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Developments over the weekend saw multiple governments reject Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland as an independent country. This as Iran’s president said his country was at war with the United States, Israel, and Europe, accusing them of trying to prevent Iran from “standing on its feet.”

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1️⃣ 🇮🇱🇸🇴 Governments condemn Israel’s recognition of Somaliland independence: The United States, Jordan, Qatar, Algeria, the African Union, and European Union rejected Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland as independent from Somalia, with Qatar calling it “a dangerous precedent” that violates international law. President Trump said he would not follow Israel’s lead, while the U.S. State Department affirmed it continues to recognize Somalia’s territorial integrity “which includes the territory of Somaliland.”

2️⃣ 🇮🇷🇺🇸🇮🇱🇪🇺 Iran's president says country is in "full-fledged war": Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that his country is at war with the US, Israel, and Europe who “do not want our country to stand on its feet,” in an interview on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s website. The statement came months after President Trump ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities in June during the nearly two-week 12 Day War, and as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to meet Trump this weekend to discuss Iran.

3️⃣ 🇷🇺🇺🇦🇺🇸 Putin claims battlefield gains: Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Saturday his forces captured five towns in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions and threatened to resolve challenges “using armed force,” with commanders reporting seizures of Myrnohrad, Rodynske, Artemivka, Hulyaipole, and Stepnohirsk. Ukraine’s General Staff denied the unverified claims as “fake statements about significant ‘successes’ of the Russian army” aimed at foreign partners during peace negotiations, noting the timing ahead of President Zelensky’s Sunday meeting with Trump in Florida.

4️⃣ 🇰🇵 North Korea test-fires long-range cruise missiles: North Korea launched two long-range “strategic” cruise missiles over the Yellow Sea on Sunday that flew for approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes each before hitting targets, state media reported. Leader Kim Jong Un said the exercises checked “the reliability and rapid response” of the country’s “nuclear deterrent on a regular basis” and pledged to “devote all their efforts to the unlimited and sustained development of the state nuclear combat force.”

5️⃣ 🇸🇦🇾🇪 Saudi coalition warns it will counter Yemen separatist movements: The Saudi-led coalition warned Saturday it will “deal with directly and immediately” any military movements by Southern Transitional Council separatists that undermine de-escalation efforts, with Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman urging the group to “peacefully” withdraw from Hadramout and al-Mahra provinces seized earlier this month. Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki accused the STC of “serious and horrific human rights violations against civilians” without providing evidence, while approximately 15,000 Saudi-backed fighters were reported amassed near the Saudi border.

Major Story

🇺🇸🇺🇦🇷🇺 Trump and Zelensky Report 90% Agreement on Peace Plan Despite Unresolved Territory Disputes

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky held talks at Mar-a-Lago that both described as "great." Zelensky claimed "90%" agreement on a 20-point peace plan, while Trump stated security guarantees are "close to 95%" complete. However, territorial disputes remain "unresolved," particularly regarding a demilitarized zone in Russia-controlled Donbas, with Trump noting "one or two very thorny issues" persist. 

After a phone call with Vladimir Putin—whom Trump believes "wants Ukraine to succeed"—the US president suggested possible trilateral talks between America, Russia, and Ukraine. Ukrainian and American delegations plan to meet next week to continue negotiations on the nearly four-year conflict.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇽🇰 Kosovo’s Kurti wins election but government formation uncertain: Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s nationalist Vetevendosje party led Sunday’s election with approximately 50 percent of the vote and an estimated 56 seats, falling short of the 61 seats needed for an outright majority to end a year-long political deadlock. Analysts say it remains difficult to predict whether Kurti can form a government without a coalition as opposition parties have refused to govern with him, while lawmakers face an April deadline to elect a new president and must ratify €1 billion in expiring EU and World Bank loan agreements.

2️⃣ 🇳🇬🇺🇸 Nigeria’s army chief visits Sultan of Sokoto after US missile strikes on ISIS: Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff Waidi Shaibu visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, following US deployment of over a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles from the Gulf of Guinea targeting two ISIS encampments in Sokoto State on Thursday. The coordinated operation conducted in partnership with Nigerian authorities who provided intelligence approved by President Bola Tinubu killed “multiple” terrorists according to US Africa Command, with Sokoto government stating no civilian casualties were recorded.

3️⃣ 🇲🇲 Myanmar polls close: Polls closed Monday in Myanmar’s first phase of elections with turnout appearing low and most candidates seen as military allies, while large areas were excluded from voting due to anti-junta control or fighting almost five years after the military seized power. The UN said the vote was conducted in an environment of “violence and repression” with one official calling it a “theatre of the absurd,” while military chief Min Aung Hlaing claimed it was “free and fair”.

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