UK to get at least 25 new warships due to defence spending rise (news.sky.com)
The defence secretary said 22 ships are “already in the system” and committed to three new ships for the Royal Marines, with the possibility of three more....
Turkey simply relabels Russian oil products and exports them to Europe, research indicates (www.intellinews.com)
More evidence that Turkey simply relabels Russian oil products and re-exports them to Europe as Turkish emerges from a new study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and the Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD)....
Political violence rises in EU driven by extremism and disillusionment (www.euronews.com)
European Policy Centre analysts say the general political climate and the upcoming European elections are, in part, responsible for the uptick in violence....
Biden driving China, Russia into 'shocking' partnership, expert warns: 'Blunder of the highest order' (www.foxnews.com)
A British Nurse Was Found Guilty of Killing Seven Babies. Did She Do It? (www.newyorker.com)
Archive link...
BSE: 'Mad cow disease' case found on farm in Scotland (www.bbc.com)
A case of BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease, has been identified on a farm in Ayrshire....
Hungary teases veto over new EU Russian gas sanctions (www.politico.eu)
Budapest opposes measures “that might have a negative impact on EU gas market” — a stance that could kill the EU’s effort to squeeze Moscow’s gas revenue....
Trapped in Rafah, U.S. medical volunteers say they can't save lives and can't evacuate (www.npr.org)
Armed groups are likely committing ethnic cleansings and atrocities in Darfur — again (www.vox.com)
A West Bank village feels helpless after Israeli settlers attack with fire and bullets (apnews.com)
Charred homes and cars dotting this hilltop village surrounded by olive groves are a searing reminder of Palestinians’ vulnerability to rising violence from Israeli settlers....
Seven out of 10 Europeans believe their country takes in too many immigrants (english.elpais.com)
Brexit eel wars: Brussels accuses Britain of being too green (www.politico.eu)
Snakey fish fight is center stage as U.K.’s new environmental measures rub the EU the wrong way....
Since the war began, entire areas of the West Bank have been emptied of their communities (www.haaretz.com)
One of the largest communities expelled in the months since the war began was from the village of Wadi al-Siq, which is separated from Maghayyir A-Dir only by a beautiful green wadi. Next to the ruins of the village, which are still visible, cows from the nearby outpost that was established only about a year ago are grazing...
US paused weapons shipment to Israel amid concern over Rafah, senior US official says (www.theguardian.com)
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that as Israeli leaders seemed to approach a decision on a Rafah incursion, “we began to carefully review proposed transfers of particular weapons to Israel that might be used in Rafah” beginning in April....
China's Xi in Europe: At odds over trade, Ukraine war (www.dw.com)
Xi Jinping is visiting the European Union for the first time in five years. Trade tensions and China’s position on Russia’s war in Ukraine are set to be the main sticking points....
The Encampments Spread to Mexico (crimethinc.com)
Hundreds of thousands of fish die off in Vietnam as heatwave roasts Southeast Asia (edition.cnn.com)
A mass fish die-off in a reservoir in southern Vietnam’s Dong Nai province has shone a new light on soaring temperatures in Southeast Asia....
Paris’ Olympic promise falls short for unhoused people (www.politico.eu)
Nonprofits and local officials say the 2024 Games event is failing a pledge to be ‘first ever inclusive and socially responsible’ event of its kind....
Gazprom slumps to first annual loss in 22 years as trade with Europe hit (www.theguardian.com)
The company made a net loss of 629bn roubles (£5.5bn) in 2023 amid dwindling gas trade with Europe, once Gazprom’s main sales market, as a result of sanctions and the throttling of pipelines to the continent.
The fight for full press freedom in Ukraine: ‘We can write what we want, but bad actors try to intimidate us’ (www.theguardian.com)
Kyiv Independent’s Olga Rudenko is set on telling the truth in wartime, despite clumsy instances of state harassment...
Number of writers jailed in China exceeds 100 for first time, says report (www.theguardian.com)
Macron invites Xi to favourite Pyrenees holiday destination (www.telegraph.co.uk)
First scientist to publish Covid sequence in China protests over lab ‘eviction’ (www.theguardian.com)
Philippines accuses China Coast Guard of damaging its ship (www.dw.com)
Authorities say water cannons “directly hit the starboard astern of the BFAR vessel,” in the Scarborough Shoal, which China seized in 2012....
Finnish carrier suspends Estonia flights after GPS interference prevents 2 landings (www.voanews.com)
