Von der Leyen warns against ‘carving up’ of Ukraine amid crunch US-led talks

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Commission president says undermining of sovereign European nation would ‘open the doors for more wars’

The European Commission president has warned against “the unilateral carving up of a sovereign European nation” as Europe scrambles to assert influence over the US’s attempt to end the war in Ukraine.

Speaking to European lawmakers in Strasbourg on Wednesday, Ursula von der Leyen said Russia showed “no signs of true willingness to end the conflict” and continued to operate in a mindset unchanged since the days of Yalta – the much-criticised and misunderstood 1945 summit to settle the postwar order.

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European parliament calls for social media ban on under-16s

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MEPs pass resolution to help parents tackle growing dangers of addictive internet platforms

Children under 16 should be banned from using social media unless their parents decide otherwise, the European parliament says.

MEPs passed a resolution on age restrictions on Wednesday by a large majority. Although not legally binding, it raises pressure for European legislation amid growing alarm about the mental health risks to children of unfettered internet access.

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European parliament calls for social media ban on under-16s

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MEPs pass resolution to help parents tackle growing dangers of addictive internet platforms

Children under 16 should be banned from using social media unless their parents decide otherwise, the European parliament says.

MEPs passed a resolution on age restrictions on Wednesday by a large majority. Although not legally binding, it raises pressure for European legislation amid growing alarm about the mental health risks to children of unfettered internet access.

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Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau announce their government takeover on state TV – NPR

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  1. Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau announce their government takeover on state TV  NPR
  2. Guinea-Bissau coup: Soldiers seize power and detain President Umaro Sissoco Embaló  BBC
  3. Guinea-Bissau army officers say they have seized power; president arrested  Al Jazeera
  4. Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau appear on state television saying they have seized power  AP News
  5. Portugal calls for end to violence in Bissau, vote counting resuming  Reuters
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Noem made decision to continue deportation flights to El Salvador, justice department says

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Justice department maintains that Trump administration didn’t violate judge’s order to return flights to US

The Department of Justice said in a statement that Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, was the one who made the decision to continue with the deportation flights of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador in March, despite a federal judge’s directive that the flights must be returned to the United States.

In a court filing on Tuesday, the justice department said that “Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove provided DHS with legal advice regarding the court’s order as to flights that had left the United States before the order issued, through DHS Acting General Counsel Joseph Mazzara” and that “after receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador”.

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Noem made decision to continue deportation flights to El Salvador, justice department says

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Justice department maintains that Trump administration didn’t violate judge’s order to return flights to US

The Department of Justice said in a statement that Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, was the one who made the decision to continue with the deportation flights of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador in March, despite a federal judge’s directive that the flights must be returned to the United States.

In a court filing on Tuesday, the justice department said that “Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove provided DHS with legal advice regarding the court’s order as to flights that had left the United States before the order issued, through DHS Acting General Counsel Joseph Mazzara” and that “after receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador”.

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John Kerry urges Australia to take ‘hard-nosed’ approach with world’s biggest fossil fuel-producing countries at Cop31

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Exclusive: Former US secretary of state calls for more demanding steps from Australia as it takes over presidency of next year’s UN climate summit

Australia’s government, which will preside over the next UN climate summit, should gather the world’s 25 biggest greenhouse gas emitting countries and push them to draw up a roadmap to end the era of fossil fuels, former US secretary of state John Kerry has said.

Only by “hard-nosed” confrontation with fossil fuel producers, and reducing their consumption in major economies, would the world be able to tackle the climate crisis, he said.

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John Kerry urges Australia to take ‘hard-nosed’ approach with world’s biggest fossil fuel-producing countries at Cop31

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Exclusive: Former US secretary of state calls for more demanding steps from Australia as it takes over presidency of next year’s UN climate summit

Australia’s government, which will preside over the next UN climate summit, should gather the world’s 25 biggest greenhouse gas emitting countries and push them to draw up a roadmap to end the era of fossil fuels, former US secretary of state John Kerry has said.

Only by “hard-nosed” confrontation with fossil fuel producers, and reducing their consumption in major economies, would the world be able to tackle the climate crisis, he said.

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As France prepares military expansion, how is Europe beefing up its armies?

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European nations are rushing to bolster their defences amid Russia threat and uncertainty of US support

France will this week become the latest EU country to set out plans to expand its army, with Emmanuel Macron expected to announce on Thursday that military service will be restored – albeit on a voluntary basis – nearly 30 years after the end of conscription.

In the face of Russia’s military threat and uncertainty over the US’s commitment to defending its transatlantic allies, Europe is rushing to bolster its defence industry and its deployment capability after radically cutting them back since the cold war.

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Russia must make concessions as part of any peace deal, says EU’s Kallas – politico.eu

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  1. Russia must make concessions as part of any peace deal, says EU’s Kallas  politico.eu
  2. Putin trying to negotiate an end to Ukraine war as he cannot win it on battlefield, says EU’s Kallas – as it happened  The Guardian
  3. No real intent in Moscow to engage in peace talks, says von der Leyen  BBC
  4. Ukraine updates: EU calls for more Russia sanctions  DW
  5. Peace deal should limit Russia's army rather than Ukraine's, says Kaja Kallas  Euronews.com
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Trump threatens Venezuela’s Maduro with ‘the easy way … or the hard way’

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Venezuela president vows to defend ‘every inch’ of the country amid military buildup in Caribbean

Donald Trump has warned Nicolás Maduro he can “do things the easy way … or the hard way” as Venezuela’s authoritarian leader responded to the growing US pressure campaign by urging followers to prepare to defend “every inch” of the South American country.

Clad in woodland camouflage fatigues, Maduro told a rally in the capital, Caracas, it was their historic duty to fight foreign aggressors, just as the Venezuelan liberation hero Simón Bolívar did two centuries ago.

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Trump threatens Venezuela’s Maduro with ‘the easy way … or the hard way’

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Venezuela president vows to defend ‘every inch’ of the country amid military buildup in Caribbean

Donald Trump has warned Nicolás Maduro he can “do things the easy way … or the hard way” as Venezuela’s authoritarian leader responded to the growing US pressure campaign by urging followers to prepare to defend “every inch” of the South American country.

Clad in woodland camouflage fatigues, Maduro told a rally in the capital, Caracas, it was their historic duty to fight foreign aggressors, just as the Venezuelan liberation hero Simón Bolívar did two centuries ago.

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Bangkok court issues an arrest warrant for Thai co-owner of Miss Universe pageant – AP News

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  1. Bangkok court issues an arrest warrant for Thai co-owner of Miss Universe pageant  AP News
  2. Arrest Warrant Issued for Miss Universe Co-Owner amid Mounting Controversies Surrounding Pageant  People.com
  3. JKN Executive Exit Spurs Crypto Rumours Amid $92 Million Debt Crisis  Nation Thailand
  4. Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Anne Jakkaphong Over Fraud Case  Khaosod English
  5. Miss Universe ex-CEO Anne Jakrajutatip flees to Mexico amid debt crisis?  Inquirer.net
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