Politics
The US has announced a blockade of Iranian ports following the collapse of talks with Tehran
The US Central Command has announced that, from 13 April, it will begin blocking all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports. The decision was announced following fruitless talks between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad.
Following the collapse of talks in Islamabad, Israel is preparing for a new phase of the war with Iran, whilst the US has announced a naval blockade
Following fruitless talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad, Israeli media reported that the army was preparing for a possible resumption of hostilities. Against this backdrop, the United States announced the start of a naval blockade of Iran, whilst Tehran responded that the Strait of Hormuz was under the full control of Iranian forces.
The Liberal Party of Canada has backed the abolition of visas for Ukrainians
The convention of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party has passed a resolution to abolish visas for short-term visits by Ukrainian citizens. The initiative aims to simplify entry procedures, following the example of European countries.
Sweden has detained a vessel from a Russian port for dumping coal into the Baltic Sea
The Swedish Coast Guard detained the Panamanian dry cargo vessel Hui Yuan off the coast of Ystad after its aircraft observed coal residue being discharged into the sea. The captain admitted to violating environmental legislation through negligence and agreed to pay a fine of 25,000 Swedish kronor.
The Cuban President has responded to Trump: the US has no right to attack the island
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has stated that the US has no grounds for a military attack on the island or for attempting to remove him from power. His statement came against a backdrop of sharply escalating rhetoric from Donald Trump, the energy blockade of Cuba and fresh fears in Havana that Washington might go beyond political pressure.
€90 billion from the EU for Ukraine: Maternová has given assurances that the funds will be released despite Hungary’s veto
The EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, has stated that the European Union will provide Ukraine with the promised €90 billion, despite the delay caused by a veto from one Member State. She emphasised that a solution will be found and that the package is of critical importance both for the Ukrainian budget and for the army.
Orbán congratulated Mádya on his victory in the Hungarian parliamentary elections
With more than half of the votes counted, the opposition party ‘Tisa’ is ahead of Viktor Orbán’s ‘Fidesz’. According to preliminary results, it is set to secure a constitutional majority in parliament.
Easter under fire: thousands of ceasefire violations and prisoner exchanges
The short-lived Easter ceasefire, initiated this week, has not led to a complete halt in hostilities. Both sides report heavy shelling and drone attacks, which began almost immediately after the official start of the ceasefire on Saturday at 4 pm
Hungary is breaking records: queues at polling stations and unusually high voter turnout
The parliamentary elections on 12 April have seen an unprecedented turnout: by 11:00 am, voter turnout had already exceeded the figures recorded in the most high-profile elections of recent years. In Budapest, huge queues are forming outside polling stations
Can withstand three drone strikes: the new MEDIGUARD units are now with the National Guard
The Ukrainian National Guard has received five new MEDIGUARD armoured ambulances. This is the first batch under a major contract that is fully funded by the German government
A new prisoner exchange is imminent: Budanov has indicated the likely dates
Following the recent successful prisoner exchange, which resulted in the release of 182 people, Ukraine is already preparing for the next step. Kirill Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, has predicted when the next phase of the prisoner handover might take place
70% are prepared to carry on: the true state of Ukrainian society
The fifth year of the full-scale invasion has been a test pushing people to their limits. Is Ukrainian society really ‘falling apart’ from exhaustion, as the Western media often claim?
