By Martin Love

Retribution is coming…

Enlightened Americans were sad to see the Iranian soccer team underdogs 1 to the U.S. team. (For too long, since the ouster of Mossadegh by the CIA and the Brits in the early 1950s, the U.S. has maligned and tried to control Iran.) Sportsmanship seemed to have prevailed at the end of the match, however, with some of the opposed team members giving hugs to each other. That single goal made by the U.S. was an instance of luck even though the Iranians did not mount a particularly notable offense. But who is really losing this year and going forward: The West and particularly the United States. As an American, it may be hard to say it, but it’s deserved.

UN chief to meet separately with Putin and Zelenskyy in peace effort

A spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres informed correspondents in a note that on Tuesday, 26 April, he will have a working meeting and lunch with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and will be received by President Putin in Moscow. 

Russia pledges to reduce military acts near Kyiv as peace talks progress

General Alexander Fomin, Russia's deputy defense minister, told reporters on Tuesday that Russia would reduce its military activity around Kyiv and Chernihiv in light of the "meaningful" negotiations with Ukraine, DW reported.