Drueke with his mother, Lois (left) and Drueke's photo from his time in the U.S. Army Reserve, which included two tours in Iraq / credit: New York Post

‘I Regret’ Being a Mercenary in Ukraine: Conversation with U.S. POW Detained in Donbass

Last week, two U.S. citizens who had traveled to Ukraine to fight for the Ukrainian International Legion were widely reported as having been captured by military forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), the breakaway republic in eastern Ukraine that is allied with Russia in the ongoing conflict in the region. The two Alabama residents were apparently captured amid fighting in the outskirts of the Ukrainian oblast of Kharkov and, to this point, had not had any contact with U.S. press. That is, until regular TF contributor Fergie Chambers got a phone call.

The leaders of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan (right), and Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev (left), meet with EU President Charles Michel (center) in Brussels on May 22 / credit: president.az

EU Mediates Conflict in South Caucasus, Long Part of Russia’s Geopolitical Orbit

Although the South Caucasus region has traditionally been in the Kremlin’s geopolitical orbit, it is the European Union that seems to be playing the major role in peace talks, border delimitation and the reopening of transportation links. During the past six months, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev met three times through the mediation of European Council President Charles Michel, reports Nikola Mikovic.

The left-wing candidates of the Pacto Histórico coalition ticket in Colombia celebrate a win / credit: Evo Morales / Twitter

Celebrations in Colombia’s Streets: Gustavo Petro to Be First Left-Wing President and Francia Márquez the First Afro-Descendant Woman VP

Celebrations took place Sunday evening as people took to the streets of Colombia after left-wing presidential candidate Gustavo Petro was deemed the winner of the second-round election. This victory makes his running mate, Francia Márquez, the first Afro-descendant woman who will serve as vice president once the term begins in August, reports TF editor Julie Varughese.

The Poor People's Army in Philadelphia / credit: Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign / Facebook

Ahead of Rev. Barber’s ‘Moral March,’ U.S. Groups Call Out Hypocrisy of $54B Ukraine War Funding

Spokespeople for the Black Alliance for Peace and the Philadelphia-based Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign said they have reached out for years to develop relationships with the Poor People's Campaign, led by the Reverend Dr. William J. Barber. However, the spokespeople said U.S. poverty will not be eradicated until people are independently organized to challenge the power of finance capital and disengage from the Democratic and Republican parties. TF editor Julie Varughese reports.