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Ratcliffe’s Havana talks mark milestone in US‑Cuba diplomacy amid Cuba’s energy crunch
11 days ago•Source: EL PAÍS English
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Khartoum as a Ghost Town: Sudan’s Civil War Wages On
A year after the SAF retook Khartoum, much of the capital is a ghost town as fighting continues across Sudan, exposing a massive humanitarian crisis with millions in need and displaced. Foreign backers, political infighting, and a politicized aid system complicate relief, while local activists and health officials voice resilience and advocate decentralizing health services to help rebuild the country.
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Shoigu frames drone threat as either failed air defenses or NATO airspace use
Euromaidan Press•1 month ago
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BBC to Axe Up To 2,000 Roles in Major Cost-Cutting Push
Deadline•1 month ago
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US eases Venezuela bank sanctions to reboot its economy
The U.S. Treasury eased sanctions on Venezuela’s state-run banks to help revive the country’s ailing economy amid protests over wages, allowing use of U.S. dollars, unlocking oil revenue, and reintegrating Venezuela into the U.S.-led financial system through targeted licenses for key institutions.
Europe must forge an independent security path as NATO's cohesion frays
The Observer argues that NATO is damaged and Europe must bolster its own defences, diversify security partnerships (including Gulf states) and explore formal European security structures, as trust in the U.S. alliance wanes amid Trump-era politics, leaving Britain, France and Germany to drive a recalibrated, ad‑hoc approach to collective security while a long-term coherent strategy remains elusive.
Spain blocks Iran-war flights, yet US bases stay active in other roles
Spain has closed its airspace to flights involved in Operation Epic Fury against Iran and barred use of the Rota and Morón bases for war aircraft, with only emergency transit exceptions. Yet US forces continue to operate from Spain under bilateral security arrangements, while bomber and tanker missions have shifted to other European sites (e.g., Fairford in the UK and Istres in France) and allied naval and air defenses—like US destroyers from Rota and Patriot batteries at Incirlik—continue to play regional roles. Madrid says it will not join the war, balancing NATO/EU commitments with a stance against the conflict, a balance that could shape future tensions with Washington and other allies.
Noelia Castillo’s 601-day battle over euthanasia ends with death in Catalonia
After a 601‑day legal fight led by her father, Noelia Castillo, a 25‑year‑old paraplegic from Barcelona, finally received euthanasia in March 2026 despite multiple court bids to halt it; the case highlighted flaws in Spain’s euthanasia framework and the tension between adult autonomy and parental intervention, with independent professionals confirming her irreversible suffering.
Law and War: Experts Question Legality of US-Israeli Strikes on Iran
Most legal experts say the US and Israel’s initial strikes on Iran were unlawful, citing a lack of evidence for an imminent threat and contested interpretations of self-defence under Article 51. The UK’s participation in defensive actions is legally murky, depending on whether it accepts a regional request and how proportionate responses are deemed. Iran’s retaliation raises its own legal questions: while self‑defence is possible, attacks on civilians and on non‑party states may breach international humanitarian law, complicating the legality of all sides’ actions.
Brother claims slain American pursued a 'diabolical' plan to free Cuba
Michel Ortega Casanova, one of 10 people on a Florida-registered speedboat that clashed with Cuban forces in an attempted infiltration of Cuba, was described by his brother as driven by an obsessive and 'diabolical' push to free Cuba; four people were killed and six injured. U.S. and Cuban authorities are investigating passenger identities and whether any were U.S. citizens or residents, amid broader security and terrorism-related concerns around the incident.
GoFundMe Aids Washington Post's Stranded International Reporters After Layoffs
After The Washington Post cut more than 300 jobs across its desks, international reporters—some in war zones—are facing upheaval and uncertain relocation. Tokyo/Seoul bureau chief Michelle Ye Hee Lee launched a GoFundMe to help these staffers cover rent, legal guidance, relocation, and storage, while the Post pledges transition support; the move highlights gaps in protections for international employees amid restructuring.
Queen Máxima begins reserve duty in the Netherlands with army training
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has begun training to become a part‑time army reservist, starting a program that combines theory and physical drills. She currently holds the rank of private and will be promoted to lieutenant‑colonel upon completion. The move underscores a national defense push and aligns with a broader trend of European royals undergoing military service, including Crown Princess Amalia.
Musk Condemns Paris Raid on X as Political Motive
France’s national cyber unit, with Europol, raided X’s Paris headquarters as part of a probe into alleged algorithm manipulation and Grok, drawing Elon Musk’s claim that the action is a political attack; prosecutors later broadened the case to potential offenses including Holocaust denial content and sexual deepfakes, with Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino summoned to a Paris hearing on April 20, while EU and UK regulators continue examining Grok and X’s data practices.
Liv Ullmann: Trump Won’t Keep Nobel Peace Prize Gifted by Machado
At the 38th European Film Awards in Berlin, Liv Ullmann said Trump is unlikely to retain the Nobel Peace Prize allegedly gifted to him by María Corina Machado, noting that prize misuse could lead to revocation; the Nobel Peace Center, however, says the prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred. Ullmann, a European Film Awards honoree, spoke amid the controversy.