Europe Watch

News Source
EXCERPT:

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime is intimidating Russian organizations and scientists on American soil, according to a prominent professor speaking out about the situation.

The incoming president of the Russian-American Science Association, University of Southern California chemistry Professor Anna Krylov, told The College Fix she fears for her safety and the safety of academics caught in the Kremlin’s scope — but refuses to stand down.

“I definitely am not going to quit RASA, because that’s not the proper response to bullies, and so I will continue with operations as usual,” she said. “I will be organizing our next conference, and I will be participating and doing my job as president-elect and then as president of RASA.”

News Source
EXCERPT:

BRUSSELS: The European Union (EU) believes a digital euro is the answer to cutting its addiction to United States payment systems like Visa and Mastercard, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay, as the bloc seeks to favour European firms over others.

Brussels hopes it could provide an alternative local option for any payments in shops or online since people could easily pay, just like other systems, using a card, an app or via their banking app.

The EU will move one step closer on Tuesday (Jun 23) to creating a digital euro when EU lawmakers hold a long-awaited vote on the virtual currency.

News Source
EXCERPT:

BUCHAREST, Romania — Romanian lawmakers late on Monday rejected a new government proposed by Prime Minister-designate Adrian Vestea, who had hoped to bring an end to the country’s protracted political crisis.

The vote in Parliament failed — with 189 votes for and 23 against — and more than half of lawmakers abstained. It needed at least 233 to pass. The outcome caps a monthslong political crisis that started when a no-confidence vote toppled the previous government in May.

Romanian President Nicusor Dan said he designated Vestea, a longtime member of the National Liberal Party, or PNL, to try to form a government based on his past administrative experience. Vestea was Dan’s second prime ministerial nomination after his previous pick, Eugen Tomac, failed to present a cabinet within 10 days.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is calling on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to meet him America to come to a final peace agreement. Zelensky said, “Yesterday (Sunday), we discussed with President Trump that such a meeting could be organised in the US, in a format where Putin would find it much harder to refuse. We will see what comes of it. If Russia refuses this chance as well, additional pressure will be needed.”

Go Deeper

News Source
EXCERPT:

Ukraine hit a major Moscow oil refinery for a second time in a week and disrupted commercial flights at the city’s airports in one of its biggest drone attacks since Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbor more than four years ago, Russian officials said Thursday.

The attack came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had held “an important coordination call” with the presidents of the United States and France, and had won key pledges of further support from the G7 summit this week.

Zelenskyy was expected in Brussels later Thursday for talks with NATO and European Union leaders, including discussions about the possible building of a continental system to protect against ballistic missiles. Russia has relentlessly struck Ukraine with those types of missiles, which air defenses struggle to counter.

News Source
EXCERPT:

A ⁠suspect in ​the murder of a Russian national has been ​detained, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday, after an artist critical of President Vladimir Putin ​was ‌shot dead in eastern ⁠Poland this week.

The suspect was detained by police in ‌cooperation with Poland‘s Internal Security Agency, Tusk said ⁠on X, adding that the man was using a Georgian passport. Local police ​in Lublin said the document belonged ‌to a 36-year-old man.

Prosecutors have said the victim, identified as Robert Kuzovkov and also known as ‌Semyon Skrepetsky, was hit by five bullets, including one to ​the head. Two Belarusians have also been detained in connection with the killing in the ​city of Biala Podlaska but have not been ​charged.

News Source
EXCERPT:

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new six-month military review of the U.S. European posture during the opening and public portion of Thursday’s NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels.

Led by Hegseth, the Pentagon has made it known that the department intends to reduce its forces, which includes fighter jets, strategic bombers, submarines, and more in Europe, and expects other European countries to fill the gaps left behind. They’ve dubbed the new version of the alliance “NATO 3.0.”

“I’m announcing today, a six-month Department of War review that will examine America’s force posture and basing in Europe — up to six months, could be less,” he said. “Let’s call it the NATO 3.0 review. This review will be conducted with the benefit of input from the United States military from European Command, it will involve consultations with the U.S. Congress and with our allies. But make no mistakes, this will be a real review.”

News Source
EXCERPT:

What just happened? The UK’s long-expected social media ban for under-16s has finally been confirmed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, though it’s not expected to be introduced until spring 2027. The PM also revealed that livestreaming will be prohibited, while restrictions will be enabled by default for 17-year-olds.

The UK was one of several countries examining potential under-16 social media bans, following the lead of nations such as Australia.

On Monday, Starmer announced a full, rather than partial, ban as he is not “prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children.”

“Social media is making children unhappy, it’s making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them, and it could even be harming their mental health,” the Prime Minister added.

The ban also includes restrictions on online products such as gaming apps, including removing the option to message with strangers.

Sweden has signaled it has run out of patience with its migrants, passing a law that revokes resident status of migrants who fail a “good-behavior” test. The law follows the current government’s moves to restrict applications for residency, citizenship, and asylum, though the government has yet to move to halt migration altogether.

Go Deeper

News Source
EXCERPT:

Oh, Trump is now speaking with reporters, sitting next to the Emir of Qatar.

As we suspected (9:43), he confirms he had a “very good” meeting with Zelenskyy this morning and will meet with him again later today.

“Look, Russia should make a deal. Russia’s lost tremendous amounts of people, and so has Ukraine. Last month, they lost 35,000 soldiers between the two; it’s on a monthly basis. They averaged 25,000 people, mostly soldiers, young,beautiful people, and it’s crazy what’s going on there.

But we had a meeting, and we’ll see… I spoke with President Putin on Sunday.”

News Source
EXCERPT:

TOKYO, June 17. /TASS/. Japan purchased approximately 364,000 barrels of oil from Russia in May this year, according to TASS calculations based on statistical data published by Japan’s Finance Ministry.

According to the data, Japan imported 58,000 kiloliters of Russian oil last month, equivalent to approximately 364,800 barrels. The purchases concerned oil linked to gas supply contracts under the Sakhalin-2 project, which is exempt from anti-Russian sanctions. The oil is also exempt from the price cap introduced by the G7 countries. According to TASS calculations, the price of Russian oil purchased by Japan in May amounted to approximately $103 per barrel.

News Source
EXCERPT:

Apparently, it’s “Loneliness Awareness Week,” thanks to a global campaign emanating from the United Kingdom.

On the surface, the idea of a “Loneliness Awareness Week” sounds as cozy as the founding organization’s name, Marmalade Trust. That group self-identifies as a “charity,” but it acts more like a nongovernmental organization (NGO) devoted to government and globalist involvement in shaping our social connections.

Marmalade Trust’s home page proudly announces that its mission to fight loneliness is “joined by organisations globally,” including 10 Downing Street, the U.K.’s National Health Service, the BBC, The Guardian, Public Health England, and various other globalist and media outlets. On another page, it boasts that Loneliness Awareness Week has had the involvement of “the Royal Family, the Prime Minister, the Mayor of London, NHS trusts, and all government departments.  We have even had a special Royal Mail postage stamp!” The London transit authority is also partnering with the campaign by encouraging people to chat with strangers on public transit, seemingly to help overcome the loneliness epidemic.

News Source
EXCERPT:

President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Tuesday on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, as the leaders of the world’s largest economies renew their focus on the war in Ukraine amid hopes the Iran conflict is nearing a conclusion.

Mr. Trump told reporters after the sit-down that the two had a “very good meeting” and that he planned to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart again later in the day.

Asked about the war, Mr. Trump responded, “Russia should make a deal.”

News Source
EXCERPT:

New UK government AI planning prototype built with Gemini aims to halve the time it takes to process homeowner applications

Around the world, Governments are exploring how AI can deliver better public services, faster. The UK is working to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029, but local planning authorities are often slowed down by dense paperwork and administrative backlogs. To help get Britain building, we’re partnering with the UK government to help radically shorten the time it takes to process householder planning applications. Our goal is to help officers cut application decision times by 50%, freeing up time for planners so that more homes can be built. We’re excited to see how our National Partnerships for AI, which seek to support reimagining of public services to create more resilient societies, can help Britain build faster.

News Source
EXCERPT:

After the unprecedented resignation of former Defence Secretary John Healey and his deputy in a massive row about military funding, an armed forces head says operations and training will have to be slashed

The British head of the armed forces has warned the military will have to “dial back’ training and operations if they do not receive greater funding.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Defence Staff, was appearing before the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee. Sir Richard told peers he was “concerned” about funding for “day-to-day activity” in the context of rising inflation following a major government bust-up over defence funding.

Keir Starmer’s government has announced plans to pass a new online safety act that will ban children under 13 from using social media. To assure that children cannot gain access, adults will be required to confirm their identification every time they access the internet. The plan is seen as a scheme to track adult online users, not to protect children from the dangers of the internet.

Go Deeper

The BBC has announced another round of deep cuts as the progressive content marketer continues to lose standing and relevancy among the British people. This time, the cuts are coming in the news division, with 2,000 people targeted for layoffs.

Go Deeper

News Source
EXCERPT:

Police search for motive.

Gd help us.

“A Muslim man just STABBED 3 people in Switzerland and police claim the motive is unclear

He YELLED “allahu akbar!” and went on a stabbing spree

The West DOES NOT HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS

You invite these Muslim savages and they pillage your homeland!”