Pete Hegseth says ‘everything is on the table’ to end Ukraine war

Posted on by

US defence secretary suggests cutting number of American troops in Europe could even be part of a deal with Russia

The US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, has said “everything is on the table” to bring peace to Ukraine and suggested reducing the number of American troops in Europe could be part of any deal.

European leaders are reeling from several abrupt US moves since Wednesday in relation to the Ukraine war and the continent’s security, which has been underpinned by the US since Nato was formed at the end of the second world war.

Continue reading...

A delicate balance: Why Doral GOP pols fight for Venezuelans, but avoid clash with Trump – Miami Herald

Posted on by
  1. A delicate balance: Why Doral GOP pols fight for Venezuelans, but avoid clash with Trump  Miami Herald
  2. In a few weeks, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans will lose TPS. What you need to know  Miami Herald
  3. Venezuelans backed Trump. Now some worry he’ll deport them.  The Washington Post
  4. Chicago immigration news: Some new-arrival Venezuelan migrants face threat of deportation with no temporary protected status  ABC7 Chicago
  5. Miami-Dade Democrats, local Venezuelans speak outside city hall about losing TPS  WPLG Local 10
Posted in Uncategorized

Europe lacks a master plan for Donald Trump’s new world disorder – POLITICO Europe

Posted on by
  1. Europe lacks a master plan for Donald Trump’s new world disorder  POLITICO Europe
  2. Trump’s Whirlwind Now Blows Through Europe  The New York Times
  3. America First? For Europe, It's America as Usual  Bloomberg
  4. EU failed to Trump-proof Europe and now faces humiliation over Ukraine  The Guardian
  5. Europe can no longer view Trump’s foreign policy through a binary lens  Kyiv Independent
Posted in Uncategorized

Colleagues of soldier, 19, found dead criticise response to sexual assault claims

Posted on by

Jaysley Beck’s friends tell inquest she did not report her boss because her previous complaint was ‘squashed’

Colleagues of a 19-year-old soldier found dead in her barracks room after allegedly being sexually assaulted by an officer twice her age have strongly criticised how her complaint about the incident was dealt with.

One colleague of Gnr Jaysley Beck confirmed at her inquest he was “incensed” that WOI Michael Webber was only subject to a “minor sanction” after he allegedly pinned the teenager down and tried to kiss her during an adventure training exercise.

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.

Continue reading...

EU failed to Trump-proof Europe and now faces humiliation over Ukraine

Posted on by

As Putin’s actions again disrupt the start of a Munich security conference, Brussels largely has itself to blame

The start of the Munich security conference has a habit of being disrupted by a display of power by Vladimir Putin. In 2022, the transatlantic security establishment gathered in the knowledge that Putin was days from launching his attack on Kyiv. In February 2024, the opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in disputed circumstances in a Russian jail and this year Russia’s leader is on the brink of opening talks with Donald Trump that many analysts predict will end with Russia not just gaining Ukrainian territory but dismembering Ukraine as a sovereign independent state.

For Europe it is a humiliation. And yet little that Trump or his defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, said on Wednesday about their approach to a ceasefire including the US’s refusal to commit further resources to Ukraine could have come as a shock. Indeed Europe largely has only itself to blame.

Continue reading...

A grand exit: why four-figure coats have become a high street fixture

Posted on by

From John Lewis to Cos, high street stores are selling coats costing more than £1,000 in a move to cast themselves as ‘luxe’ brands

If you were given £1,000 to splurge on the high street, what would you buy? Perhaps a head-to-toe new season wardrobe from Zara? Enough knitwear to see you through several winters, or maybe a lifetime supply of socks from Marks & Spencer?

Whatever you decide, you’d need to factor in the cost of a taxi to lug all those bags back from the shops. Or at least, once upon a time you would. These days, a grand is easy to spend on a single item – and it’s all thanks to the rise of the four-figure coat.

Continue reading...

Norway to open protected rivers to hydropower plants

Posted on by

Green politicians describe plan as ‘a historic attack on Norwegian nature’

The Norwegian parliament has voted to open up protected rivers to hydropower plants, prompting fury from conservation groups who fear for the fate of fish and other wildlife.

The bill allows power plants bigger than 1MW to be built in protected waterways if the societal benefit is “significant” and the environmental consequences “acceptable”. It was voted through on Thursday as part of measures to improve flood and landslide protection.

Continue reading...

U.S. Deports Migrants From Asia to Panama – The New York Times

Posted on by
  1. U.S. Deports Migrants From Asia to Panama  The New York Times
  2. US deports 119 migrants from a variety of nations to Panama  The Associated Press
  3. U.S. deporting African and Asian migrants to Panama in diplomatic breakthrough  CBS News
  4. U.S. deports nearly 120 Asian migrants of different nationalities to Panama  NBC News
  5. US deports to Panama nearly 120 migrants of different nationalities  Reuters
Posted in Uncategorized

Hamas Says It’s Ready to Resume Hostage Releases – The New York Times

Posted on by
  1. Hamas Says It’s Ready to Resume Hostage Releases  The New York Times
  2. Hamas says it will free more Israeli hostages on Saturday as originally planned  Fox News
  3. Middle East crisis live: Hamas expected to name Israeli hostages it will free this weekend  The Guardian
  4. LIVE: Israel keeps blocking entry of prefabricated homes into Gaza  Al Jazeera English
  5. Israel and Hamas Agree to Resolve Cease-Fire Dispute  The Wall Street Journal
Posted in Uncategorized