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World News Roundup: Czech billionaire ex-PM stands trial accused of EU subsidy fraud; Joy in northeast Ukraine as residents return following Russian rout and more | Politics

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World News Roundup: Czech billionaire ex-PM stands trial accused of EU subsidy fraud; Joy in northeast Ukraine as residents return following Russian rout and more | Politics

Following is a abstract of present world information briefs.

Czech billionaire ex-PM stands trial accused of EU subsidy fraud

Former Czech prime minister Andrej Babis stood trial on Monday over fraud accusations related to a 2 million euro ($2 million) European Union subsidy which have marred his political profession for the previous 5 years. Prosecutors allege that Babis, proprietor of a chemical compounds, farming, meals and media empire, now held in a belief, illegally tapped the subsidy to construct a convention centre close to Prague earlier than he shaped his anti-establishment ANO celebration in 2011.

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Pleasure in northeast Ukraine as residents return following Russian rout

Ukrainian forces swept deeper into territory seized from fleeing Russian troops on Monday, as joyful residents returned to former frontline villages and Moscow grappled with the implications of the collapse of its occupation power in northeastern Ukraine. Ukraine’s basic employees mentioned early on Monday that its troopers had recaptured greater than 20 cities and villages in simply the previous day, after Russia acknowledged it was abandoning Izium, its major stronghold in northeastern Ukraine.

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Pakistan races to maintain floodwaters out of energy station that provides tens of millions

Authorities in Pakistan are scrambling to guard a significant energy station supplying electrical energy to tens of millions of individuals in opposition to a rising risk of flooding, officers mentioned on Monday.

Floods from file monsoon rains and glacial soften within the mountainous north have affected 33 million folks and killed virtually 1,400, washing away houses, roads, railways, livestock and crops, in harm estimated at $30 billion.

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Russian state media grapples with Kharkiv defeats

Commentators on Russian state tv have been compelled to go off script by Ukrainian forces’ swift advance within the nation’s Kharkiv area and Moscow’s speedy retreat. Because the starting of what Russia calls its “particular navy operation”, belligerent company on state tv speak reveals sometimes have tried to outdo one another in backing President Vladimir Putin and denouncing Ukraine and its allies.

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Iran to launch crew of two seized Greek tankers -Greek seafarers union

Iran has agreed to launch the crews of two Greek tankers it seized in Might within the Gulf, in response to the confiscation of oil by america from an Iranian-flagged tanker in Greece, the Greek union of economic ships’ seafarers mentioned. The case has strained relations between Athens and Tehran as tensions develop between Iran and america.

Pakistan court docket extends Imran Khan’s bail on terrorism costs

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A Pakistani court docket on Monday prolonged former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s pre-arrest bail for eight extra days on terrorism costs regarding a speech through which he allegedly threatened police and judicial officers, his lawyer mentioned. Khan, who appeared in court docket in particular person, was booked within the case by police in August. That is the fourth time he has secured pre-arrest bail within the matter.

U.N. presses Sri Lanka to advance human rights amid financial disaster

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Sri Lanka ought to enhance human rights and strengthen establishments to sort out the humanitarian challenges which have sprung from its worst monetary disaster in seven many years, a prime U.N. Human Rights official mentioned on Monday. U.N. member states and worldwide monetary establishments ought to help Sri Lanka because it tries to help tens of millions fighting meals, gasoline, energy and drugs shortages, mentioned Nada Al-Nashif, U.N. Performing Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights.

Cautious of Russia, Germany in talks to purchase Arrow 3 missile defence from Israel

Germany is in talks to purchase the Arrow 3 missile defence system from Israel as a part of Berlin’s efforts to strengthen its armed forces after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid mentioned on a go to to the German capital on Monday. Germany has ramped up its navy spending after Russia despatched troops into Ukraine in February, whereas transport assist and heavy weapons to Kyiv as a part of a world response.

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King Charles addresses parliament, and heads to Scotland for the queen’s vigil

King Charles known as Britain’s parliament the “residing and respiration instrument of our democracy” and pledged to observe his late mom Queen Elizabeth’s instance in sustaining its independence in an handle to each chambers on Monday. Charles arrived at Westminster Corridor in London to a fanfare of trumpets together with his spouse Camilla, Queen Consort, for the handle – a part of a collection of pageantry-filled ceremonies following the queen’s dying on Thursday at her vacation house in Balmoral, Scotland, after 70 years on the throne.

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Swedish voters hand anti-immigration Sweden Democrats an influential function

Sweden’s proper bloc appeared in pole place on Monday to kind a authorities for the primary time in almost a decade, helped by a wave of voter anger over gang violence which may give an anti-immigration populist celebration a share in energy for the primary time. Sunday’s nationwide election remained too near name on Monday with about 5% of election districts but to be counted, however early outcomes gave right-wing events 175 of the 349 seats within the Riksdag, yet another than the left bloc.

(With inputs from companies.)

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Meloni says EU must be pragmatic with Trump to avoid US trade tensions

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Meloni says EU must be pragmatic with Trump to avoid US trade tensions

As fears of a trade war rise, the Italian premier is seen as one of US president-elect Donald Trump’s closest EU allies.

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday that the EU must take a pragmatic approach with the incoming Trump administration in order to head off a trade war between Europe and the US.

The EU has been bracing for trade problems ever since the recently re-elected Trump vowed to impose tariffs of 10% to 20% on imports from all foreign countries — apart from China, which will face a 60% tariff if his proposals become reality.

Italy’s right-wing leader Meloni appears to have forged a friendship with Trump in recent months, with the pair posing for photos and praising each other, which could make her one of his closest EU allies, especially given the political crises in Germany and France.

“It is essential to maintain a pragmatic, constructive and open approach towards the new Trump administration, using areas of potential and fruitful EU-US cooperation and trying to prevent commercial disputes that wouldn’t benefit anyone,” Meloni told Italy’s parliament in a speech ahead of the European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday.

Trump warned during his election campaign that the EU would “pay a big price” for supposedly not buying enough US exports, including American cars, considering that the 27-country bloc “sells millions and millions of cars in the United States”.

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During his previous term as president, Trump described Europe as a “foe” of the US.

Data from the US Census Bureau shows that the EU exported $576.3 billion (€549.2 billion) worth of goods to the US in 2023 — representing about 20% of the bloc’s total exports — for a goods trade surplus of $208.6 billion (€198.8 billion).

Last month, the EU’s ambassador to the US, Jovita Neliupšienė, said that the bloc was ready to respond to any renewed trade disputes with the US that could arise under Trump’s incoming administration. However, she did not specify any possible measures.

Regarding Trump’s tariff threats, Meloni has previously said that the EU should focus on setting its own affairs in order rather than worrying about the US.

“Don’t ask what the US can do for you, ask what Europe should do for itself,” Meloni said ahead of a EU leaders’ meeting in Budapest last month, paraphrasing Trump’s presidential predecessor John F. Kennedy.

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“Europe must find a balance,” she added. “I’m thinking of the issues of competitiveness, tariffs.”

Meloni and Trump dined together earlier this month at an event organised by French President Emmanuel Macron to mark the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Trump reportedly described Meloni as a “real live wire” and later said he was ready to work with her, calling her “a fantastic leader and person”. In a post on X last week, Meloni shared a video of Trump’s comments and wrote, “Thanks (to Trump) for the kind words”.

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TVLine Items: From Blood and Ash TV Series, Kelly Clarkson Renewed and More

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TVLine Items: From Blood and Ash TV Series, Kelly Clarkson Renewed and More


‘From Blood and Ash’ TV Series In the Works



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Trump says Turkey ‘did an unfriendly takeover’ in Syria as US-brokered cease-fire appears to fail

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Trump says Turkey ‘did an unfriendly takeover’ in Syria as US-brokered cease-fire appears to fail

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President-elect Trump on Monday described the recent fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime as an “unfriendly takeover” orchestrated by Turkey. 

“I think Turkey is very smart,” he said from a press conference at his Florida residence. “Turkey did an unfriendly takeover, without a lot of lives being lost. I can say that Assad was a butcher, what he did to children.”

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Assad fled to Russia just over a week ago after the al Qaeda-derived organization dubbed Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rapidly took over western Syria in an offensive that began on Nov. 27, first taking Aleppo, Hama and Homsc, before seizing the capital city of Damascus. 

Rebel forces seized Mengh Airbase and the city of Tel Rifaat in the Aleppo countryside on Dec. 1, 2024. (Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

ASSAD PAINTS HIMSELF AS ‘CUSTODIAN’ TO SYRIA AS PICTURE UNFOLDS ON COLLAPSE OF DAMASCUS

The future of Syria, for both its government and its people, remains unclear as the HTS organization, deemed a terrorist network by the U.S. but which has the backing of the Turkey-supported Syrian National Army (SNA), looks to hold on to power. 

The fall of the Assad regime has meant an end to the nearly 14-year civil war that plagued the nation, though the threat against the U.S.- backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is not over as Turkey continues to view it as one of its chief regional adversaries. 

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The SDF have assisted the U.S. in its fight against ISIS for more than a decade, but Turkey, which shares a border with Syria, has long viewed the group as being affiliated with the extremist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and which, through the SNA, has clashed with the Kurdish-led forces. 

Trump at press conference

President-elect Trump speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP/Evan Vucci)

It remains unclear how the Kurds will fair under a potential HTS regime, but Western security experts are increasingly concerned that Turkey could have an outsized amount of influence on the neighboring nation. 

“The fall of Assad greatly amplified Turkey’s influence in Syria, giving unprecedented influence to his partners and proxies. If the United States wants to ensure that Syria has the best chance to become a reasonably free and stable country, it needs to keep a very close eye on [Turkish President Recep] Erdogan,” David Adesnik, vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.

Syrian Democratic Forces

Comrades attend the funeral of five fighters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces who were killed during clashes with Turkish-backed opposition factions, in Qamishli in northeastern Syria on Dec. 14, 2024. (Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images)

TURKEY HITS US-ALLIED KURDS IN SYRIA, IRAQ FOLLOWING TERRORIST ATTACK ON DEFENSE GROUP

Last week, the U.S. brokered a cease-fire agreement between the SDF and the SNA over the northeastern city of Manbij, where SDF coalition forces agreed to withdraw from the area after resisting attacks since Nov. 27, according to a Reuters report. 

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But sources told Fox News Digital on Monday that negotiations relating to the cease-fire had collapsed and that the SNA had begun building up military forces west of the Kurdish town of Kobani – roughly 35 miles east of Manbij – in an apparent threat to resume combat operations.

The terms of the cease-fire remain unclear, and neither the White House nor the State Department responded to Fox News Digital’s questions.

According to a statement released by the SDF, the mediation efforts by the U.S. failed to establish a permanent truce in Manbij-Kobani regions due to Turkey’s “evasion to accept key points,” including the safe transfer of civilians and Manbij fighters.

“Despite U.S. efforts to stop the war, Turkey and its mercenary militias have continued to escalate over the last period,” the SDF said.

A spokesperson for Turkey’s U.N. Mission did not immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

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“The re-eruption of tensions around Kobani underlines the extent to which Assad’s fall has ‘opened the gates’ for Turkey and its SNA proxies in northern Syria,” Charles Lister, director of the Syria and countering terrorism and extremism programs at the Middle East Institute (MEI), told Fox News Digital. “For the first time, they’re free to act without a green light from Assad or Russia.”

Syrian Kurds flee

Anti-regime fighters stand on the roadside as displaced Syrian Kurds drive vehicles loaded with belongings on the Aleppo-Raqqa highway, fleeing Aleppo, on Dec. 2, 2024. (Rami Al Sayed/AFP via Getty Images)

The dynamic between the SDF and SNA forces, backed by Washington and Ankara, respectively, has long proved difficult to maneuver given that both the U.S. and Turkey are allies in NATO.

“After the loss of Tel Rifat and Manbij in recent weeks, the only possible obstacle to further SDF losses is the presence of U.S. troops – but Turkey’s role within NATO has always limited U.S. options,” Lister explained.

“[U.S. Central Command Gen. Michael’ Kurilla’s recent visit and the SDF’s willingness to cede Manbij spoke to the unprecedentedly isolated position the SDF currently faces,” he added in reference to a visit Kurilla made to Syria last week. “If the SDF is going to survive these challenges, it’s going to need to be extremely flexible, willing to concede on major issues, and rely heavily on U.S. diplomacy with Turkey.”

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