Iran’s imprisonment of EU diplomat reveals new era of hostage diplomacy (www.politico.eu)
Johan Floderus, an EU diplomat, has spent two years in an Iranian prison....
Iran president warns of 'massive' response if Israel launches 'tiniest invasion' (apnews.com)
Iran’s president has warned that the “tiniest invasion” by Israel would bring a “massive and harsh” response, as the region braces for potential Israeli retaliation after Iran’s attack over the weekend....
Making deepfake porn without consent could soon be a crime in England (www.cnn.com)
After leaving the grind in Asia, Filipino women find exploitation in Poland | Labour Rights | Al Jazeera (www.aljazeera.com)
Germany busts people-smuggling ring for Chinese nationals (www.dw.com)
German police have arrested 10 people in an operation to combat people smuggling across eight states. The suspects are believed to have illegally procured clients residency permits in exchange for large sums of money....
'Bollard Man': Hero who confronted stabber promised Australia visa (www.bbc.com)
China continues to persecute family of dissidents unlawfully, finds report (www.theguardian.com)
Authorities continuing ‘intimidation’ including separating children from their parents, despite pledge to end collective punishment...
Ukraine war: Thirteen dead in Russian missile strike on Chernihiv (www.bbc.com)
A Russian missile attack has killed 13 people in the city of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials....
Latin America: Hotbed of diplomatic strife (english.elpais.com)
The attack on the Mexican Embassy in Ecuador highlights a turbulent panorama in which diplomatic crises and bilateral tensions threaten regional integration...
Attacks on Ukraine's nuclear plant put world at risk, IAEA warns (www.euronews.com)
“We’re getting dangerously close to a nuclear accident,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said following multiple attacks against the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine....
Copenhagen's historic stock exchange in flames (www.bbc.com)
Denmark’s historic old stock exchange building in the centre of Copenhagen has been engulfed by fire....
Ukraine's military chief warns of 'significantly' worsening battlefield situation in the east | AP News (apnews.com)
Boat drifts to Brazil with nine dead migrants from Mauritania and Mali (english.elpais.com)
The Federal Police were able to determine the victims’ origin thanks to their documentation and belongings, and are now trying to identify the bodies...
China: Internet amused by 'sanitary pad' building design (www.bbc.com)
Authorities say the design of the North Nanjing station takes inspiration from plum blossoms, which the city is known for....
Johnson’s Plan for Ukraine Aid Meets Republican Pushback, Muddying Its Path (www.nytimes.com)
Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday encountered stiff resistance from Republicans as he embarked on a complicated and politically perilous strategy to push legislation through the House to send aid to Israel and Ukraine — all while beating back a threat to his own job....
Explosions, fire reported at military airfield in occupied Crimea (kyivindependent.com)
Explosions were reported in the town of Dzhankoi in occupied Crimea near a military airfield during the early hours of April 17, according to Russian-affiliated telegram channels. Following the explosions, a large-scale fire reportedly broke out at the airfield....
Time for a European single market ‘with teeth’ to take on China, India, leaders told (www.politico.eu)
Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta tells POLITICO that government subsidies should become a “European tool.”...
An object from the sky smashed through my roof: Space debris is starting to be a problem (english.elpais.com)
The international community is pushing for the approval of rigorous standards that track and limit the obsolete objects that can pass through the atmosphere and cause material damage on Earth...
Israeli tanks push back into northern Gaza, warplanes hit Rafah, say residents (www.reuters.com)
Israeli tanks pushed back into parts of the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday which they had left weeks ago, while warplanes conducted air strikes on Rafah, the Palestinians’ last refuge in the south of the territory, killing and wounding several people, medics and residents said....
Debris from burning satellites could be affecting Earth's magnetic field | Space (www.space.com)
Solomon Islands: The Pacific election being closely watched by China and the West (www.bbc.com)
In the Solomon Islands, the night before an election is known as Devil’s Night....
Chinese city Zhengzhou tells state-owned company to buy second-hand homes to reduce new housing inventories (news.yahoo.com)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s central city of Zhengzhou has asked residents to sell their second-hand homes to a local state-owned company and buy new ones instead, in a bid to reduce new-home inventories and boost the local property sector....
Ukraine backers blast ‘double standard’ after allies rush to Israel’s defense (www.politico.eu)
If the United States and its allies can rush to Israel’s defense in the skies, shooting down dozens of drones and missiles fired by Iran, why can’t they do the same for Ukraine — which has suffered under Russia’s missile attacks for more than two years?...
The Jerusalem Post: "Netanyahu asks IDF to provide 'target options' for Iranian attack - report" (www.jpost.com)
According to the report, the targets include an Iranian facility in Tehran or a cyberattack....
Julian Assange: What the US “assurances” for extradition are all about (www.freitag.de)
today is the deadline for the United States to provide diplomatic assurances to the High Court of the UK prior to the next hearing on May 20
