Finland's Stubb Tells Europe to Pick Between Putin and Democracy
Stubb's words at a conference on Thursday in Helsinki appeared pointed at a number of European countries where a nationalist lurch is eroding support for Ukraine. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico have in particular courted President Vladimir Putin, threatening Europe's united approach to his full-scale war on Ukraine.
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CBS News
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Texas Democrats meet with Massachusetts governor amid redistricting fight
Some Texas Democrats who left their home state to avoid a special legislative session to redraw congressional districts are in Massachusetts. The Texas lawmakers greeted Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, preferring a political ally to hundreds of dollars in fines and arrest if they return to their home state. "You all heard of the game Texas hold'em. Well, we are literally holding the line on democracy. Not just for Texas, but for our nation," Texas State Senator Carol Alvarado said during a press conference with Healey at the Massachusetts State House Tuesday. The Democrats fled the Lone Star State Sunday to prevent a vote on the Republican led legislature's effort to redraw congressional districts. Gov. Healey referred to it as, "a partisan, craven, political power grab attempt by the President of the United States." The gerrymandering is happening at the vocal behest of President Donald Trump. Right now, Republicans control the U.S. House of Representatives in Congress by just three seats. The new Texas maps could add an additional five Republican seats. But the gerrymandering drama reaches beyond Texas. At a convention of state lawmakers in Boston, Virginia State Senator Mamie Locke said it could set off a partisan backlash where many states seek to change their electoral maps for political gain. "Other states may say, oh why not take a look at how we do things. That's bad," Locke said. "We're going to get into this situation where everybody is going to start looking at creating gerrymandered maps." On CNBC Tuesday morning, President Trump said it was Democrats who started gerrymandering, pointing directly at Massachusetts. "In Massachusetts, I got I think, 41% of the vote. It's a very you know blue state. And yet, it's got 100% of Congress," President Trump said. MassGOP Executive Director said the congressional districts in Massachusetts are "terribly gerrymandered and unfair." "Forty percent of Massachusetts voters voted for Republican representation at the federal level in 2024 and yet we do not have a single Republican representing us at the federal level," Milligan said. It's unclear when the Texas lawmakers will return home. Right now, they are facing $500 a day in fines.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Hungarian Foreign Minister on his Country's Agenda and Ukraine's Bid to Join the E.U.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
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Germany should consider Israel sanctions, senior lawmaker says after trip
By Markus Wacket BERLIN (Reuters) -A senior lawmaker in German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition on Monday said Berlin should consider sanctions on Israel including a partial suspension of weapons exports or the suspension of a European Union-wide political agreement. The call by Siemtje Moeller, the deputy leader of the Social Democrats (SPD) parliamentary faction, reflects a sharpening of rhetoric from Berlin against Israel which has yet to yield any major policy changes however. Moeller, whose SPD joined a coalition with Merz's conservatives this year, wrote a letter to SPD lawmakers after returning from a trip to Israel with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul last week. "My assessment is that the Israeli government will move little without pressure. If such concrete improvements fail to materialize in the near future, there must be consequences," she said in the letter, seen by Reuters. Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be "taboo", she said, adding that Israeli statements that there were no restrictions on aid to Gaza were not convincing. At the same time, Moeller demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages held by Hamas. She said Hamas must no longer play a role in a political future in Gaza. "It must be disarmed, its reign of terror must end." Western nations have intensified efforts to exert pressure on Israel, with Britain, Canada and France signalling their readiness to recognise a Palestinian state in Israeli-occupied territory at the United Nations General Assembly this September. Israel has criticised France, Britain and Canada, saying their decision will reward Hamas. Critics argue that Germany's response remains overly cautious, shaped by an enduring sense of historical guilt for the Holocaust and reinforced by pro-Israel sentiment in influential media circles, weakening the West's collective ability to apply meaningful pressure on Israel. The Gaza war began when Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 hostage in a cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. Israel's air and ground war in densely populated Gaza has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to enclave health officials. A growing number of civilians are dying from starvation and malnutrition, Gaza health authorities say, with images of starving children shocking the world and intensifying criticism of Israel over its curbs on aid into the enclave. Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza but, in response to a rising international outcry, it announced steps last week to let more aid reach the population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, approving air drops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys. (Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Alex Richardson) Solve the daily Crossword
