Russia, Ukraine trade blame over attack on boarding school in Russia's Kursk region

An analysis of the EU Transparency Register reveals that several small public affairs and law firms in Europe are actively lobbying for major oil and gas companies, contributing to pollution concerns. Despite fossil fuel clients accounting for only 1% of the industry’s revenue, many of the top spenders in influencing EU policymaking are linked to these companies. The findings, published by the Good Lobby nonprofit, highlight the extent of lobbying efforts within the fossil fuel...

SummaryA judge has invalidated tuition increases and French language requirements for out-of-province Canadian students, determining that the Higher Education Ministry failed to provide adequate data to support its assertion that these students were not integrating into Quebec society. McGill University's principal and vice-chancellor, Deep Saini, warned that raising tuition rates for these students could lead to "serious consequences" for the institution. This ruling underscores the legal challenges surrounding educational policies affecting out-of-province students in Quebec....

Spending watchdog warns A government spending watchdog has raised concerns about the £6.5bn in subsidies allocated to the Drax power plant in North Yorkshire, questioning whether this funding provides value for public money amid ongoing sustainability issues. Over the past three years, the government has distributed approximately £22bn in public funds to support businesses and households that utilize biomass pellets as fuel, including the significant sum for Drax. The watchdog's assessment suggests that future funding...

These are the key events on day 1,156 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.On April 25, Russia launched its largest attack on Kyiv this year, killing 12 people with 145 drones and 70 missiles, including one identified as North Korean. President Zelenskyy accused Russia of using air strikes to facilitate ground advances, while NATO's Mark Rutte indicated that the responsibility for peace negotiations lies with Moscow. Meanwhile, U.S. President Trump criticized the strikes, suggested a ceasefire...

Auckland's Mission Bay fountain was dyed red in an apparent protest on Anzac Day, prompting condemnation from Councillor Desley Simpson, who labeled it as willful damage to public property. The red dye, likely cordial, was poured into the water, and police are currently assessing the situation. Simpson expressed her respect for peaceful protests but emphasized that she does not condone the destruction of public assets. Full Article

Summary In hindsight, the impasse regarding the now-canceled VAT increase of 0.5 percentage points, which caused a fallout between the DA and ANC, the largest partners in the GNU, could have been averted, according to DA leader and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen. The disagreement highlights the complexities of political negotiations within the coalition. Steenhuisen's remarks suggest that better communication and collaboration might have prevented the conflict over the VAT increase. Full Article