TOP NEWS

Trump's USA  Tensions in the Caribbean
US boat attacks increasingly questioned from legal perspective

A growing number of experts are questioning the legality of the US's deadly attacks on alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea, reports the Financial Times.

- There is no doubt that the US government is engaging in extrajudicial executions at sea. Drug smugglers should be arrested, not executed on the spot, says Paz Zárate, an expert on international law at the Andrés Bello Institute in Chile.

Mary Ellen O'Connell, a law professor at the American University of Notre Dame, states that it is not permissible to use military force outside armed conflict zones.

The Trump administration has said that anyone trying to smuggle drugs into the US will be "treated like al-Qaeda" and killed, claiming that they have the law on their side.
 

Budget crisis in the US
Mysterious gift from Trump's friend to be used to pay the military

Donald Trump's administration is to use a secret donation of just over 1.2 billion kronor to pay salaries to military personnel during the ongoing government shutdown, US media reports.

The data, which is confirmed by both the Pentagon and Trump, is a notable departure from how the military is usually financed, writes CNN. Usually the money is public funds that must be approved by Congress.

Both Democrats and Republicans have demanded more information about the gift. Several Democrats have also questioned whether Trump has legal support for financing the military in this way. The president himself says the gift comes from "a friend", but does not want to say who.

1.2 billion kronor corresponds to only one day's wages of the military, according to the Washington Post's calculation.

Political situation in Ireland
Catherine Connolly to become Ireland's next president

Independent socialist Catherine Connolly, 68, is on course to become Ireland's president. She looks set to receive around two-thirds of the vote, according to Irish media.

Connolly's opponent, Heather Humphreys from the Christian Democrat Fine Gael, congratulated her on her victory on Saturday afternoon.

- Catherine will be a president for all of us, she will be my president, and I wish her all the best.

Connolly is critical of the EU and NATO and has strongly condemned Israel's war in Gaza.

Political situation in the UK
Sacked minister becomes Labour's deputy party leader: "Uncomfortable"

The British Labour Party has chosen Lucy Powell as its new deputy party leader, British media report. Powell was sacked from the government as recently as last month when party leader and Prime Minister Keir Starmer reshuffled his cabinet.

Powell is considered close to Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who, according to The Guardian, has been critical of Starmer's leadership.

Sky News political commentator Mhari Aurora says the election is “inconvenient” for Starmer. Since Powell is no longer in the government, she doesn’t need to defend its policies, Aurora reasons.