A Russian promise on Monday, Feb. 26 to set an evacuation route for civilians to leave besieged Eastern Ghouta has sparked deep forebodings in Israel. This promise accompanied an announcement by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu that President Vladimir Putin had ordered a daily five-hour “humanitarian pause” in the fighting, which has left hundreds dead. Source: DEBKAfile
In a bid to reduce the stream of migrants into the country, Denmark is spending extra money to dissuade asylum seekers from taking the perilous journey to Europe, which, according to Denmark’s Foreign Ministry, involves a high risk of violence, sexual assault, exploitation, trafficking and torture. Source: Ritzau
North Korea has returned its staff to an inter-Korean liaison office, Seoul said on Monday (Mar 25), just days after unilaterally withdrawing from the joint facility. Source: Channel NewsAsia
The Pentagon has sent ships through the Taiwan Strait — the third time in as many months — as Washington ramps up naval activities in the waterway, stoking fears in Beijing of a growing alignment with Taipei. Source: Japan Times
