Russia says it plans to summon the German ambassador over alleged harassment of its journalists
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia will summon the German ambassador soon to inform him of retaliatory measures in response to what it sees as the harassment of Russian journalists based in Germany, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.
Russia has clashed repeatedly with Germany over the issue, and expelled a German correspondent and cameraman last November in what it said was a symmetrical response to German moves against Russian state TV journalists.
Germany said the Russians' departure was linked to residence rules, and that Russian journalists can report freely in the country.
Zakharova said Germany was applying undue "pressure and harassment" against Russian journalists and their family members. She has previously spoken of passports being revoked and limits on journalists' freedom of movement.
Russia continues to accredit Western correspondents, although many left the country after Moscow in 2022 launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, which was followed by the passage of new censorship laws, and the 2023 arrest of U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich on spying charges. Gershkovich, who denied the accusation, was freed in a prisoner swap last year.
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Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Trump's NATO Turnaround: From threatening to pull US out to 'daddy' of the alliance
President Donald Trump delivered a resounding endorsement of NATO this week, marking a sharp turnaround in his years-long, often contentious relationship with the alliance. Once known for blasting allies over defense spending and even threatening to pull out of NATO altogether, Trump now appears to have had a change of heart. "I left here differently. I left here saying that these people really love their countries," Trump said after the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague. The pivot comes as NATO nations more than doubled their collective defense spending target – raising the bar from 2% to 5% of GDP. The president's renewed embrace of the alliance follows years of friction, high-profile clashes with world leaders and controversial comments. Yet at this year's summit, the tone was strikingly different. Trump was welcomed by Dutch royals, praised by the NATO secretary-general – who even referred to him as "daddy" – and returned home lauding European allies for their patriotism. "It's not a rip-off, and we're here to help them," Trump told reporters. The transformation is as dramatic as it is unexpected. Trump arrived at the NATO summit on a high note, following U.S. strikes that crippled Iran's nuclear infrastructure. According to American and allied intelligence sources, the operation set back Tehran's nuclear ambitions by several years. The strike was widely seen as both a show of strength and a strategic warning – not just to Iran but to NATO adversaries like Russia and China. "He really came in from this power move," said Giedrimas Jeglinskas, a former NATO official and current chairman of Lithuania's national security committee. "Among some, definitely Eastern Europe, Central Europe, Nordic Europe, this attack, the use of those really sophisticated weapons and bombers, was the rebuilding of the deterrence narrative of the West, not just of America." Trump repeatedly called NATO "obsolete," questioning its relevance and slamming allies for failing to pay their "fair share." "It's costing us too much money... We're paying disproportionately. It's too much," he said in March 2016. He criticized NATO for lacking focus on terrorism, later taking credit when it created a chief intelligence post. Trump softened his tone after becoming president. "We strongly support NATO," he said after visiting Central Command. "We only ask that all members make their full and proper financial contribution." He continued to push for members to meet the 2% target by 2024. Trump privately threatened to pull the U.S. from NATO unless allies increased spending. "Now we are in World War III protecting a country that wasn't paying its bills," he warned. Despite the posturing, he called NATO a "fine-tuned machine" after extracting new spending commitments. He also accused Germany of being a "captive of Russia" over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The drama continued, this time with French President Emmanuel Macron calling NATO "brain-dead." "NATO serves a great purpose. I think that's very insulting," Trump responded. He also clashed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – calling him "two-faced" after Trudeau was caught mocking Trump on camera. Trump ordered 12,000 U.S. troops out of Germany, citing Berlin's defense shortfalls. Trump ignited backlash after suggesting he'd let Russia "do whatever the hell they want" to NATO countries that failed to meet spending obligations. The remark sparked urgent contingency talks among European leaders about the future of the alliance if the U.S. did not step up to its defense. The 2025 summit in The Hague unfolded with surprising calm. Trump's hosts rolled out the red carpet. "He's the man of the hour and the most important man in the world," Jeglinskas said. Jeglinskas credited Trump's blunt diplomacy – however unorthodox – for helping drive real reform "He's brought in tectonic change to the alliance's capabilities by... being himself," he added. "It's a gift for the alliance." Experts agree NATO's recent revitalization stems from two major catalysts: Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Trump's relentless pressure on allies to boost defense. "President Trump is riding high this week with two major foreign policy victories," said Matthew Kroenig, vice president at the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center, referencing NATO and the recent U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear program. "It's terrific. I hope he can keep it up." He added, "Every president since Eisenhower has complained that NATO allies aren't doing their fair share." Now, Trump was the one who finally got them to listen, he said.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
What's next for Bryan Kohberger's defense after judge dismissed bid for ‘alternate perpetrator' theory
CrimeFacebookTweetLink Follow It's been a tough week for Bryan Kohberger's defense team. Defense lawyers for Kohberger, the 30-year-old accused of killing four University of Idaho students in their Moscow, Idaho, home in November 2022, had long suggested the 'alternate perpetrator' theory – the idea that someone else killed the students. But on Thursday, Judge Steven Hippler dealt a crushing blow to the defense, denying their request to identify specific alternate perpetrators before the jury. Idaho law requires the 'alternate perpetrator' theory to be approved by a judge before a trial begins. The defense offered four individuals as alternate perpetrators, according to the judge's order, of which portions were redacted. The defense's motion is sealed and not open to the public. The judge ruled the 'defendant's offer of proof can give rise to only wild speculation that it is possible any one of these four individuals could have committed the crimes,' which does not meet the requirements of state law. 'Nothing links these individuals to the homicides or otherwise gives rise to a reasonable inference that they committed the crime,' Hippler said in his ruling. 'Indeed, it would take nothing short of rank speculation by the jury to make such a finding.' The judge also rejected a bid from Kohberger's defense team to delay the trial, slated to start August 11, saying the defense has not shown 'there is good cause' to move back the trial start date. The trial has already gone through numerous delays due to disputes about evidence and witnesses, as well as a change of venue from Latah County to the state capital of Boise. Lead defense attorney Anne Taylor argued in court last week the 'challenges and difficulties' over the last two and a half years have made it so the defense team is still not ready to go to trial. The blow to Kohberger's defense comes after Hippler previously ruled he also cannot present an alibi defense – since no one can vouch for where he was during the time of the killings. His defense team has said he was driving alone in the early morning hours of November 13, 'as he often did to hike and run and/or see the moon and stars,' when the students were stabbed. Kohberger – on whose behalf a not guilty plea was entered – could face the death penalty if convicted of the quadruple murders. Here's more of what we know about the 'alternate perpetrator' theory – and where Kohberger's defense team can go now as the options to defend their client continue dwindling. The judge's ruling says the defense suggested four possible alternate perpetrators of the murders, each of whom had some connection to or interaction with the victims in the days before they were fatally stabbed. Three of the alternate suspects proposed by the defense were 'each socially connected to one or more of the victims, interacted with one or more of the victims at social events in the hours prior to the homicide, lived within walking distance of the crime scene and were familiar with the layout of the victims' home from prior social events,' said Hippler. But the proposed perpetrators' opportunity to commit the crime is 'an opportunity shared by dozens of others in the victims' social circles,' said the judge, adding, 'there is no compelling evidence that any of them had motive to kill the victims - much less physically harm them - or means to do so.' A fourth possible alternate perpetrator did not know the victims but had noticed one of them shopping at a store five weeks before the killings, according to the ruling. The moment was captured by surveillance footage. 'He followed her briefly out the exit of the store while considering approaching her to talk,' said Hippler. 'He turned away before ever speaking to her.' The suggested alternate perpetrators have all cooperated with law enforcement, providing DNA samples and fingerprints, the judge's ruling said. Lab reports have excluded their DNA from samples taken from the crime scene, according to Hippler. The 'alternate perpetrator' has been one of several tracks the defense has highlighted as the trial approaches. During a pivotal pre-trial hearing in April, the defense announced it had received a tip of an alternate suspect, which they were taking very seriously and were investigating. In May, Hippler said during the final pre-trial hearing he had received the defendant's proffer or offer on an alternate perpetrator. At that time, the judge said he would be sealing the paperwork but wanted additional information, asking for actual evidence of an alternate perpetrator rather than just allegations. He also wanted the defense to show how they believed what they were offering was admissible. Now, in the court's final order, while the defense may cross-examine law enforcement on investigating and ruling out other leads, they are not permitted to ask about specific individuals as potential alternate perpetrators. In another blow for the defense, Judge Hippler previously ruled that Kohberger cannot have an official alibi defense. In August 2023, prosecutors told the court that Kohberger's alibi was only that he was out driving around the night of the killings, and that he had not complied with Idaho's alibi statute – which specifically requires him to provide names of witnesses to be called to support the alibi, along with their addresses. They said it was now too late to do so. Since 2023, the defense has continued to push to use an alibi defense, saying the alibi may emerge from cross-examination or expert testimony about Kohberger's cell phone tower data. The court, however, has continually told the defense they have to comply with the specific requirements of the statue. During a motion hearing in April, the alibi defense was argued again. Prosecutors renewed their position that the defense can only say Kohberger was out driving around that night and the time his phone was turned off 'coincided with the time of the murders.' They pointed out the only person who can testify to Kohberger's alibi is the defendant himself. Taylor, Kohberger's lead attorney, emphasized her client has a right to remain silent. Hippler then asked Taylor, 'if not Kohberger … who is going to say he was driving around looking at the stars?' The judge ruled the defense expert could show Kohberger was at a certain place until 2:50 a.m. on November 13, 2022, but that no alibi witness would be able to testify, and there would not be an alibi instruction given to the jury. He also ruled the defense should immediately notify the court if it comes across evidence that supports an alibi. The defense hasn't filed any motions related to the alibi since that April court decision. Unable to present an official alibi or suggest specific alternate perpetrators of the killings, the defense will likely focus on raising reasonable doubt that Kohberger committed the crimes. During the cross-examination of every witness, the defense will likely work to show that Kohberger had no connection to the crime scene and no connection to the victims. They will also try to raise reasonable doubt during cross-examination of prosecution experts testifying about surveillance video allegedly of Kohberger's car driving to Moscow in the months before the killings and during the early morning hours of the day the students were found dead. The defense will likely try to discredit any cell phone tower data used to show the location of Kohberger's phone on the night of the killings, as well as surveillance video from businesses in the area. The defense has an expert of their own who will argue that Kohberger's phone data shows he was outside the area at the time of the killings. Unidentified DNA from blood found on a handrail inside the home could also be helpful to the defense, to further raise doubt that Kohberger was the killer and suggest investigators did not fully do their job. Cross-examination of the victims' two surviving roommates will likely be aggressive, especially of Dylan Mortensen. Mortensen told police she saw a masked man with 'bushy eyebrows' and wearing all black in their home the night of the killings. Kohberger's defense have painted Mortensen as an unreliable witness whose recollection of the night has been muddied by intoxication and post-event media exposure. Both sides agreed they would not focus on investigative genetic genealogy, the technique that led to the identification of Kohberger as a potential suspect. But in court filings, defense lawyers have floated the idea that the knife sheath found in the Moscow home could have been planted by the real killer. A single source of male DNA on the sheath, found next to the body of Maddie Mogan, was determined to be a 'statistical match' to Kohberger. And although Kohberger has a right to remain silent, he could take the stand himself – testifying in his own defense to explain the many unanswered questions around the case. CNN's Lauren del Valle, Taylor Romine, and Eric Levenson contributed to this report.
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
Europe's Newest Leader Faces Tough Economic Test
Welcome to the weekend issue of Brussels Edition, Bloomberg's daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union. Join us on Saturdays for deeper dives from our bureaus across Europe. BUCHAREST — All politics is local, but sometimes it's hard to replicate local wins at the national level.
