Unlike the shockingly ill-tempered previous meeting in February, US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky seemed determined not to look confrontational – despite their remaining differences. …
It is quite possible that Monday’s meeting in the White House could prove even more crucial to the future of Ukraine – and for all of Europe’s security – than last Friday’s US-Russia summit in Alaska. …
“Putin is supposed to be in jail, and he just comes to Alaska like that.” Hanna Correa is amongst a sea of Alaskans waving Ukrainian flags on road leading into the capital city, Anchorage. …
… In a post on Truth Social, the US president warned he would raise levies, saying India “don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine”. …
… government said spending on multilateral aid bodies – money given to international organisations like the World Bank – would be protected, including the Gavi vaccine alliance, and it said the UK would also continue to play a key humanitarian role in hotspots such as Gaza, Ukraine …
In the Oval Office on Monday, Donald Trump was talking tough, announcing new US arms shipments to Ukraine paid for by European governments, and threatening new tariffs which, if imposed, would hit Russia’s war chest. …
… In a particularly striking example, Merz gave an hour-long TV interview eight days before the Easter weekend, in which he spoke about continuing military aid to Ukraine, going significantly beyond the “red line” repeatedly drawn by Scholz. …
Eurasia Democracy Initiative (EDI) director Peter Zalmayev says Ukrainians do not have high expectations that South African president Cyril Ramaphosa’s hosting of Volodymyr Zelenskyy will amount to anything in the direction of lasting peace in Ukraine. …
President Trump announced the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his relationship with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un and noting South Korea declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. Trump said the drills are costly and send an inappropriate signal, though Seoul said the scheduled exercises would proceed as planned.
President Trump announced the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his relationship with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un and noting South Korea declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. Trump said the drills are costly and send an inappropriate signal, though Seoul said the scheduled exercises would proceed as planned.
President Donald Trump denied reports of a US munitions shortage, stating the country has "massive amounts" and is manufacturing more, while vowing "long term jail sentences" for those suspected of leaking information. Iran's Defence Minister responded by asserting the country's indigenous weapons technology is superior and that Iran is equipped to respond to any threat.
A bomb detonated outside the Balzi Rossi restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square in Moscow on Saturday night, killing at least three people and injuring 21. Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee reports a woman with an improvised explosive device was prevented from entering by a security guard; the device detonated moments later. The Russian Embassy in Italy has blamed the attack on Ukraine, though unconfirmed reports suggest a senior Russian military commander may have been at a private dinner inside.
On 1 August, Sicilia's Restaurant will host Suzi Eises, Big Ben, and South African singer Emil Struwig for Spotlight Night, featuring live performances combining saxophone, strings, and vocals.
The International Olympic Committee lifted some restrictions allowing Russian athletes to compete in team events and qualifying competitions for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, though bans on the Russian national anthem and flag remain in place for now. Returning Russian athletes must pass "multiple" doping tests before participating, and individual sports may decide whether to allow the flag and anthem at their own events.
Ukraine's president plans to urge NATO allies at a summit in Turkey to deliver air defence systems needed to protect against escalating Russian attacks, following Russian missile strikes on Kyiv that killed more than 50 civilians. Zelensky also plans to meet with Donald Trump to press for pressure on Russia to enter peace talks.
VunaNexus, a Swiss startup, has developed a process to recycle human urine into a certified mineral fertiliser called Aurin. The technology, installed at the European Space Agency's Paris headquarters, uses special toilets to divert urine into a treatment system that removes micropollutants and concentrates nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus before pasteurisation.
Footballer Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark's friendly against Ukraine on Sunday in the 64th minute, five years after suffering cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. He is conscious and doing well under the circumstances, and was taken to hospital in Odense.
Alexander Zverev defeated Rafael Jodar 7-6, 6-1, 6-3 to reach the French Open semifinals, where the 29-year-old will face the winner of a quarterf final between Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik. Kostyuk and Andreeva will meet for a place in the women's final.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting a quarter of the world's fertiliser supply, which the UN estimates could raise fertiliser prices 15–20% and push at least 45 million people into acute hunger. The article argues that dependence on fossil fuels for fertiliser production poses a greater threat to global food security than climate change.
Sweden qualified for the World Cup through UEFA Nations League playoffs after a disastrous qualifying campaign that saw them finish bottom of their group with just two points from six matches. Under new coach Graham Potter, Sweden will face the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia in Group F, aiming to extend their run of reaching the knockout phase at each of the past four World Cups they qualified for.
The Ministry of Home Affairs says Angolan nationals, including children on Namibian streets, do not qualify for refugee status under Namibian law and international conventions, as they left Angola seeking socio-economic opportunities rather than fleeing persecution.
Former Namibian editor Gwen Lister has urged the government to urgently operationalise Namibia's Access to Information Act, signed in 2022 but not yet in effect, warning that delays are exposing journalists to growing legal and digital harassment amid increasing global threats against the media.
Following the Israel–US joint attack on Iran in February, oil prices rose above US$100 per barrel, with Namibia's government raising fuel prices in April by N$2.50 for petrol and N$4 for diesel. While temporary levy cuts and National Energy Fund subsidies have cushioned consumer impact—absorbing approximately N$500 million in April alone—further food and logistics inflation is expected as second-wave effects reach Namibia.
Namibia scored 46/100 in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, dropping six places to 65th globally and recording its worst-ever performance. A criminal intelligence analyst outlines international anti-corruption policy options—including asset disclosure, whistleblower protection, extractive industry transparency, and fiscal openness—that Namibia could adopt to strengthen enforcement and accountability.
Rising diesel and energy prices triggered by the Middle East war are hitting British fishermen and fish and chip shop owners, forcing them to absorb higher costs or risk losing customers already facing economic pressures. Industry leaders cite soaring fuel, fish, and fertiliser prices alongside supply disruptions from Ukraine and stricter fishing rules as threats to the sector.
According to a Higher School of Economics analysis, NATO is experiencing structural fractures as the US under Trump repositions from European leadership to a demanding hegemon role focused on China containment, while questioning allies' territorial integrity and reducing Ukraine support. European members now doubt the credibility of US nuclear guarantees and seek alternatives, though a unified European defence remains politically unrealistic, suggesting the alliance will persist but with reduced cohesion and interest-driven rather than collective cooperation.
Zimbabwe's government has confirmed that 15 of its citizens were killed after being recruited through deceptive schemes on social media to fight for Russia in Ukraine, with more than 60 still trapped on the frontlines. The government is negotiating with Russian authorities for body repatriation and safe return of survivors, warning citizens about fraudulent overseas job offers that exploit vulnerable job-seekers across Africa.
Leonid Radvinsky, the Ukrainian-American billionaire who bought OnlyFans in 2018 and served as its majority shareholder, has died aged 43 after a long battle with cancer. The company, which reported US$1.41 billion in revenues in 2024 and 377.5 million global users, was reportedly in talks for a sale valuing it at around US$5.5 billion.
Kenya's foreign minister announced that Kenyans conscripted illegally to fight for Russia in Ukraine will receive amnesty upon return home. The government estimates 252 Kenyans have been unlawfully recruited, with 44 repatriated so far, 11 killed or missing, and 160 still actively fighting; Russia has agreed to place Kenya on a "stop list" to prevent further recruitment.
Kenya's foreign minister says Russia has agreed to stop deploying Kenyan nationals to fight in Ukraine after talks in Moscow, and that Kenyans will no longer be eligible for enlistment through Russia's defence ministry. Kenya is also seeking the repatriation of Kenyans who wish to return home, with 27 having been repatriated so far, and has closed over 600 recruitment agencies suspected of duping citizens with false job promises.
German defence manufacturer Rheinmetall has forecast a 45% jump in 2026 sales to a maximum of 14.5 billion euros, driven by European countries increasing military spending in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and uncertainty over US security commitments. The firm's core profit jumped by a third to a record 1.8 billion euros in 2025, and it is rapidly expanding production capacity across Europe.
Brent crude rose over 9% to top $100 per barrel despite the International Energy Agency releasing a record 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves, as Iran's threats and attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz drive supply concerns. The price spike has pushed fuel costs globally, with Asian countries particularly affected and some implementing energy conservation measures.
The 32 member countries of the International Energy Agency have agreed to release a record 400 million barrels from emergency reserves to address global oil supply shortages and soaring prices caused by conflict disrupting exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts say the move offers only short-term relief, amounting to roughly three or four days of global oil supply.
In Kenya, where wealth was once associated with being overweight, demand for weight-loss surgeries and drugs like Ozempic has surged as beauty ideals shift toward slimness and celebrity culture normalizes medical intervention. Social media pressure, health concerns including diabetes and infertility, and changing fashion preferences are driving the trend, though critics question the procedures as pursuing unrealistic standards.
Iran launched fresh attacks on energy installations across the Gulf, hitting Bahrain's Al Ma'ameer refinery complex and prompting major producers in Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait to declare force majeure, warning of possible export disruptions. Oil prices surged to their highest levels since 2022 as regional conflict sparked market volatility and US embassy staff evacuations from Saudi Arabia.
Four years after expelling Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, FIFA and the International Olympic Committee have taken a muted stance toward the recent US-led attack on Iran, prompting experts to accuse them of applying inconsistent standards and prioritizing powerful nations over principle.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 11 countries—including neighbours of Iran, European states, and the United States—have requested Kyiv's help countering Iranian drones, citing Ukraine's experience defending against similar Russian attacks.
As global demand for minerals needed for clean energy and technology surges, countries are negotiating resource deals in secret, risking the same corruption and inequality that plagued past resource booms. The authors argue that transparency, public participation, and established accountability mechanisms like the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative are essential to ensure mineral wealth benefits entire societies rather than enriching elites.
According to an analysis by a Moscow State Institute lecturer, Britain is pursuing a strategy of prolonged conflict in Ukraine to maintain its role in Western European security, contradicting US efforts toward de-escalation and standing apart from Washington's push for burden-sharing among allies.