Voters in Portugal may be asked to go to the polls for the third time in as many years after the centre-right government of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro loses a vote of confidence. “People have become very disillusioned with the political class,” says Diogo Cosme, a writer in Lisbon.
Washington (AFP) – US President Donald Trump looks at Tesla cars on the White House driveway and announces he will buy one in a show of support for his close adviser Elon Musk’s company. Tesla share prices have plummeted in response to market fears induced by Trump’s economic policies and backlash to Musk’s controversial role leading the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Beijing (AFP) – Beijing says it will take “all necessary measures” to protect its interests in response to new US tariffs of 25 percent on steel and aluminium imports. “The United States’ actions seriously violate WTO rules,” says Mao Ning, spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry.
Mach (Pakistan) (AFP) – Pakistan has launched a “full-scale” operation to rescue train passengers taken hostage by militants in the mountainous southwest of the country. Security forces say they have managed to free more than 150 hostages from the besieged train in the Balochistan region, with an unknown number still on board. A senior railway official told AFP that more than 450 people had been on board the Jafar Express train.
Dublin (AFP) – Once the eponym of 18th century philosopher George Berkeley, a slave owner whose name was removed in the wake of global Black Lives Matter protests, Trinity College Dublin’s main library is now called the Eavan Boland Library, after a renowned Irish poet.
Pristina (AFP) – NATO chief Mark Rutte says that “thanks” to US President Donald Trump, there has been a “breakthrough” in regard to ending the war in Ukraine. Rutte’s comments come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Saudi Arabia for talks between US and Ukrainian delegations.
Nuuk (AFP) – Voters head to the polls in Greenland’s capital for parliamentary elections which could yield a timeline for independence for the Danish self-governing territory, which is coveted by US President Donald Trump. Completes 36ZQ6EN
Bogotá (AFP) – Colombia’s new Defense Minister, Pedro Arnulfo Sanchez, is sworn in by President Gustavo Petro at a military ceremony in Bogota. IMAGES
Washington (AFP) – Construction crews in Washington DC begin removing the Black Lives Matter plaza mural, which was painted in front of the White House during the George Floyd protests. The pedestrian zone covering two blocks was named “Black Lives Matter” Plaza to honour the resistence movement.
Beijing (AFP) – China warns Britain against “provoking tensions” in the South China Sea after its foreign minister David Lammy called Beijing’s actions in the disputed waters “dangerous and destabilising”.
