Articles from ‘Independent News Roundup’

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has summoned Israel’s ambassador in Rome after condemning the treatment of pro-Palestinian activists detained during Israel’s interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. In a sharply worded statement on Wednesday, Meloni described footage showing Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting the detainees as “unacceptable.” · "It is inadmissible that these demonstrators, including many Italian…

Former Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller has accused senior European Union figures of causing what he described as “unimaginable damage” to the European project, directing criticism at European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Miller, who oversaw Poland's accession to the European Union in 2004, made the remarks following a ceremony in Strasbourg where Merkel received the newly created…

President Donald Trump and pro-Israel groups have helped unseat Representative Thomas Massie, a hardline conservative who broke with the president over Israel, Iran, and the Epstein files, in what became the most expensive US House primary in history. Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL and farmer who previously ran unsuccessfully for the Kentucky state Senate in 2024, defeated Massie after pro-Israel groups poured more than $10 million into…

President Putin and Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, sign a series of bilateral documents, including an objection to 'forcing sovereign states to renounce neutrality', adding that hegemony must be eliminated. · Despite outside pressures the links between Russia and China are strong and the two countries are working hand in hand to counter global coercion. An Iranian MP lashes out at what he calls Donald Trump’s ‘unbalanced character’, saying the US…

The Midweek Update · Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s “No Money for Terror” message at the G7 is framed as sanctions on Iran, but Susan Kokinda argues that the real warning is aimed elsewhere. · According to the discussion, the focus is not simply on Iran itself, but on what are described as “excuses” and financial structures allegedly enabling terror financing through shell companies in Europe, shadow banking systems in the Middle East, and…

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has confirmed that her team is investigating more than 40 US-funded pathogen laboratories in Ukraine. Here’s what you need to know about the story that was written off as “Kremlin propaganda” in 2022 In a statement to the New York Post on Tuesday, Gabbard said that her department had identified more than 120 biological laboratories in 30 countries that had been funded by the US taxpayer for…

On May 12, 2026, Russia carried out the second successful launch of its newest heavy liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile, the Sarmat. The launch marked another major milestone in the flight-testing program for Russia’s next-generation strategic missile system. Following the test, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the first regiment equipped with Sarmat ICBMs would officially enter combat duty by the end of 2026. By…

The Russian ruble has become the world’s best-performing currency against the US dollar in the second quarter of 2026, boosted by a surge in oil revenues, Bloomberg has reported. Data compiled by the outlet showed the ruble had climbed about 12% since the start of April to around 72.6 per dollar, its strongest level since February 2023. · For a second straight year, the currency has diverged from official and market forecasts that predicted…

Drone chaos grips the Baltics. Latvia is on high alert while a Ukrainian UAV is shot down over its neighbor, Estonia. · It comes as Moscow intelligence reveals that Kiev is planning to use those territories to launch attacks on Russia. 'Our people should grow closer' - President Vladimir Putin addresses the Chinese people shortly before touching down for his state visit to China and meetings with president Xi Jinping. · Four people killed…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing. He has travelled to China for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The trip coincides with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Russia-China Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation. The visit comes less than a week after US President Donald Trump’s trip to China. The American president arrived in Beijing for a two-day state…