- Macron lauds Europe's 'predictability' in apparent swipe at Trump Euronews.com
- Japan, France agree to step up coordination on Hormuz, Iran war Reuters
- Macron calls for ceasefire in Mideast during visit to Japan AP News
- French and Japanese Leaders to Discuss Hormuz Maritime Security Bloomberg.com
- Japan's Takaichi, France's Macron to strike rare-earths deal Nikkei Asia
Iraq coach says World Cup can help ‘change perception’ of country
Over those past four decades, Iraq has faced a number of crises, including wars and separatist movements.
Russia Saw Opportunity in Surging Oil Prices. Then Ukraine Struck at the Ports – Yahoo Finance
- Russia Saw Opportunity in Surging Oil Prices. Then Ukraine Struck at the Ports Yahoo Finance
- Exclusive: Russian oil output cuts are unavoidable as drone attacks shrink exports, sources say Reuters
- Huge fires at Russian oil facilities following Ukraine strikes, satellite images show BBC
- Russian Oil Exports Plunge as Drone Strikes Cripple Baltic Ports bloomberg.com
- Drones Hit Oil Refinery in Ufa militarnyi.com
Trump threatened to stop weapons for Ukraine unless Europe joined Hormuz coalition – Financial Times
- Trump threatened to stop weapons for Ukraine unless Europe joined Hormuz coalition Financial Times
- European Allies Should Clear the Strait of Hormuz bloomberg.com
- NATO ambassador says Trump ‘reevaluating’ US involvement in alliance The Hill
- The Debate - Trump's war, NATO's problem: Will allies help secure Strait of Hormuz? France 24
- Trump threatened to halt weapons supplies to Ukraine unless Europe helped persuade Iran – FT Українська правда
Iran authorities await war ‘victory’ as supporters mark 1979 anniversary
Officials, government supporters take to streets to mark Islamic Republic Day, even as US, Israel continue bombing.
Protests erupt in West Bank as Israel approves death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murder – AP News
- Protests erupt in West Bank as Israel approves death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murder AP News
- Smirking Past the Gallows The Atlantic
- Jailed Palestinians fear death by hanging without due process under new Israeli law Reuters
- Israel mandates death penalty for West Bank Palestinians who kill in terrorist acts washingtonpost.com
- Israel approves sweeping death penalty legislation targeting terrorism, EU condemns move Fox News
‘This is an apartheid regime’: Critics decry Israel’s new death penalty law
Celebrations in the Israeli parliament mark the passing of legislation intended to apply to Palestinians only.
Trump to give primetime address on war as questions swirl over his next move
The US president finds himself under growing pressure at home to avoid a protracted conflict.
War on Iran: Three key takeaways from Araghchi’s interview with Al Jazeera – Al Jazeera
- War on Iran: Three key takeaways from Araghchi’s interview with Al Jazeera Al Jazeera
- Iran’s Foreign Ministry Denies Talks With U.S. WSJ
- Iran rejects Trump's proposal to end the war and lays out 5 conditions npr.org
- Trust level is at zero: Irans Foreign Minister Araghchi rules out talks with US; warns of strength waiting for any ground attack Tribune India
- Iran says it has no plans for negotiations with the U.S. NBC News
High times or low blows? Experts fail to clear air over German drug legalisation
Cannabis policy still divisive two years in, with SPD hailing it while CDU minister says it is risk to young people’s health
It was a landmark piece of legislation passed by Germany’s previous, centre-left-led government: a measure that legalised the personal recreational use of cannabis for over-18s despite warnings from critics it would cause a steep rise in the drug’s use, including by teenagers, and boost criminal gangs.
Two years on, controversy over the move has still not been stubbed out, with critics and proponents at odds over its impact on consumption, youth welfare and organised crime.
Continue reading...Supreme court justices appear skeptical of move to end birthright citizenship as Trump attends arguments
The US president issued an executive order in 2025 that seeks to undo constitutional right to birthright citizenship
The US supreme court on Wednesday appeared poised to protect birthright citizenship, the longstanding policy that babies born in the US are American citizens, in what would be a blow to a key immigration policy for Donald Trump.
The court heard oral arguments with Trump himself in attendance inside the courtroom’s public gallery. A majority of justices asked questions indicating skepticism about the government’s attempt to overturn birthright citizenship. But while some expected the case to be a clearcut win for those challengingthe government, it is unclear how many justices might side with Trump. A decision is expected this summer.
Continue reading...Robotaxi outage in China’s Wuhan leaves passengers stranded in moving traffic
More than 100 of the Baidu driverless vehicles stopped running because of a system malfunction
Some robotaxi passengers were left stranded in the middle of fast-moving traffic in a major Chinese city after their driverless vehicles stopped running, according to police and media reports on Wednesday.
A preliminary investigation indicates more than 100 robotaxis came to a halt because of a “system malfunction”, police in the city of Wuhan said in a statement, without elaborating. No injuries were reported.
Continue reading...Secret Codes and Yuan Fees Get Ships Through Iran’s Hormuz Tollbooth – Bloomberg.com
- Secret Codes and Yuan Fees Get Ships Through Iran’s Hormuz Tollbooth Bloomberg.com
- Inside Tehran’s toll booth Atlantic Council
- IRGC Opens Tolled Passage for Merchant Ships in Strait of Hormuz, Transit Continues to Trickle Through USNI News
- Iran has a new demand to end the war – and it could bring in billions cnn.com
- Iran starts to formalize its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz with a ‘toll booth’ regime AP News
Unsuspecting windsurfer collides with gray whale in the San Francisco Bay
Footage shows a man windsurfing being forcefully thrown from his board as a whale breaches off the California coast
An unsuspecting windsurfer collided with a gray whale on the San Francisco Bay in a startling and rare encounter captured on video.
The footage shows the moment the surfer is forcefully thrown from his board as a gray whale breaches off the California coast, plunging him into the water.
Continue reading...Parents told to ‘take responsibility’ after two days of TikTok-led London disorder
Six teenage girls arrested after hundreds of young people gather in Clapham in ‘swarming the streets’ trend
Police have urged parents to “take responsibility” after scenes of widespread disorder in Clapham, south-west London, on Saturday and Tuesday. Officers said the incidents were fuelled by a TikTok trend for swarming the streets.
Six teenage girls have been arrested so far, and the Metropolitan police said there would be more arrests in the coming days as officers reviewed CCTV and bodycam footage of the disorder. It urged parents not to allow their children to take part in similar events over the Easter weekend.
Continue reading...Two dead and one missing after trying to cross Channel to UK
First fatal incident this year occurred hours after £16.2m ‘stop the boats’ deal agreed between Britain and France
Two people have died and another is missing after trying to cross the Channel from France to the UK on Wednesday morning. It is the first fatal incident in the Channel this year.
The deaths occurred just hours after an interim £16.2m “stop the boats” deal was agreed between the UK and France which will be in place until May. Negotiations will continue for a longer-term deal to replace the previous three-year deal, which expired on Tuesday. According to reports, the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is trying to secure a “payment by results” agreement to reduce small boat crossings.
Continue reading...What do Trump’s latest comments on leaving Nato mean for the alliance?
Trump has criticised Nato members for showing a lack of support for US objectives in Iran.
What do Trump’s latest comments on leaving Nato mean for the alliance?
Trump has criticised Nato members for showing a lack of support for US objectives in Iran.
Families cram into Greek court for trial into deadliest train crash
Fifty-seven people were killed when two trains collided in 2023 in the worst rail accident in Greek history, with 36 accused in a trial expected to last years.
Iranian officials ‘laugh’ at Trump’s claim Iran wants a ceasefire
A senior Iranian official has laughed in response to US President Donald Trump's claim that Iran asked for a ceasefire.