8 h. ago Cuban prisoners forced to work making cigars and charcoal for export to Europe, report claims

Madrid-based NGO estimates at least 60,000 inmates subject to forced labour with little or no pay in Cuban jailsPrisoners in Cuba are forced to work producing the country’s world-famous cigars and marabu charcoal sold to European consumers, according to a new report.The Madrid-based NGO Prisoners Defenders estimates that at least 60,000 people are being forced to work with little or no pay, under threats, in exhausting conditions and without adequate equipment, with reports of violence including the sexual abuse of female detainees. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Poland ‘closer to conflict than at any time since WW2’ as UK forces are asked to bolster Nato air defences – live

UK defence secretary says Russian drone incursion signals ‘new level of hostility against Europe’ Full report: Poland shoots down drones over its territory amid Russian attack on Ukraine, says militaryLubelskie region governor Krzysztof Komorski is leading an emergency meeting with the police this morning. In a post on X, he urged residents to follow the guidance from the relevant authorities.Prime minister Donald Tusk meanwhile said in his latest update that he is in “constant contact” with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. Continue reading...

Society

5 d. ago ‘Huge number of Russian drones’ violated our airspace, says Poland’s PM – follow live

Tusk says that those which posed a threat were shot down as Zelenskyy says incursion sets ‘extremely dangerous precedent for Europe’Full report: Poland shoots down drones over its territory amid Russian attack on Ukraine, says militaryLubelskie region governor Krzysztof Komorski is leading an emergency meeting with the police this morning. In a post on X, he urged residents to follow the guidance from the relevant authorities.Prime minister Donald Tusk meanwhile said in his latest update that he is in “constant contact” with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. Continue reading...

Society

1 week ago Trump cutting funding to train and support European troops in countries bordering Russia: report

The apparent shift has alarmed European defense leaders, who see the presence of U.S. troops and support as a key deterrent against Moscow

Politics

2 w. ago Proposals for commercial planes to operate with one pilot shelved after critical EU report

Regulator Easa concludes there is not enough evidence it is as safe as flying with two pilots as currently requiredProposals for commercial aeroplanes to operate with just one pilot in the cockpit have been put on ice after a report for the European regulator suggested it would make flying more dangerous.A three-year research project into “extended minimum crew operations” commissioned by the EU Aviation Safety Agency (Easa) found that despite advances in technology there was not sufficient evidence that flying with a single pilot could be as safe as with the two currently required. Continue reading...

Culture

3 w. ago Report: European club to send delegation to London, they want to agree deal for Chelsea star

Report: European club to send delegation to London, they want to agree deal for Chelsea star  Yahoo Sports

Economics

3 w. ago Ukraine live updates: ‘Dynamics have accelerated,’ says Polish PM as coalition of the willing debrief takes place after White House meeting

European leaders meet virtually after talks at the White House where Trump said arrangements being made for meeting between Putin and ZelenskyyFull report: Trump arranging Zelenskyy-Putin meeting as European leaders push for US security guaranteesSketch: All smoke and no fire as Zelenskky emerges unbruised after Trump meetVolodymyr Zelenskyy navigated Monday’s meeting more successfully than his Oval Office encounter in February, which ended abruptly when Donald Trump and JD Vance publicly upbraided him for not being grateful enough.In his opening remarks to the media on Monday, the Ukrainian president repeated his thanks at least eight times, the Associated Press reports.A meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin ... could it finally happen?The need for security guarantees agreed – but details unclearTrump believes he is very good at solving conflictsA potential boost for the US arms industry Continue reading...

Society

3 w. ago Four key takeaways from Trump’s White House summit on Ukraine

The US president has hosted European leaders at short notice amid intense political efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Here are four key points to what was achievedUkraine war: live updatesFull report: Trump arranging Zelenskyy-Putin meeting as European leaders push for US security guaranteesDonald Trump has hosted leaders from across Europe as part of a flurry of diplomacy to find a path to peace in Ukraine. Coming just days after a disappointing summit with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Alaska, the pressure was on to make headway in a years-long conflict that the US president once said he could solve in 24 hours.Below are some key points arising from the US president’s range of bilateral and multilateral talks with the leaders of Ukraine, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Finland, the European Union and Nato. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine live updates: Trump and European leaders press Putin to agree to Zelenskyy meeting

US president says arrangements being made for bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy and that US will help guarantee Ukraine’s security if a deal is reachedFull report: Trump arranging Zelenskyy-Putin meeting as European leaders push for US security guaranteesSketch: All smoke and no fire as Zelenskky emerges unbruised after Trump meetBritish prime minister Keir Starmer has described the talks at the White House as “good and constructive” and said they produced “real progress”.Speaking after the summit, Starmer said: “There was a real sense of unity between the European leaders that were there and President Trump and President Zelenskyy.”The other material outcome was the agreement that there will now be a bilateral agreement between President Putin and President Zelenskyy, that was after a phone call between President Trump and President Putin during the course of this afternoon, followed by a trilateral that will add in Trump.That is a recognition of the principle that on s...

Politics