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EU decides on key EUR90bn Ukraine loan after pipeline deadlock ends1 hour agoPaul KirbyEurope digital editorReutersEuropean Union ambassadors are meeting in Cyprus with expectations high that a EUR90bn (PS78bn) EU loan seen as vital support for Ukraine can finally be paid out after months of deadlock.The funding was agreed last December, but Hungary’s Viktor Orban slapped a veto on the payment in February in a row over supplies of Russian oil that came to a halt through a pipeline in Ukraine.Ukraine said an oil hub on the Druzhba pipeline was damaged in Russian strikes, but Orban demanded the oil start flowing again before the loan could be paid out.The EU believes the deadlock is about to end as Ukraine says the pipeline has been repaired.Orban’s election defeat last Sunday has also cleared the air for the EU, bringing to an end his 16-year era as Hungarian prime minister. Peter Magyar has made it a priority to reset Budapest’s poor relationship with Brussels. Kaja Kallas, EU’s chief of foreign policy, said that she expected positive decisions on the EUR90bn loans ahead of the meeting with ambassadors. “Ukraine needs this loan, and it’s a sign that Russia can’t outlast Ukraine. “We will no longer block the loan approval as soon as oil is delivered through the pipeline,” said Orban, acting as caretaker until early next month. In the lead-up to Hungary’s bitterly contested elections this month, Orban had accused Ukraine of imposing a “oil blockade”. He claimed that the EU worked with Kyiv to work against him. Satellite images at the time indicated substantial damage to a large oil tank in Brody, western Ukraine, in late January. Kyiv had said that repairs would take time, and added that its engineers were under Russian attack. Meanwhile, Ukraine has targeted oil facilities in Russia, including a Samara region pumping station linked to the Druzhba Pipeline this week. Zelensky was portrayed alongside Magyar on campaign posters in Hungary with the message “They are dangerous!” “Zelensky said that late on Tuesday, he had discussed the unblocking of the loan with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, head the European Council who represents the 27 members states. Zelensky stated that there was no reason to block the loan any longer. “The EU asked Ukraine for the repair of the Druzhba Oil Pipeline, which was destroyed by Russia. We have repaired it. We hope that the EU will also fulfill its commitments. The Ukrainian media reported that even if the EU loan was finally agreed, it would still take several weeks for funding to arrive in Kyiv.

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Phone ” ” ” The The The The The He is based in the UAE and has been sanctioned by the US and UK governments for recruiting Colombians to fight in Sudan.The Desert Wolves were paid and employed by a UAE-based company with documented ties to senior Emirati government officials, according to La Silla Vacia and documents obtained by the CIG, the report says.The CIG also says it identified devices with Spanish-language settings at a port in Somalia with links to the UAE, and at a town in south-eastern Libya believed to be a logistical hub for the flow of weapons to the RSF, allegedly facilitated by the Emirates.The number of Colombian fighters in Sudan has previously been estimated in the low hundreds.The US has twice sanctioned Colombian nationals and associated companies for recruiting mercenaries to fight in Sudan, in December and again last week.The US Treasury Department has said that Colombian fighters supported the RSF capture of el-Fasher but has stopped short of making a direct connection to the UAE.More BBC stories on Sudan war:’I saw them driving over injured people’ – the terrifying escape from war in SudanThree years of messages at once – a chronicle of Sudan’s war pours in as trapped reporter’s phone turns on’I can’t afford to save both twins’: Sudan’s war left one mother with an impossible choice’The weapons were loud, but there was always music’: Sudanese band play on through the warGetty Images/BBCGo to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafricaBBC Africa podcastsFocus on AfricaThis Is AfricaUnited Arab EmiratesSudanAfricaColombia

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Virginia approves redistricting giving Democrats edge in midterms9 Minutes agoSareen HabeshianGetty ImagesVirginia is the latest front in a national battle to redraw congressional districts after President Donald Trump and Republicans initiated a national gerrymandering push aiming to help conservatives maintain a congressional majority.Democrats in California last year approved a similar measure to change the state’s voting districts, with the goal of cancelling gains made by Republicans on redrawn maps Texas. Supreme Court allows California to use a new voting map that boosts DemocratsDemocrats currently hold six of the 11 seats in the state, and the updated maps could allow them to hold as many as 10. The redistricting referendum was the most expensive ballot measure ever in Virginia, according to figures provided by the Virginia Public Access Project. The Virginia Public Access Project reports that groups on both sides have raised over $80m in the last month. “I don’t know if I know what gerrymandering means, but it’s not good,” Trump added. States usually redraw voting maps every decade after the US Census releases new population data. California Gov Gavin Newsom responded to Trump’s support for Texas’ changes by launching a campaign to suspend the Golden State’s independently drawn maps last year in order to “fight fire with fire”. California voters approved their new maps during a special referendum held in November, giving Democrats a slight edge in five new district. In the US, gerrymandering is only illegal when it is based on race. The Republican party is trying to hold onto its slim majority in the House during November’s midterm election. The party of the president has historically lost House seats in this vote. VirginiaUS politicsUnited States

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Trump buys time for Iran deal after frantic day of diplomacy8 hours agoDaniel BushWashington correspondentDANIEL HEUER/POOL/EPA/ShutterstockTuesday began as a frantic day of diplomacy in Washington, with Air Force Two ready to fly Vice President JD Vance to Islamabad for another round of peace talks between the US and Iran.Several hours later, Air Force Two hadn’t taken off and the negotiations were postponed. Trump announced he would extend a ceasefire with Iran that was set to expire Wednesday evening to give the regime more time for them to come up with a “unified proposition” to end the conflict. In between, Trump weighed all his options while the world waited. Trump’s decision was the second time in two weeks that he had backed down from a threat to escalate a war. He bought himself more time to wind up a conflict approaching the two-month mark.Vance did not announce the Islamabad visit, leaving Washington guessing. The White House was left in a difficult position, as Iran had not officially committed to attend the talks. It was therefore up to the White House to decide whether or not Vance should be sent. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son in law Jared Kushner and other senior members of Vance’s US negotiating team flew from Miami to Washington instead of going straight to Islamabad. Vance was invited to the White House to attend “policy meetings”, as the president and senior advisers discussed what to do. The president claimed that he took the decision on the request of Pakistan which has been mediating talks between Washington and Tehran. Trump said, “We were asked to delay our attack on the country of Iran until their leaders and representatives could come up with an unified proposal.” This time, Trump did not specify the length of the ceasefire. He set a deadline of two weeks for the first ceasefire earlier this month. He made contradictory comments in interviews with the press, saying that the talks were progressing well, but also warning that he might consider resuming war if Iran refused negotiations. James Jeffrey, former US ambassador to Iraq, Turkey and the Middle East, told BBC that there is no “clear formula” for ending wars. Jeffrey said that Trump is not the first US president who has “threatened significant military escalation” while also putting an attractive deal on the table. “REUTERS/Akhtar soomroTrump’s open-ended statements on Tuesday were more measured than his previous social media attacks against Iran. This may indicate Trump’s desire for an end to a war which has roiled global economics and is unpopular among anti-interventionists in Trump’s Maga support. Brian Katulis is a senior fellow with the Middle East Institute. He said that Trump’s decision has also increased uncertainty over the length of the war. Katulis said that Trump’s decision raises the question of how he will deal with the economic pain Americans are feeling and the political pain from his base. “He hasn’t answered the questions which are still driving this crisis.” “With the ceasefire extended, the US has more time to reach a lasting peace deal. But major questions remain. Iran has called the US blockade of Strait of Hormuz an act of warfare. Trump did not restart the war, but he made no indication that he would lift the blockade. The US had hoped this would force Tehran to back off. Trump bought himself some time. Iran has not shown any interest in ending their nuclear program or supporting proxy groups in the Middle East, two “red lines” Trump demanded to be included in a final peace agreement. Trump claims that an Iranian ship was seized. Oil prices rise after Trump’s claim. Subscribers in the UK may sign up here. Sign up here if you are not in the UK.

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Iran has seen a mass of redundancies as Employers and government officials refer to this as “bala The impact of air strikes on factories is far more than This includes other manufacturers, retail, import and export businesses One user posted on X that “you can see Another user said, “You can see it by the You can see it by the empty Hemmat [ It was the same step taken during the brutal clampdown The Iranian authorities took the same measure during the brutal crack Official data shows that only one in nine women of working The Iran Labour News Agency (Ilna), We can’t even load the material onto the ship The government has announced a loan program for small businesses Air strikes alone will have devastating consequences, but economic downturn, heightened unemployment and runaway prices could deepen the crisis considerably.IranIran war