U.S. REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO STRONGER ECONOMIC TIES WITH GHANA The United States Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties with Ghana, with a renewed focus on leveraging private sector partnerships to drive economic growth and create high-value, high-skilled jobs for Ghanaians. This assurance was given by the Deputy Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy, Rolf Olson, during a reception held in Accra on Friday, July 4, to mark the 249th Independence Day of the United States. In his remarks, Mr. Olson emphasised the growing potential for expanded trade and investment between the two countries, noting that stronger collaboration across sectors could unlock shared prosperity. “Whatever forms they may take, our mutual interests and partnerships in trade, security, health, and more will continue going forward in ways that are both familiar and that are new. Together, we can create increased prosperity for both our nations, building on our generations of connections between families and businesses.” He further underscored the importance of private sector-led growth, especially in key areas such as energy and mining, where U.S. assistance and expertise have long contributed to Ghana’s development. “We can build on the strong foundations that U.S. assistance helped construct by fostering increased private sector-led growth in energy, mining, and various other critical sectors of Ghana’s economy,” he added. Mr. Olson also highlighted the readiness of U.S. companies to invest further in Ghana, provided that favourable conditions are in place to support business operations. “The United States can help create high-skilled and high-value jobs, building on the innovation, ingenuity, and industriousness that have characterised U.S. companies, many of whom are here tonight who are eager to explore more business in and with Ghana when the conditions are favourable to investment,” he said. 4th July,2025

PALESTINE ACTION TO BE BANNED The home secretary will move to proscribe the Palestine Action group in the coming weeks, effectively branding them as a terrorist organisation, the BBC understands. Yvette Cooper is preparing a written statement to put before Parliament on Monday. The decision comes as a security review begins at military bases across the UK, after pro-Palestinian activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and sprayed two military planes with red paint. A spokesperson for Palestine Action said: "When our government fails to uphold their moral and legal obligations, it is the responsibility of ordinary citizens to take direct action." In a separate post on X, it said the group represented "every individual" who is opposed to Israel's military action in Gaza, adding: "If they want to ban us, they ban us all". Under UK law, the home secretary has the power to proscribe an organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000 if they believe it is "concerned with terrorism". If the group is proscribed it would become illegal to be a member or invite support for it. There are currently 81 groups proscribed as terrorist organisations in the UK under the Terrorism Act. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the move to ban the group was "absolutely the correct decision". "We must have zero tolerance for terrorism," she wrote in a post on X. But Amnesty International UK said it was "deeply concerned at the use of counter terrorism powers to target protest groups." "Terrorism powers should never have been used to aggravate criminal charges against Palestine Action activists and they certainly shouldn't be used to ban them," it wrote on social media. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier condemned Friday's incident as "disgraceful". The group's actions sparked outrage among some MPs, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick calling for the group to be banned. 1:28 Watch: BBC looks at how activists breached RAF base Brize Norton South East counter terrorism police earlier confirmed its specialist officers were investigating the incident alongside Thames Valley Police and the Ministry of Defence. Counter-terrorism police added the incident happened in the early hours of Friday and that enquiries were "ongoing to establish the exact circumstances". Footage posted online by Palestine Action showed two people inside the Oxfordshire airbase in darkness, with one riding on a scooter up to an Airbus Voyager and spraying paint into its jet engine. After sharing the footage, a spokesperson said: "Despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US and Israeli fighter jets." Greg Bagwell - a former RAF deputy commander and now a distinguished fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) - told the BBC the aircraft targeted by the group "do not do what these protesters think they do. They're largely used for moving passengers or fuel". He added that Voyagers had "the wrong connectors" that would stop them being used to help refuel Israeli or US jets, as the action group suggested. But he said if the activists "wanted to create an effect - they've clearly done that". Since the start of the current war in Gaza, Palestine Action has engaged in activities that have predominantly targeted arms companies. In May, it claimed responsibility for the daubing of a US military plane in Ireland. RAF Brize Norton serves as the hub for UK strategic air transport and refuelling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The air force has conducted reconnaissance flights over Gaza out of the Cyprus base. 24th June,2025

FLIGHT EVACUATES BRITISH NATIONALS FROM ISRAEL The RAF has evacuated 63 British nationals and their dependants from Israel as the country continues to exchange fire with Iran, the foreign secretary has said. The flight left Tel Aviv on Monday afternoon, taking vulnerable Britons and their immediate family to Cyprus, from where they will be taken to the UK. A British national was also injured in Israel during an Iranian missile attack, David Lammy said. In a statement to MPs, Lammy repeated his plea to Iran to return to the negotiating table following the US's strikes on its nuclear programme. He said: "My message for Tehran was clear, take the off ramp, dial this thing down, and negotiate with the United States seriously and immediately. "Be in no doubt, we are prepared to defend our personnel, our assets and those of our allies and partners." Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would not accept aggression "from anyone under any circumstances". Follow live coverage of the Israel-Iran conflict The RAF A400 aircraft departed Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport with 63 passengers, made up of British nationals plus their immediate family, who are eligible to travel, Lammy said. The BBC understands the UK's Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, is one of the passengers. The Foreign Office said further flights would be based on demand and the security situation. British nationals still in Israel have been urged to register their presence with the UK government. Downing Street said "around 1,000" people had asked for a seat on an evacuation flight – a quarter of the 4,000 who have registered their presence in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories with the Foreign Office. Israeli airspace has been closed - leaving thousands of British nationals stranded - since the conflict started earlier this month when Israel attacked nuclear sites in Iran, prompting Tehran to respond with missile strikes. SWNS Taken from behind, a group of people stand at the back of a plane which has a large ramp open. They have luggage, and soldiers help them on board.SWNS British nationals and their families were flown to Cyprus from Israel British citizen Gabriella Somerville, 58, told PA news agency that the situation is "really difficult" as she tries to find a way to leave Israel. She said she had registered and paid for a British evacuation flight, but had heard no updates. "We've been here 10 days now and most other countries have had secure coaches to get to the border with Egypt or Oman or Jordan," she said. "Yet we were told by the Foreign Office to make our own way to the borders. "I really feel for the people out here now. It's really difficult, we've been going down to shelters for 10 days and we're living out of packed suitcases but with no communication." Elsewhere, British nationals in Qatar were advised to shelter in place on Monday evening, shortly before Iran launched missiles at the US al-Udeid Air Base near Doha. The advice was later lifted following the attack. All UK military personnel in Qatar were accounted for, the BBC understands, and there were no injuries or casualties as a result of the attack, according to the Qatari government. The airspace over the country was closed temporarily and flights grounded. A BBC News employee at Doha airport said he had got on a plane headed for Bangladesh on Monday afternoon, but the plane's journey was then delayed and its passengers removed and made to wait at the airport. 24th June,2025

MIGRANT DETENTION CENTRE Florida has begun building a detention centre - dubbed the 'Alligator Alcatraz' - to temporarily hold migrants on an air strip in the Everglades. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the facility would be funded "in large part" by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's shelter and services programme, which was previously used to provide accommodation and other aid for undocumented migrants. The plan has been criticised by several lawmakers, including the mayor of Miami-Dade County, who argued it could be environmentally "devastating". The proposal comes as Trump tries to deliver on a campaign pledge to ramp up deportations of illegal migrants. "Under President Trump's leadership, we are working at turbo speed on cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver on the American people's mandate for mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens," Noem said in a statement. "We will expand facilities and bed space in just days, thanks to our partnership with Florida." The facility is to be built on the site of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, a public airport around 58km (36 miles) from Miami. It will cost about $450m (£332m) a year to run. In a video posted on X, Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier called the airport a "virtually abandoned facility". He said the detention centre could be built in 30 to 60 days and hold an estimated 1,000 people. He argued the location acted as a natural deterrent for escapees. Uthmeier said in the video: "[If] people, get out, there's not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons. Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide." The mayor of Miami-Dade County, Daniela Levine Cava, a Democrat, criticised the plan, saying "the impacts to the Everglades ecosystem could be devastating". The Florida Everglades are a unique environmental region comprising marshes, prairies, forests, mangroves and estuaries. Uthmeier said the facility would not be located within Everglades National Park. 24th June,2025

EUROPE MUST END US DEFENSE 'FREE-RIDE' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for Europe to boost its defense spending and reduce reliance on the United States, warning that American support is no longer guaranteed. Speaking in Berlin, he emphasized the need for strategic independence, resilience against hybrid threats, and long-term support for Ukraine. Germany is targeting 2.4% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense-related spending this year and increase it gradually to 3,5% by 2029. Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of Germans now back the idea of a European nuclear deterrent that doesn't rely on the US, according to a new Forsa poll. Support stands at 64%, with solid backing across age groups, regions, and party lines — something rare in German foreign policy debates. The blog, with major updates from Germany on Monday, June 24th June,2025

CHINA STANDS TO GAIN FROM US STRIKES ON IRAN The Israel-Iran war escalated rapidly following the United States' bombing of Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, a move China framed as a blow to Washington's global reputation. On Tuesday, just hours after US President Donald Trump announced the beginning of a "complete and total ceasefire" between Israel and Iran, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said missiles had been launched from Iran towards Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had instructed the IDF to "respond with force" to the missile launch. The Israeli army said one or two missiles launched from Iran toward the north of Israel had been intercepted. However, Iran's armed forces denied any missile launch toward Israel in recent hours, according to local media in Iran. Trump's ceasefire plans followed US strikes on Iran's key nuclear enrichment sites over the weekend. In response, Tehran on Monday targeted a US military base in Qatar, a key regional hub for American forces. China has not immediately commented on the latest developments. On Sunday, its Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, criticized the US attack on Iran as a serious violation of the United Nations Charter, the founding UN treaty that largely prohibits the use of force between countries except in self-defense or with the approval of the UN Security Council. Traces are seen in the sky after Iran's armed forces say they targeted the Al-Udeid base in a missile attack, as seen from Doha, Qatar, June 23, 2025Traces are seen in the sky after Iran's armed forces say they targeted the Al-Udeid base in a missile attack, as seen from Doha, Qatar, June 23, 2025 Missiles over the skies of Doha, Qatar, after Iran fired missiles at the Al Udeid air baseImage: Stringer/REUTERS Guo said Beijing was "ready to work with the international community ... for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East," without providing specific details. The rhetoric echoed earlier criticism from China's UN Ambassador Fu Cong, who said that the US's credibility had been "damaged" both as a country and as a participant in any international negotiations. What is at stake for Beijing? China's call for stability in the Middle East comes amid economic concerns Iran could close off the Strait of Hormuz, which would destabilize oil prices. The narrow waterway between Oman and Iran that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea is a critical gateway for oil transport. Washington has previously urged China — Iran's largest trading partner and primary oil export market — to dissuade Tehran from blocking the key waterway. "An increase in the oil and gas prices would, of course, put pressure on [China's] economy. It would make inflation worse," said Ja Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore. "Beijing certainly has reason to make sure that escalation doesn't get out of control. But whether it's able to fully restrain Iran is a different story altogether," he added. China is Iran's key economic backer, especially amid Western sanctions and Tehran's growing international isolation stemming from its nuclear program and human rights record. Iran is a significant partner in China's Belt and Road Initiative, a massive infrastructure plan that aims to connect Chinese trade and influence across dozens of countries. "With a weakened Iran, one that's perhaps militarily bordering on either full-on conventional war or civil war as a result of US military intervention, it's going to make Iran a lot less effective partner for China's outreach in the Middle East," said Wen-Ti Sung, a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub. 24th June,2025

AFTER US BOMBS IRAN, NORTH KOREA WATCHES CLOSELY North Korea on Monday condemned the US attacks against three of Iran's key nuclear sites, accusing Washington of violating Iran's territorial integrity and the United Nations Charter. "The just international community should raise the voice of unanimous censure and rejection against the US and Israel's confrontational acts," North Korea's Foreign Ministry said, according to the Yonhap news agency. Pyongyang had previously described Israeli missile attacks against Iran as a "hideous act." North Korea-Iran alliance Nuclear-armed North Korea has maintained friendly ties with Iran. For decades, Tehran and Pyongyang have been suspected of military cooperation, including in developing ballistic missiles that Irainian scientists have reportedly since enhanced. Around 20 years ago, North Korea began dispatching engineers with specialist deep tunneling expertise. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un looks on during the test of what KCNA described as a new tactical ballistic missile on September 19, 2024, in North KoreaNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un looks on during the test of what KCNA described as a new tactical ballistic missile on September 19, 2024, in North Korea Kim Jong Un was reported to have observed a missile launch last September, as seen in this state media handout photoImage: KCNA/REUTERS Since the three-year Korean War began in 1950, North Korea has concealed much of its own key military capabilities in underground bases. The regime will be keen to determine the effectiveness of its underground bunkers, while looking at the impact of the GBU-57 "massive ordnance penetrator" weapons dropped by the US on Iranian targets in Operation Midnight Hammer. "They are definitely watching very closely what is going on in Iran," said Chun In-bum, a retired lieutenant general in the Republic of Korea Army and now a senior fellow with the National Institute for Deterrence Studies. "I believe the conclusions that North Korea will come to will be that they need to accelerate their nuclear weapons capabilities, that they need to further fortify their storage areas," he told DW. Chun added that the North Koreans need to adopt additional protective measures, such as enhanced air defense and retaliatory options. 24th June,2025

EX-CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ TRIGGERS OUTRAGE Parties of the far-left and far-right in Germany are criticizing the decision to afford former Chancellor Olaf Scholz his own office with a staff of eight — on top of his regular office as a member of the Bundestag. Stephan Brandner, parliamentary whip for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), said he could understand former chancellors receiving a staff of three as well as a driver. "But what eight employees are supposed to do for an ex-chancellor who has not completed a full term of office remains completely unclear and is nothing more than a waste of tax money," he told Die Welt newspaper. Christian Görke of the socialist Left Party took a similar line, arguing that the entire idea of giving former chancellors offices to work from should be scrapped: "They don't need their own court for life," he said. "The offices must be dissolved." Scholz bows out as German chancellor 01:31 Staff for an ex-chancellor Former German chancellors and presidents are traditionally given their own offices for life after their terms end, on the grounds that they can never simply retire and become private citizens again and are considered to still have responsibilities to the state. In Scholz's case, the Finance Ministry has said that the former chancellor's work is likely to be especially vital because Russia's all-out war in Ukraine began during his tenure. Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius told reporters that the Social Democrat's expertise would still be required, as the war in Ukraine was "still a really central foreign policy and security policy issue." He added that Scholz's successor and opponent in the last federal election, Friedrich Merz of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), considered Scholz's planned staffing appropriate. The Wulff and Schröder cases Scholz's eight employees is one fewer than his predecessor Angela Merkel was afforded when she left office in 2021, but it is four more than the parliamentary budget committee recommended in a 2019 review, which proposed that former chancellors be allotted one office manager, two advisors, an office assistant or typist and a driver. The tradition of giving former German leaders offices and staff has come under increased scrutiny following various controversies. In 2012, the former President Christian Wulff was also afforded an office with a staff of three by the Bundestag, even though he was still under investigation by state prosecutors for allegedly accepting bribes. The scandal — among other things involving a film producer who allegedly paid for his holidays — prematurely ended Wulff's brief tenure as the German head of state, though he was later cleared of any wrongdoing. More recently, in 2022, the Bundestag wound down the office of former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, with a staff of five, after Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine. Though the Bundestag argued that the decision was made because Schröder no longer had any important tasks to fulfill, it was widely believed — and Schröder argued — that the decision was made because of the former chancellor's close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Schröder sued the Bundestag over the decision in state courts — before a federal court decided that the administrative courts had no authority to rule on the case in the first place. Schröder, now aged 81, then decided to drop the case altogether. 24th June,2025

CHINA HAS NO APPETITE In an interview with DW, China expert William Figueroa said that Beijing lacks the capability to project its power in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Iran-Israel conflict poses some risk to China's energy security. https://p.dw.com/p/4w4G6 Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands in Beijing, in 2017 While the US is Israel's strongest ally, Beijing and Tehran share close tiesImage: Etienne Oliveau/AP/picture alliance ADVERTISEMENT China on Tuesday accused US President Donald Trump of "pouring oil" on the Israel-Iran conflict as it continued for a fifth straight day. "Making threats and mounting pressure will not help to promote the de-escalation of the situation, but will only intensify and widen the conflict," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Guo Jiakun said in Beijing. He was referring to a social media post by Trump before he left for the G7 Summit in Canada, in which the US president wrote: "I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" Guo said China was calling on all sides concerned — "especially those countries with particular influence over Israel" — to take immediate measures to calm the tense situation. While the US is Israel's strongest ally, Beijing and Tehran share close ties. In a DW interview, William Figueroa, an international relations expert focusing on China-Middle East relations at the University of Groningen, talks about how China sees the conflict, and what role Beijing could play to defuse the tensions. DW: How do you see China's stance on the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel? William Figueroa: China's reaction closely mirrors its stance on the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the war in Gaza. Essentially, China tends to focus on two main points: first, it largely places the blame on Israel, and second, it consistently calls for dialogue, negotiation, and de-escalation, rather than resorting to military action or coercive diplomacy. As the situation evolved, China continued to emphasize Iran's right to retaliate and defend itself, particularly in response to Israeli attacks. China's objections have primarily been framed around the issue of sovereignty. 18th June,2025

70 YEARS OF THE LEO BAECK INSTITUTE The Nazis wanted to destroy Jewish life in Germany. Jewish intellectuals founded the Leo Baeck Institute ten years after the Holocaust to save the nation's diverse German-Jewish heritage. https://p.dw.com/p/4w5YW A profile photo of an elderly man with gray hair wearing glasses German rabbi and Holocaust survivor Leo Baeck feared that Jewish culture at home had been forever destroyed by the NazisImage: dpa/picture alliance ADVERTISEMENT When the German rabbi Leo Baeck was liberated from the Theresienstadt concentration camp on May 8, 1945, the day the war ended, he no longer believed in a future for Jewish people in Germany. Who wanted to live in the country that had planned to exterminate German Jewry and murdered millions? "The era of the Jews in Germany," Baeck said at the time, "is over once and for all." This assessment was shared by most survivors at the time. But what would become of centuries of German Jewish culture? Who would remember the music of Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Arnold Schönberg, the literature of Joseph Roth, Franz Kafka, Alfred Döblin or Else Lasker-Schüler? Even during the years of persecution, preserving German-Jewish cultural heritage was part of the resistance, says the Israeli-Austrian historian, Doron Rabinovici. After 1945, when the full extent of the Holocaustbecame visible, this task seemed all the more urgent. "Remembrance was also resistance against forgetting, against erasure," he told DW of the attempted destruction of Jewish culture during 12 years of Nazi rule. 18th June,2025

ISRAEL DOING 'DIRTY WORK ' The German chancellor's support comes amid fresh strikes launched by both Israel and Iran. Meanwhile, in Gaza, dozens were reported killed near a GHF aid distribution site. Germany's chancellor defended Israel's attacks on Iran, saying it was 'dirty work Israel is doing for all of us' US President Donald Trump says he wants a "real end" to the conflict, rather than a ceasefire Trump seemingly threatens to 'take out' Khamenei if civilians, US soldiers are targeted Israel's defense minister has issued a warning to Iran's supreme leader The IAEA says Israeli strikes have directly hit enrichment halls at the Natanz nuclear complex Israel has reported a fresh wave of Iranian missiles 18th June,2025

BIG PROBLEMS AND BIG BUDGETS With all this going on, Israel's economy is under significant strain. Many reservists have been called up to fight forcing them to temporarily leave their jobs. Adding to this labor shortage, work permits for many Palestinians have been cancelled and crossing borders has become increasingly difficult for them. All this makes filling job vacancies difficult. In April, the country reported a 3% unemployment rate, down from 4.8% in 2021. At the same time, military spending in Israel has surged. In 2024, it grew by 65% to reach $46.5 billion (€40.4 billion), according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published in April. That brings its military spending to 8.8% of GDP — the second highest in the world after Ukraine. Iron Dome interceptions seen above Tel Aviv 02:06 The country's 2025 budget includes spending of 756 billion Israeli shekels ($215 billion; €187 billion) — a 21% rise over the previous year. It is set to be the largest budget in Israeli history and includes $38.6 billion for defense, according to reporting in The Times of Israel. Uncertainty and the future Itai Ater, an economics professor at the Coller School of Management, Tel Aviv University says the war is "very expensive" at the moment, and there is "huge uncertainty about the near and long-term future." "The military costs on both the offensive and defensive fronts are very high. This will surely impact the budget, the deficit, the GDP and the Israeli debt," Ater told DW. The costs are indeed high. In the past 20 months, many Israelis have spent hundreds of days in reserve duty. Others have been evacuated from their homes near border regions leading to big disruptions in their lives. Social services are under strain. Since last Friday's attacks, many people have not worked, including in manufacturing, trade, tech and the education system, says Ater. Commercial flights in and out of the country are also currently suspended. Airlines have evacuated their jets and airspace over much of the Middle East is closed. 18th June,2025

ISRAEL'S ECONOMY PROVES RESILIENT DESPITE MULTIPLE CONFLICTS With Israel defending itself on at least two fronts, the country's finances and economy are strained. The government hopes higher taxes can cover some of the bills while its high-tech industry remains a safe investment. https://p.dw.com/p/4w8Gc Drones are seen in a hangar at Israel Aerospace Industries, near Tel Aviv Israel's economy is proving resilient, especially with the backing of its high-tech industry as an economic engineImage: Oded Balilty/AP/picture alliance ADVERTISEMENT War is expensive. Besides causing destruction, personal tragedies and deaths, it costs a lot of money to buy and mobilize equipment. It also costs manpower as Isreal — and its economy — is finding out on multiple fronts. Since the militant islamist group Hamas attacked the Jewish state on October 7, 2023, Israel has been engaged in intense fighting in Gaza. After that, Israel launched airstrikes into Lebanon as retaliation for cross-border Hezbollah missile and drone attacks. Last week, Israel struck deep within Iran with the aim of disabling its nuclear capabilities. 18th June,2025

HONDA PULLS OFF SURPRISE REUSABLE ROCKET TEST LAUNCH Honda says growing expectations of a "data system in outer space" are going to increase the demand for rockets to launch satellites. So, the Japanese automaker quietly built one and tested it successfully. Honda's experimental reusable rocket in Taiki This test marked the first launch and landing test conducted by Honda with an aim to demonstrate key technologies essential for rocket reusabilityImage: Honda ADVERTISEMENT Japan's second-largest carmaker, Honda, has successfully tested an experimental reusable space rocket on the nothern Japanese island of Hokkaido, the company said in a surprise announcement. "The test was completed successfully, the first time Honda landed a rocket after reaching an altitude of nearly 300 meters (1,000 feet)," the company said in a statement on Tuesday. 18th June,2025

STRAIT OF HORMUZ OIL FLOWS AT RISK The Strait of Hormuz is considered the world's most important gateway for oil transport. Hostilities between Iran and Israel have raised fears that shipping and crude flows through the narrow waterway may now slow down. https://p.dw.com/p/4w6Ea Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz The US Energy Information Administration describes the Strait of Hormuz as the 'world's most important oil transit chokepoint'Image: Hamad I Mohammed/REUTERS ADVERTISEMENT The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway that lies between Oman and Iran, and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) describes it as the "world's most important oil transit chokepoint." At its narrowest point, the waterway is just 33 kilometers (21 miles) wide, with the shipping lane just two miles wide in either direction, making it crowded and perilous. Large volumes of crude extracted by OPEC countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq from oil fields across the Persian Gulf region and consumed globally flow through the strait. Around 20 million barrels of crude, condensate and fuels are estimated to flow via the waterway daily, according to data from Vortexa, an energy and freight market consultant. Qatar, one of the world's largest producers of liquefied natural gas (LNG), relies heavily on the strait to ship its LNG exports. 18th June,2025

SUSPECTED HAMAS MEMBERS IN SOUTHERN SYRIA Israel says its military has carried out an incursion into southern Syria, during which it arrested seven people who it said were members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Israeli military said its operation was "based on intelligence gathered in recent weeks" and led to the arrest of "several Hamas terrorists" planning "multiple terror plots" against Israeli civilians and Israeli troops in Syria. There was no immediate comment from Hamas. A spokesperson for Syria's Interior Ministry confirmed to Reuters news agency that the raid had taken place in the town of Beit Jinn, some 50 kilometers (31 miles) southwest of the capital, Damascus, but said those arrested were all civilians from the area and that one person had been killed by Israeli fire. The area of the raid was outside the region that has been occupied by Israeli forces since the fall of former President Bashar Assad. The Britain-based war monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said one person had been killed, while putting the number of arrested at nine. So far, the Israeli military has not confirmed the death, telling Reuters only that shorts were fired when one of the suspected Hamas members tried to flee and "a hit was identified." The incident follows an Israeli drone strike four days earlier in the same region, in which one person was killed and a vehicle destroyed. Israel has carried out repeated strikes in southern Syria, which it says have targeted arms depots and smuggling routes allegedly used by Hamas and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. https://p.dw.com/p/4voAs Copy link Skip next section Israeli strike cuts last fiber optic cable in Gaza, Palestinian authorities say 06/12/2025June 12, 2025 Israeli strike cuts last fiber optic cable in Gaza, Palestinian authorities say Timothy Jones Internet and fixed-line communication services have been cut in Gaza after a key line was severed during an Israel military operation, the telecom provider Paltel and the Palestinian telecoms authority said on Thursday. They said the Israeli military was stopping technicians from entering the area to carry out repairs. The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports. The Palestinian Red Crescent said the outage was hindering communication with first responders, thus making it harder to deal with emergencies. "The emergency operations room is also struggling to coordinate with other organizations to respond to humanitarian cases," the organization said. Telecommunications in the Palestinian enclave have repeatedly been disrupted since the start of the war almost two years ago. 13th June,2025

EGYPT DETAINS ACTIVISTS AHEAD OF INTERNATIONAL MARCH TO SUPPORT GAZA AID Egyptian authorities have reportedly detained or questioned more than 200 pro-Palestinian activists in Cairo and deported three dozen more ahead of an international march that aims to remove a blockade on humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza. Thousands of people plan to travel to Egypt's Rafah border crossing with the Palestinian territory on Friday as part of the Global March to Gaza. The march's spokesperson, Saif Abukeshek, told AFP news agency that those detained included nationals from the United States, Australia, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Morocco and Algeria. He said, however, that enough people remained to carry out the march. March participants are set to travel by bus to the city of El-Arish in the Sinai Peninsula before walking 50 kilometers (30 miles) toward the border with Gaza. They are to camp there before returning to Cairo on June 19. Israel has called on Egyptian authorities "to prevent the arrival of jihadist protesters at the Egypt-Israel border," with Defense Minister Israel Katz saying the protest "would endanger the safety of (Israeli) soldiers and will not be allowed." Egypt has warned that only those who received authorization would be allowed to travel the planned march route. After 21 months of war against the Palestinian group Hamas in response to the deadly raids it led in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel is facing growing international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza, which the United Nations has dubbed "the hungriest place on Earth." 13th June,2025

ACTIVIST AID CONVOY A caravan of hundreds of activists has arrived in Libya on its way to the Rafah border crossing in the Gaza Strip, in an attempt to challenge Israel's blockade on humanitarian aid entering the territory. Some 1,500 people were part of the convoy, which included activists and pro-Palestinian supporters from Algeria and Tunisia. The group was well received and many in Libya are expected to join. Activists are welcomed with roses in Misrata, LibyaActivists are welcomed with roses in Misrata, Libya Activists are welcomed with roses in Misrata, LibyaImage: Hazem Turkia/Anadolu/picture alliance The convoy is composed of cars and buses and it plans to cross the Libyan cities of Tripoli, Misrata, Sirte, and Benghazi, heading to the Saloum Crossing which borders Egypt. Activists are hoping to reach the Rafah Crossing separating Egypt and Israel. But the Egyptian government has reportedly detained or questioned more than 200 pro-Palestinian activists in Cairo who were seeking to reach the Rafah crossing. Israel has urged Egyptian authorities to halt the activists, saying Egypt must "prevent the arrival of jihadist protesters at the Egypt-Israel border," with Defense Minister Israel Katz saying the protest "would endanger the safety of (Israeli) soldiers and will not be allowed." Israel imposed a total humanitarian blockade of Gaza on March 2. Amid growing international pressure, Israel began allowing a trickle of aid into Gaza in late May — namely through the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). 13th June,2025

T CONVOY ENTERS LIBYA EN ROUTE TO GAZA A convoy of pro-Palestinian activists is attempting to reach the Rafah border crossing in Gaza to challenge Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid. Other activists who planned to join were detained by Egypt. A convoy of pro-Palestinian activists that set out from Tunisia is passing through Libya in an attempt to reach Gaza Oman said a new round of US-Iran talks will begin on Saturday Some non-emergency US government personnel ordered to depart region US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) accuses Hamas of killing at least five people in an attack on a bus carrying its aid workers Israel has retrieved the bodies of two hostages from the southern Khan Younis area of Gaza Israel's parliament has rejected a preliminary vote to dissolve itself 13th June,2025

ITALY'S PECORINO CHEESEMAKERS For negotiators, the pressure to wrap up a deal is enormous. "We'll get this deal done in the best way possible," an EU official told DW on the condition of anonymity. "But it's very clear that not only in the EU institutions, but also around the member states, people just don't want to go through this anymore." "In the volatile world we're in, everyone wants to have reliable trading partners, and the US just isn't that right now," the source added. In the coming days, the G7 and NATO summits in Canada and the Netherlands respectively, might have presented an opportunity for Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to meet. However, the European Commission said on Thursday that no bilateral meetings were currently planned. "That could still change," Commission spokesperson Miriam Garcia Ferrer told reporters at a briefing in Brussels. 13th June,2025

EUROPE TREADS CAUTIOUSLY Compared to China, the EU has so far opted for a rather restrained approach, with high-level officials engaged in intensive talks. As of April, most EU exports to the US have faced 10% tariffs. Additional 25% duties on steel and aluminum, imposed in March, remain in effect. The bloc has so far avoided the higher rates slapped on China. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a dark suit (l) and Ursula von der Leyen in a blue jacketBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a dark suit (l) and Ursula von der Leyen in a blue jacket British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was proud of his US deal. Will von der Leyen be able to get one over the line?Image: Carl Court/AFP The EU was poised to hit back with significant countermeasures on everything from whiskey to motorcycles and prepared a second package, though both have been paused as EU-US negotiations continue. Brussels is pushing for a "zero-for-zero" trade agreement, aiming to eliminate tariffs on industrial goods. So far, talks have stalled. One of Trump's key complaints is the persistent trade imbalance. In 2024, the US imported significantly more goods from the EU than it exported, with a trade deficit of $216 billion, according to official US figures. However, the EU frequently argues that the US sells far more services to the bloc than the other way round. One option the European Commission, which as the EU executive branch represents the 27 member states in negotiations, has proposed is pushing EU companies and countries to buy more natural gas from the US, a shift that is already well under way since it turned away from Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. EU's nuclear option If all else fails for the EU and Trump resorts to 50% tariffs or even higher rates, there has been some discussion of another more radical move from the EU. "Should Europe retaliate if Trump's tariffs hit on 9 July, and how? If yes, then there seems to be general agreement that, beyond tariffs on goods, US digital services are the most likely and vulnerable target," Tobias Gehrke of the European Council on Foreign Relations posted late last month on social media platform Bluesky. Gehrke pointed to the EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument, a legal framework which empowers the EU to target services and could limit US companies' access to public procurement contracts in Europe. It came into effect in 2023, but has never been used. 13th June,2025

CHINA, UK TRADE DEALS WITH TRUMP Following Britain, China has struck a trade deal with the US, President Donald Trump has announced. Meanwhile, the EU is still pondering its way out of tariff hell, and US officials make clear it is back of the line. After London comes Beijing: US President Donald Trump announced a breakthrough in talks with China to put an end to their rapidly escalating tariff war on Wednesday night, though the details of the agreement remain unclear, and key elements are still awaiting formal approval. "Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi [Jinping] and me," Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. "Full magnets, and any necessary rare earths, will be supplied, up front, by China. Likewise, we will provide to China what was agreed to, including Chinese students using our colleges and universities (which has always been good with me!)" One day later, the scope of the deal remains uncertain. Neither Trump nor US officials had clarified which tariffs might be lifted or what concessions were included, according to The Associated Press news agency. Negotiations appear to be ongoing. 'Liberation Day' wounds healing Two months ago, Trump announced a blanket baseline 10% tariffs on virtually all goods imported into the US, an event he dubbed "Liberation Day." Higher country-specific rates followed, with Chinese imports hit particularly hard. Beijing immediately retaliated with sharp increases of its own, sending bilateral tariffs soaring — peaking at 145% in some cases — on a trade relationship worth $583 billion (approximately €503.5 billion) i 13th June,2025

ECONOMY EXPECTED TO SEE GROWTH Germany's foreign minister is meeting with European counterparts for talks on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Germany's sluggish economy is forecast to grow due to new government measures and a spending surge. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is in Rome to meet with his counterparts from Italy, France, Germany, Poland, UK, Spain and Ukraine The ministers will discuss European support for Ukraine, after pressure against Russia in recent weeks failed to yield a lasting ceasefire Germany's Ifo Institute released its summer forecast for 2025, predicting a 1.5% growth for Germany in 2026, nearly doubling its previous prediction 13th June,2025

SOUTH KOREA DIVIDED, TROUBLED South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung sought to project a message of unity as he took office on Wednesday in a country wracked by political division since a short-lived martial law declaration in December. "No matter whom you supported in this election, I will serve as a president for all, to embrace and serve every citizen," Lee said during his swearing-in ceremony at the National Assembly. He also pledged to reinvigorate the nation's economy and pursue policies that help ordinary people, both at home and abroad. His declaration comes as multiple national and international organizations, including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), are downgrading growth forecasts for the South Korean economy. The OECD this week predicted only a 1% GDP growth in 2025. "It is time to restore security and peace, which have been reduced to tools of political strife, to rebuild livelihoods and the economy damaged by indifference, incompetence and irresponsibility, and to revive democracy that has been undermined by armored vehicles and automatic rifles," Lee said. The reference to vehicles and weapons is a barb against his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office and is still on trial for briefly declaring martial law six months ago. While the move sparked outrage across the country, some members of the military, the Presidential Security Service (PSS) and sections of the public sided with Yoon before his eventual arrest. 4th June,2025

WORSENING DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY Water scarcity is a fact of life in Malta. The island in the middle of the Mediterranean, between Italy and North Africa, has no lakes or rivers and doesn't get much rainfall. And with a hot, dry climate, a population of 563,000 — and more than six times that in yearly tourist visits — every drop counts. "We have lived forever without enough water," said Thomas Bajada, a marine biologist and recently elected member of the European Parliament. But, he told DW, that scarcity has forced his country to innovate. Today, around two-thirds of its drinking water comes from the sea, desalinated water that's blended with a minimal supply of groundwater. Investment in other technical solutions — smart water meters, leakage management, wastewater reuse — also helps keep the taps from running dry. For now, at least. Farmers in Cyprus struggle with water shortages 03:43 One-fifth of Europe already under water stress But as temperatures rise and weather patterns become increasingly unreliable due to climate change, Malta's water challenges are expected to spread. With many European cities and regions still relying on outdated water management practices, around one-fifth of the continent already faces water stress every year, the European Environment Agency (EEA) reported. It noted that Europe is anticipating water demand to double by 2050, leading to severe water shortages in the future. "Europe is at the forefront of a growing water crisis — one that threatens industry, agriculture, ecosystems and citizens' access to water," said Loic Charpentier, advocacy head at industry body Water Europe, which promotes water technology. Extreme heat and prolonged periods of drought, once rare in Europe, are becoming a yearly problem in many regions. Multiple heat waves in 2024 shattered temperature records, with Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region suffering the most from heat stress and shrinking water reserves, according to data from the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. The first-ever European Climate Risk Assessment, released by the European Environment Agency in March 2024, stressed that these new weather extremes were already severely disrupting ecosystems, agriculture and economic activity, human health and water supplies. Drought and extreme heat could also "exacerbate existing risks and crises … leading to water and food insecurity, disruptions of critical infrastructure, and threats to financial markets and stability." Water scarcity leaded to 'rising conflicts' "No one sees what is coming when we speak about water, both water pollution and water scarcity," said Athenais Georges of the European Water Movement advocacy group. "It's a huge environmental and social justice issue, because if you have scarce water, you have rising conflicts. [We've seen] that already in other regions in the world." In 2012, the European Water Movement spearheaded the Right2Water campaign, signed by more than 1.6 million EU citizens, which called on the European Commission to make sure water remains a public service and "ensure that all inhabitants enjoy the right to water." The Drinking Water Directive, the EU's main law on drinking water, was revised following the campaign and entered into force in 2021. It obliges EU member countries to "improve access to safe drinking water" for all citizens. And yet, EEA data shows that some 30% of EU citizens still suffer water scarcity every year. 4th June,2025

UKRAINE'S AUDACIOUS DRONE ATTACK It's hard to exaggerate the sheer audacity - or ingenuity - that went into Ukraine's countrywide assault on Russia's air force. We cannot possibly verify Ukrainian claims that the attacks resulted in $7bn (£5.2bn) of damage, but it's clear that "Operation Spider's Web" was, at the very least, a spectacular propaganda coup. Ukrainians are already comparing it with other notable military successes since Russia's full-scale invasion, including the sinking of the flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet, the Moskva, and the bombing of the Kerch Bridge, both in 2022, as well as a missile attack on Sevastopol harbour the following year. Judging by details leaked to the media by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the latest operation is the most elaborate achievement so far. In an operation said to have taken 18 months to prepare, scores of small drones were smuggled into Russia, stored in special compartments aboard freight trucks, driven to at least four separate locations, thousands of miles apart, and launched remotely towards nearby airbases. 1:28 Watch: Footage shows attack drones homing in on their targets as they sit on the tarmac. "No intelligence operation in the world has done anything like this before," defence analyst Serhii Kuzan told Ukrainian TV. "These strategic bombers are capable of launching long-range strikes against us," he said. "There are only 120 of them and we struck 40. That's an incredible figure." It is hard to assess the damage, but Ukrainian military blogger Oleksandr Kovalenko says that even if the bombers, and command and control aircraft were not destroyed, the impact is enormous. "The extent of the damage is such that the Russian military-industrial complex, in its current state, is unlikely to be able to restore them in the near future," he wrote on his Telegram channel. The strategic missile-carrying bombers in question, the Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160 are, he said, no longer in production. Repairing them will be difficult, replacing them impossible. The loss of the supersonic Tu-160, he said, would be especially keenly felt. "Today, the Russian Aerospace Forces lost not just two of their rarest aircraft, but truly two unicorns in the herd," he wrote. Beyond the physical damage, which may or may not be as great as analysts here are assessing, Operation Spider's Web sends another critical message, not just to Russia but also to Ukraine's western allies. My colleague Svyatoslav Khomenko, writing for the BBC Ukrainian Service website, recalls a recent encounter with a government official in Kyiv. The official was frustrated. "The biggest problem," the official told Svyatoslav, "is that the Americans have convinced themselves we've already lost the war. And from that assumption everything else follows." Ukrainian defence journalist Illia Ponomarenko, posting on X, puts it another way, with a pointed reference to President Volodymyr Zelensky's infamous Oval office encounter with Donald Trump. "This is what happens when a proud nation under attack doesn't listen to all those: 'Ukraine has only six months left'. 'You have no cards'. 'Just surrender for peace, Russia cannot lose'." Ukraine drones strike bombers during major attack in Russia Even more pithy was a tweet from the quarterly Business Ukraine journal, which proudly proclaimed "It turns out Ukraine does have some cards after all. Today Zelensky played the King of Drones." This, then, is the message Ukrainian delegates carry as they arrive in Istanbul for a fresh round of ceasefire negotiations with representatives from the Kremlin: Ukraine is still in the fight. The Americans "begin acting as if their role is to negotiate for us the softest possible terms of surrender," the government official told Svyatoslav Khomenko. "And then they're offended when we don't thank them. But of course we don't – because we don't believe we've been defeated." Despite Russia's slow, inexorable advance through the battlefields of the Donbas, Ukraine is telling Russia, and the Trump administration, not to dismiss Kyiv's prospects so easily. 2nd June,2025

STORMS CAUSED DAMAGE IN PARTS OF GERMANY OVERNIGHT Strong thunderstorms, heavy rain and hail, and gusty winds caused chaos in parts of Germany over the weekend. In the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, in particular, the storms have flooded basements and streets and uprooted trees. Within a few hours, there were hundreds of emergency calls. However, no injuries were reported. Some outdoor events had to be canceled at short notice, including an open-air concert on Münsterplatz in Ulm in the southern state of Baden-Württemberg and the 3RIDES Gran Fondo race in Aachen. Today, the weather is expected to be warm, but occasionally unpleasant. The south, central, and eastern parts of the country are mainly affected, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). 2nd June,2025

TIGHTENED BORDER CONTROLS National police chief Dieter Romann has given a favorable initial assessment of the tightened border controls and dismissed the police union’s concerns about overburdened personnel. "Why shouldn't the Federal Police, with around 56,000 employees, achieve what we used to achieve with 10,000 or 30,000 officers?" Romann told the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag. Romann said he has spoken with all of his counterparts several times. "With some of them weekly. I've received a lot of support for our measures. One person put it simply: 'About time!'" The Federal Police permanently has around 9,800 officers in their regular stations along the national borders, Romann said. Germany ramps up border checks 2nd June,2025

TRUMP'S TARIFFS CAN STAY IN PLACE The latest turn in Trump's tariffs drama saw a federal appeals court reinstate his tariffs plan - after the Court of International Trade on Wednesday ruled that the US president did not have the authority to slap nearly every country with tariffs. The Court of Appeals accepted the White House's appeal to the earlier ruling - the one that requested they halt their tariffs within 10 days - saying that the tariffs plans could remain in place while the court "considers the motions paper". While Trump is yet to directly comment - on the trade court ruling yesterday or the appeals court ruling - one of his top advisors, Peter Navarro, took to the White House driveway to say the administration was prepared to take the case "up the chain of command" after the appeals court if necessary. This would mean asking the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of its tariff plan. Meanwhile, here's a quick reminder of what the markets looked like earlier today, following the trade court's ruling last yesterday: Asia's markets were up, with Japan's Nikkei 225 index up by 1.9%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng by 1.1%, and South Korea's Kospi index by 1.8% When the UK markets opened, the FTSE 100 was up by about 0.3%, but flattened within hours - while the pound was down 0.1% and trading between $1.34 and $1.35 The US markets also opened in positive territory, with the Nasdaq up 1.1%, the Dow Jones rising 0.2%, and S&P 500 gaining about 0.9% And with that, we will be ending our live coverage for the day. If you'd like to keep up with the latest on this story, the following article will be kept up to date: Trump tariffs reinstated as legal battle erupts 30th May,2025

ISLAND EMBODIES BERLIN'S TUMULTUOUS Berlin's Museum Island uniquely encapsulates Germany's modern history — from the ideas of the Enlightenment to the destruction of World War II, from the Cold War era to its current ultra-modern restoration that has turned the ensemble of museums into a tourist magnet. Standing as a testimony to Europe's architectural and cultural developments, the historical complex of museum buildings was recognized by UNESCO in June 1999 as a World Heritage Site , and this year it is celebrating its 200th anniversary since the first building's foundation stone was laid. #DailyDrone: The Museum Island Berlin 01:00 A legacy of the Enlightenment During the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), when the French invaded the historic German kingdom of Prussia, many artworks were plundered from its capital, Berlin. When the looted works were returned after the war, Prussian leaders decided to create a museum to showcase the treasures publicly. The Altes Museum (Old Museum) was the first building in the series of five institutions that would later become known as Museum Island. Simply called the "Museum" in its early years, the Altes Museum's foundation stone was laid in 1825, and it opened in 1830. A historic black-and-white illustration from 1885 shows the Altes Museum, part of Berlin's Museum Island, and a treelined park in front of itA historic black-and-white illustration from 1885 shows the Altes Museum, part of Berlin's Museum Island, and a treelined park in front of it A historic illustration from 1885 shows the Altes Museum, the oldest building of Berlin's Museum Island complexImage: imageBROKER/picture alliance At the time, after decades of war, Prussia was economically and financially ruined, "and yet they invested in such a cultural building, hiring the best architect of the time, [Karl Friedrich] Schinkel," Hermann Parzinger, outgoing president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, tells DW. It's a fact he particularly likes to point out in the current context, as politicians question the importance of funding culture. Amid the ideals of the Enlightenment, education was recognized as a priority. Thinker and statesman Wilhelm von Humboldt viewed museums as an important pillar of the educational reform he developed. "The museum, as a space of the citizen's aesthetic education, was very important to him," explains Parzinger. "So it was more than just building a museum; there was a vision behind it, and art, together with science, played a very central role." 30th May,2025

TRUMP SAYS PUTIN IS 'CRAZY' AFTER STRIKES Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the Russian army has launched the largest number of drones against Ukrainian cities and communities since the start of the full-scale war. The attack included 355 attack UAVs, mostly "Shaheds," as well as nine cruise missiles. Zelenskyy reported that there had been injuries and damage to civilian infrastructure, and noted that the geography of the strikes extended across northern, central, eastern, and southern Ukraine. He added that it marked the third consecutive night of combined Russian attacks involving both drones and missiles. "Only a sense of total impunity can allow Russia to carry out such strikes and continue increasing their scale," said Zelenskyy. "There is no real military logic to this, but there is significant political meaning." Show additional content? This content is part of the text you are currently reading. The provider X / Twitter provides this content and may collect your usage data directly when you click “Show content”. Always show content from X / Twitter. "In doing this, Putin shows just how much he despises the world — the world that spends more effort on 'dialogue' with him than on real pressure." "Like any criminal, Russia can only be constrained by force. Only through strength — the strength of the United States, of Europe, of all nations that value life — can these attacks be stopped and real peace achieved." Zelenskyy added that the increase in Russian strikes and Moscow's "disregard for diplomacy" should be met with tougher sanctions. 26th May,2025