DRC creates a paramilitary mining guard backed by US and UAE funding — (LINK) ground.news: 18 media reports — 27 April 2026 (LINK)

SIPRI: Record arms spending for the 11th year in a row — 27 April 2026 (LINK)

— Much of the global rise in military spending in 2025 was driven by Europe, where spending rose by 14% to $864 billion. Spain's defense budget jumped by 50%, Poland's by 23% and Italy's by 20%. Among European countries, Germany was the biggest military spender in 2025. Its defense budget rose by 24% to $114 billion, making it the world's fourth-largest. For the first time since 1990, German military spending passed the NATO benchmark of 2% of GDP, reaching 2.3%. The US spent less on its military — just $954 billion in 2025. That's 7.5% less than the year before.

Military spending surges in Europe and Asia, by almost 3% in 2025, pushing world to levels not seen in 16 years, report says — (LINK)

Gunmen attack orphanage in northern Nigeria and abduct 23 pupils: 15 later rescued — (LINK) ground.news: media reports — 27 April 2026 (LINK)

— The facility, Dahallukitab Group of Schools, was operating illegally, said officials.

North Korea opens memorial museum for troops killed in Russia-Ukraine war — (LINK) ground.news: 23 media reports — 26 April 2026 (LINK)

US Supreme Court formally reinstates pro-GOP Texas voting map by 6 to 3: could flip as many as five currently Democratic-held U.S. House seats to Republicans — 27 April 2026 (LINK)

US Supreme Court debates whether police may seek sweeping cellphone location data in investigations — 27 April 2026 (LINK)

US immigration agents left a refugee to die in the cold. His Buffalo New York community is demanding justice — 27 April 2026 (LINK)

— Alam, a 56-year-old Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, who spoke no English and had mental health issues, was dropped by federal immigration officers outside a closed coffee shop in the middle of a brutal winter. He had spent months in custody following a confusing encounter with local law enforcement, then was released — alone, in the cold — far from the Rohingya community hub where he might have found help. Days later, he died.

Israeli strikes kill 14 in Lebanon amid ongoing ceasefire: an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson had earlier issued evacuation warnings for several villages in southern Lebanon — 26 April 2026 (LINK)

Mexico's government said Saturday that two U.S. federal CIA agents recently killed in a car crash in the country's northern region were not authorized to participate in operations in Mexico. — 25 April 2026 (LINK)

— AP: The role of the two CIA agents who were returning from destroying a clandestine drug lab in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua remains unclear. Local government officials have said they were part of a convoy when their car drove off a ravine last weekend and the vehicle exploded. Two Mexican officers also were killed.

US: FBI director Kash Patel has admitted to alcohol-related crimes when a student, report reveals, as Trump stands by him — 24 April 2026 (LINK)

Catchup: Syrian authorities arrest alleged perpetrator of 2013 Tadamon massacre, a former intelligence officer — (LINK) ground.news: 54 media reports — 24 April 2026 (LINK)

— At least 288 civilians were executed on April 16, 2013, in the Tadamon neighborhood of Damascus by Military Intelligence Branch 227 forces, who forced victims into a pit before shooting them.