The much-anticipated talks lasted two-and-a-half hours, and that’s an achievement in itself. Presidents Trump and Zelensky had never before spent this long in one room, negotiating. Afterwards, optimism was much on display at Mar-a-Lago. It was a “terrific meeting”, according to Donald Trump. Volodymyr Zelensky agreed, describing it as a “great meeting” with “great discussions […]
Continue ReadingThe Albanian nationalist Vetevendosje party has won a landslide victory in Kosovo’s parliamentary elections, according to preliminary results. With 90% of the votes counted, the party, whose name means “self determination”, was on 50.8%, meaning a third term in power for its leader, Albin Kurti. The two main opposition parties, the centre-right Democratic Party of […]
Continue ReadingGetty Images The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute issued alerts for strong winds across large parts of northern Sweden as Storm Johannes hit Two people have died in Sweden after a powerful winter storm swept across Nordic countries, causing travel disruption and power outages. The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute issued alerts for strong winds […]
Continue ReadingHuge plumes of ash and smoke were filmed erupting from Mount Etna, Sicily on 27 December as skiers used the slopes below. Scientists at the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia said volcanic activity at the site, which frequently erupts, had intensified, with craters continuously emitting ash. In response, scientists issued a red Volcano Observatory […]
Continue ReadingThe UK is to impose visa restrictions against people arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo after its government failed to agree to measures allowing the return of illegal migrants and foreign national offenders. Ministers say the DRC has not made changes required under the toughening up of the UK’s asylum rules announced in November. […]
Continue ReadingItalian police have arrested nine people accused of raising around €7m (£6m) for Hamas over more than two years. The money was ostensibly collected as humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians, a police statement said, but was instead sent to the militant group via a “complex fundraising system”. Alongside the arrests, police say they have seized […]
Continue ReadingAdam Goldsmithand Tiffany Wertheimer Reuters A multi-storey building in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, was one of several damaged overnight Polish fighter jets have been scrambled on its border with Ukraine, after the Ukrainian capital Kyiv was hit by Russian missiles and drones overnight. Poland’s military said its air force took a “preventative” response to secure its […]
Continue ReadingGetty Images Up to 9in (23cm) of snow could fall on New York City on Friday Thousands of flights across the US have been cancelled or delayed as the north-east braces for a severe winter storm during the peak holiday travel season. As of Friday night, 1,600 flights across the US had been cancelled and […]
Continue ReadingAn explosion has killed at least eight people and injured 18 others during Friday prayers inside a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs, the health ministry has said. Pictures from Syria’s state-run news agency, Sana, show the inside of the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque with black, scorched walls, smashed windows and blood […]
Continue ReadingEPA/Shutterstock Ukraine’s president last met President Donald Trump at the White House in October Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will meet US President Donald Trump in Florida at the weekend, as talks continue on ending Russia’s full-scale war. Zelensky said he expected the meeting to take place on Sunday and to focus on a […]
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