Hungary drops veto on EU’s Russia sanctions rollover after several oligarchs de-listed – EURACTIV

  1. Hungary drops veto on EU’s Russia sanctions rollover after several oligarchs de-listed  EURACTIV
  2. EU envoys renew sanctions on Russian individuals, entities  Reuters
  3. Ukraine updates: European Union extends Russian sanctions  DW (English)
  4. Hungary drops veto and agrees to prolong EU sanctions on Russian individuals  Euronews
  5. Hungary Demands Sanctions Relief for Russian Billionaire Fridman Ahead of EU Sanctions Vote – FT  The Moscow Times
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Boycott USA! Trump tariffs prompt backlash against US goods – DW (English)

  1. Boycott USA! Trump tariffs prompt backlash against US goods  DW (English)
  2. ‘I feel utter anger’: From Canada to Europe, a movement to boycott US goods is spreading | Trump administration  The Guardian US
  3. Boycott USA: Trump’s trade war sparks international movement to reject Uncle Sam  The Independent
  4. The Entire World Is Pissed at Trump—and It May Cost the U.S. Big Time  The New Republic
  5. Trump tariffs spark "Boycott USA" backlash against U.S. goods  Axios
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EU renews Russian sanctions after deal with Hungary – POLITICO Europe

  1. EU renews Russian sanctions after deal with Hungary  POLITICO Europe
  2. EU Poised to Back Extension of Sanctions on Russian Tycoons  Bloomberg
  3. Ukraine updates: European Union extends Russian sanctions  DW (English)
  4. EU resists pressure from Hungary, extends Russia sanctions  Kyiv Independent
  5. Hungary drops veto and agrees to prolong EU sanctions on Russian individuals  Euronews
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Reeves defends welfare cuts plan after report that over half of cabinet are unhappy – UK politics live

Chancellor says current welfare system ‘is not working for anyone’ after reports of unease within the Labour cabinet

Prisons in England and Wales are forecast to run out of space again in early 2026 as years of government efforts have failed to create the extra capacity needed, MPs have warned.

A report from the Commons public accounts committee out today says plans from 2021 to create 20,000 more prison places by the mid 2020s were “completely unrealistic” and thousands of outstanding spaces are expected to be delivered five years late for £4.2bn – 80% – more than planned.

As a result of poor planning and delays, the adult male prison estate was operating at 98.0% to 99.7% occupancy between October 2022 and August 2024 and remains alarmingly full.

Overcrowding is endemic, staff are overburdened, and access to services and purposeful activity is poor. The current prison system has had to focus on ensuring there are sufficient places to house prisoners. While the efforts of HMPPS [HM Prison and Probation Service] staff to avert disaster are admirable, this state of crisis undermines their efforts to rehabilitate prisoners and reduce reoffending.

Lives are being put at increasing risk by the government’s historic failures to increase capacity.

Despite the recent emergency release of thousands of prisoners, the system still faces total gridlock in a matter of months.

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Moscow Targeted by Second Ukrainian Drone Attack in a Week – The Moscow Times

  1. Moscow Targeted by Second Ukrainian Drone Attack in a Week  The Moscow Times
  2. Video: Moscow hit by Ukrainian drone attack  CNN
  3. Russia downed four drones headed for Moscow, mayor says, after Kyiv targeted oil complex  Reuters
  4. General Staff: Russia has lost 891,660 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.  Kyiv Independent
  5. VOA Russian: Drone attack on Moscow seen as signal to Putin  Voice of America
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Nightly Rosary for Pope’s health returns to St. Peter’s Square – Vatican News

  1. Nightly Rosary for Pope's health returns to St. Peter's Square  Vatican News
  2. Cardinal Koch: ‘Suffering of illness’ a great challenge for aging Pope Francis  Catholic News Agency
  3. The suffering Holy Father gathers us around Mary when we’re helpless, cardinal says  My catholic standard
  4. Vatican to hold daily evening prayers for health of pope in St Peter’s Square  The Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter
  5. Vatican moves Rosary for Pope Francis indoors  Wanted in Rome
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Tigray tensions: Rival TPLF forces seize key offices in Ethiopian town of Mekelle – BBC.com

  1. Tigray tensions: Rival TPLF forces seize key offices in Ethiopian town of Mekelle  BBC.com
  2. Institute for the Study of War  Institute for the Study of War
  3. Ethiopia and Eritrea on path to war, Tigray officials warn  Reuters
  4. TPLF faction seizes control of Mekelle FM 104.4, mayor’s office amid rising tensions in Tigray  addisstandard.com
  5. Stop the Next Ethiopia-Eritrea War Before It Begins  Foreign Policy
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Shrinking economy offers unhelpful backdrop for Rachel Reeves’s growth push

GDP goes in wrong direction as chancellor puts final touches to fiscal plans

For a government that has made growth its overriding mission, the 0.1% decline in GDP in January signalled by the Office for National Statistics will be depressing news.

As Rachel Reeves prepares to announce her spring statement on 26 March, the economy appears to be going in the wrong direction – underlining the fact that the Office for Budget Responsibility is likely to have presented her with notably weaker forecasts than in October.

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Trump says the U.S. is in a ‘period of transition’ — and more takeaways from this week – NPR

  1. Trump says the U.S. is in a 'period of transition' — and more takeaways from this week  NPR
  2. Trump's Turbulent Week With the Economy and Foreign Policy: Analysts React  Newsweek
  3. March 9, 2025: Donald Trump presidency news  CNN
  4. Trump says economy goes BOOM! and other insanities  Daily Kos
  5. March 10, 2025: Donald Trump presidency news  CNN
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JD Vance: I’d be ‘shocked’ if Trump moved nukes to Poland – POLITICO Europe

  1. JD Vance: I’d be ‘shocked’ if Trump moved nukes to Poland  POLITICO Europe
  2. Andrzej Duda: US nuclear weapons in Poland would be 'deterrent' for Russia  BBC.com
  3. Poland’s president urges US to move nuclear warheads to Polish territory  Financial Times
  4. A nuclear Poland? Logistics, political challenges ahead of potential Warsaw deal  Breaking Defense
  5. President Duda calls on US to place nuclear weapons in Poland  The Associated Press
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NSW bans hay imports from south-east Queensland amid fear of fire ants after Cyclone Alfred

Invasive Species Council says moratorium a ‘knee-jerk reaction’ to inadequacy of national eradication program

New South Wales has temporarily banned the import of hay from parts of south-east Queensland as a precaution against invasive fire ants, which are on the move in large numbers thanks to flooding from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

But the Invasive Species Council said the move is a Band-Aid response and accused the Queensland, NSW and federal governments of dropping the ball in suppressing fire ant numbers within infested areas.

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