From Epstein to sock puppets: Key takeaways from Kevin Warsh’s Fed confirmation hearing
He denied making a deal with Donald Trump on interest rates and backed "policy regime change" at the central bank.
Nicaragua’s president says Trump ‘mentally deranged’ over war on Iran
Nicaraguan President has criticised his US counterpart Donald Trump, over the war on Iran.
EU foreign ministers reject proposal to suspend association agreement with Israel
A part suspension was tabled by Ireland, Spain and Slovenia but did not receive enough backing from other member states
The EU remains split on imposing sanctions on Israel, despite some member states criticising the country over the plight of Gaza and violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, said proposals for a part suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement remained on the table but required states to shift their positions to come into force.
Continue reading...US forces detain Iran-linked tanker Tifani with ceasefire talks on edge
Ship, detained under US policy to stop all Tehran-linked vessels, is under sanctions for smuggling Iranian crude.
Japan lifts post-World War II ban on lethal weapons exports – The Washington Post
- Japan lifts post-World War II ban on lethal weapons exports The Washington Post
- ‘Stop sucking up to America’: Japan’s youth rises up to protect pacifist constitution The Guardian
- Japan loosens arms export rules in break from post-WW2 pacifism BBC
- Japan approves scrapping a ban on lethal weapons exports NPR
- Japan to Sell More Weapons Abroad, Breaking With Postwar Pacifism The New York Times
Bill banning people born after 2008 from buying tobacco clears UK parliament
Ministers hope tobacco and vapes bill, which will become law next week, will create a ‘smoke-free generation’
A bill banning anyone born after 2008 from buying tobacco in the UK has completed its progress through parliament in a move that ministers hope will create a “smoke-free generation”.
Under the tobacco and vapes bill anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be able to be legally sold tobacco across the UK, in an effort to save lives and reduce the burden on the NHS.
Continue reading...Prolific unregulated sperm donor loses UK legal fight to be named as child’s father
Robert Albon cannot be declared four-year-old’s father because he ran illegal sperm donation business, court rules
A prolific unregulated sperm donor described in the high court as a “highly dangerous man” has lost a legal fight to be named as the father of a child conceived using his sperm.
Robert Albon, who calls himself Joe Donor, was not entitled to be declared the father of a four-year-old child because he was running an illegal sperm donation business, Britain’s most senior family court judge ruled.
Continue reading...Tucker Carlson apologizes for ‘misleading’ people on Trump: ‘We’re implicated in this for sure’ – NBC News
- Tucker Carlson apologizes for 'misleading' people on Trump: 'We're implicated in this for sure' NBC News
- Tucker and Trump’s marriage of convenience heads for divorce court The Guardian
- Opinion | Tucker Carlson’s apology for supporting Trump is just hot air MS NOW
- Tucker Carlson’s Trump Apology Is Too Little, Too Late Rolling Stone
- Tucker Carlson Says He Is ‘Tormented’ by His Past Support for Trump The New York Times
Peru election chief resigns as vote count drags on – Reuters
- Peru election chief resigns as vote count drags on Reuters
- Peru’s election chief steps down amid frustration over long vote count Al Jazeera
- Mining investors jittery about politics in Peru as vote count drags on, analysts say Reuters
- Peruvian court sets May 15 deadline for counting votes in presidential race AP News
- Leftist Holds Shaky Lead in Race to Peru Presidential Runoff Bloomberg.com
Ukraine says Druzhba pipeline running Russian oil to Europe can resume work
Kyiv hopeful pipeline restoration will unblock EU loan, with bloc's foreign policy chief expecting 'positive decision'.
Macron Urges Israel to Drop ‘Territorial Ambitions’ in Lebanon – Bloomberg.com
- Macron Urges Israel to Drop ‘Territorial Ambitions’ in Lebanon Bloomberg.com
- Lebanese state not seeking confrontation with Hezbollah but won't be intimidated, PM says Reuters
- France is ready to help Lebanon prepare negociations with Israel, Macron says France 24
- France’s Macron and Lebanon’s Salam urge negotiations to shore up ceasefire in Lebanon AP News
- Macron under fire over Iran, Hezbollah policy as Trump admin hosts Israel-Lebanon talks Fox News
Taiwan president blames China for forced cancellation of Eswatini trip
Lai Ching-te abandons visit after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoke overflight permission
Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, has cancelled his trip to Eswatini, the democratic island’s only diplomatic ally in Africa, after his government said several countries had revoked overflight permits because of “intense pressure” from China.
Lai was to leave on Wednesday for the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession.
Continue reading...Flu vaccine no longer mandatory for soldiers, says US military chief
Pete Hegseth says the decision is based on principle of 'medical autonomy' and criticises the mandate as 'overreaching'.
Israeli army jails soldiers for vandalising Jesus statue in Lebanon – Euronews.com
- Israeli army jails soldiers for vandalising Jesus statue in Lebanon Euronews.com
- Israeli Soldiers Sentenced to Jail for Damaging Jesus Statue in Lebanon The New York Times
- Israel jails two soldiers who damaged and photographed a Jesus statue in Lebanon CNN
- Two Israeli soldiers jailed over smashing of Jesus statue in Lebanon village The Guardian
- Israeli soldier seen striking Jesus statue in Lebanon, sparking condemnation NBC News
The US exit from Syria, explained
The US exits Syria after 10 years – what it means for Kurdish forces, regional tensions, and the country’s future.
Mass trial for 486 alleged gang members begins in El Salvador
Footage released by the attorney general's office shows large groups of men in prison attending the trial via video link.
IDF says Hezbollah breached truce by launching rockets at troops, drone at Israel – The Times of Israel
- IDF says Hezbollah breached truce by launching rockets at troops, drone at Israel The Times of Israel
- Hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists killed in 24 hours before Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, IDF reveals The Jerusalem Post
- Hezbollah fires at Israel, citing truce breaches Reuters
- Hezbollah Fires at IDF 'In Response to Cease-fire Violations' Haaretz
- Fact Check Team: Renewed Israel-Hezbollah fighting in Lebanon tests fragile ceasefire KATU
Role of US officials killed in crash in Mexico under scrutiny
Two Americans who reportedly worked for the CIA died in a car crash after a Mexican-led operation to destroy a drug lab.
What’s the bill to rebuild Gaza, and who will pay?
UN-EU report says $71bn needed over 10 years.
Two Israeli soldiers jailed over smashing of Jesus statue in Lebanon village
Israel Defense Forces say the ‘soldiers’ conduct completely deviated from IDF orders and value’
Two Israeli soldiers have been removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days in jail after one used a sledgehammer to smash a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon while the other filmed him, the Israel Defense Forces have said.
An image circulating on social media on Monday showed an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer to strike the head of a statue of a crucified Jesus that had fallen from its cross in a Christian village in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel, prompting outrage among Christian communities worldwide.
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