EU to ban Russian gas imports by 2027
The European Commission will propose a full ban on Russian gas imports by end-2027, with new deals and spot purchases ending by 2025, according to Reuters.
The move seeks to terminate residual energy ties with Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russian gas now meets approximately 19% of the EU's needs, down from 45% prior to the war.
The proposal also requires companies to disclose contract details and obliges member states to submit national phase-out plans. The Commission expects minimal impact on prices and supply if alternative sources are secured, Reuters reported.
Drone strikes hit Port Sudan, escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis
A wave of drone strikes by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) hit Port Sudan on Tuesday, igniting fuel depots and damaging key infrastructure including the port, airport, and a major power substation, according to Reuters.
The RSF, a former militia turned powerful military faction, has intensified attacks on the city previously a government and aid hub marking a sharp escalation in the civil war.
The strikes have interrupted relief operations and power supplies, exacerbating what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian disaster, Reuters reported.
Port Sudan, once considered a safe zone, is now on high military alert as turmoil moves eastward.
Poland accuses Russia of interfering in presidential election
Poland has accused Russia of seeking to influence the May 18 residential election through cyberattacks and disinformation.
Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski stated on Tuesday that Russian activity targeting key infrastructure, like as utilities and government networks, has more than doubled since last year, according to Reuters.
Poland, a critical hub for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, has faced heightened risks from Russian sabotage. Authorities claim these hybrid attacks are intended to disrupt governmental activities and undermine the electoral process
The Russian Embassy has not replied to the claims, Reuters reported.
Israel restricts access to 70 percent of Gaza: UN
Israel has restricted access to 70 percent of the Gaza Strip through forced displacement orders and no-go zones, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported.
Since late March, the majority of Rafah in southern Gaza has been deemed off-limits. In the north, practically all of Gaza City is under evacuation orders, with only a few enclaves in the northwest remaining accessible, according to Al Jazeera.
Additional sites around Shujayea and along the Israeli border have been declared as restricted zones.
According to OCHA, these measures have increased since the truce collapsed on March 18 Al Jazeera reported.
Hamas says no point in further Gaza truce talks
Hamas has stopped its participation in cease-fire talks, blaming Israel's continued military offensive and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
Basem Naim, a top Hamas official, stated that there is no purpose in discussions while hunger and destruction persist, according to BBC.
The decision comes after Israel's approval of increased operations in Gaza, which include mass displacement. Almost all people have already been displaced from their houses.
Gaza remains under total blockade, with critical shortages of food, water, and medicine, BBC reported.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described Israel's conduct as a violation of humanitarian law.
UK to tighten visas for high-risk nationalities amid asylum surge
The UK government is prepared to tighten visa requirements for nationals of Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka, following an increase in asylum claims from those who entered the country legitimately, BBC reported.
According to government sources, persons on employment or study visas submitted over 20,000 asylum applications in 2023. Ministers feel that this practice undermines immigration controls and leads to long-term overstays.
The Home Office, which stopped publishing exit data in 2020 due to accuracy difficulties, claims that many departures go undetected, according to BBC.
A new immigration white paper will propose improvements.
Germany's Merz falls short of majority in vote for chancellor
Friedrich Merz, the head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), fell six votes short of the 316 votes needed to win a parliamentary majority and become Germany's next chancellor on Tuesday, BBC reported.
Merz earned only 310 votes in a secret ballot, even though the Social Democrats held 328 seats and he was part of the CDU-Christian Social Union (CSU) combination. This is the first time a candidate for chancellor has lost on the first vote since World War II. Germany's DAX stock index dropped 1.8% as a result.
Olaf Scholz, the departing chancellor, is still serving in a caretaker capacity while the parties negotiate the next course of action. In order to guarantee leadership stability, CDU officials have demanded a speedy second vote, as stated by BBC.
China, EU mark fifty years of diplomatic ties
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday exchanged congratulatory messages with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, according to Xinhua.
President Xi stressed the worldwide significance of China-EU relations, stating that they had helped to promote mutual development and global stability. He indicated his willingness to improve cooperation, increase mutual openness, and resolve disagreements through communication.
Xi also advocated for collaborative efforts to maintain fairness and justice in international affairs, while rejecting unilateral moves and bullying on the global stage, Xinhua reported.