- Elon Musk hosts X talk with German far-right AfD's Weidel DW (English)
- Musk ‘lying like hell’ over AfD interview, says ex-EU tech leader The Guardian
- Elon Musk promotes far-right Alternative for Germany candidate, hosts discussion on X CNBC
- EU politicians warn against Elon Musk's incursions into European politics ABC News
- Elon Musk Is Trying to Break Germany’s Quarantine on the Far-Right AfD The New York Times
Russia’s gas sector is running out of options after end of transit deal – Kyiv Independent
- Russia’s gas sector is running out of options after end of transit deal Kyiv Independent
- Here's what's behind Russia cutting off its last gas line to Europe NPR
- Ukraine says ready to replace Hungary in EU and NATO Al Jazeera English
- End of Russian gas transit via Ukraine one of Moscow's 'most costly defeats,' White House says Kyiv Independent
- If Europe Freezes, Will Ukraine Burn? Forbes
Who is Joseph Aoun, the new president of Lebanon?
Joseph Aoun, the former Lebanese army commander, is country's 14th president after a two-year vacancy.
Joseph Aoun: Army chief elected Lebanon’s president – BBC.com
- Joseph Aoun: Army chief elected Lebanon's president BBC.com
- Biden and Trump teams coordinated push for new Lebanese president Axios
- Biden hails Aoun as ‘right leader’ for Lebanon The Times of Israel
- Lebanon's army chief elected president, showing weakened Hezbollah Reuters
- Lebanon Elects Army Chief Joseph Aoun as President The New York Times
No, Sri Lanka’s Tamil question has not been resolved
The nationwide electoral success of the anti-establishment NPP does not mean Tamil nationalism is on the decline.
Top Iranian General Admits ‘Big’ Defeat in Syria – The New York Times
- Top Iranian General Admits ‘Big’ Defeat in Syria The New York Times
- 'Turkey and Israel begin 2025 in a position of strength in the Middle East' Le Monde
- Islamic Republic suffered severe defeat in Syria, Iranian general says - report The Jerusalem Post
- Iranian general says Assad blocked Tehran’s effort to open Syrian front against Israel The Times of Israel
- Iran Pulls Most Forces From Syria, in Blow to Tehran’s Regional Ambitions The Wall Street Journal
Polish government adopts resolution protecting Netanyahu from arrest if he attends Auschwitz event – The Associated Press
- Polish government adopts resolution protecting Netanyahu from arrest if he attends Auschwitz event The Associated Press
- Netanyahu Won’t Face Arrest If He Travels to Poland, Tusk Says Bloomberg
- Polish president wants ICC indictee Netanyahu to be able to go to Auschwitz anniversary, aide says NBC News
- Poland to 'protect Netanyahu' from ICC arrest warrant during Auschwitz visit - report The Jerusalem Post
- Warsaw won't arrest Netanyahu if he comes to Auschwitz commemoration Yahoo! Voices
Birkenstock sues ‘copycat’ rivals claiming its sandals are applied art
German maker of fashionable cork-based footwear files three lawsuits alleging copyright infringement
Once sneered at as the preserve of muesli-loving, Guardian-reading hippies, Birkenstocks have more recently been promoted to the status of fashion item, not least since they took a starring role in the Barbie movie. But now cork-soled sandals are facing their day in court as their German makers call for them to be protected in perpetuity – and to be recognised as nothing less than a unique work of art.
Germany’s federal court of justice is to decide on the future of the ergonomic sandal after three lawsuits against alleged copycat competitors were lodged on Thursday by the footwear manufacturer.
Continue reading...Army chief elected Lebanon’s president after years of deadlock
The crisis-plagued country's divided parliament ends a power vacuum that lasted more than two years.
Lebanon elects Joseph Aoun as president after two-year vacancy
Army commander’s election increases confidence that ceasefire with Israel will hold
Lebanon’s parliament has elected the army commander Joseph Aoun as the country’s new president, ending a more than two-year vacancy and increasing confidence that a ceasefire with Israel will hold.
Aoun received 99 out of 128 votes in the 13th attempt by a deeply divided parliament to elect a new head of state after the departure of the former president Michel Aoun, who is no relation, in October 2022. Aoun was the favoured candidate of international powers such as Saudi Arabia, France and the US, which enjoyed good relations with him in his role as head of Lebanon’s armed forces.
Continue reading...Greenland’s prime minister calls for calm after Trump comments
Pro-independence Múte Egede says Greenland must stay unified after becoming centre of US-Denmark spat
Greenland’s prime minister has called for unity, urging citizens not to panic, after being thrown into a geopolitical battle between the US and Denmark by Donald Trump’s interest in taking control of the territory.
Múte Egede said he understood people may be concerned after the incoming US president declined to rule out using military and economic force to gain control of Greenland, but called on his fellow citizens to “put aside differences and stand together”.
Continue reading...Murder investigation in Spain after body of missing Belfast man found
Family ‘heartbroken’ after discovery of body of John George, 37, who went missing in Alicante area in December
A murder investigation is under way in Spain after the body of a 37-year-old man from Northern Ireland was found three weeks after he went missing.
John George from Belfast, a father of two children, was in Spain for a short visit in December but the alarm was raised when he failed to board a flight home on 18 December.
Continue reading...Lebanese lawmakers elect president after more than two-year gap
Lebanon’s parliament selected army chief Joseph Aoun as the country’s president, ending a more than two-year gap.
Chad’s presidency attacked: Coup attempt, Boko Haram or ‘drunk’ fighters?
Assault on N'Djamena comes amid visit by China FM, withdrawal of French troops, and instability caused by armed groups.
Russia says closely watching Trump’s Greenland claims
Europena Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says that Greenland's sovereignty must be respected.
New York’s top court rejects Trump bid to delay hush-money case sentencing
US president-elect is already appealing to Supreme Court to prevent sentencing this week for his criminal conviction.
Soft Skin
Soft Skin is a short film from the "From Ground Zero" collection.
Chad: Military says it foiled attack on presidential palace – DW (English)
- Chad: Military says it foiled attack on presidential palace DW (English)
- Attack on Chad’s presidential palace leaves 19 dead CNN
- Chad’s presidency attacked: Coup attempt, Boko Haram or ‘drunk’ fighters? Al Jazeera English
- Chad foils attempt to destabilise country - minister BBC.com
- Gunshots are heard near Chad’s presidential palace. Foreign minister says it’s under control The Associated Press
US seizure of Greenland is ‘not going to happen’, says David Lammy
UK foreign secretary plays down idea of Trump taking control, in speech exposing differences with president-elect
The UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, has said a US military seizure of Greenland is not going to happen, as he played down Donald Trump’s threats to seize the territory from Denmark.
“No Nato countries have gone to war [with each other] since the establishment of Nato, and I do not envisage that,” he said, adding: “It is not going to happen.”
Continue reading...