International
North Korea hosts a grand ceremony for the 30th anniversary of Kim Il-sung’s death
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, presided over a massive ceremony in Pyongyang on Monday on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the death of his grandfather, Kim Il-sung, the country’s founder, state media reported.
The event, which was attended by thousands of people, took place in Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang, the scene of the great celebrations and commemorations of the North Korean regime.
“The place was filled with ardent longing and deep mourning for President Kim Il-sung, the great revolutionary, the great man and the benevolent father, who gave himself to the homeland and the people, to socialism and the sacred cause of independence on a global scale for more than 70 years,” says an article about the event published today by the KCNA agency.
Kim Jong-un, who previously visited the Palace of the Sun of Kumsusan in Pyongyang to pay tribute to the embalmed remains of his grandfather and father, presided over the ceremony from the tribune located in front of the Great Palace of People’s Studies, from which Kim Il-sung Square is overlooked.
It was flanked by the four members of the Presidium of the Single Party Politburo, Kim Tok-hun, Jo Yong-won, Choe Ryong-hae and Ri Pyong-chol.
In the box you could also see the leader’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, who is deputy director of the Department of Propaganda and Agitation of the Workers’ Party.
After a minute of silence, it was his direct superior, Ri Il-hwan, director of the aforementioned department, who gave a speech entitled “The sacred revolutionary feats of the great leader comrade Kim Il-sung will be eternal,” in which the work of the founder of the country was praised and emphasis was placed on the work of Kim Jong-un to keep his legacy alive.
The event concluded with a salvo and with the well-known hymn “The song of General Kim Il-sung.”
The founder of North Korea died on July 7, 1994 at the age of 82 from heart failure.
With the support of the Soviet Union he became the first leader of the country after the end of World War II and over five decades he managed to impose himself over other factions and place his son Kim Jong-il (father of the current leader) as his successor.
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.
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Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
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