The U.S. Navy will announce the winner of the F/A-XX program this week, a next-gen stealth fighter replacing the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to counter China in the Indo-Pacific.

The contract, worth hundreds of billions over time, starts with a single-digit billion-dollar EMD phase.

Boeing and Northrop Grumman remain in contention after Lockheed Martin's reported elimination.

Source: Reuters

Alexander Lukashenko has officially assumed the presidency of Belarus for the seventh consecutive term.

He remains the only president in the country's history since gaining independence.

NEW: Iran's currency drops to a record low of 1,039,000 rials per U.S. dollar, according to data from Bonbast.

Israel accuses Al Jazeera journalist Hossam Shabat killed yesterday of being a Hamas “sniper”.

Macron will receive Zelensky on Wednesday evening to prepare for Thursday's security summit.

Source: AFP

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will ask US officials in Washington this week to remove CAATSA sanctions on Türkiye and let Türkiye back into the F-35 program.

Source: Reuters

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen:

The United States is putting unacceptable pressure on Greenland.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen:

President Trump is serious, and he is determined.

He wants Greenland.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio today at GMT 6:30 p.m.

Russia says it is open to a new Black Sea shipping safety agreement — potentially a step toward a ceasefire — but only if the U.S. "orders" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to comply.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that only direct instructions from Washington would give Russia the guarantees it needs:

“Given the sad experience of past agreements with Kyiv, the guarantees can only come from an order from Washington.”

Lavrov also said the U.S. alone could stop Ukrainian attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure.

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) will lead a new parallel government, with the SPLM-N, headed by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, as deputy, sources say.

The RSF will take about 40% of the positions, the SPLM-N around 30%, and the remaining 30% will go to the Revolutionary Front, Delilah Burma’s Umma Party faction, and others.

Disputes over the presidency had stalled the announcement.

A political declaration signed in Nairobi on 22 February laid the groundwork for the alliance and government in RSF-held areas.

Two fuel tankers—one with 100,000 metric tons of crude oil and another with 5,600 tons of gasoline—have arrived at Syria’s Baniyas Port.

The origin of the new shipments was not disclosed.

BIG: Kamil Sharif Abbas, the perpetrator of the Tadamon massacre in Damascus’ Turkmen neighborhood, has been captured by Syrian Military Intelligence after 12 years.

Canadian Prime Minister Carney promises ‘unprecedented acceleration of investment in armed forces’ if he wins April 28 election.

Locals of Kouya village in Syria say Israeli forces attempted to enter but were met with gunfire from locals.

The IDF has since retreated and is now shelling the area.

Villagers say they are prepared to die rather than allow Israeli troops to enter.

European Council President Antonio Costa:

If Russia considers that Ukraine's borders are just a line on a map, why should it respect any other country's borders?

EU’s Costa:

Enlargement is the best geopolitical investment the European Union can make.