Germany’s election winner pledges ‘independence from US’

Friedrich Merz says he has ‘no illusions’ about Trump administration’s ‘indifference’ towards Europe

Source: Financial Times

Musk email to US government workers sparks confusion across agencies

Some departments encouraged staff to respond, while others requested employees wait for further guidance.

Source: BBC

Pope Francis is in critical condition but alert, Vatican says

Pope Francis, in critical condition battling double pneumonia, had a “tranquil” night, was alert and had rested after a respiratory crisis and blood transfusions, the Vatican said on Sunday.

Source: NBC News

Once a mighty tool of Russia, Gazprom stumbles toward a more modest future

The Russian gas giant could once bring countries to their knees by cutting off energy supplies, until Europe stopped buying its product.

Source: Washington Post

Europe’s big carnivores are on the rise – but can we live with bears next door?

Numbers of animals once hunted as vermin are rising across the continent. But scientists worry about how we are going to get along with these predators

Europe’s carnivores have had …

Source: The Guardian

Bearing witness: Portraits of Holocaust survivors

Photographer Gillian Laub has been taking photos of as many Holocaust survivors as she can – models of courage, fortitude and grace who bear witness to the horrors they experienced, …

Source: CBS News

The wounds of the 1944 deportation still fester in Chechnya and beyond

The tragic history of trauma and repression in Chechnya must be a warning for those who want to abandon Ukraine.

Source: Al Jazeera

U.S., Ukraine discuss deal to exchange rare mineral rights in exchange for security

The U.S. and Ukraine are nearing a deal to exchange the rights to rare Ukrainian minerals to the U.S. in exchange for security guarantees to protect Ukraine from Russian aggression. …

Source: NBC News

Tens of thousands mourn Hizbollah’s Nasrallah

Ceremony in packed 55,000-seat stadium comes five months after veteran leader’s passing

Source: Financial Times

Mikaela Shiffrin gets 100th World Cup race win, ties podiums record

Mikaela Shiffrin also tied an all-time World Cup record for men and women, as her 155th career top-3 finish matched Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark.

Source: CBS News

How UK and EU could find more money for defence without spooking the markets

There is political agreement that Britain and Europe need to increase military spending. But in straitened times, how can it be done?

Can Britain increase defence spending without cuts elsewhere?
…

Source: The Guardian

‘People are so polite’: the Ukrainian refugee bonding with the British over borscht and chips

First Ukrainian refugee to arrive in UK after Russia invasion says even the British dogs are better behaved, but that ‘the weather is sad’

Sharing a bowl of homemade Ukrainian …

Source: The Guardian