Pakistan uncertain of Zelensky’s ‘peace’ summit

Islamabad will likely skip the gathering of like-minded Ukraine allies in Switzerland over concerns that attending it would affect its stance of neutrality.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan felt Russia’s exclusion from the meeting undermined the entire process, but pressure from Western powers to attend made it a delicate balance.

❗️Like old friends: Negotiations between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the Guinean delegation kicked off in Conakry

According to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the Guinean FM talked about his happy memories of studying in Russia but said he's forgotten some of the language. Lavrov offered to help find him a Russian language teacher, and they started their official meeting.

1 in 5 Germans want more whites on the national football team — Survey

Manager Julian Nagelsmann slammed German state broadcaster ARD for a survey it conducted asking fans if they would prefer more players with white skin on the national football team as “madness.”

Nagelsmann said he agreed with (white) midfielder Joshua Kimmich who said the survey - which found 21% of the 1,304 respondents wanted more white players - was racist.

He added that this summer’s Euro 2024 hosts don’t want to be without any of the 27 players he chose in the squad for the tournament, including the five black players.

First attacks on Russian soil using American weapons could begin within hours or days — New York Times

In a major shift pressed by his advisers, President Biden authorized Ukraine to conduct limited strikes inside Russia with US-supplied weapons, opening what may very well be a new chapter in the conflict, the Times writes citing officials.

This would mark the first time an American president has given the green light to military strikes within the borders of a nuclear-armed adversary - with the first attacks expected within days, or even hours.

Bubbling backlash: Diehard Trump fans call for ‘civil war,’ ‘armed insurrection’ following guilty verdict

Calls for riots, revolution, and violent retribution have surged online following the former president’s conviction on 34 felony counts by a New York jury.

Reuters reviewed three Trump-leaning websites, including his very own Truth Social, which called for “outright civil war,” “armed insurrection,” and the “execution of the judge, Justice Juan Merchan.”

On Gateway Pundit, one poster suggested shooting liberals after the verdict. “Time to start capping some leftys,” it reads. “This cannot be fixed by voting."

❗️Florida 6-week abortion ban begins

One of the strictest pro-life laws comes into force Wednesday after Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning all abortions after 6 weeks' pregnancy, unless the mother's life is endangered, last year.

Floridians will vote on a referendum that proposes restoring abortion rights up until 24 weeks in November, with 60% of voters required to support it; Democrats currently make up around 32% of the state electorate.

VP Kamala Harris is set to speak on the issue in Jacksonville on Wednesday as part of the White House's drive to drum up much needed support.

That should swing it.

❗️Beirut restaurant blast kills 9, injures more

Nine people were killed and several were injured in a fire following a gas explosion at a Beirut restaurant on Tuesday.

Footage shows ambulance workers, police officers, forensic experts, and firefighters working on the site of the incident, which reportedly sparked after a vehicle full of gas canisters was seen outside.

Bitcoin bleeds 6% ahead of Fed decision

Investors started cashing in as Bitcoin slid below $58,000 early Wednesday, mirroring similar drops across cryptocurrencies as analysts suspect the Federal Reserve may not cut rates at all this year.

Bitcoin is coming off its worst month since 2022, and is floundering about 22% below March's all-time record high of $73,803, but is still up 35% and double its level at the same time last year.

Israel vs Palestine mass brawl erupts in LA

Local eyewitnesses claim there are wounded on both sides, as security forces struggled to disperse the crowd.

Philippines accuse Chinese Coast guard of sparking flashpoint

Manila accused Beijing of ramping up South China Sea tensions after a Coast Guard vessel damaged a fishing boat heading to the disputed Scarborough shoal with a water cannon fired at close range.

A BBC reporter was on board the Philippines boat at the time, and claimed up to 10 Chinese boats were chasing the Filipino boats up to a newly-installed underwater barrier to blockade boats approaching the shoal itself.

Ex-Binance chief Zhao jailed for 4 months

Although prosecutors had pushed for 3 years behind bars for the disgraced crypto mogul after he admitted breaking money laundering laws, US Attorney Tessa Gorman insisted it was an "epic day" in the fight to regulate crypto exchanges.

Binance had reportedly received significant cuts on ransomware proceeds, trade in child sex abuse materials and failed to report over 100,000 suspicious transactions linked to terrorist organizations.

"We are not suggesting that Mr. Zhao is Sam Bankman-Fried or that he is a monster," prosecutor Kevin Mosley said, but said "this wasn't a regulatory 'oops.'"

'Send them back to their country': Nikki Haley fumes at Northwestern Uni concessions to protestors

The failed presidential hopeful laid into Northwestern University president Michael Schill's decision to cave in to a number of demands from pro-Palestine protestors, most notable to offer full scholarships to Palestinian students and faculty jobs to Palestinian academics.

"Any student violating school policy should be expelled. Anyone breaking the law should be arrested. Breaking the rules does not entitle you to a free ride. This isn’t hard," Haley posted on X.

Protestors had also demanded the university divest from partnerships with businesses in Israel - which the institution refused to do.

❗️Ecuador 'internal armed conflict' sparks state of emergency

President Daniel Noboa declared the state of emergency in five coastal provinces - the second time he's invoked such powers since taking office in November last year - to tackle armed groups.

Police and armed forces will be deployed to El Oro, Guayas, Los Rios, Manabi and Sanata Elena to tackle violence Quito has blamed on drug trafficking gangs.