- EU hopes Druzhba pipeline deal pushes Orbán to back Ukraine loan politico.eu
- Opinion | Viktor Orbán Carries Putin’s Water WSJ
- Ukraine pivots on Russian oil pipeline after EU pressure Financial Times
- Ukraine accepts EU inspection to Druzhba hoping to lift Hungarian veto on €90bn loan Euronews.com
- Ukraine accepts EU offer to help restore Druzhba pipeline, repairs to take time Reuters
Trump’s threats to ‘take’ Cuba signal rising US pressure as island grapples with power crisis
National power outage is making life extremely difficult and may force Havana into biggest economic changes in 67 years
Just a few hours after a nationwide electricity blackout struck Cuba, Donald Trump hinted at an even darker future for the island’s rulers.
The country’s entire electricity system had collapsed on Monday afternoon, leaving about 10 million people without power. Emergency teams were still struggling to restore it when the US leader made his latest threat.
Continue reading...Congolese President Sassou Nguesso wins fifth term: Provisional results
Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso's election success will extend his nearly 42 years in power.
US Attorney General Bondi formally summoned to Congress in Epstein case
It comes weeks after a Republican lawmaker accused the justice department of a "cover-up" in releasing the Epstein files.
US lawmakers Murphy, Casar push legislation to regulate prediction markets
The legislation aims to prevent bets made based on insider knowledge of wars, economic policy and controllable events.
Spanish king reopens debate on conquest of Mexico by acknowledging ‘abuse’
King Felipe appears to have helped thaw frosty relations with Mexico while reviving a fierce debate over events 500 years ago.
Spanish king reopens debate on conquest of Mexico by acknowledging ‘abuse’
King Felipe appears to have helped thaw frosty relations with Mexico while reviving a fierce debate over events 500 years ago.
Trump says it’s a ‘good thing’ counterterrorism director resigned over Iran
US President Trump reacted to the resignation of the US National Counterterrorism Centre’s director, Joe Kent.
Air strike hit Kabul rehab centre as patients ate dinner, survivor tells BBC
The exact number killed in Monday night's strike by Pakistan is still not known, but is feared to be in the hundreds.
Air strike hit Kabul rehab centre as patients ate dinner, survivor tells BBC
The exact number killed in Monday night's strike by Pakistan is still not known, but is feared to be in the hundreds.
Zelenskyy says Europe is a ‘global force’ that can stand against any other power in address to MPs – as it happened
Keir Starmer previously reassured that the war in Iran would not distract the UK from supporting Ukraine
Nigel Farage is speaking now at the Reform UK event.
The website promoting the lottery is up. It is called nigelcutmybills.com.
Continue reading...Trump says US does not need Nato after being rebuffed over strait of Hormuz
Amid escalation of Middle East crisis, US president describes rejection of call for help as a ‘foolish mistake’
Donald Trump has said the United States does not need Nato after being rebuffed by a number of the organisation’s member countries over his appeal for a multi-national naval force to reopen the key strait of Hormuz trade route closed by Iran.
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, the US president described the rejection of his calls as a “very foolish mistake”, adding without evidence: “Everyone agrees with us, but they don’t want to help. And we, you know, we as the United States have to remember that because we think it’s pretty shocking.”
Continue reading...Arts Council England must change or face ‘disaster’, culture department is told
Margaret Hodge, who led report into arts funder, tells DCMS committee that grant recipients have lost confidence in the body
Arts Council England (ACE) requires a “radical” overhaul so that it is able to respond to the challenges of the culture sector, according to Margaret Hodge, who said if ACE leaders did not heed her warnings it would be a “disaster”.
The Labour peer, who led a wide-ranging and critical report into ACE, made the comments at a Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee, where she reiterated her calls for the organisation to embrace reform.
Continue reading...Security lines persist at US airports as Congress negotiates DHS funding
Senate Democrats sent counteroffer on Monday aimed at resolving budget standoff
Negotiations for Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – which oversees airport security officers – remained ongoing as the airport in Atlanta, the world’s busiest, dealt with long security lines on Tuesday.
A White House official confirmed that Senate Democrats sent a counteroffer on Monday aimed at resolving a budget standoff that led to a DHS shutdown into its second month. A Trump administration official confirmed to the Guardian that the offer by Democrats was under review, though Republican lawmakers were quick to dismiss the proposal.
Continue reading...US confirms 157 killed in maritime strikes experts call ‘extrajudicial’
Defence official tells Congress that 47 alleged drug-trafficking vessels have been struck since campaign began.
Belgian court sends ex-diplomat, 93, to trial over 1961 murder of Congo leader
Family of then PM, Patrice Lumumba, welcome decision to charge Étienne Davignon as ‘beginning of a reckoning’
A former Belgian diplomat, 93, should stand trial over alleged complicity in the 1961 murder of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of what was then the newly independent Congolese state, a Brussels court has ruled.
Étienne Davignon, the only person still alive among 10 Belgians the Lumumba family accuses of involvement in the killing, is charged with participation in war crimes.
The illegal transfer of Lumumba and his associates from Léopoldville (now Kinshasa) to Katanga.
The “humiliating and degrading treatment” of the men.
Depriving them of a fair trial.
Continue reading...Starmer, Zelenskyy urge ‘focus’ on Ukraine as Iran war diverts attention
As leaders of Ukraine and UK meet, Turkiye's top diplomat reiterates his country's offer to host Russia-Ukraine talks.
Iran war pushes Asian nations into energy triage as they conserve power – PBS
- Iran war pushes Asian nations into energy triage as they conserve power PBS
- These Countries Are Most In Danger Of Running Out Of Oil Forbes
- Iran War Catapults Asia to the Frontline of a Global Energy Crisis Bloomberg.com
- Use the stairs, work from home: Asia is already making big changes as oil prices spike NBC News
- The Iran War Is Pushing Some Countries to Cut Back On Energy Use The New York Times
Norway to investigate links between Jeffrey Epstein and foreign office
Prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre says files show sex offender’s connection to those in ‘trusted and central positions’
The Norwegian parliament has voted unanimously to appoint an independent investigative commission to look into connections between its foreign office and the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Speaking before the vote on Tuesday, the prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, paid tribute to Epstein’s victims and said that the files released by the US Department of Justice had clearly shown “it is possible to buy and abuse influence if you are rich enough”.
Continue reading...Dozens Dead in Pakistani Airstrike on Kabul – The New York Times
- Dozens Dead in Pakistani Airstrike on Kabul The New York Times
- Air strike hit Kabul rehab centre as patients ate dinner, survivor tells BBC BBC
- From sponsor to enemy: What's behind Pakistan's attack on Afghan Taliban? Reuters
- Kabul Accuses Pakistani Airstrike of Killing Over 400 People Foreign Policy
- Afghanistan says 400 killed in Pakistani strike on Kabul hospital Financial Times