World
ECR undecided ahead of von der Leyen's reelection vote
The European Commission president must gain the backing of the European Conservatives and Reformists group to secure her second term.
The debate over Ursula von der Leyen’s re-election as president of the European Commission has heated up across European capitals — and Rome in particular.
As things stand, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — who is also the president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party (ECR) — remains undecided over whether to give von der Leyen her backing.
The commission chief held a 50-minute meeting with the ECR parliamentary group on Tuesday morning, at which Meloni’s Brothers of Italy reportedly requested a radical change in the EU’s approach to the Green Deal.
No official statement was issued at the end of the meeting, meaning that for now, the ECR’s stance on von der Leyen’s reelection is not clear.
According to Gaetano Quagliariello, Head of the School of Government at the Luiss University in Rome, von der Leyen needs the support of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party if she is to continue in post.
“I think Italy’s PM is able to influence at least part of the ECR,” Quagliariello said — adding that given Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Spanish party Vox have left the group, Meloni will find it easier to convince those who remain should she decide to give von der Leyen her support.
Meloni seeks top commissioner job for Italy
As far as Meloni is concerned, a key bone of contention in the ongoing negotiations is the appointment of an Italian commissioner to a sufficiently prominent role.
Speaking at the recent NATO summit in Washington, Meloni — who in June abstained from the vote to back von der Leyen’s reelection — stated that she wants Italy’s prominence in the EU to be recognised and that she intends to secure a top spot for Rome in the EU Commission.
Should Meloni and the ECR decline to back von der Leyen, the implications could be serious.
According to Antonio Parenti, the European Commission representative in Italy, given the difficult times that lie ahead, the vote must ensure Europe doesn’t plunge into a political crisis.
“Both Italy and other EU countries have to ensure this vote allows EU institutions to be fully operational,” Parenti said. “Let’s not forget that the historic moment we face is very volatile.”
“We have a war on our doorstep, and even what happened in the US a few days ago makes us understand we are not going through an easy time.”
World
Albino buffalo nicknamed ‘Donald Trump’ becomes sensation at Bangladesh’s national zoo for its blond hair
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A buffalo with a distinctive hairstyle is going viral for its resemblance to President Donald Trump.
The rare albino buffalo, nicknamed “Donald Trump,” has become a sensation at Bangladesh’s national zoo thanks to its blond tuft of hair, which many say resembles the president’s signature look.
The animal first gained attention after a local farmer noticed the resemblance.
A video of the pale, horned buffalo quickly spread across social media, drawing crowds to a farm outside Dhaka where it was being kept.
‘SUPER RARE’ ALBINO SQUIRREL SPOTTED ON GOLF COURSE: ‘KEEP AN EYE OUT’
A rare albino buffalo fondly named after Donald Trump for its distinctive blond tuft is seen in an enclosure at the national zoological park, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)
The buffalo was originally sold and slated for slaughter during Eid al-Adha, the Muslim “Feast of Sacrifice,” but government officials intervened and ordered the animal transferred to the national zoo in the capital.
Since arriving at the zoo, the buffalo has attracted large crowds and sparked debate over its unusual nickname.
Some visitors embraced the comparison.
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A rare albino buffalo nicknamed “Donald Trump” has become a viral attraction at Bangladesh’s national zoo because of its distinctive blond hairstyle. (AP Photo/Al-emrun Garjon)
“There is a resemblance to Donald Trump in its eyes, hairstyle, and skin color,” Mohammed Nasim, a student in Dhaka, told The Associated Press.
“And just as Donald Trump has a distinctive personality and lifestyle, this buffalo, after going viral, is now living a similar kind of life, enjoying a lot of attention and special treatment,” he added.
According to local media reports, the exhibit initially featured a sign identifying the animal as “Donald Trump,” though the sign has since been removed.
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A rare albino buffalo nicknamed “Donald Trump” has become a viral attraction in Bangladesh because visitors say its blond hairstyle resembles President Donald Trump. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
The zoo’s curator was later fired, although officials have not publicly disclosed the reason for the dismissal.
As visitors crowded around the enclosure this week, many stopped to take photos and videos of the increasingly famous buffalo.
Others, however, said naming the animal after the president was inappropriate.
“Giving a farm animal the name of one of the world’s most influential leaders was certainly the wrong thing to do,” local resident Mohammad Joynal Adedin told the AP.
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Still, Adedin made the trip to the zoo to see the buffalo for himself.
“It seems disrespectful,” he added. “I think the farmer who did this made a poor decision.”
World
Social media operation linked to Iran manipulated public through fake Irish and Scottish profiles
Researchers say that social media accounts affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps posed as Scottish and Irish nationals in order to cultivate their following, before switching their narrative to spread pro-Iranian discourse online.
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