Month: March 2023

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a landmark resolution asking the world’s top court to define the obligations of countries to combat climate change. Advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) “have tremendous importance and can have a long-standing impact on the international legal order,” UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday … Read moreUN votes to ask world court to rule on countries’ climate duties

King Charles III has spoken of the “enduring value” of the relationship between the United Kingdom and Germany during his first state visit abroad since ascending the throne last year. Charles and Camilla, the Queen consort, received a 21-gun salute after landing at Berlin’s government airport in the early afternoon on Wednesday, as two military … Read moreKing Charles visits Germany in first foreign visit as UK monarch

Pope Francis has been admitted to hospital with a respiratory infection after experiencing difficulty breathing in recent days, and will remain in the Rome hospital for several days of treatment, the Vatican said. “In the past days, Pope Francis had lamented some respiratory difficulties and this afternoon was brought to the Gemelli Hospital for a … Read morePope Francis admitted to hospital with respiratory infection

When Humza Yousaf became Scotland’s new leader this week, the world of British politics entered a new era of diversity. With Pakistani-origin Yousaf in charge at Holyrood and Rishi Sunak, whose ancestors hail from India, leading at Westminster, it could be said that the United Kingdom is blazing a new trail in post-colonial history. “The … Read more‘Empire strikes back’: Diversity at height of UK politics praised

Earlier this month, the European Union was expected to vote on a law banning the sale of combustion-engine cars by 2035. But the legislation, which had been months in the making, was blocked by the German government which had initially supported it. The about-face was yet another major disappointment for environmentalists coming from a government, … Read moreThe German Greens and the ills of green party politics

Ukrainian forces are “managing to stabilise” the situation around the eastern city of Bakhmut, the head of Ukraine’s military says. The now destroyed city has been the focus of the biggest battle of Russia’s war in recent months. The front-line situation is “the toughest in the Bakhmut direction”, Valery Zaluzhny, commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, … Read moreUkraine ‘managing to stabilise’ situation around Bakhmut

Britain’s King Charles has postponed a state visit to France after social unrest over President Emmanuel Macron’s new pension law erupted into some of the worst street violence seen in years across the country. Speaking at a news conference after a summit in Brussels on Friday, Macron said it would not have reflected “common sense … Read moreKing Charles’s France visit postponed amid pension protests

Air force commanders from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark have said they have signed a letter of intent to create a unified Nordic air defence aimed at countering the rising threat from Russia. The intention is to be able to operate jointly, based on already known ways of operating under NATO, according to statements on Friday by … Read moreNordic countries plan joint air defence to counter Russian threat

Jet fuel for Myanmar’s armed forces has been targeted in the latest sanctions imposed by the United States on the country’s military regime and crony businesses. The US Treasury Department said on Friday that it had imposed sanctions on two people and six entities connected to Myanmar’s military, who had enabled the regime’s continuing atrocities. … Read moreMyanmar’s military jet fuel supplies hit by latest US sanctions

Spain’s first major wildfire of the year has destroyed more than 30sq km (11.5sq miles) of forest and forced 1,500 residents to abandon their homes, authorities said. The evacuations took place in eastern Valencia on Thursday and Friday, state television RTVE reported, citing officials. More than 500 firefighters supported by 18 planes and helicopters worked … Read moreSpain’s first major wildfire of the year rages in Valencia region