Two US embassy employees and two police officers have been killed in Nigeria when gunmen opened fire on their convoy. Three additional individuals have also been kidnapped. Police officials have suggested that separatist groups are involved following an increase in such violence. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been mentioned, in particular, as a group pushing for secession from Nigeria to form its own republic. Such opinions are historically controversial, with a civil war beginning in Nigeria in 1967 after the Republic of Biafra declared independence. The US State Department confirms that it is investigating the incident.
A conversation on Allied Burden Sharing in Ukraine, between the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development and the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, has discussed the role of European partners in supporting Ukraine. While the US is the world's largest financier of foreign aid and military assistance for Ukraine, the country's European partners are contributing similar amounts on a per capita basis, with the US ranking tenth overall. European burden-sharing has also been substantial on energy and trade, with the continent suffering from vulnerability to global market dynamics and reductions in energy consumption, and potential trade disruption in areas such as food. To ensure Ukraine emerges victorious, the US and Europe will need to collectively carry these burdens.
African countries, including Zambia, Senegal, Egypt and South Africa, have drawn up a peace initiative to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine. The proposed mission will visit Moscow and Kiev as part of the peace process. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who represented the initiative, also said that UN Secretary-General Antonio Gruterres and the African Union (AU) had been briefed and welcomed the initiative.
UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Kwasi Kwarteng, has called for greater UK and US collaboration on energy security. Speaking ahead of his address at America's largest civil nuclear conference in Washington DC, Kwarteng emphasised the importance of both countries working together on state-of-the-art technologies and creating the conditions for renewable businesses to thrive. Kwarteng argued that the UK was already demonstrating its energy innovation, citing the country's large offshore wind farms and potential for reviving nuclear power.
Minnesota Twins beat Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in a game playing against ace Clayton Kershaw, just three days after his mother died. Kershaw struck out seven in four innings but faced constant traffic, allowing seven hits, one walk, and hit a batter. Los Angeles’s six-game winning streak ended with the game and the Twins took their leadoff batter aboard four times and converted that into runs three times.
Relatives of victims killed in a terrorist attack in New York are set to speak at a sentencing hearing for the terrorist, Sayfullo Saipov. The Uzbekistani citizen carried out his attack on Halloween in 2017, killing five tourists, a Belgian woman and two Americans, as well as injuring 18 others. Following a recent hearing, Saipov was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The full sentence requested by prosecutors was for eight consecutive life sentences – one for each death – and an additional 260 years in prison.
A conversation on Allied Burden Sharing in Ukraine, between the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development and the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, has discussed the role of European partners in supporting Ukraine. While the US is the world's largest financier of foreign aid and military assistance for Ukraine, the country's European partners are contributing similar amounts on a per capita basis, with the US ranking tenth overall. European burden-sharing has also been substantial on energy and trade, with the continent suffering from vulnerability to global market dynamics and reductions in energy consumption, and potential trade disruption in areas such as food. To ensure Ukraine emerges victorious, the US and Europe will need to collectively carry these burdens.
China has developed "watchdog" technology to limit the use of its drones in military attacks on its territory. According to a source, all Chinese combat and reconnaissance UAVs have been constructed to recognise an "electric geofence" around China. This means that the drones automatically stop flying or launching weapons when nearing Chinese borders. The technology is included in the implantable components of the UAVs and is declared in developers' instruction books. China, which is now the world leader in drone development after the US, is said to have delivered 220 drones to 16 countries over the past decade.
The Council of Europe (CoE) has approved a “Register of Damage” to identify financial compensation owed for damage in Ukraine caused by Russian forces. Marija Pejcinovic Buric, Council head, called the register an “urgent, necessary, first step.” The US, Canada, and Japan, as well as over 40 countries, backed the register. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it would be important in punishing “war crimes of Russian occupiers” while supporting potential future legal proceedings. The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also pledged to provide a coalition giving Ukraine combat air capabilities.
Manchester City and Real Madrid set for ‘thrilling game’ with Champions League final spot on the line
CNN
23-05-17 09:35
Real Madrid will face Manchester City in the Champions League semi-finals, with the winner to face Inter Milan in the final on June 10. Los Blancos are looking to claim their fifth Champions League title in ten years. City, however, remain the in-form team of Europe, making it potentially only four games until they could win the treble.
China is to host an in-person summit of central Asian leaders this week, a bid to firm up its links with smaller former Soviet states, widely seen as Russia's backyard. China's president, Xi Jinping, is expected to discuss deepening economic and security links with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, a region which analysts say has been seeking alternative investment as Moscow concentrates on the Ukraine. The inaugural, virtual China-Central Asia leaders' summit was held in 2020, and China's trade with the five central Asia states has multiplied a hundred-fold since the establishment of diplomatic ties three decades ago.
A conversation on Allied Burden Sharing in Ukraine, between the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development and the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, has discussed the role of European partners in supporting Ukraine. While the US is the world's largest financier of foreign aid and military assistance for Ukraine, the country's European partners are contributing similar amounts on a per capita basis, with the US ranking tenth overall. European burden-sharing has also been substantial on energy and trade, with the continent suffering from vulnerability to global market dynamics and reductions in energy consumption, and potential trade disruption in areas such as food. To ensure Ukraine emerges victorious, the US and Europe will need to collectively carry these burdens.
Democrats in the US House of Representatives are preparing to file a discharge petition to raise the country's debt limit if necessary, according to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The move is designed to bypass regular procedures. Jeffries said he was hopeful a bipartisan deal to avoid a default could still be reached, but that "all legislative options" needed to be explored. A discharge petition requires signatures from a majority of House members.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who had been isolated by Arab states for a decade following the uprising against his rule in 2011, has returned to the Arab League at its summit in Saudi Arabia. Pro-Assad forces backed by Russia and Iran have regained control of most of the country. However, the return has met with opposition from some member states including Qatar and Kuwait, while it has been viewed sceptically by the US. Additionally, while Assad has been permitted to return, Arab states are pushing for action against Syria’s drugs trade and want to see the return of war refugees.
The final vessel containing Ukrainian grain left a port last week, sent under a deal whereby UN mediators and Turkey brokered a 120-day agreement in July 2021 allowing four countries in the Black Sea region to export wheat again. The move followed Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which has caused a global food crisis, seeking to halt a rapid economic downturn caused by the outbreak of COVID-19. This extension was due to expire on 21 March, when Russia imposed new restrictions on Black Sea grain shipments. The Kremlin granted a 60-day extension, due to expire on 18 May, threatening the renewal of Black Sea exports. UN officials met in Istanbul last week to discuss the Black Sea pact; Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu suggested the deal could be extended for two more months at least, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Pesko called for 'decisions to be made.' The Joint Coordination Centre, made up by representatives from Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the UN in Istanbul, typically authorizes and inspects each ship permitted to travel Black Sea waters.
As the start of prime rosé season approaches, the category is seeing a transformation from fruity, affordable bottles to richer, more elegant wines commanding $40 or more per bottle. Sparkling rosé sales are also booming and winemakers are carefully selecting grapes to produce a rosé with the desired flavour, freshness and colour, inspired by increasing consumer demand. France, the US and Spain rank as the largest producers of rosé each year, with Provence from the former commanding the most familiarity thanks to its long history of producing the pink wine. However, winemakers around the world are now looking to replicate the pale pink colour as it has become so popular. Celebrities Sarah Jessica Parker, Kylie Minogue and John Legend have also got involved, partnering with vintners in the South of France to produce their own rosé brands.
Florida, Kentucky and Pennsylvania saw municipal and state elections take place, with nearly all ballots counted. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a former endorsed of Donald Trump, won the Republican nomination for governor with almost 48% of the votes. Republican candidate and a Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis-backed Kelly Craft, failed to come in the top two, with voters electing Democrat Donna Deegan in the mayor’s race in Florida's Jacksonville. Lastly, in Philadelphia, Cherelle Parker has won the Democratic mayoral primary after running on a platform of public safety calling for more law enforcement for the area.
Four Nigerians were killed in an attack on a US government convoy in Nigeria, according to US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. The attack was not reportedly directed at the US mission, and nine Nigerians in total were in the convoy, which was carrying US mission staff and members of the Nigeria Police Force. They were travelling ahead of a planned visit to a US-funded flood response project in Anambra state. The US mission and its Nigerian counterparts are working to establish the location of those unaccounted for, said Blinken.
The US Department of the Interior has announced a review of a potential land swap of the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge that could allow for a noncommercial road through the area. The exchange has been controversial due to concerns over the potential loss of habitat for birds near the Kinzarof Lagoon. An earlier land exchange between the department and the Alaska Native American-led King Cove Corporation, supported by the Trump administration, was scrapped by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland earlier this year.
Meta Platforms Inc, the parent company of Facebook, is reportedly set to receive a record-breaking fine from the European Union (EU) related to data transfers of EU users to US servers, due to the firm’s failure to comply with a warning from the EU court. According to two unnamed sources, the fine will be higher than the previous EU record of €746m ($821.20m) imposed on Amazon. Irish Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon and other EU regulators have been finalising a ban on Facebook’s European data transfer tool over concerns regarding US intelligence agencies’ access to this data.
