Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

What We're Watching

What We’re Watching: “Czech Trump” back in power, Rwanda-DRC peace deal seemingly in ruins, The US has a new type(face)

ANO party leader Andrej Babis signs a document on the day he is appointed as the country's new prime minister in Prague, Czech Republic, on December 9, 2025.

Czech President Petr Pavel looks on as the ANO party leader Andrej Babis signs a document on the day he is appointed as the country's new prime minister at Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic, on December 9, 2025.

REUTERS/Eva Korinkova
Make us preferred on Google

Babiš returns to power in Czechia

The billionaire is back. Populist tycoon Andrej Babiš officially returns to the premiership of Czechia after decisively winning the election earlier this year. Babiš, a staunch Eurosceptic who last held power from 2017 to 2021, has formed a cabinet with the ultranationalist SPD party and the Motorists movement, which is opposed to European Union climate regulations. Alongside neighboring nationalist Viktor Orbán of Hungary, Babiš’s return could further complicate EU efforts to continue backing Ukraine – on the campaign trail he suggested reviewing Prague’s military and financial support for Kyiv. For more on how the “Czech Trump” stormed back to power, see here.


The peace won’t hold between Rwandan-backed rebels and the DRC

Back in June, leaders from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo went to Washington, DC, to sign a peace deal to end the war between the Congolese army and the M23 Rwandan-backed rebel group. The leaders signed another peace deal at the White House last week. Yet on the ground in eastern Congo, the fighting hasn’t stopped. M23 rebels this week entered the Congolese town of Uvira, the site of an important Congolese army base, continuing their advance in the region. DRC’s top diplomat urged the US to impose sanctions on Rwanda to resurrect the peace deal.

Typeface politics

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio nixed the department’s use of Calibri, calling the Biden administration’s decision to adopt the typeface a “wasteful” diversity move. In a memo, Rubio said reverting back to Times New Roman would “restore decorum and professionalism.” The move comes as part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to oust diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from the federal government. Calibri became the State Department’s font of choice in 2023, and was meant to improve accessibility for readers with disabilities. Our contribution to the font wars is to write this in Code. Tell us which font you like best.

More For You

US President Donald Trump speaks during a state dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C., USA, on April 28, 2026.​

King Charles III and Queen Camilla look on as US President Donald Trump speaks during a state dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C., USA, on April 28, 2026.

REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett
Trump preparing for extended Hormuz blockade, per reportUS President Donald Trump reportedly told his aides to prepare for a longer blockade of Iranian-linked ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, in the hopes that the Islamic Republic kowtows to his demand to dismantle its nuclear program. He appears to prefer this option to restarting a [...]
​UAE's Oil Minister Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei arrives at the OPEC headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on June 4, 2023.

UAE's Oil Minister Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei arrives at the OPEC headquarters for a meeting in Vienna, Austria, on June 4, 2023.

REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
It’s official: the UAE splits from OPECThe United Arab Emirates announced Tuesday that it will leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the 12-country cartel that coordinates oil production and exports, on May 1. The Gulf state has long been frustrated with the crude quotas that the group imposes. It will also exit [...]
Malian soldiers stand near a truck during a patrol following the attack on Mali's main military base in Kati, Mali, on April 27, 2026.

Malian soldiers stand near a truck during a patrol following the attack on Mali's main military base in Kati, Mali, on April 27, 2026.

REUTERS/Stringer
Killing of Mali’s defense minister exacerbates its security crisisJihadist insurgents and Tuareg secessionists assassinated Mali’s Defense Minister Sadio Camara at his home in Kati during coordinated attacks across the West African country on Saturday, as the junta faces yet another major challenge amid the 14-year-long nationwide security crisis. [...]
​Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez attends a meeting with Colombia's Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez and Colombia's Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, on March 13, 2026.

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez attends a meeting with Colombia's Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez and Colombia's Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio after a planned meeting between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Rodriguez was postponed, at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, on March 13, 2026.

REUTERS/Gaby Oraa
First Colombia-Venezuela summit since Maduro’s ousterColombian President Gustavo Petro meets in Caracas today with Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, their first encounter since the US deposed Rodríguez’s former boss, Nicolás Maduro, and effectively installed Rodríguez as a viceroy. Petro, a left-winger who has clashed repeatedly with [...]