Putin Visits Japan-Claimed Iturup Island, Drawing Strong Protest From Tokyo 
Canada-US Trade Talks Gain Momentum Ahead of Aug. 19 Tariff Deadline 
Trump Imposes New US Tariffs on Drone Imports Over National Security Concerns 
Meloni Loses Ground Among Young Italian Voters Ahead of 2027 Election 
US, Colombia Weigh Joint Strikes on Armed Groups in Expanded Anti-Drug Campaign 
Israel Warned US of Alleged Iran Plot to Assassinate Trump 
Iran Eyes New Development Bank Membership as BRICS Pushes Local Currency Trade 
Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Hits 265 as President Announces Emergency Fund 
U.S. Military Operations Killed 153 Civilians in 2025, Pentagon Says 
Trump Orders U.S. Navy to Return to Steam Catapults for Aircraft Carriers 
Bashar al-Assad Sentenced to Death by Syrian Court 
North Korea Slams US-South Korea Drills, Vows Stronger Nuclear Deterrence 
Haftar Helps Broker Release of American Hostage Held by ISIS Affiliate 
Canada, US Hold Fresh Trade Talks as August 19 Tariff Deadline Nears 
Strait of Hormuz Shipping Near Standstill After New Vessel Attacks 
Trump Orders Major Overhaul of US Navy Shipbuilding 
Jared Kushner May Visit Israel for Gaza Talks Next Week 
Add as a preferred source on Google
The head of the Russian Wagner mercenary group and ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin extended amnesty to a batch of convicts who fought on the ground in Ukraine. This follows video footage released by Russian media showing the first set of convicts that were granted amnesty.
In video footage released by the Ria Novosti news outlet, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is seen telling what would be the first batch of convicts that served in the war for six months that they are being granted amnesty.
“You’ve worked through your contract. You worked honorably, with dignity,” Prigozhin was seen telling the convicts, saying that they should expect to be treated “with the highest respect” in Russian society after serving for six months in the war effort.
“Don’t drink a lot, don’t use drugs, don’t rape women, do not get up to no good,” said Prigozhin.
The video footage was released after Zambia criticized Russia when a Zambian student who was serving a prison sentence in Russia was killed on the front lines in Ukraine after being granted amnesty for their service. The mercenary group is originally made up of hardened members of the Russian military and fought in Mali, the Central African Republic, Libya, and Syria, as well as Ukraine.
Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Wagner mercenary group – funded by Prigozhhin, an oligarch also known as “Putin’s chef” – kept a low profile. However, mercenaries of the group have since taken on a more public persona since the war began in February last year.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is set to receive more armored combat vehicles from the West but stopped short of providing the heavier armored tanks Ukraine has requested. French President Emmanuel Macron told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that France would be sending light AMX-10 RC armored combat vehicles following a call between the two leaders.
Hours after the announcement from Paris, US President Joe Biden said the United States was also considering sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine. This would be in addition to the 2,000 vehicles the Pentagon has provided Ukraine, including 477 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles and over 1,200 Humvees.
