Germany is set to hold snap elections on February 23, in an effort to establish a stable government following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition last week. The election date, agreed upon by the country’s two biggest parties on Tuesday, represents a compromise between the conservative opposition, which pushed for a January vote … Read moreGermany set for snap elections in February
British writer Samantha Harvey has been awarded the 2024 Booker Prize for her “beautifully expansive” novel about a day in the life of six astronauts on board the International Space Station. Orbital follows two men and four women as they reflect on humanity and the planet over the course of 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets. … Read moreBritish writer Samantha Harvey wins Booker Prize for space novel Orbital
United States President Joe Biden plans to rush billions of dollars in security assistance to Ukraine before he leaves office in January, reports say, hoping to shore up the government in Kyiv before Donald Trump returns to the White House. Trump, who won Tuesday’s election, has criticised the scale of US military and financial support … Read moreBiden ‘rushing’ billions in aid to Ukraine as Trump win fuels uncertainty
When Donald Trump first took the United States presidency after winning the 2016 election, there were hopes in Moscow that the billionaire-turned-politician would be friendlier to Russia’s interests. It didn’t exactly play out that way. Despite indictments of multiple Trump associates over allegations that the Kremlin tried to sway elections in Trump’s favour, he amped up sanctions against … Read more‘Too early to rejoice’: Why Russia isn’t celebrating Trump win – yet
The United Kingdom has announced dozens of new sanctions against Russia, targeting African mercenary groups backed by Moscow and people involved in the Ukraine war and a nerve agent attack on British soil. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Thursday announced 56 new designations against individuals and entities, which it said target Russia’s military … Read moreUK blacklists mercenary groups in Africa in latest sanctions against Russia
European leaders have gathered in the shadow of Donald Trump’s election victory in the United States, calling for stronger action to defend themselves and back Ukraine. The huddle of more than 40 leaders in Budapest on Thursday is a clear signal to the Republican president-elect, who has long been sceptical of the transatlantic alliance. The … Read moreTrump’s return to US presidency pushes European leaders into a huddle
Rescuers in Spain are battling to reach areas still cut off due to heavy rains as the death toll from catastrophic floods rose to 205 in Europe’s worst weather disaster in five decades. In Valencia, the eastern region that bore the brunt of the devastation this week, hundreds of soldiers were deployed to hunt for … Read moreDeath toll from Spain floods passes 200 as rescue teams search for missing
Japan and the European Union have announced a security and defence partnership, as they seek to step up military ties amid growing tensions with China, North Korea and Russia. “We live in a very dangerous world,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters in Tokyo on Friday, alongside Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. “We live … Read moreJapan and EU announce security partnership amid growing regional tensions
Intelligence agencies in the United States have accused “Russian influence actors” for a video that falsely claimed election fraud was taking place in the battleground state of Georgia, days before the country’s knife-edge presidential vote. The video began circulating on X, the social media platform owned by billionaire Elon Musk, a staunch supporter of Republican … Read moreUS agencies allege Russia link to video falsely claiming Georgia vote fraud
With a desktop computer by his side, the secretary of state of the southern US state of Georgia on Thursday told reporters that a video spreading on social media, purporting to show Haitians voting in the United States presidential election for Democratic Party nominee Kamala Harris, was fake. It was, according to Brad Raffensberger, the … Read moreWhat’s at stake for Russia’s Putin in the US election?