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AdvertisementEuropean UnionWorldEuropeGermany’s Merz says no ‘immediate’ Ukraine EU membership, floats Kyiv joining meetingsThere is little appetite to fast track Kyiv to full membership in the EU – causing some to pitch possible interim benefits in the meantime
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenAgence France-PressePublished: 11:48pm, 24 Apr 2026German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday there was no prospect of Ukraine’s “immediate accession” to the EU, but suggested Kyiv could join meetings of the bloc’s members without voting rights.
Ukraine is pushing to speed up its bid to join the 27-nation European Union as it fights Russia’s invasion on the battlefield.
Kyiv’s progress has been blocked by Hungary’s nationalist premier Viktor Orban, but his defeat in elections earlier this month raised hopes it can move to the next step.
AdvertisementEU leaders broadly back moving Ukraine forward by opening the first of the so-called negotiating “clusters”.
But there is little appetite to fast track Ky..

AdvertisementBritainWorldEuropeUK bill to allow assisted dying fails as parliamentary time runs outOpponents of the bill have managed to hold up its passing by filing more than 1,200 amendments
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenAssociated PressPublished: 11:36pm, 24 Apr 2026A proposed bill to allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to choose to end their lives failed on Friday as parliamentary time ran out, nearly a year since elected members of parliaments gave their backing.
Though the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was passed by the House of Commons last June, the UK’s revising chamber, the House of Lords, effectively talked it out since then.
Proponents of what has been termed “assisted dying” – sometimes referred to as “assisted suicide” – hoped it would mark the biggest change to social policy in the UK since abortion was partially legalised in 1967.
AdvertisementBut opponents in the House of Lords have managed to hold up its passing by filing more than 1,200 amendments. T..

An old friend recollected how Kash Patel agreed to become the hockey coach for his son's team.

At a time, FBI director Kash Patel is embroiled in several controversies mostly surrounding his alleged erratic behavior, people from his past, those who know Patel as 'Coach Kash' have spoken up about how passionate he is about hockey. One Clark Mowrey told CNN how a decade ago he saw Kash Patel working out at a gym in DC wearing a Hartford Whalers shirt. Mowrey said he started a conversation with Kash and found out that he was an employee at the DOJ but very enthusiastic about hockey.Mowrey said he asked Patel whether he would coach his son's team. It was never paid and Patel was very busy at that time but he never missed any practice and any game and he often came at the rink wearing his work suit, Mowrey said. “The kids kind of fell in love with him, and he was always there and always available,” Mowrey said adding that his son still texts Patel monthly and other kid..

Political turmoil in Nepal: Parliament suspended, Home Minister resigns amid financial conduct probe

Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel on Thursday suspended the session of both houses of the Federal Parliament without convening them, just days after summoning the session for April 30.The president cited “special reasons” for suspending the House of Representatives and the National Assembly on the recommendation of the government and the council of ministers, said Ritesh Kumar Shakya, spokesperson of the Office of the President. No further details were disclosed.Senior-most Parliament Member and Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh K C termed the government's decision to suspend the Parliament session without even convening it as “unprecedented and surprising.”Political turmoil deepensThe development came a day after Home Minister Sudan Gurung resigned on Wednesday following allegations relating to his financial conduct while holding office. Gurung, announced his departure on F..

AdvertisementUnited StatesWorldUnited States & CanadaWarner Bros investors back US$110 billion merger with Paramount SkydanceAttention now turns to regulatory authorities, with both Washington and London expected to examine the merger’s impact on competition
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenReutersPublished: 11:29pm, 23 Apr 2026Updated: 11:44pm, 23 Apr 2026Warner Bros Discovery shareholders on ⁠Thursday backed the company’s proposed US$110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, but cast an advisory vote against executive compensation plans tied to the deal.
Under the pay packages proposed to executives, CEO David Zaslav could receive ‌up to US$887 million if the sale is completed.
Proxy advisor ISS had said Zaslav’s potential payout was “extremely large”.
Advertisement“Management now faces a twofold challenge: securing (regulatory) approval for the deal and proving it can create long-term value without fuelling concerns around excessive pay,” PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore ⁠said.
Attention..

AdvertisementUS, Israel war on IranUSTrump says Navy will ‘shoot and kill’ boats laying mines in Strait of HormuzOrder targets small craft as tensions persist; Pentagon warns clearing advanced mines could take months, raising energy concerns
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenMark Magnierin WashingtonPublished: 11:15pm, 23 Apr 2026In the latest cycle of threats and concessions that have marked US President Donald Trump’s approach to the war that he and his Israeli counterpart started against Iran, the mercurial president said on Thursday he would destroy any undersized boat attempting to lay mines in the blocked Strait of Hormuz.His focus on diminutive vessels followed his oft-repeated messaging that Iran’s larger naval vessels are no more as he renews his effort to muscle Tehran’s frustratingly resilient regime to concede defeat.
“I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be … that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz”, Trump wr..

DWP expands face-to-face PIP assessments despite staffing shortages in UK Among recent moves by the Department for Work and Pensions, more in-person evaluations are expected for those applying for disability support. Despite limited medical staff available, officials have set sights on conducting roughly three out of every ten reviews face to face. Those receiving Personal Independence Payment or Employment and Support Allowance will notice adjustments throughout the UK. Accuracy in rulings serves as a central focus behind the initiative. Progress, however, depends heavily on how quickly health professionals can be brought onboard.Difficulties were acknowledged by Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, in a formal response sent to the Work and Pensions Committee. Challenges persist around filling and keeping roles, given how tightly contested positions are across health-related employment sectors. Staff needed for assessments often hold dual responsibilities in..

Indian scammer who created fake 'Emily Hart' to fool MAGA people says he wants to study in the US.
The Indian medical student who scammed 'super dumb' MAGA men by an AI-generated hot girl 'Emily Hart' posting conservative ideas said he never felt he was scamming as he was gathering fund for his medical studies. He said he tried to sell study notes to other medical students, made YouTube shorts and even started posting generic photos of beautiful woman. But nothing worked. Gemini told him that 'hot girl' is too generic as million others are doing the same thing.The 22-year-old student told WIRED that he presented Gemini with some other options and Gemini selected MAGA niche as the chat code. Gemini told the man that the conservative audience, especially older men in the US, have higher disposable income.Gemini defended and a spokesperson told WIRED that Gemini does not suggest a particular option unless it is prompted. “Gemini is designed not to ..

Advertisement2026 Trump-Xi summitChinaDiplomacyAs Iran talks go nowhere, will Donald Trump still go to Beijing?With peace negotiations postponed, it is unclear if the US president will be ready to look at stabilising ties between the two top economies
2-MIN READ2-MIN4 ListenLaura ZhouPublished: 11:00pm, 22 Apr 2026Updated: 11:37pm, 22 Apr 2026The on-again, off-again US-Iran peace talks are casting doubt on whether Donald Trump will make his planned visit to Beijing in a few weeks, though the war could raise the diplomatic stakes of the trip if it does go ahead, Chinese observers say.Hours before a two-week ceasefire was set to end, the US president announced on Tuesday that he was prolonging the fragile truce with Iran.That came after Vice-President J.D. Vance’s trip to Pakistan for a second round of peace negotiations was first paused and then postponed.AdvertisementThe last-minute flip-flop underscores the deep mistrust between the foes and raises the question of whether Trump is rea..

AdvertisementThe PhilippinesThis Week in AsiaPoliticsICC chamber rules case against Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs killings to proceedDuterte’s lawyers argue that the crimes against humanity case targeting him should not proceed as the Philippines is not an ICC member
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenRaissa RoblesPublished: 10:37pm, 22 Apr 2026Families of victims of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs hailed as a “vindication” on Wednesday the International Criminal Court Appeals Chamber’s refusal to throw out the crimes against humanity case against him.Duterte has been held by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague since March 2025 over killings linked to his anti-drugs campaign while he was in office.
His lawyers argued that the court had no authority to try him because the Philippines officially withdrew from the ICC’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute, in 2019.AdvertisementBut the judges said the court could still hear the case because its inquiry began be..