Russian Defense Minister Appears for First Time Since Wagner Mutiny 

In his photo taken and released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Thursday, June 8, 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspects the preparation of equipment and weapons for shipment to the zone of the special military operation at the arsenals and storage bases of the Western Military District at an undisclosed location in Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
In his photo taken and released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Thursday, June 8, 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspects the preparation of equipment and weapons for shipment to the zone of the special military operation at the arsenals and storage bases of the Western Military District at an undisclosed location in Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
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Russian Defense Minister Appears for First Time Since Wagner Mutiny 

In his photo taken and released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Thursday, June 8, 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspects the preparation of equipment and weapons for shipment to the zone of the special military operation at the arsenals and storage bases of the Western Military District at an undisclosed location in Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
In his photo taken and released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Thursday, June 8, 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspects the preparation of equipment and weapons for shipment to the zone of the special military operation at the arsenals and storage bases of the Western Military District at an undisclosed location in Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu appeared for the first time since a deal was struck on Saturday to end what the authorities had called an armed mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group aimed at ousting him. 

In a video released on Monday morning by the Russian Defense Ministry, Shoigu was shown flying in a plane with a colleague and hearing reports at a command post run by Russia's Zapad (West) military grouping. 

There was no sound on the video and it was not immediately clear where or when the visit had taken place. 

Russia's Zvezda Defense Ministry TV Channel said Shoigu, who looked physically unharmed and calm, had listened to a report by Colonel General Yevgeny Nikiforov, the group's commander, about the current situation on the frontlines in Ukraine. 

In his mutiny during which he seized control of Russia's military headquarters in southern Russia, renegade Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin had demanded that Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff, be handed over to him so that he could "restore justice." 

Prigozhin accused both men of gross incompetence and corruption and had long been agitating for their removal. 

Gerasimov has not been seen since in public, and there was no word from the Kremlin about any new personnel changes when it described the deal which had ended the mutiny. 

The Kremlin said the question of personnel changes was the sole prerogative of President Vladimir Putin and could hardly have been part of any deal. 

Zvezda said Shoigu on his visit had heard about the formation of new reserve forces for the "Zapad" military grouping and had noted what it called the Russian army's "high efficiency" at "detecting and destroying enemy military equipment and accumulations of personnel in tactical areas." 

He had tasked them with continuing active reconnaissance in order to reveal the enemy's plans to thwart Ukrainian forces' movements far behind the frontlines, it said. 

Zvezda said Shoigu had also paid particular attention to what it called "the organization of all-round support for the troops involved in the Special Military Operation and the creation of conditions for the safe housing of personnel." 

Mutineers led by Prigozhin on Saturday advanced towards Moscow to remove what they called Russia's corrupt and incompetent military leadership, before suddenly heading back to a Russia-held area of eastern Ukraine after a deal with the Kremlin brokered by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. 

The deal, as publicly described by the Kremlin, saw criminal charges against the mutineers dropped in exchange for their return to camps. Prigozhin will relocate to Belarus under the agreement. 



EU Announces a Further $2.3 Million in Humanitarian Aid for Cuba

FILE - An ice cream street vendor shows his Cuban pesos in Havana, Cuba, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Ley, File)
FILE - An ice cream street vendor shows his Cuban pesos in Havana, Cuba, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Ley, File)
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EU Announces a Further $2.3 Million in Humanitarian Aid for Cuba

FILE - An ice cream street vendor shows his Cuban pesos in Havana, Cuba, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Ley, File)
FILE - An ice cream street vendor shows his Cuban pesos in Havana, Cuba, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Ley, File)

The European Commission has released a further 2 million euros ($2.3 million) in aid for Cuba, it said on Wednesday, to tackle what it described as worsening humanitarian conditions in the country.

The US cut off Venezuelan oil exports to Cuba after toppling Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3.

This has resulted in an energy crisis in Cuba and blackouts across ⁠the country, whose ⁠population stands at 10 million. Cuban health officials say the crisis has increased the mortality risk for Cuban cancer patients, especially children.

"The EU stands with the people of Cuba in ⁠their hour of need. After Hurricane Melissa, we were there. And today, we are stepping up again with €2 million in humanitarian aid to help deliver food and safe drinking water to those who need it most. In a country facing an energy crisis and growing shortages, this support will help keep life-saving aid flowing ⁠to ⁠up to two million people in need," Reuters quoted Hadja Lahbib, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, as saying in a statement.

On March 31, a Russian-flagged tanker carrying some 700,000 barrels of crude docked in Cuba's Matanzas oil terminal, shipping data showed, marking the first significant oil delivery to the island since US President Donald Trump's administration cut off its fuel supply.


Pakistan Says Holding Talks with Afghan Govt in China

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, poses for photos with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Xinhua via AP)
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, poses for photos with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Xinhua via AP)
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Pakistan Says Holding Talks with Afghan Govt in China

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, poses for photos with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Xinhua via AP)
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, poses for photos with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Xinhua via AP)

Pakistan and Afghanistan are holding talks in China to end months of conflict, two officials from Islamabad told AFP on Wednesday.

The meeting in the northwestern city of Urumqi comes after Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, travelled to Beijing on Tuesday to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.

The pair discussed Islamabad's role in trying to get the United States and Iran to the negotiating table, and set out a joint five-point plan for an end to the conflict.

Dar had been due to return to Islamabad on Wednesday.

China has sought to mediate in the escalating conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pakistan says it is targeting extremists who have carried out cross-border attacks, but authorities in Kabul deny harboring militants.

There was no immediate comment from Pakistan's foreign ministry and military when contacted by AFP, or from the Afghan government.

But a senior Pakistani security official said: "A delegation led by an official from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in Urumqi to hold talks with the Afghan Taliban

"The meeting is taking place at the request of our Chinese friends."

A second senior government official also confirmed the talks, adding: "The meeting is to set a base for full-scale dialogue."

The first official said Pakistan's demands from Afghanistan "remain unchanged", urging Kabul to "take verifiable action" against extremists and "end any support for the group".

It also wants to "ensure that Afghan territory is not used as a base for launching attacks against Pakistan".


Trump Says US Strongly Considering NATO Exit

FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump signs documents at the White House in Washington, US, January 20, 2025.  REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump signs documents at the White House in Washington, US, January 20, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
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Trump Says US Strongly Considering NATO Exit

FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump signs documents at the White House in Washington, US, January 20, 2025.  REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump signs documents at the White House in Washington, US, January 20, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

President Donald Trump said he was strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO after allies failed to back US military action against Iran, according to an interview with Britain's Daily ⁠Telegraph.

Trump described the ⁠alliance as a "paper tiger" and said removing the United States from the defense pact was ⁠now "beyond reconsideration," the newspaper reported. He said he had long held doubts about NATO's credibility.

"Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration," Trump told the newspaper when asked about whether he would reconsider US ⁠membership ⁠of the alliance after the conflict.

"I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin knows that too, by the way."

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday other countries needed to "be prepared to stand up" and help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, echoing criticism from Trump, who has singled out NATO members Britain and France.

Rubio told Fox News Washington would not overlook the lack of assistance from other NATO members. "After this conflict is concluded, we ⁠are going to have to reexamine ⁠that relationship," he said.