User Articles

Russia fires 150 drones at Ukraine

Russia has launched a sweeping drone assault across Ukraine overnight, targeting multiple regions, officials said, after US President Donald Trump cast doubt over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war. One person was killed and a 14-year-old girl wounded in the city of Pavlohrad in the Dnipropetrovsk region, which was hit for the third consecutive night, regional Governor Serhii Lysak said. The attacks came hours after Russia claimed to have regained control over the remaining parts of the Kursk region, which Ukrainian forces seized in a surprise incursion last August. Ukrainian officials said the fighting in Kursk was still ongoing.

Court

Why the World Court is weighing in on Gaza

The top United Nations court will on Monday begin hearing from 40 countries on what Israel must do to provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Last year, the UN General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice to weigh in on Israel’s legal obligations after the country effectively banned the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, the main provider of aid to Gaza, from operating. The United States, Israel’s closest ally, voted against the resolution. Israel over a month ago again cut off all aid to Gaza and its over 2 million people. Israel has disputed that there is a shortage of aid in Gaza, and says it is entitled to block the aid because it says Hamas seizes some of it for its own use.

Iran

Progress made in nuclear talks

Iran and the United States have held in-depth negotiations in Oman over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program this weekend, ending the discussions with a promise for more talks and perhaps another high-level meeting next weekend. The talks ran for several hours in Muscat, the mountain-wrapped capital of this sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. A person close to Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East, acknowledged that the meeting had started and later ended. The source spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks. Iranian state television also reported their conclusion.

Legal

25 Apr 2025

Protests after FBI arrests judge

The FBI has arrested a Milwaukee judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities, escalating a clash between the Trump administration and local authorities over the president’s sweeping immigration crackdown. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan is accused of escorting the man and his lawyer out of her courtroom through the jury door last week after learning that immigration authorities were seeking his arrest. The man was taken into custody outside the courthouse after agents chased him on foot.

25 Apr 2025

Trade

24 Apr 2025

China denies active negotiations with US

China has denied any suggestion that it was in active negotiations with the administration of US President Donald Trump over tariffs, saying that any notion of progress in the matter was as groundless as “trying to catch the wind.“ China’s comments...

24 Apr 2025

Court

Paddleboard guide jailed over trip tragedy

A former Welsh police officer who who led four people to their deaths in a paddleboarding tragedy in the UK has been sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for manslaughter. Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, had previously pleaded guilty in Swansea Crown Court to four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and failing to discharge her duty for the October 30, 2021 incident. The River Cleddau in Haverfordwest was raging after heavy rains when Lloyd, who operated a side business called the Salty Dog, made the ill-fated decision to lead a group of beginners toward a dangerous weir where the churning waters created a deadly undertow.

Middle East

Gaza mediators seek long-term truce

Arab mediators are working on a proposal to end the Israel-Hamas war that would include a five-to-seven-year truce and the release of all remaining hostages. Egypt and Qatar are still developing the proposal, which would include the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire strip and the release of Palestinian prisoners, according to an Egyptian official and a Hamas official. As talks were progressing, an Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City overnight killed at least 23 people.

United Nations

UN to review agency helping Palestinian refugees

The United Nations chief has appointed a British human rights activist to carry out a strategic review of the UN agency helping Palestinian refugees to assess its impact. Israel has banned the agency, known as UNRWA, from operating on its territory, but its Palestinian staff have still been key to delivering aid and running medical clinics in Gaza, even though Israel has cut off all humanitarian deliveries since March 2. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who announced the review, said Ian Martin, a former head of Amnesty International, would also be looking at the “consequences and risks for Palestinian refugees” of UNRWA’s operations.

Italy

Vance meets with the Pope

US Vice President JD Vance has met briefly with Pope Francis to exchange Easter greetings, after they got into a long-distance tangle over the Trump administration’s migrant deportation plans. Vance’s motorcade entered Vatican City through a side gate and parked near Francis’ hotel residence while Easter Mass was being celebrated in St. Peter’s Square. Francis, who has greatly cut back his workload to recover from a near-fatal case of pneumonia, delegated the celebration of the Mass to another cardinal. The Vatican said they met for a few minutes at the Domus Santa Marta “to exchange Easter greetings.“ Vance’s office said that they met, but provided no further details. In all, Vance’s motorcade was on Vatican territory for 17 minutes.

Odd Spot

Dashing corgis race for glory

Some of the fastest canines on four very short legs have raced for glory in Scotland’s annual Corgi Derby. The Musselburgh Racecourse Corgi Derby was first held in 2022 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne. The late monarch was a devoted corgi fan who owned almost 30 of the breed over the decades, along with a few dorgis – a corgi-dachshund cross. Four-year-old Juno beat a 16-strong field of dashing dogs dressed in bright sweaters over the 230-foot (70-meter) race on Saturday at the racecourse outside Edinburgh. She came from behind in the final stretch to beat last year’s winner, Rodney.

USA

19 Apr 2025

Envoy says tariff deal will get done

The new US ambassador to Japan is optimistic that his country and its key Asian ally will reach a deal in their ongoing tariff negotiations. George Glass, a prominent businessman known for his background in finance, investment banking and technology, began his new job as Washington and Tokyo are negotiating President Donald Trump’s tariff measures, which have triggered worldwide concern about their impact on the economy and global trade. ”I’m extremely optimistic ... that a deal will be get done,“ Glass told reporters after landing at Tokyo’s Haneda airport.

19 Apr 2025

Israel

Soldiers’ protest letters unveil rift over ongoing war

When nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force veterans signed an open letter last week calling for an end to the war in Gaza, the military responded immediately, saying it would dismiss any active reservist who signed the document. But in the days since, thousands of retired and reservist soldiers across the military have signed similar letters of support.

Diplomacy

Vance to meet with Meloni, Modi

Vice President JD Vance and his family have taken off on Air Force Two for a trip to to Italy, and later India, to meet with leaders and visit cultural sites. Vance’s office said his trip, lasting until April 24, will include visits to Rome and New...

Canada

Carney looks within for free trade

Prime Minister Mark Carney says eliminating trade barriers within Canada would benefit Canadians far more than US President Donald Trump can ever take away with his trade war as he made his case to retain power at the last debate ahead of the April 28 vote. Carney has set a goal of free trade within the country’s 10 provinces and three territories by July 1. Canada has long had interprovincial trade barriers. “We can give ourselves far more than Donald Trump can ever take away,“ Carney said.

Iran

Nuclear talks at ‘crucial’ stage

Talks between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program are “in a very crucial” stage, the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said while on a visit to the Islamic Republic. The comments by Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Tehran included an acknowledgment his agency likely would be key in verifying compliance by Iran should a deal be reached. Iran and the US will meet again in Rome for a new round of talks after last weekend’s first meeting in Oman.

Trade

Meloni aims to act as US-EU bridge

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni will test her mettle as a bridge between the European Union and the United States when she meets with US President Donald Trump in the White House, becoming the first European leader to have face-to-face talks with him since he announced and then suspended 20 per cent tariffs on European exports. Meloni secured the meeting as Italy’s leader, but she also has, in a sense, been “knighted” to represent the EU at a critical juncture in the trade war. She was in close contact with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before the trip, and “the outreach is ... closely coordinated,“ a commission spokeswoman said.

Myanmar

Junta frees thousands for new year

The head of Myanmar’s military government granted amnesty to nearly 4900 prisoners to mark the country’s traditional new year, state-run media reported, and an independent watchdog said they included at least 22 political detainees. At least 19...