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Hezbollah condemns Bahraini monarchy’s repression of its people

Al Mayadeen | November 14, 2026

Hezbollah condemned the Bahraini monarchy’s repression of its people, denouncing the political detention of religious scholars and citizens, forced exile, the stripping of citizenship, and death sentences and prison terms imposed on hundreds.

In a statement, the movement said the abuses come while “a tyrannical America and a criminal ‘Israel’” attack Palestine, Iran, Lebanon and other countries in West Asia, undermining their security and seeking to redraw the region’s map in “Israel’s” interests.

Hezbollah said efforts across the region should focus on confronting this aggression and strengthening solidarity and cooperation among states and peoples.

The Bahraini monarchy, the Resistance movement stressed, “refuses to tolerate opposition from its people” to the policies of “subservience and submission” it pursues at home and abroad, policies the movement said defy the people’s will and sacrifice their interests. This, it added, demands that the region’s peoples stand for justice and speak out against the injustices inflicted on Bahrainis.

The movement said the regime uses various forms of repression against peaceful protests and against Bahrainis’ outspoken rejection of Bahrain’s use as “a launchpad for aggression in the service of America and the Zionist entity.”

Hezbollah described the arbitrary treatment and political detention of Bahrain’s religious scholars, prominent figures and ordinary citizens as “unacceptable tyranny,” and called for these practices to be condemned on humanitarian and political grounds. It warned that they are “a source of enduring concern and serve only the interests of our enemies.”

The people of Lebanon, who resist Israeli occupation, voiced outrage at the political oppression of the “brotherly people of Bahrain,” according to the statement. They called for a change in the policies governing the treatment of Bahrainis, in the hope that Bahrain may achieve “security, stability and the internal consensus needed to safeguard both.”

The statement comes days before Bahrain’s High Criminal Court is due to rule on 69 defendants, including 60 Shia clerics. The court adjourned the verdict from November 8 to November 22 without giving a reason. Hearings began in July.

Bahraini authorities accuse the defendants of forming a “terrorist group” to overthrow the “constitutional regime” and promote Iran’s wilayat al-faqih by “controlling” mosques and local religious gatherings. Officials claim the prosecution concerns national security, not religious affiliation. … Full article

‘Israel’ targeted 186,000 Arabic social media posts for removal

Al Mayadeen | November 13, 2026

The Cyber Department of the Israeli occupation government’s State Attorney’s Office has requested the removal of approximately 186,000 Arabic-language social media posts since 2024, citing alleged “incitement to terrorism,” Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11 reported on Friday.

According to data obtained by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), only five Hebrew-language posts and two English-language posts were also targeted, highlighting the overwhelming focus on Arabic content.

The platforms complied with 137,059 of the requests, representing 73.6% of the total. The requests were directed to major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. … Full article

Israeli attacks kill 6 Palestinians, injure around 20 in Gaza despite ceasefire

MEMO | November 13, 2026

Six Palestinians were killed and around 20 others injured Friday in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip amid continued violations of a ceasefire agreement in effect since Oct. 10, 2025, according to medical sources and witnesses, Anadolu reports.

In the latest attack, Israeli artillery shelling killed three Palestinians, including a woman and a child, and injured at least 10 others east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, a medical source at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said.

Local sources and witnesses said Israeli forces fired several artillery shells toward the area, one of which struck an apartment in a residential tower. The shelling coincided with a nearby condolence gathering, triggering panic among civilians, the sources added.

A Palestinian was also moderately injured by heavy gunfire from Israeli military vehicles in the same area and taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, according to a medical source.

In the Tuffah neighborhood east of Gaza City, a 45-year-old man was killed by Israeli gunfire.

An elderly Palestinian woman and her son were also injured in Israeli artillery shelling targeting areas east of the neighborhood.

In northern Gaza, two Palestinians, including a child, were injured when Israeli military vehicles opened fire on homes and tents in Beit Lahia and the Fallujah neighborhood, a medical source at Al-Shifa Hospital said.

In the Zeitoun neighborhood south of Gaza City, Israeli quadcopter drones dropped explosive devices onto the roofs of inhabited homes near the so-called “yellow line,” according to local sources. The explosions caused extensive damage to the targeted homes, but no casualties were reported.

Israeli naval vessels also opened fire and launched shells toward the Gaza City coast, while artillery struck the area around the Wadi Gaza bridge south of the city.

In southern Gaza, a 36-year-old Palestinian man was killed and five others injured when an Israeli drone struck a group of Palestinians in the Turkish Slaughterhouse area southwest of Khan Younis.

In the Al-Mawasi area of Rafah, a Palestinian girl was shot in the neck when Israeli forces opened fire on tents sheltering displaced people. Her condition was reported to be serious. … Full article

Franco-Palestinian group seeks court ban on Israeli real estate fair in Paris

MEMO | November 13, 2026

A Franco-Palestinian association has asked a Paris court to ban an Israeli real estate fair scheduled for Sunday in the French capital, alleging that it promotes properties in occupied Palestinian territories, broadcaster FranceInfo reported.

The NIDAL association filed an emergency petition with the Paris Administrative Court seeking to prohibit the ninth Icube real estate and investment fair or, alternatively, bar exhibitors from promoting properties in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The group pointed to the participation of Israeli real estate company BH Nadlan, which advertises apartments in both areas, and alleged that the event’s promotional materials offer financial incentives to people seeking to settle in the West Bank.

The association said it had previously requested intervention from the Paris police prefecture but received no response. … Full article

France losing trade ground in its former ‘crown jewel’ – media

RT | November 13, 2026

French exporters are losing access to Algeria as the North African country’s authorities restrict imports from France amid a deepening diplomatic feud, Le Monde reported on Friday.

French exports fell 34% year-on-year to €466 million ($515 million) in August-September, the newspaper said, citing French customs figures.

Around 30 businesses and trade groups met with French government officials on November 6 to discuss the deteriorating trade relationship, according to the newspaper. During the meeting, exporters reportedly complained of rejected import approvals in Algeria, plunging orders, and uncertainty over their production sites in France. An industry representative told Le Monde that import requests for goods made in France or passing through French ports are being refused.

“The ministry representatives did not give much of an answer to our concerns except to say they would continue dialogue with Algiers. It was rather pointless,” one participant told the outlet. Another person involved in bilateral relations described the restrictions as “an obvious boycott.” … Full article

How British foreign policy is frozen in the ruins of empire

By ADAM RAMSAY – Declassified UK – November 5, 2026

There has been much debate in Britain in recent years about symbols of empire – pulling down statues, or returning museum artefacts.

But we rarely talk about the fact that British foreign policy is still run by the same institutions which ran the empire.

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade is still called ‘President of the Board of Trade’, referring to an institution involved in the triangular slave trade.

Perhaps the most obvious remnant of the empire is Britain’s outsized military bootprint. Most countries with foreign bases largely have them in neighbouring territories; only Britain, the US and France have genuinely global militaries.

With at least 145 bases in forty-two countries, Britain likely has the second-biggest military footprint on earth. Many of these bases are in former or remaining colonies (i.e. British overseas territories).

Many of the most important ones are in small authoritarian monarchies, with royal families we’ve helped prop up for decades, a direct relic of the empire.

These bases are important outposts of the British state. And yet, there is almost no democratic scrutiny of how they are used. Indeed, many of them are officially secret, and remained so until the journalistic website Declassified revealed their existence. There may well be more.

Look at how they are used, and we begin to see that this large swathe of British state power, left over from empire, is used – often violently – to prop up a global system not of British dominance, but of US hegemony and the corporate control which comes with it. … continue

The Russia-China trade paradox the Western media doesn’t bother to explain

RT | November 13, 2026

A recent Bloomberg article with the eye-catching headline ‘Russia’s Push to Replace Dollar With China’s Yuan Collapses’ purports to demonstrate that Russia has abandoned attempts to replace the dollar with the yuan due to US sanctions.

It points out that the share of the yuan in payments for Russian exports has been cut in half this year to 22%, from a peak in mid-2024, when the US expanded secondary sanctions. The article goes on to demonstrate at length the problems Russian businesses are having with yuan payments, boasting that Chinese banks shied away from dealing with Russia after the US threatened secondary sanctions.

Has the West finally succeeded in stifling Russia’s access to foreign-currency markets? RT examines what’s really going on and exposes the gap between Western hopes and economic reality. […]

Gold is a very suitable asset for settling residual balances, and it can be done at the state or central-bank level. It could be used to settle what remains after China Track netting. If Russia and China are going down this route, gold would then function as the ultimate settlement asset, while rubles and yuan would simply be transactional currencies.

Western media coverage tends to ask whether Russia is succeeding or failing at replacing the dollar with another currency, which presupposes that the essential architecture remains unchanged. Bloomberg operates out of exactly that framework, presenting the declining yuan share in Russian exports as evidence of a failed attempt to internationalize the yuan.

This is a dubious assumption. A more fundamental question is whether the architecture itself is changing. Perhaps currency statistics are no longer giving us a complete picture of how international value is being transferred. Perhaps we’re bumping into the limitations of thinking about monetary realignment primarily in terms of competing national currencies.

What we are seeing is that a growing volume of international trade is taking place that doesn’t require the same financial architecture that historically made the dollar indispensable.

Russia and China remain at the forefront of that process, whatever the fluctuating breakdown of currency settlement might be. – Full article

EU risks investor exodus over Russian assets – Euroclear chief

RT | November 13, 2026

The EU risks driving investors and their money out of Europe over plans to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine, Euroclear CEO Valerie Urbain has warned.

The bloc has frozen around €210 billion ($232 billion) in Russian central bank assets since 2022, most of it held at Belgian-based Euroclear. While the EU has already diverted profits from the funds to Ukraine, it has stopped short of seizing the assets outright over legal concerns. Moscow has condemned both measures as theft.

In an interview with Belgian newspaper Le Soir published on Friday, Urbain said previous debates over the assets had already unsettled international investors.

“I have noticed that many investors followed last year’s debates and are now wondering whether Europe is still capable of respecting the rule of law,” she said.

Urbain warned of a “reputational risk” that could lead to “some deposits leaving Europe,” stressing that investor confidence depends on legal certainty and the protection of assets. … continue

Moscow warns NATO over troop buildup

RT | November 13, 2026

Russia will not sit by idly as NATO builds up a military presence near its borders and prepares to send troops into Ukraine, Moscow’s envoy to the OSCE, Dmitry Polyansky, has warned.

Speaking at the organization’s Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday, Polyansky said European powers were laying the groundwork for a direct military confrontation with Russia by putting industries on a war footing, upgrading troop transport infrastructure and expanding weapons production near its territory.

He said plans by the Western-backed “coalition of the willing” to station troops in Ukraine amounted to preparations for an intervention and an inevitable clash with Russia.

“Why do European politicians believe that we will watch all this and sit idly by?” he asked. … continue

EU leaders prolonging Ukraine conflict to stay in power – Swiss journalist

RT | November 13, 2026

EU leaders want to prolong the Ukraine conflict because they stand to lose their jobs if peace is achieved, Swiss journalist and Forum Geopolitica founder Peter Hansler has told RT.

During the two-day Russia-Ukraine-US talks in Abu Dhabi earlier this week, European officials held separate consultations with the US and Ukrainian delegations but were not included in the main negotiations. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump’s envoy Jared Kushner said Moscow agreed to expand the next round of negotiations to include “our European partners.”

Russia has not, however, confirmed that it agreed to direct European participation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has accused European governments of sending mixed signals, with their calls for peace contrasting with plans to deploy troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. Moscow has consistently said it would oppose any such move.

“All the leaders in Europe, they will lose their job if there is peace. So does [Ukraine’s Vladimir] Zelensky,” Hansler told RT, arguing that the involvement of European governments in negotiations would be “highly problematic.” … continue

Moscow car bombing injures former aide to Ukraine’s ex-PM Azarov

Al Mayadeen | November 13, 2026

A car exploded on a Moscow street while the official spokesperson for a former Ukrainian prime minister was inside, Al Mayadeen’s Moscow bureau chief reported on Friday.

The bureau chief said the incident appeared to be an [attempted] assassination targeting Ukrainians who oppose the current Ukrainian government’s policies, adding that suspicion would fall on Ukrainian intelligence services.

The Kommersant newspaper reported that Sergei Zavorotniy, once a top aide of Mykola Azarov, who served as Ukraine’s prime minister from 2010 to 2014, was hospitalized after a car exploded on a street in Chertanovo, a district of the Russian capital.

It was the second car bombing in Russia in successive days. Moscow has blamed Ukraine for previous assassinations of senior military officials and people linked to Russia’s war effort. … continue

[Zavorotny is listed on Ukraine’s notorious Mirotvorets database, which publishes personal information about people it considers enemies of Ukraine, and is widely known as Kiev’s ‘kill list’. His entry in the database now displays a photograph of his bomb-damaged vehicle.]

‘Unacceptable’: Iran rejects UK’s claims of involvement in violent, espionage acts

Press TV · November 13, 2026

Iran has dismissed as “unacceptable” British authorities’ accusations about the Islamic Republic’s involvement in acts of violence and espionage activities in the UK.

The Iranian Embassy in the UK released a statement on Thursday, after a British court convicted two Iranian men of spying for Tehran by carrying out surveillance on anti-Iran journalists and a lawyer.

The Embassy said that it “categorically rejects the British judicial authorities’ destructive actions in attributing the direction or support of acts of violence in the United Kingdom, as well as any alleged links between the individuals concerned and Iranian institutions, to the Government of Iran, or alleging that they were engaged in espionage activities.”

It also condemned “the instrumental use of security-related allegations and judicial proceedings to advance political agendas,” noting that such practices “create a climate conducive to hostile narratives” against Iran and “foster suspicion” towards Iranians residing in the United Kingdom. […]

Following a six-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court in south London, the two Iranian nationals were found guilty of purportedly monitoring targets who worked for the Israeli-affiliated media network “Iran International” and the chief executive of UK Lawyers for Israel. … Full article

Yemeni forces make major advances, complete Aden encirclement

Press TV · November 13, 2026

Yemen’s Armed Forces have managed to make major advances against Saudi-backed militants south of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, officially completing the encirclement of Aden Province.

Reports said on Friday that the Yemeni forces reached the coastal strip connecting Aden to Lahij Province.

Saudi-sponsored mercenaries in the areas of al-Suqiya and Ras al-Ara were given two options, surrender and face capture, or withdraw without their weapons, the reports added. … continue

Iraq, Turkiye, Pakistan defy US pressure, refuse to seal borders with Iran: Report

The Cradle | November 12, 2026

US efforts to pressure Iran’s neighboring states to close their land borders had failed, stalling Washington’s campaign to cripple the Iranian economy, the New York Times reported on 11 November.

According to three Iraqi officials and a US official cited by the US daily, Washington has spent weeks urging Turkiye, Iraq, and Pakistan to close their border crossings with Iran.

The US military has since launched Task Force Iron Gate, a Central Command (CENTCOM) unit tasked with blocking weapons, sanctioned goods, and illicit revenue from crossing Iran’s land borders and the Caspian Sea, thereby escalating Washington’s economic war on Tehran.

Several of Iran’s neighbors have warned that cutting off trade routes vital to businesses and communities on both sides of the frontier could provoke “civil insurrection,” according to the US official.

He added that the pressure has stirred growing anger toward Washington among its allies and partners in the region.

Turkiye has largely maintained its border policies, while Baghdad has rejected US calls to keep only two Iranian crossings open. It briefly sealed one or two as a concession, angering Iraqis.

Pakistan has reportedly closed and reopened several crossings in recent weeks, citing security and administrative concerns. … Full article

Iran’s NPT exit debate: How repeated attacks exposed the failures of global nuclear safeguards

Press TV | November 12, 2026

The growing debate in Iran over withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) reflects a fundamental question: What purpose does membership serve if the treaty offers no meaningful protection for a country’s peaceful nuclear facilities, even as it obliges that country to uphold its commitments?

The issue goes beyond Iran’s legitimate security concerns, striking at the credibility of the international nuclear order itself.

When an NPT signatory’s nuclear infrastructure can be subjected to unprovoked and illegal military aggression without any accountability for those responsible, the treaty’s underlying premise of reciprocal obligations and protections is called into question. … continue

Israeli arms company drops plans for factory site in Germany’s Sangerhausen amid protests

MEMO | November 12, 2026

Israeli defense company Elbit Systems has abandoned plans for a production facility in the eastern German town of Sangerhausen after months of protests by local groups and peace activists, according to media reports.

The company’s German unit told the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung newspaper that the site was not suitable for its needs and failed to meet key operational requirements, so it would no longer be considered in further site selection.

Residents, peace activists and groups had demonstrated for months, accusing the firm of involvement in war crimes and genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Claudia Wittig, a senior lawmaker for the left-wing BSW in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, welcomed the decision. … Full article

Mainstream Israeli Media Celebrates Deadly Floods In Gaza

By Justin K.P. | The Dissident | November 12, 2026

One of the main reasons Israel’s “Hasbara” has been so easy to debunk is the fact that Israelis in Hebrew widely showcase their genocidal hatred towards the Palestinian people for the world to see.

The latest example, uncovered by historian Zachary Foster, shows two hosts on the mainstream Israeli outlet Channel 14- the Channel most closely connected with the ruling Likud party- laughing at and celebrating the deadly floods in Gaza that have killed four children in the past few days.

In the clip, the sadistic Israeli hosts play a song with the lyrics “rain, rain is dripping, rain rain how fun”, over images of displaced Palestinians civilians dealing with flooding in refugee camps.

The hosts sadistically laugh at footage of a Palestinian woman desperately scooping water out of her flooded tent with a cup, saying “within six years you’ll get it all out of the tent”, while laughing hysterically at her suffering.

The two evil hosts continue to laugh and mock Palestinian suffering, suggesting that Palestinians “open a water park”, while displaying a superimposed image of a water park over the ruins of Gaza, caused by Israel’s ongoing genocide. … continue

Hamas rejects Israeli claims over Nasser Hospital strike as Gaza reports 793 attacks on healthcare

Palestinian Information Center – November 12, 2026

GAZA – The Hamas Movement rejected Israeli military claims used to justify the latest attack on Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, describing them as an attempt to cover up a new war crime against a civilian medical facility protected under international law.

In a statement on Thursday, Hamas dismissed Israeli allegations that the hospital and its surroundings were being used for military purposes or as a command center for operations against Israeli forces.

The Movement said the nature of the targeted facility and the casualties among patients, doctors and medical personnel exposed the falsehood of Israel’s claims, accusing the Israeli military of repeatedly using such allegations to justify attacks on hospitals and civilian infrastructure.

The statement followed an Israeli strike shortly after midnight Thursday on the surgical department of the Al-Yassin building at Nasser Medical Complex.

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, six Palestinians were killed, including a doctor and a child, and more than 25 others were injured. Gaza’s Government Media Office (GMO) identified the doctor as Rizq Ahmed Abu Shaeera and said the child was 13 years old. […]

Gaza’s Ministry of Health also condemned the Nasser Hospital strike, warning that attacking a functioning medical facility violated protections afforded to hospitals and healthcare personnel under international humanitarian law. – Full article

Israeli attacks kill Palestinians across Gaza as death toll rises to 9

Al Mayadeen | November 12, 2026

Israeli occupation forces continued their attacks across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing Palestinians and injuring several others in drone strikes targeting civilians and vehicles in multiple areas of the besieged enclave.

A Palestinian was martyred and another sustained critical injuries when an Israeli occupation drone struck civilians near Jabalia al-Nazla cemetery in northern Gaza, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported.

In a separate attack, a Palestinian woman succumbed to injuries sustained in an Israeli strike on a vehicle near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

Another Palestinian was injured when an Israeli drone targeted the vicinity of Al-Alami Mosque in the al-Shati refugee camp, northwest of Gaza City, causing additional material damage.

An Israeli drone strike also targeted a vehicle near al-Baraka Street, south of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, injuring several Palestinians. … Full article

Israeli occupiers burn Palestinian vehicle, spray racist slogans in occupied West Bank

MEMO | November 12, 2026

Israeli occupiers set fire to a Palestinian vehicle and spray-painted racist slogans in Hebrew on walls in the town of Taybeh, east of Ramallah in the central occupied West Bank, on Thursday.

Issa Assi, a resident told Anadolu Agency, that the attack came amid repeated assaults as residents face harassment and are prevented from accessing their land and harvesting olives.

We are worried “because of the settlers, who come at night and burn property,” Assi said.

Local sources said earlier Thursday that the Israeli occupiers attacked the Palestinian town of Atara in the West Bank occupied by the Israeli army.

Dozens of occupiers attacked several Palestinian homes in Atara and assaulted their residents, leaving several people injured, while also smashing vehicles, the sources told Anadolu. … Full article

Palestinian American says Israeli army bars him from entering his West Bank home

MEMO | November 12, 2026

The Israeli army prevented a Palestinian American man from entering his home in the occupied West Bank town of Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah, on Thursday and fired tear gas in the area, the homeowner told Anadolu Agency.

Naji Abu Awad, who lives in the US state of Texas, said he arrived in his hometown carrying an American flag and his luggage and went to his house, but Israeli troops stationed inside prevented him from entering.

He said he asked the soldiers why they were in his home and how long they intended to remain there, but was told the area had been designated a military zone and that he was not allowed to stay there.

The soldiers also threatened to arrest him, he added.

The troops justified their presence in the house with a document written in Hebrew, but Abu Awad maintained that it contained neither a court order nor authorization allowing them to remain on the property.

He said Israeli forces first entered the house on Oct. 25 after opening its gate. … Full article

Israeli settler attacks injure Palestinians, poison livestock

Al Mayadeen | November 12, 2026

Settler attacks across the occupied West Bank on Thursday left Palestinians injured, vehicles damaged, and livestock poisoned, as Israeli occupation forces raided several towns and imposed further restrictions on Palestinian movement.

In Atara, north of Ramallah, dozens of settlers attacked Palestinian homes, leaving several residents with bruises and injuries from tear gas inhalation while vandalizing multiple vehicles. Israeli occupation forces subsequently stormed the town, firing live ammunition and tear gas canisters as they intervened to protect the attackers.

Elsewhere near Ramallah, settlers assaulted Palestinian vehicles close to the Halamish roundabout and injured two residents in the village of Burqa, east of the city, as a nearby settlement outpost continued to expand.

Israeli forces also sealed all entrances to Silwad, east of Ramallah, before raiding the town and triggering confrontations. A military checkpoint was established in the Karmilo area, east of al-Taybeh.

In the Areeha area, 13 sheep died, and others were poisoned after settlers sprayed toxic substances near al-Auja, north of the city. The attack targeted a farm belonging to the Mleihat family, forcibly displaced from the Arab al-Mleihat community. … Full article

134 violations against Palestinian journalists reported in October

MEMO | November 12, 2026

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate’s Freedoms Committee recorded 134 crimes, attacks and violations against Palestinian journalists and media institutions in October 2026, allegedly committed by Israeli occupation forces, settlers, Hebrew-language media platforms and Israeli military courts.

According to the committee’s monthly report, the violations included measures aimed at obstructing journalists’ work and restricting their ability to cover events, including detention, bans on coverage, arrests, harassment and threats, as well as raids on homes and media institutions.

Detentions and restrictions on media coverage topped the list, with 70 cases, followed by 27 incidents involving tear gas and stun grenades, eight raids on journalists’ homes and media institutions, seven arrests and an equal number of cases in which journalists were referred to military courts.

Regarding physical attacks, the committee documented three journalists being wounded by live ammunition, one of whom was also injured by missile shrapnel, as well as five attacks carried out by settlers. It also recorded three cases of journalists being questioned, two cases of threats and incitement, and one financial fine imposed on a journalist. … Full article

Australian Censor Chief Rejects Claims Digital Duty of Care Will Drive Censorship

Australia is asking platforms to police harm without first agreeing on what harm means

By Cindy Harper | Reclaim The Net | November 12, 2026

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has dismissed as “a stretch” the criticism that the Digital Duty of Care bill would force companies to censor too much online content.

Inman Grant, who will be the one to write the “guidance” that the law would task her office with providing to tech platforms, said that she hasn’t seen any indication of “over-censorship” over the past two years.

“I haven’t seen any indication, particularly over the past two years, that companies are over-censoring,” Inman Grant told the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee on Tuesday, on the second day of hearings into the proposed legislation.

Inman Grant thinks that most cases of excessive removals of content happen because automated “moderation” is done without subsequent human review – but she didn’t go into why companies are using this method.

However, it is well known that it is the cheapest and most efficient way for them to comply with the ever-growing number of censorship laws and rules imposed by governments around the world. … continue

EU member jails woman over pro-Russia TikTok posts

RT | November 12, 2026

A court in Riga, Latvia has sentenced a woman to three years in prison over TikTok posts deemed to glorify alleged war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, LETA news agency reported on Wednesday.

The case is the latest in a series of prosecutions in Latvia over statements deemed supportive of Moscow or critical of Kiev. Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, the Baltic state has tightened restrictions on Russian-language media, cultural activities, and public expressions of pro-Russian sentiment.

According to LETA, the case involved around 20 videos and comments posted by Latvian citizen Tatyana Masenko from April to July 2024. The agency cited several examples of content that prosecutors considered criminal. … Full article

Why a New European Security Architecture Will Be Born Through War

By Prof. Glenn Diesen | November 12, 2026

As the world has shifted from unipolarity to multipolarity, the security architecture must also change to ensure peace. From Europe to the Middle East and East Asia, existing security architectures are collapsing, and new arrangements are needed to prevent great-power wars that could destroy humanity. The problem is that new security architectures have historically been established only after major wars that have shattered the previous status quo. … continue

EU incapable of speaking with one voice on Ukraine – analyst to RT

RT | November 12, 2026

The European Union lacks a diplomatic heavyweight capable of negotiating with Russia, while disagreements between its largest member states have undermined its ability to speak with one voice on Ukraine, Stratpol director Xavier Moreau has told RT.

His comments follow two days of trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US in Abu Dhabi, which concluded on Wednesday, marking the first formal three-way meeting since February. European representatives were excluded from the negotiations, although they held separate discussions with US and Ukrainian officials on Tuesday. Moscow has questioned Europe’s potential contribution to the peace process, accusing EU governments of undermining previous agreements and prolonging the conflict through continued weapons supplies.

“The European Union makes the big European countries weak,” Moreau said, arguing that the bloc’s diplomatic structure has left its most influential members unable to take the lead in potential negotiations with Moscow. … continue

Moscow, Kabul Planning to Sign Intergovernmental Agreement on Trade – Official

Sputnik – 11.11.2026

MOSCOW – Russia and Afghanistan plan to sign a large-scale intergovernmental agreement on trade and economic cooperation, Rustam Khabibullin, head of the Russian Business Center in Afghanistan, told Sputnik.

“An agreement on trade and economic cooperation between the government of the Russian Federation and the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is being prepared for signing. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk and Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar are expected to sign the agreement [during Overchuk’s upcoming visit],” Khabibullin said.

He noted that the agreement provides for cooperation in trade, energy, transport, healthcare, agriculture, and information technology.

“This large-scale agreement will cover all areas of the economy, including logistics, trade, investment, and simplified business visas. This will be a unique agreement,” Khabibullin added.

Ukraine training Sahel militants to use drones – Russian envoy

RT | November 12, 2026

Ukrainian officers are training armed groups and terrorist organizations in the Sahel to use drones as part of Kiev’s alleged support for militants fighting African governments, Russian Ambassador to Algeria Aleksey Solomatin has said.

The claim adds to repeated accusations by Moscow and several West African governments that Ukraine is supporting militants involved in a jihadist insurgency that has destabilized the region for more than a decade. Speaking to RIA Novosti on Thursday, Solomatin said armed groups operating across the Sahel and Sahara-Sahel region were destabilizing several countries bordering Algeria.

“Ukrainian officers are working in Africa, training [fighters] in the use of drones. They support not states, but armed formations and terrorist groups acting against states and democracy,” he said. … continue

EU trying to boycott ties between Niger and Algeria

By Lucas Leiroz | November 12, 2026

European interventionism in Africa is increasingly being denounced by local authorities. Tired of foreign interference and the complicity of European states with terrorism across the African continent, local states are seeking alternative international partnerships, gradually breaking their ties with Western powers. In response, Europe has become even more aggressive in Africa, fueling coups d’état, the proliferation of terrorism, and civil wars.

One such recent instance of aggressive European interventionism in Africa has taken place in Niger. The country recently faced a serious crisis, in which criminal forces, backed by foreign actors, attempted to overthrow the legitimate government through an armed uprising. The coup attempt was promptly neutralized thanks to the joint efforts of local forces, alongside Algerian and Russian military personnel. Since then, allegations have emerged regarding the potential involvement of European powers in the attempted coup.

Furthermore, the Europeans have begun to interfere in the ties between Niger and Algeria. Currently, Algerian troops are being deployed to Nigerien territory, at the request of the local government, to assist in the country’s domestic stabilization and pacification. To the EU, it appears “dangerous” that two African nations engage in cooperation against crime and terrorism. Brussels has strongly condemned these Nigerien-Algerian ties, repeatedly questioning the local government about the true purpose of such cooperation. … continue

Independence movement declares mobilization against Morocco

RT | November 12, 2026

Western Sahara’s independence movement, the Polisario Front, has declared general mobilization over an alleged Moroccan military buildup, as UN peacekeepers withdraw from the disputed territory after 35 years.

The Algeria-backed movement announced the decision following an emergency meeting chaired by its leader, Brahim Ghali, on Tuesday, according to a statement published by its official news agency, Sahara Press Service. Polisario accused Morocco of deploying troops, weapons, and equipment along the separation wall dividing the territory, and urged Sahrawis to prepare to defend their right to independence.

In a post on its official Facebook page, the movement said the mobilization is intended to “confront the expansionist Moroccan occupier.” Polisario described the deployments as a dangerous escalation and appealed to the UN and African Union to intervene.

Moroccan news outlet Maghreb Times reported on Monday that Moroccan forces have intensified movements of military convoys, equipment, and logistical supplies from the country’s northern regions toward the south. … continue

Maldives president reaffirms ban on Israeli passport holders entering country

MEMO | November 11, 2026

The Maldives’ president has reaffirmed his country’s ban on Israeli passport holders, saying they will not be allowed to enter under any circumstances, according to a statement from his office, Anadolu reports.

Speaking at a news conference at the President’s Office on Monday, Mohamed Muizzu said proposed immigration legislation would establish an unconditional prohibition on entry for Israeli passport holders, regardless of changing circumstances.

He explained that earlier proposals had sought to prohibit entry until Israel ended the genocide against Palestinians that began in October 2023, but the new bill would make the restrictions unconditional.

Muizzu described Israel’s actions against Palestinians as genocide and said allowing Israeli passport holders to enter the Maldives was unacceptable.

He also reiterated the Indian Ocean nation’s support for the Palestinian cause, saying the government had consistently defended its position on international platforms and through legal channels.

The president said the proposed immigration bill had been drafted to reflect the government’s position on the issue.

The island nation initially banned Israeli passport holders from entering the country in April 2025, after Muizzu ratified changes to the Immigration Act passed by parliament. … Full article

‘Israel’ bombs Kfar Tebnit and shells south Lebanon despite truce

Al Mayadeen | November 12, 2026

Israeli occupation forces bombed the town of Kfar Tebnit and shelled several areas of south Lebanon on Wednesday, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in the South reported, while also carrying out demolition blasts in Ainata and between Mansouri and Majdal Zoun.

An Israeli air raid hit Kfar Tebnit in the Nabatieh district in the morning. Israeli artillery also shelled the area between Zawtar al-Sharqiyah and Mayfadoun, and Wadi al-Hujeir. Israeli occupation forces also blew up a site in the town of Ainata, the correspondent said.

In the evening, Israeli forces carried out another demolition blast in the area between the Tyre-district towns of Mansouri and Majdal Zoun. Israeli artillery also shelled Wadi Zebqine in the South.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes also struck the town of Qantara on Wednesday, that Israeli occupation forces fired machine guns toward Majdal Zoun, and that a drone dropped two bombs between Zawtar al-Sharqiyah and Zawtar al-Gharbiyah.

Israeli drones also flew over Beirut and its southern suburbs. … Full article

‘Israel’ bombs Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, killing 5

Al Mayadeen | November 12, 2026

Israeli aircraft bombed the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip early on Thursday, killing at least five people and wounding more than 20, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported.

The strike hit the second floor of a building in the complex, west of the city, and caused major destruction. Rescue crews recovered five bodies and evacuated more than 20 injured people.

The hospital’s director said the strike came from directly above, causing heavy damage in the intensive care and surgery departments.

Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal told Reuters it hit the surgery department, and medics identified one of the dead as a surgeon, Rezik Abushira. … continue

Israel’s top court blocks release of 14 Palestinian doctors abducted from Gaza

The Cradle | November 11, 2026

Israel’s top court has rejected petitions for the release of 14 Palestinian doctors abducted from the Gaza Strip, Physicians for Human Rights Israel announced on 11 November.

The list includes Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, who was abducted by Israeli troops in December 2024

“The Supreme Court refused to release 14 doctors, including hospital directors and specialist physicians,” the organization’s statement said.

It added that Israel’s Lod District Court denied a request for Abu Safia, who is facing serious health issues, to receive an independent medical examination and a second opinion.

“The 14 doctors are being held in Israeli prisons without being charged or brought to trial,” Physicians for Human Rights added.

Some of them have been detained for over two years. … Full article

UNIFIL patrol fired on in south Lebanon, urges probe by Beirut

Al Mayadeen | November 11, 2026

A United Nations peacekeeping patrol came under fire near Wadi Jilu in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said, reporting no injuries. The force called on the Lebanese government to open an investigation quickly to identify and hold accountable those responsible.

About a dozen rounds were fired at a routine patrol in the Tyre district, UNIFIL said. The peacekeepers saw a muzzle flash and returned fire, after which the shooting stopped. The statement did not say who fired. UNIFIL said deliberate attacks on peacekeepers violate Security Council Resolution 1701 and international humanitarian law, and reminded all parties of their obligation to protect UN personnel and property.

UN Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric said earlier that the Israeli military has obstructed UNIFIL’s work in Lebanon and continued violations in several areas.

He said the force must be able to carry out the tasks the Security Council assigned it “safely and without any obstacles.”

UNIFIL members have been killed during the Israeli war on Lebanon, including a UNIFIL Indonesian peacekeeper who was killed in March after being hit by a 120 mm shell fired by an Israeli tank. … Full article

Five Gazans killed, others injured in Israeli attacks

Palestinian Information Center – November 11, 2026

GAZA – Five Palestinian citizens were martyred and several others were wounded in fresh Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

The Palestinian Information Center reporter said that a citizen was killed by Israeli gunfire in the east of al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.

In Gaza City, a young man died of injuries following an Israeli strike on a tent in the al-Jalaa area.

Separate drone strike also claimed the lives of two brothers and another citizen in Gaza City.

Additionally, widespread military activity, including shooting incidents, artillery shelling, drone overflights, and demolitions, was reported in different areas of Gaza.

Saudi attacks hit residential areas across Yemen, death toll rises

Al Mayadeen | November 11, 2026

Saudi Arabia has intensified its attacks across Yemen, shelling residential areas in Saada province and launching airstrikes in Taiz and Lahij, as the cumulative toll from its latest escalation reaches 355 killed and 757 injured.

Saba News Agency in Sanaa reported on Wednesday that Saudi artillery targeted the border districts of Shada and Qatabir in Saada.

Citing a local source, the agency said shelling struck several areas in Shada district, as well as residential villages in the al-Thabet area of Qatabir. … Full article

Iran sees complicity in US blockade as ‘act of war’: Senior advisor

Press TV · November 11, 2026

A senior adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution has warned that any country cooperating with a US-led blockade against Iran would be committing an “act of war,” stressing that all those involved would bear responsibility for the consequences.

“The aggressors seeking to harm Iran have heard the repercussions of their actions reverberate across the region, Europe and the United States,” Mohammad Mokhber wrote in a post on X on Wednesday.

He further warned that any country cooperating in the illegal blockade would face the repercussions of involvement.

“Today, any form of cooperation in the hostile blockade against Iran constitutes an act of war, one that will be recorded in the historical memory of the Iranian nation. The responsibility and consequences of such actions will fall upon all those involved, irrespective of geographical boundaries.”

Mokhber made the remarks in response to threats by Iran’s adversaries.

On Saturday, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced plans to block Iran’s supply routes across its land borders and the Caspian Sea, expanding its naval blockade of Iranian ports. … Full article

US-Israeli war on Iran cost Persian Gulf states nearly $1T in damage, lost growth: Report

The Cradle | November 11, 2026

The US-Israeli war on Iran has cost Persian Gulf states more than $200 billion in physical damage and will erase $790 billion in expected growth by 2030, according to a report by insurance firm Allianz Trade published on 9 November.

“Physical damage across the region is assessed just above $200bn, mostly concentrated in Hormuz-locked economies, especially in energy infrastructure,” the report states.

Iran’s retaliatory strikes on US assets also hit host-country airports, seaports, landmarks and more than 80 energy facilities—mostly in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. About a third of the facilities were heavily damaged. … continue

The beginning of the end: Israel at the heart of America’s political civil war

By Ramzy Baroud | MEMO | November 11, 2026

On the very morning of the critical US midterm elections, President Donald Trump made what seemed like a shocking announcement: no more aid to Israel. … continue

Netanyahu Pressing Trump Daily to Escalate War Against Iran

By Kyle Anzalone | The Libertarian Institute | November 10, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making calls to President Donald Trump every day to request that the US return to large-scale warfare against Iran. Trump has publicly stated that his preference is to maintain the status quo of limited strikes and economic warfare until Iran complies with his demands and signs a peace agreement on US terms.

According to a source speaking with the Financial Times, “Netanyahu calls him every day [to urge him to resume the war]. Those who don’t want a war within the White House and outside have been trying to combat that,” said a person briefed on the discussions. “The regional leaders are telling him not to escalate and prioritize negotiations.” … Full article

Congress probe could put ‘Israel’ in dock over Iran war: Israeli media

Al Mayadeen | November 11, 2026

The prospect of a Democratic takeover of Congress in January 2027 is raising the possibility of a sweeping investigation into the Trump administration’s decision to wage war on Iran, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu potentially facing scrutiny over reports that he pushed US President Donald Trump into the war.

As Republican lawmakers question War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s handling of the war amid rising impeachment calls, Israeli website Zman Yisrael has warned that the political fallout could put “Israel” in the dock, as it faces congressional scrutiny. … continue

Hegseth Impeachment Fails Because AIPAC-Owned Democrats Didn’t Show Up

By Kevin Barrett | November 11, 2026

… Traffic problems, personal issues, medical procedures… when normal people use such excuses ex-post-facto to explain why they didn’t show up for work, they normally get fired.

And if it turns out they’re lying, and the real reason they didn’t show up is shameful or even criminal, they will definitely be shown the door.

The 11 Democrats who didn’t show up for Hegseth’s impeachment, we can safely assume, are lying.

They didn’t show up to do their jobs because they are owned by a hostile foreign government.

They are traitors to the United States of America. It doesn’t get any more shameful and criminal than that.

What’s more, they’re probably Epsteined. … Read full article

Spanish public prosecutor backs US demand to extradite pro-Palestine philanthropist Fergie Chambers

The Cradle | November 11, 2026

The Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office submitted a filing on 10 November supporting Washington’s request to extradite pro-Palestine activist Fergie Chambers.

The prosecutor’s office echoed US claims that Chambers made cash transfers with the goal of “promoting illicit” and “violent” activities that “benefit” the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

It has also recommended concluding the investigative proceedings and granting the extradition, according to a written submission obtained by Europa Press.

Chambers is currently in pretrial detention at Aranjuez prison in the Spanish capital, Madrid.  Spanish authorities arrested him in Ibiza in July 2026.

The US Department of Justice is accusing Chambers of “transporting, transmitting or transferring” funds “with the intention of promoting” the “provision of material support or resources to foreign terrorist organizations.”

He is also accused of “riots” against Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems.

Washington says he supported the Unity of Fields organization, formerly known as Palestine Action US, the US branch of the UK-based anti-Israel group. … continue

Spanish neo-Nazis trained in Ukraine for ‘armed uprising’ – media

RT | November 11, 2026

Members of a Spanish neo-Nazi organization have received military training from Ukraine’s notorious Azov brigade to prepare for an “armed uprising” back home, according to police findings reported by El Pais on Tuesday.

Militants from Nucleo Nacional (National Nucleus) traveled to Ukraine in August, where they established contact with the neo-Nazi-linked Azov unit, now part of Ukraine’s National Guard, the newspaper reported, citing investigative documents.

The Spaniards reportedly trained with AK-47 assault rifles and body armor, seeking to acquire combat skills they could pass on to recruits across Spain. In an intercepted conversation, one member warned that “without training, no uprising will work.” … Full article

Zelensky spent over 740 days outside Ukraine while West serves as his real home

By Ahmed Adel | November 11, 2026

President Volodymyr Zelensky has spent more than two years outside Ukraine since the war began, suggesting that the head of the Kiev regime is increasingly distancing himself from the people and acting like a guest in his own country, while the cost of his policy is borne by citizens who endure wartime suffering, poverty, and harsh living conditions. … continue

Indian captain of Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker faces 10-year jail term in UK

RT | November 11, 2026

The Indian captain of an oil tanker is facing up to ten years behind bars in the UK after being detained for allegedly breaching Western sanctions on Russia, in a case that has drawn fierce criticism from international seafaring unions.

Ajay Pant was commanding the MV Smyrtos when the British authorities intercepted the vessel in international waters and detained him in June.

The Smyrtos has been branded a so-called ‘shadow fleet’ tanker, so named for transporting crude oil and petroleum products from Iran and Russia in defiance of unilateral Western sanctions against them.

China, India, and the rest of the Global South, as well as Russia, have argued that the sanctions are illegal because they have not been approved by the United Nations Security Council. … continue

The Leak That Arrived Right on Cue

By Larry C. Johnson | SONAR21 | November 10, 2026 

In the intelligence business, timing is everything. On February 5, 2026, Finland’s National Defence University, which is hardly a Kremlin front, posted a paper by Alexander Grable titled “Irretrievable Losses: Casualties in the Russo-Ukraine War (2022–present).” Grable concluded that Ukraine’s dead far outnumber Russia’s and that Kyiv is losing the war of attrition. In polite Western company, that is heresy.

The paper was presented at the university’s Russia Seminar a week later. It was folded into the seminar’s proceedings volume this fall and began circulating widely in late October. Then, right on cue, the cavalry arrived. Two hacker groups announced they had breached Rosstat, Russia’s state statistics agency, and come away with numbers showing between 393,881 and 450,100 Russian dead. The Moscow Times and Euronews ran the story on November 8. Narrative restored. Everyone can relax.

I don’t relax that easily. I spent enough years at the CIA to know what a planted story smells like. This one smells. But before I get to the leak, let me get to something the casualty accountants keep leaving out of their spreadsheets: who has been shooting more. … continue

Europe, US face higher heating bills amid Iran war fallout

Al Mayadeen| November 11, 2026

Europe is paying a heavy price for the US war on Iran. Natural gas prices have risen almost 200% since February and topped €100 per megawatt-hour at the end of October, the highest level in four years.

The European Commission estimates the continent’s energy import bill has grown by more than €127 billion since the war began, and gas storage is running well below normal ahead of winter, with Germany’s stocks possibly running empty by March.

Bloomberg reported that diesel prices have hit a record, kerosene has nearly doubled, and German power prices already exceed even the 2022 average for the start of winter.

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has exposed how dependent the continent remains on global energy markets, leaving governments, industries, and households in their second major energy crisis in under five years. … continue

Germany: Gas storage operators warn of critical shortages during extremely cold winter

Remix News | November 11, 2026

Energy analysts and Germany’s gas storage operators are sounding the alarm over historically low fill levels as the country enters the 2026/27 winter season, with some analysts stating the situation is critical.

As of Nov. 1, 2026, storage facilities stood at just 61 percent full, which is nine percentage points below the statutory target of 70 percent. This is the lowest level at the start of the heating period since comparable records began in 2011.

The Energy Storage Initiative (INES), the association representing 17 gas storage operators, stated in a press release on Nov. 10 that supply security could be at risk in the event of an extremely cold winter, such as the one seen in 2010. … Full article

No, New York Times, California’s Climate Has Always Been a Land of Flood, Drought, and Fire

By Anthony Watts | ClimateRealism | October 22, 2026

The New York Times article “Latest Climate Report Warns of Major Upheaval to California Way of Life” by Soumya Karlamangla, claims California faces a future of bigger storms, more extreme floods, longer droughts, destructive wildfires, disappearing snowpack, and major disruption to everyday life because of climate change. This is highly misleading if not outright false. The historical and observational record shows that extreme storms, catastrophic floods, prolonged droughts, enormous wildfires, highly variable snowpack, and coastal erosion have always been defining features of California’s natural environment, while many of the Times’ most alarming claims are projections from climate models rather than observed trends. … continue

Did Heatwaves Really Kill 4,354 People This Summer?

By Paul Homewood | Not A Lot Of People Know That | November 10, 2026

… On a simplistic level, summer is when deaths are at their lowest. If heat is killing people in summer, what is killing much larger numbers of them in spring?

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) carried out a very detailed analysis of mortality rates during the notorious heatwaves in 2022, when temperatures peaked much higher than this summer.

Their conclusions could not have been clearer. Although the number of deaths during hot periods spiked, they quickly fell below average in the following days – something they described as short-term mortality displacement. People who were already close to death simply died a few days earlier than they would have otherwise.

Taken across the summer as a whole, the number of deaths was found not to be excessive at all.

New analysis of this summer’s mortality data has now come up with similar results. Deaths did spike in Week 26 and 27, during the end of June heatwave. But they quickly fell back below average during July and August, and into September as well.

During the period, the number of deaths this year was 1,555 higher than last year, but 1,318 lower than in 2024, when the summer had been cooler… Read full article

German CDU MPs Seek Climate “Misinformation” List

By Cindy Harper | Reclaim The Net | November 10, 2026

In Germany, five members of the Baden-Württemberg state parliament from the CDU have formally asked the state government to consider setting up a public list of people who spread what the authorities decide to consider as climate “misinformation.”

The MPs, who belong to the Christian Democratic Union, have signed a motion that asks the government to look into the feasibility of creating such a list, and to make it “publicly accessible.” … continue

Four EU states defy Merz’s Ukraine funding ultimatum

RT | November 11, 2026

Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic have rejected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s demand to tie the EU’s next seven-year budget to additional funding of Ukraine. The three Central European countries have long opposed writing blank cheques to Kiev, while Bulgaria elected a government more critical of such assistance in April.

The EU has pledged to cover around €45 billion of Ukraine’s projected €70 billion funding shortfall in 2027, as the conflict with Russia approaches its fifth year in February.

In a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa, widely cited by the media, Merz wrote that all member states “without exception” should commit to long-term funding of Ukraine beyond 2028.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico branded Berlin’s ultimatum a “textbook case of blackmail.”

“Today will not be business as usual – not by a long shot. Today, we must respond to blackmail,” he told journalists at a joint press conference with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis in Bratislava on Tuesday. “We have an equal say in this matter,” he said, adding that his country would not be a part of any loans to Ukraine.

Babis also rejected Merz’s demand, saying Prague would not be “in any subordinate position.” He said that Ukraine has received €520 billion from the EU since 2022 and that the bloc’s budget already includes additional €100 billion in funding for Kiev.

“I don’t understand why someone wants to block the budget when Ukraine has so much money. The question is whether it should be [in] the budget at all,” Babis said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who traveled to Berlin for talks with Merz on Tuesday, said linking the EU budget with Ukraine aid was “unacceptable” and that Budapest was focusing on curbing its own budget deficit. He further argued that the bloc should prioritize helping its own citizens and businesses.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen the same day, also stressed the need to handle Bulgaria’s own deficit. He noted that Bulgaria was already supporting Ukraine through electricity exports, restoration of energy and railway infrastructure, and helping refugees.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Magyar in Berlin, Merz described long-term support for Ukraine as “a common European task” and said continued funding for Kiev must be reflected in the EU’s next budget to make it “fit for the future.” … Full article