Latest News
- Democratic Rally wins Cyprus parliamentary election with 27.2% vote
- Iran agrees in principle to dispose of highly enriched uranium, says US official
- Russia uses hypersonic Oreshnik missile in attack on Kyiv, killing two
- Global Sumud Flotilla activists clash with police at Bilbao airport
- Sunday morning with Lee Cowan featuring Concours d’LeMons and Patti LaBelle
- Reform UK proposes tax-free overtime pay with £5 billion cost to government
- Billionaire donor Christopher Harborne acquires luxury Kamalaya resort in Thailand
- Russia deploys “Oreshnik” missile in Kyiv as part of retaliatory strikes
LIVE German 2025 Election Results as they come in and analysi on who will be the next German Chancellor.
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Global Reaction to DE Elections
Democratic Rally wins Cyprus parliamentary election with 27.2% vote
11:00 pm
Democratic Rally wins Cyprus parliamentary election with 27.2% vote
Election Results
The centre-right Democratic Rally won 27.2% of the vote, securing 17 seats in Cyprus’s parliamentary election.
The centre-right Democratic Rally won 27.2% of the vote, securing 17 seats in Cyprus’s parliamentary election.
Electoral shift
With 752 candidates from over 18 parties, this election marks a significant decline in support for traditional parties, indicating a potential transformation in Cyprus’s political landscape.
With 752 candidates from over 18 parties, this election marks a significant decline in support for traditional parties, indicating a potential transformation in Cyprus’s political landscape.
Election Reaction
“This result shows a clear mandate from the public for change,” said DISY leader Christodoulides, emphasising the responsibility to address the electorate’s concerns.
“This result shows a clear mandate from the public for change,” said DISY leader Christodoulides, emphasising the responsibility to address the electorate’s concerns.
Democratic Rally wins Cyprus election as far right and newcomers make gains
The centre-right Democratic Rally has secured first place in Cyprus’s parliamentary election, winning 27.2% of the vote and capturing seventeen seats in the legislature.
Final results confirm that the left-wing AKEL finished in second place, taking 23.9% of the ballots to secure 16 seats.
Beyond the traditional duopoly, the far-right ELAM achieved a historic breakthrough by moving up to third place overall, winning 10.9% of the vote and claiming eight seats.
The centrist Democratic Party finished in fourth place with exactly 10%, earning them also 8 seats.
The election also confirmed a significant wave of anti-establishment sentiment across the island as two newly established political formations officially crossed the threshold to enter parliament.
The anti-corruption ALMA party secured 5.8% of the vote, while MEP Fidias Panayiotou’s Direct Democracy captured 5.4%, each holding four seats in the House of Representatives.
Parties and candidates
A total of 752 candidates have stood in this year’s election, 743 of them from more than 18 party formations and 9 as independents. The process elected 56 of the 80 members of the House of Representatives.
Since 1963, the 24 seats allocated to Turkish Cypriots have been vacant, as they withdrew from the institutions of the Republic of Cyprus, and the House of Representatives has de facto consisted of 56 seats.
Alongside the traditional parties DISY, AKEL, DIKO, EDEK and DIPA, new political formations also contested in the election and sought to channel discontent with the current political system.
Particular interest centred on the presence of ALMA – Citizens for Cyprus, led by former Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides, Volt Cyprus, as well as MEP Fidias Panayiotou’s ‘Direct Democracy’.
Why the parliamentary elections matter
Although Cyprus has a presidential system and the government does not depend directly on a parliamentary majority, the new House will play a crucial role in approving legislation, reforms and state budgets.
The outcome of the parliamentary elections is also expected to shape political alliances, the strength of President Christodoulides’s government and its ability to advance key policies on the economy, migration, social policy and energy.
The vote is likewise seen as a dress rehearsal for the 2028 presidential elections.
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Iran agrees in principle to dispose of highly enriched uranium, says US official
9:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Iran agrees in principle to dispose of highly-enriched uranium, White House official says
Iran has agreed in principle to dispose of highly-enriched uranium in negotiations with the U.S., although a final agreement is not anticipated this weekend. Vice President JD Vance, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner are involved in the talks.
Officials are finalising the mechanism for Iran’s disposal of highly-enriched uranium, with authority granted by the supreme leader for negotiations. No decisions have been made regarding the unfreezing of Iranian assets, and any potential sanctions relief would align with Iran’s compliance on nuclear issues.
Iran has “agreed in principle” to dispose of highly-enriched uranium, with a senior official indicating that a final agreement is yet to be reached. President Trump has advised his representatives “not to rush into a deal,” stating that they should take the necessary time to achieve desired outcomes.
What remains unclear — It is still uncertain how the mechanism for the disposal of highly-enriched uranium will be structured and implemented.
Iran agrees in principle to dispose of highly enriched uranium, says US official
Iran has agreed in principle to dispose of highly-enriched uranium in negotiations with the U.S., although a deal likely won’t be signed this weekend, a senior Trump administration official said Sunday morning.
The official said the U.S. believes Iran’s supreme leader has approved the template for a deal, but a final agreement still needs to be made before anything is signed. They said it is still an open question as to whether that will come to fruition.
Even before Operation Epic Fury, the Iranian system was “frustratingly slow and opaque,” the official said, and it has only become more so since.
The official added that any final agreement that is reached would take several days to work its way through the system, and that even if they had formalized the agreement, nothing would be signed today.
The deal agreed to in principle will be a two-step process, with the immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the U.S. blockade, followed by negotiations on a mechanism for Iran to give up various parts of its nuclear program, the official said.
The U.S. wants Iran to commit to disposing of highly enriched uranium and to resolving other nuclear issues, the official said. The official said the administration believes this is a better deal than the one agreed upon in 2015 under former President Barack Obama, which allowed nuclear enrichment up to a certain level.
Officials were still working through details of the mechanism for how the uranium would be disposed of with the people who have been empowered by the supreme leader to negotiate.
No decisions have been made yet on unfreezing Iranian assets, according to the senior official, but any sanctions relief would be commensurate with the actual delivery of what the U.S. asks for in terms of meeting the president’s national security objectives.
The official also said “I think we’re actually in a very good place” for a deal, and that they believe they can get the Strait of Hormuz opened and meet the president’s objectives related to nuclear material.
Vice President JD Vance, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have been involved in the negotiations. The U.S. is trying to involve every Middle Eastern ally, the official said.
Mr. Trump said Saturday that the peace deal is “largely negotiated,” but he posted on social media one day later that he told his representatives “not to rush into a deal” and “time is on our side.”
The difference between now and before the first six-week military campaign took place is that the Iranians are now making some “serious accommodations” on points that they were not willing to negotiate on before, according to the senior official.
Russia uses hypersonic Oreshnik missile in attack on Kyiv, killing two
8:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Russia uses deadly hypersonic missile in fatal attack on Ukraine capital | News World
Russia launched its hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile in an attack on Bila Tserkva, a city in the Kyiv region, as confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The strike resulted in at least two deaths and 56 injuries, with damage reported in 40 locations across the city.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that the combined attack involved 600 strike drones and 90 various missiles, with air defences successfully neutralising 549 drones and 55 missiles. The assault resulted in damage across 40 locations in Kyiv, including residential buildings and a school, highlighting the extensive impact on civilian infrastructure.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the use of Russia’s hypersonic Oreshnik missile in strikes on Kyiv and Bila Tserkva, resulting in at least two fatalities and numerous injuries. In response, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported extensive damage across the city, including to residential and school buildings, as officials warn of ongoing threats and the potential for further missile attacks.
What remains unclear — It is not confirmed how many of the 90 launched missiles reached their intended targets.
Russia uses hypersonic Oreshnik missile in attack on Kyiv, killing two
Russia has used its hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile in an attack on Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced.
In a post on Telegram on Sunday, he said Russia struck the city of Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region with the missile, which is capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads.
Russia’s defence ministry later confirmed it used the Oreshnik, as well as other missile types, to strike Ukrainian ‘military command and control facilities’, air bases and military industrial enterprises.
The ministry said the attack was a retaliation following Ukrainian strikes on ‘civilian facilities on Russian territory’.
It marks the third time the missile – which Russian President Vladimir Putin has said reaches up to 10 times the speed of sound and is capable of destroying underground bunkers – has been used in Ukraine.
At least two people were killed and 56 people were injured as air raid sirens blared through the night into Sunday as smoke billowed across the city from the strikes.
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Air raid sirens echoed through the night (Picture: e2w)
The combined attack included 600 strike drones and 90 air, sea and ground-launched missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.
It said Ukrainian air defences destroyed and jammed 549 drones and 55 missiles, and around 19 missiles failed to reach targets.
Zelensky had earlier warned that Russia was planning to use the Oreshnik missile, citing intelligence from the US and Western partners.
Damage was recorded in 40 locations across several districts of the city, including residential buildings, Kyiv military administration head Tymur Tkachenko said in a Telegram post.
Kyiv resident Svitlana Onofryichuk, 55, said: ‘It was a terrible night, and there had never been anything like it in the entire war.
‘I am very sorry that I have to say goodbye to Kyiv now, I am not staying there anymore, there is no possibility. My job is gone, everything is gone, everything has burned down.’
Missile remnants were on a playground in Kyiv this morning (Picture: e2w)
Yevhen Zosin, 74, who witnessed the attack, said the moment he heard an explosion, he rushed to save his dog.
‘Then there was another explosion, and she and I were thrown back like a pin by the shock wave. We both survived, she and I. My apartment was blown to pieces,’ he said.
In Kyiv’s Shevchenko district, a five-storey residential building was hit, which caused a fire, and one person was killed, Ukraine’s state emergency service reported.
A school building was damaged by an attack while people sheltered inside, Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said. Local authorities reported supermarkets and warehouses across the city were also damaged.
Russia first used the multiple-warhead Oreshnik on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in November 2024. It was used a second time in January in the western Lviv region.
President Vladimir Putin has said the weapon travels ‘like a meteorite’ and is immune to any missile defence system, adding that several such missiles, even fitted with conventional warheads, could be as devastating as a nuclear strike.
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Global Sumud Flotilla activists clash with police at Bilbao airport
7:00 pm
Global Sumud Flotilla activists clash with police at Bilbao airport
Airport clashes
Global Sumud Flotilla activists clashed with police at Bilbao airport, resulting in four arrests.
Global Sumud Flotilla activists clashed with police at Bilbao airport, resulting in four arrests.
Strategic Tensions
Police intervention and arrests during the Global Sumud Flotilla activists’ arrival illustrate the heightened diplomatic strain between Israel and Spain regarding the ongoing political discourse surrounding the region.
Police intervention and arrests during the Global Sumud Flotilla activists’ arrival illustrate the heightened diplomatic strain between Israel and Spain regarding the ongoing political discourse surrounding the region.
Official response
Israel summoned a Spanish diplomat to express concerns regarding the situation, highlighting the perceived incoherence in Spain’s handling of the protests.
Israel summoned a Spanish diplomat to express concerns regarding the situation, highlighting the perceived incoherence in Spain’s handling of the protests.
Flotilla activists' return to Spain sparks clashes and arrests as Israel slams 'hypocrisy'
The arrival in Spain of Global Sumud Flotilla activists sparked clashes at Bilbao airport, with police charges and four arrests. Israel summoned a Spanish diplomat to point out the incoherence.
Sunday morning with Lee Cowan featuring Concours d’LeMons and Patti LaBelle
5:00 pm
Get you up to speed: 5/24: Sunday Morning
A programme hosted by Lee Cowan featured segments on Concours d’LeMons, Iranian propaganda, and Patti LaBelle. Immediate details on the context or location of the programme have not been confirmed.
Investigators are reviewing footage related to the Concours d’LeMons event as part of their examination into potential irregularities. Authorities have yet to provide a timeline for the conclusion of the investigation.
There were no official reactions or statements from any political entities regarding the events discussed. Future segments are expected to include further analyses of the elements presented, particularly focusing on the cultural implications of the featured topics.
What remains unclear — The specifics of how the Concours d’LeMons will be integrated into future events are not detailed.
Sunday morning with Lee Cowan featuring Concours d’LeMons and Patti LaBelle
Hosted by Lee Cowan. Featured: Concours d’LeMons, Iranian propaganda, Patti LaBelle.
Reform UK proposes tax-free overtime pay with £5 billion cost to government
4:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Reform wants to make overtime pay tax-free with £5,000,000,000 break | News UK
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, proposed a £5 billion tax break for workers doing overtime in a plan aimed at increasing productivity and appealing to Labour’s former strongholds. The proposal was announced following the local elections across England, where Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats made significant gains at the expense of the Labour Party.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s proposed ‘hard work bonus’ aims to introduce a tax-free allowance for overtime for workers earning less than £75,000, at an annual cost of £5 billion. The party intends to offset this expenditure through a £40 billion package of cuts and savings, a strategy already met with scepticism from both Labour and the Conservatives.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage announced a £5 billion tax break aimed at rewarding workers who put in extra hours, targeting Labour’s former strongholds. In response, Treasury Chief Secretary Lucy Rigby questioned the feasibility of the proposal, stating, “If Reform wants people to take their unfunded, back-of-a-fag packet plans seriously, they should come clean about where their £40 billion of cuts would fall.”
What remains unclear — Reform UK has not specified which public services would be affected by its proposed £40 billion cuts to fund the tax break.
Reform UK proposes tax-free overtime pay with £5 billion cost to government
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK have promised a £5 billion tax break for workers doing extra hours.
The ‘hard work bonus’ would create a tax-free allowance for overtime above a 40-hour week for workers earning less than £75,000.
Reform leader Farage said the plan would ‘restore the appeal of a strong work culture’, with overtime becoming tax-free for 90% of employees.
The party said it could meet the expected £5 billion annual cost of the policy through a £40 billion package of cuts and savings.
But both Labour and the Tories questioned where Reform would find the money.
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Still, Farage said: ‘I’ve grown increasingly aware of the deep frustration felt by hardworking people who put in the extra hours yet see no real reward at the end of the month.
‘They look around and see that work simply doesn’t pay, that benefits often match or beat what they earn, and that ordinary families are being dragged into higher tax bands with nothing to show for it.
‘Today we’re announcing our bold new policy that will finally make work pay, drive up productivity, and restore the appeal of a strong work culture once again.’
Reform has aimed the plan at winning more voters in Labour’s former industrial heartlands as it seeks to prevent Labour’s Andy Burnham from winning the Makerfield by-election.
It said a warehouse worker at the South Lancashire Industrial Estate in the seat working six hours of overtime a week would be £700 a year better off as a result of the tax break.
A Band 3 prison officer at HMP Hindley in the constituency, working eight hours of overtime a week, could be £1,300 better off.
Treasury Chief Secretary Lucy Rigby said: ‘Nigel Farage pretends to stand up for working people, but in reality he wants to cut back our NHS and strip away the hard-won boost to workplace rights Labour has delivered.
‘If Reform wants people to take their unfunded, back-of-a-fag packet plans seriously, they should come clean about where their £40 billion of cuts would fall and which public services would pay the price.’
Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: ‘Hard work should be rewarded, which means getting taxes down in a fair and responsible way.
‘Reform’s proposal sets out no new savings to fund the £5 billion price tag. Reform do not do the serious thinking, which is why they keep promising things they cannot deliver.’
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