a general disregard for human rights. Meanwhile, Russia is busy forging closer ties with nations in the Sahel region of North Africa, aiming to secure agreements with their leaders in…