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This is The World Today [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbDQ5ZWE3cW96Zi8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) DailyChatter is an exclusive benefit for subscribers of The Charlotte Observer Fickle Friend By DailyChatter Good morning. Today is Friday, September 29, 2023, and this is The World Today. [Forward this edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMveDFoeWEzbW14cS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) ~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvNTZvaTRwNDQ4ei8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa Promo By DailyChatter Start the morning with our Weekly World Quiz. Scroll down! Fickle Friend By DailyChatter Need to Know Fickle Friend [Slovakia](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvOW14eThnaGRqMS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) Since the invasion of Ukraine last year, Russia has become diplomatically isolated from the West – but not everywhere in Europe. Russophobes, in fact, are sounding alarms about the candidacy of Roberto Fico in Slovakia’s general election on Sept. 30. “We are a peaceful country,” said Fico, a former prime minister and leader of the center-left Direction – Slovak Social Democracy (SMER-SDD, just Smer) political party. “We will not send a single round to Ukraine.” As Reuters [noted](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvYXc1dmRzZHh0YS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa), Fico is favored to return to the premier’s office after voters go to the polls. It’s quite a reversal for the politician who [stepped down](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvMXg0MzBlajNwaC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) as prime minister in 2018 after a political crisis and mass protests erupted over the murder of journalist [Ján Kuciak](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvencxYmRpZnM3MS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa), who had been investigating alleged ties between the Italian mafia and people close to Fico, and writing about corruption scandals linked to Fico’s party. Afterward, dozens of senior officials, police officers, judges, prosecutors, politicians and business people linked to Smer have been [convicted of corruption](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvNWdtZzUxZjU2dS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) and other crimes, the Associated Press [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvNjM4MWN2bGxhdi8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa). Last year, Fico came under investigation on suspicion of [founding](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvdGw3NHVtMDE3MC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) an organized crime group, but Slovakia’s pro-Russian prosecutor general stepped in and threw out the indictment, the AP added. Now, if he wins, Fico has pledged to reverse the country’s current staunch support for Ukraine, a neighbor that has received Slovak funding and weapons to resist Russia’s revanchism. Slovakia, for instance, was the first NATO country to send Soviet-era fighter jets to the Ukrainians. Instead, Fico has echoed Russian talking points about Ukrainian fascists murdering Russians in eastern Ukraine, and called for resuming diplomatic relations with Moscow. He has vowed to veto Ukraine’s proposed membership of NATO. Those views are more popular than many Europeans would prefer. As the analytical group Carnegie Europe [explained](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvanNzbXVieXBhZC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa), kitchen table issues like utility rates, mortgage costs, inflation, and the quality of public services will motivate voters. But polls in Slovakia also show that only 54 percent of Slovaks approve of giving financial aid to Ukraine, compared with a 75 percent average in the European Union. While 64 percent of EU citizens would allow Ukraine to enter the bloc, only 45 percent of Slovaks agree. Many Slovaks feel as if the liberal democracy and free market capitalism that has reigned in the country since the end of the Cold War has failed to deliver on its promises, [added](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMveHlwYXU2dDB6OS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) the AP. The great wave of migration of asylum seekers from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia that has swept through Europe in the past decade is likely one reason why Slovaks have soured on Western-style globalism, Deutsche Welle [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvdDBoYnJ5bmhiZC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa). Slovaks in communities hosting migrants or serving as thoroughfares for migrant trains complained of “litter, noise, smells and people sleeping on the ground.” But Russian propaganda is also widespread in the country’s media. Last year, for example, [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvemEwdHR2MnFxeC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) the Guardian, a local news outlet published a video of a Russian defense attaché attempting to bribe a Slovak journalist to disseminate Russian talking points about the war in Ukraine in the Slovakian news. The Russian agent was expelled, but the episode illustrated the state of the country’s press. As a result, voters might be forgiven if they wonder if an attaché has ever approached Fico. ~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcmtjYmdyaGJqeC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa [Advertisement](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly9yZXZtYWlsLnJldmNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2NsaWNrLz9pZD0yNzY4MzImdG90YWw9NCZvZmZzZXQ9MCZrZXk9ZGFpbHktY2hhdHRlci0tZGFpbHktY2hhdHRlci1jaGFybG90dGUtb2JzZXJ2ZXJfXzQ1MjExMTl0bTBpbTVpM3VoVwNzcGNCCmUVsqMWZe9aAR1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Fickle Friend By DailyChatter The World, Briefly The Dissolution By DailyChatter The Dissolution [Armenia](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvejZ4bXczeWhqZi8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) / [Azerbaijan](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvNnQ4YXUxN3Roei8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) Ethnic Armenian leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh agreed Thursday to end the territory’s self-governing status – a week after Azerbaijan took control of the region following decades of conflict, the Wall Street Journal [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmxxa3k4OW1rcC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa). “The Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) ceases to exist,” according to a decree issued by its president, Samvel Shahramanyan. Enclave officials said they will disarm and dissolve all institutions by Jan. 1. The recent developments appear to mark a definitive conclusion to the decades-long conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the enclave, analysts said. The two countries have been at odds over Nagorno-Karabakh for a century – but especially after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The most recent fighting ended in 2020 with a Russian-brokered truce that saw Armenia cede much of the territory it had controlled since the 1990s. Since the takeover by Azerbaijan last week, the region has been in turmoil. Thousands of ethnic Armenians who had called the enclave home for generations fled for neighboring Armenia. While Azerbaijan’s government urged ethnic Armenians to stay in the region, many residents said they had little faith that they would be allowed to live in peace, citing fears of ethnic cleansing and persecution. Recent reports suggest that Azerbaijani forces have been taking actions that fuel these concerns, such as removing Armenian road signs and raiding homes. Meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has pledged to support and resettle the displaced. However, many remain skeptical about the government’s commitment due to their experiences during previous conflicts. ~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcm8zczI2MnpxMi8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa Those Left Behind By DailyChatter Those Left Behind [Colombia](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbTVrd3BnZzRzbS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) Thousands of Indigenous people protested in the Colombian capital Bogota this week to voice their concerns over the ongoing wave of violence that has disproportionately affected their communities across the country, Al Jazeera [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvN3plcW9ocHIzay8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa). Members of the so-called “Minga” – a collective movement of Indigenous people – demanded an end to the violence caused by rebel and criminal groups across the South American nation. Although similar demonstrations have taken place in Bogota, this week’s marches mark the first during the administration of leftist President Gustavo Petro. Many Indigenous people say they are disappointed in the government’s lack of progress in curbing violence, particularly in regions like Cauca, which has long been a focal point of conflict. Colombia has been dealing with the consequences of nearly six decades of internal armed conflict. Petro has vowed to pursue a policy of “total peace” to end the fighting – an approach that combines military action and direct negotiations with armed groups. However, his efforts have yielded mixed results. Last month, the government reached a six-month ceasefire with the National Liberation Army (ELN), the country’s largest remaining rebel group. But other ceasefires have collapsed and violence continues in rural areas. Data has shown that Indigenous communities have borne the brunt of this violence, making up about half of those displaced or affected – even though they comprise about 3.5 percent of Colombia’s population. While some leaders at the Minga have called for support for Petro’s efforts, others expressed their frustration with what they perceive as unfulfilled promises from the government. Analyst Elizabeth Dickinson of the International Crisis Group think-tank said the frustrations expressed by Indigenous communities are often due to limited communication between the federal government and civil society, due to the government’s “total peace” approach being top-down and which has had a minimal impact in rural areas. Dickinson added that the government made a mistake when it granted broad concessions to armed groups without securing substantial ones in return. This has allowed criminal organizations to grow stronger instead of forcing disarmament. ~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMveGtscGl6YmVveC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa [Advertisement](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly9yZXZtYWlsLnJldmNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2NsaWNrLz9pZD0yNzY4MzImdG90YWw9NCZvZmZzZXQ9MSZrZXk9ZGFpbHktY2hhdHRlci0tZGFpbHktY2hhdHRlci1jaGFybG90dGUtb2JzZXJ2ZXJfXzQ1MjExMTl0bTBpbTVpM3VoVwNzcGNCCmUVsqMWZe9aAR1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Mirror, Mirror By DailyChatter Mirror, Mirror [Burkina Faso](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvZTVybHZjbXA2cS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) Burkinabè authorities foiled a coup attempt this week, according to the ruling junta, an incident that comes less than a year after Burkina Faso experienced a military takeover amid an ongoing jihadist insurgency in the Sahel region, the BBC [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbzEwNnhrd3hweS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa). Government officials alleged that a group of army officers and their supporters had attempted to launch a coup Tuesday with “the sinister intention of … plunging the country into chaos.” So far, authorities have detained a number of suspects, including four officers, and are looking for others. The attempted coup comes months after army officers led by Capt. Ibrahim Traore – now the country’s interim president – seized power from a previous military junta. The 2022 coup was the second in Burkina Faso that year. Since then, Traore has moved to sever relations with France, the country’s former colonial power. He has ordered the withdrawal of French forces based in the country to help fight against the Islamist insurgency in the Sahel. He also launched mass recruitment drives to shore up the security forces. Meanwhile, the junta leader has said that elections will take place by July 2024. Countries in the Sahel and West Africa have been experiencing a number of coups and attempted coups in recent years even as the reach of extremists has grown in the region. Observers said the jihadist insurgency, which originated in Mali in 2015, has added complexity to the goal of transferring power to civilians by the upcoming year. This year, roughly 6,000 people have lost their lives in jihadist attacks, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali – all three ruled by military governments – formed a defense pact to mutually assist each other against armed uprisings or external threats such as from the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS. ~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvMGc2aWQ2ZzZocS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa [Advertisement](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly9yZXZtYWlsLnJldmNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2NsaWNrLz9pZD0yNzY4MzImdG90YWw9NCZvZmZzZXQ9MiZrZXk9ZGFpbHktY2hhdHRlci0tZGFpbHktY2hhdHRlci1jaGFybG90dGUtb2JzZXJ2ZXJfXzQ1MjExMTl0bTBpbTVpM3VoVwNzcGNCCmUVsqMWZe9aAR1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Ukraine, Briefly By DailyChatter Ukraine, Briefly [Russia](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvaHRxanhqamFxdy8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) / [Ukraine](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvM2pqazdkM2s4cy8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Washington, DC to secure more US support for Ukraine as questions loom over continuing American financial aid to the war-torn country, the Associated Press [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvYXp1cnRwdzVqMC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa). Zelenskyy expressed optimism about Ukraine’s progress in the war with Russia in meetings with congressional leaders and later President Joe Biden. The Ukrainian leader also addressed the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week, seeking sustained global support for Ukraine’s fight, the Washington Post [added](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvOW9kdmFjcHg0OS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa). Zelenskyy emphasized the escalating destruction and Russia’s actions affecting not only Ukraine but the global community as well. Developing nations, for example, are frustrated that aid to Ukraine diverts resources from their own priorities, like climate change and the alleviation of poverty. Also this week: - Prior to the US visit, Zelenskyy removed all six deputy defense ministers from their positions in a significant leadership reshuffle, the New York Times [noted](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcnY0aG12M24ycy8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa). The move came against a backdrop of the Ukrainian president seeking to demonstrate better management of the defense ministry and address concerns about corruption affecting military aid, but no reason was given for this particular decision, however. - Poland halted its supply of weapons to Ukraine amid a diplomatic dispute regarding Ukraine’s grain exports, the BBC [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvOGtwbHRhcDR0eC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa). Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Poland’s focus is now on modernizing its own weaponry. While Poland had previously provided Ukraine with tanks and fighter jets, tensions between the two nations escalated when Ukraine’s Zelenskyy criticized Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia this week for banning Ukrainian grain exports to those countries. Although previously agreed-upon arms deliveries will continue, the suspension underscores the strained relations between the two allies. - Russian missile attacks and shelling this week killed two people and injured more than 20 across Ukraine, [according](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvNmt3Y3BkOGlhNi8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) to Al Jazeera. Ukraine’s General Staff reported a significant missile attack on civilian infrastructure. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted and destroyed 36 of 43 Russian cruise missiles. - Russia and Ukraine are clashing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Netherlands over Kyiv’s claim that Moscow’s 2022 invasion violates the Genocide Convention of 1948, the Wall Street Journal [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvejM3M3Y2OWtueC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa). Russia countered that the invasion isn’t covered by the Convention, while Ukraine claims that Moscow violated the international treaty by falsely accusing Kyiv of committing genocide in the Donbas region to justify the invasion. Russia and its leaders are facing legal scrutiny from various international bodies, including the International Criminal Court. However, these courts have no independent enforcement power and rely on the cooperation of national governments for enforcement. Analysts said the ICJ case could have consequences for allied support for Ukraine and the shape of an eventual peace. If the court declines to dismiss the case, a future round will consider the merits of Ukraine’s claim. - Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador defended the participation of Russian soldiers in a recent military parade, an event that drew criticism because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Associated Press [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcmtsbGhkeGVmMy8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa). López Obrador cited the participation of a Chinese contingent as well, asserting that all countries with diplomatic relations were invited. Mexico has condemned Moscow’s invasion but maintains a policy of neutrality. Even so, Ukraine’s ambassador to Mexico criticized the presence of the Russian regiment, calling them “war criminals.” Meanwhile, López Obrador’s administration continues to buy Russian COVID vaccines, which have been criticized for their lack of effectiveness. ~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbWVpeHU3OGM5OS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa Weekly Quiz By DailyChatter Weekly World Quiz What is the Abu Musa dispute between Iran and the United Arab Emirates? [A territorial dispute over the sovereignty of an island](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvam9nMnk1bjJqZS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) [An important political/religious figure living in exile](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvajZkd3dwcTF6Yi8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) [A disagreement over the origin of a dish](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvemJhank5czVieS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) [A controversial book that stoked tensions between the two countries](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMveDUxYjZ0N2RzbS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) Powered by [Typeform](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvc3dmNHlmbjlrYi8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa) Raising the Dead By DailyChatter Discoveries Raising the Dead The thylacine, known also as the Tasmanian tiger, went fully extinct when the last one died in a Tasmanian zoo in 1936. Despite the lack of a surviving member of the species, scientists recently successfully recovered RNA from the marsupial carnivore, the first time such a feat has been accomplished for any extinct species, Gizmodo [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvd29sNnF0dzJzaC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa). In their [paper](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvMDhkYWhhMTQ2aS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWhXA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa), a research team extracted, sequenced and studied the RNA – short for Ribonucleic acid – from the skin and skeletal muscle tissue of a 130-year-old thylacine specimen in the Stockholm Natural History Museum in Sweden. Similar to DNA, RNA is a molecular composition consisting of nucleotides. RNA is single-stranded and serves roles in protein synthesis as well as transporting genetic material in certain viruses. “This is the first time that we have been able to catch a glimpse of the actual biology and metabolism of Tasmanian tiger cells right before they died,” explained lead author Emilio Mármol-Sánchez. The Tasmanian tiger was considered the largest carnivorous marsupial in recent times and was native to the island of Tasmania, off the coast of Australia. The species’ numbers severely dropped during the 19th and 20th centuries as a result of overhunting, habitat loss, and introduced diseases. Recently, the biotech company Colossal Biosciences announced its plans to create a surrogate species resembling the thylacine and release it into Tasmania’s forests. The authors, however, noted that their findings weren’t focused on de-extinction efforts. Instead, they said that the marsupial offered a unique opportunity to recover and analyze RNA from an extinct species. “In the future, we may be able to recover RNA not only from extinct animals, but also RNA virus genomes such as SARS-CoV2 … and other host organisms held in museum collections”, said co-author Love Dalén. Correction: In Wednesday’s DISCOVERIES section, we said in our “The Head of Terror” item that the prehistoric predator’s name Pampaphoneus biccai translates to “terrible head” in Greek. In fact, that translation is attributed to the creature’s group, dinocephalia. We apologize for the error. ~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcG9kdjVlcWxrZS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa [Advertisement](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly9yZXZtYWlsLnJldmNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2NsaWNrLz9pZD0yNzY4MzImdG90YWw9NCZvZmZzZXQ9MyZrZXk9ZGFpbHktY2hhdHRlci0tZGFpbHktY2hhdHRlci1jaGFybG90dGUtb2JzZXJ2ZXJfXzQ1MjExMTl0bTBpbTVpM3VoVwNzcGNCCmUVsqMWZe9aAR1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Fickle Friend By DailyChatter Thank you for reading or listening to DailyChatter. If you’re not already a subscriber, you can become one by going to [dailychatter.com/subscribe](~/AASU4wA~/RgRm-SixP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvZWVzb3o0MnMyaC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ1MjExMTkmbGhfY2lkPXRtMGltNWkzdWgmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODklNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZRWyoxZl71oBHVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODlAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAABa). 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