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Kuwait Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
US ‘weaponizes' visas with curbs on opponents
WASHINGTON: The United States said Wednesday it will refuse visas to foreign officials who block Americans' social media posts, as President Donald Trump's administration wages a new battle over free expression. Secretary of State Marco Rubio – who has controversially rescinded visas for activists who criticize the Zionist entity and ramped up screening of foreign students' social media – said he was acting against 'flagrant censorship actions' overseas against US tech firms. He did not publicly name any official who would be denied a visa under the new policy. But last week he suggested to lawmakers that he was planning sanctions against a Brazilian Supreme Court judge, Alexandre de Moraes, who has battled X owner and Trump ally Elon Musk over alleged disinformation. The administration of Trump – himself a prolific and often confrontational social media user – has also sharply criticized Germany and Britain for restricting what the US allies' governments term hate and abusive speech. Rubio on Tuesday suspended further appointments for students seeking visas to the United States until the State Department drafts new guidelines on enhanced screening of applicants' social media postings. Rubio said the United States will begin to restrict visas to foreign nationals who are responsible for 'censorship of protected expression in the United States'. 'It is unacceptable for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants on US citizens or US residents for social media posts on American platforms while physically present on US soil,' Rubio said in a statement. 'It is similarly unacceptable for foreign officials to demand that American tech platforms adopt global content moderation policies or engage in censorship activity that reaches beyond their authority and into the United States,' he said. 'We will not tolerate encroachments upon American sovereignty, especially when such encroachments undermine the exercise of our fundamental right to free speech.' Rubio has said he has revoked the US visas for thousands of people, largely students who have protested against Israel's offensive in Gaza. Among the most visible cases has been Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University who had written an opinion piece in a student newspaper criticizing the school's position on Gaza. Masked agents arrested her on a Massachusetts street and took her away. A judge recently ordered her release. Social media regulation has become a rallying cry for many on the American right since Trump was suspended from Twitter, now X, and Facebook on safety grounds after his supporters attacked the US Capitol following his defeat in the 2020 election to Joe Biden. In Brazil, where supporters of Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro similarly stormed the presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court in 2023 after Bolsonaro's election loss, Moraes has said he is seeking to protect democracy through his judicial power. Moraes temporarily blocked X across Brazil until it complied with his order to remove accounts accused of spreading disinformation. More recently he ordered a suspension of Rumble, a video-sharing platform popular with conservative and far-right voices over its refusal to block the account of a user based in the United States who was wanted for spreading disinformation. Germany – whose foreign minister met Wednesday with Rubio – restricts online hate speech and misinformation, saying it has learned a lesson from its Nazi past and will ostracize extremists. US Vice President JD Vance in a speech in Munich in February denounced Germany for shunning the far-right, noting the popularity of its anti-immigrant message. In an essay Tuesday, a State Department official pointed to social media regulations and said Europeans were following a 'similar strategy of censorship, demonization and bureaucratic weaponization' as witnessed against Trump and his supporters. 'What this reveals is that the global liberal project is not enabling the flourishing of democracy,' wrote Samuel Samson, a senior advisor for the State Department's human rights office. 'Rather, it is trampling democracy, and Western heritage along with it, in the name of a decadent governing class afraid of its own people.' The suspension of student visa processing came as Harvard students protested on Tuesday after the government said it intended to cancel all remaining financial contracts, Trump's latest attempt to force the institution to submit to unprecedented oversight. Trump is furious at Harvard for rejecting his administration's push for oversight on admissions and hiring, amid the president's claims the school is a hotbed of anti-Semitism and 'woke' liberal ideology. A judge issued a restraining order pending a hearing on the matter scheduled for Thursday, the same day as the university's graduation ceremony for which thousands of students and their families had gathered in Cambridge, Massachusetts near Boston. The White House, meanwhile, doubled down in its offensive, saying that public money should go to vocational schools that train electricians and plumbers. 'The president is more interested in giving that taxpayer money to trade schools and programs and state schools where they are promoting American values, but most importantly, educating the next generation based on skills that we need in our economy and our society,' spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News Tuesday. Harvard itself has filed extensive legal challenges against Trump's measures. Alumni plan to file a legal brief against Trump on June 9, filmmaker Anurima Bhargava told a virtual meeting staged by Crimson Courage, a grassroots alumni group. The group is gathering thousands of signatures to show the courts the depth of support for the existing legal action. The Trump administration is also piling financial pressure on Harvard. It has announced the cutting of Harvard's government contracts, estimated by US media to be worth $100 million. – Agencies
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Russia proposes Ukraine talks in Istanbul on June 2
People lay flowers at the coffins of three children who were killed in a Russian missile strike in Korostyshiv, Ukraine. Photo: REUTERS Russia proposed the next round of direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2 with a view to achieving a sustainable peace settlement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a video statement on Wednesday. The statement came after the head of Russia's delegation at peace talks on Ukraine, Vladimir Medinsky, said on the Telegram messaging app that he had called Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov with proposals for the date and venue of the next meeting. "Our delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, is ready to present a memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary explanations during a second round of direct talks in Istanbul on Monday, June 2," Lavrov said. "We hope that all those who are sincerely, and not just in words, interested in the success of the peace process will support holding a new round of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul," Lavrov added. "I would like to once again express our gratitude to our Turkish partners for providing a hospitable venue, as confirmed yesterday by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during his visit to Moscow," he said. Under pressure from US President Donald Trump to end the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II, delegates from the warring countries met earlier this month in Istanbul for the first time since March 2022, the month after Russia sent troops to its neighbour. The May 16 talks failed to reach agreement on a ceasefire and Moscow said certain conditions must be met before such a move was possible. Russian President Vladimir Putin, after a call with Trump on May 19, said that Moscow was ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum about a future peace accord. Medinsky said Russia was ready for talks and that he expected a reply from Ukraine. "Let me emphasise: right there, on the spot, we are ready to begin an essential, substantive discussion of each of the points of the package agreement on a possible ceasefire," he said. There was no immediate reaction from Kyiv. Separately, Russian foreign ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it was agreed that Russia and Ukraine would each prepare their vision of "modalities of settlement and ceasefire" and would discuss and exchange the documents at the next round of talks. agencies
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Wales Online
19 unbelievably brilliant Cardiff breakfast places you'll want to be a regular at
19 unbelievably brilliant Cardiff breakfast places you'll want to be a regular at We've rounded up some of our favourite breakfast and brunch spots in Cardiff so you can start your day right. Breakfast is the most important part of the day, and in Cardiff, we're lucky to have a wide selection of cafes, restaurants, and cabins where you can feast on bacon baps, fry-ups, pancakes, and vegan eats (Image: Hard Lines ) Breakfast is the most important part of the day, and in Cardiff, we're lucky to have a wide selection of cafes, restaurants, and cabins where you can feast on bacon baps, fry-ups, pancakes, and vegan eats. But with so many choices across the city, where do you choose? Who serves the best sausage bap? Where can you get a fry-up that doesn't cost the earth? Luckily for you, we've rounded up some of our favourite breakfast and brunch spots in Cardiff so you can start your day right. In no particular order, here are our top picks in the city. Let's dig in! For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here 1. Longa Breakfast from Longa (Image: Wales Online ) Enjoy a top-class, homemade Turkish brunch in a relaxed setting at Longa's Whitchurch Road location. Their awesome brunch and breakfast options are so popular that they are now serving them all day on weekends. They include dishes such as menemen, consisting of two eggs fried in rich, spiced tomato and pepper sauce and butter, served with Turkish Bread. Another brunch favourite at Longa is Shakshuka, fried aubergine and potato in spiced tomato and pepper sauce with paprika. Served with Turkish bread. 180 Whitchurch Rd, CF14 3NB 2. Canna Deli Located just off the King's Road on Pontcanna Mews, the Welsh-speaking Canna Deli is always busy thanks to its covered outdoor area. This local favourite effortlessly combines flavours from around the world with a distinctly Welsh twist. From the brunch menu, try the coconut porridge with plum compote or, for something a little more filling, the deviled chestnut mushrooms on toasted sourdough, washed down with coffee. Pontcanna Mews, CF11 9DF 3. Milkwood One of our favourite Pontcanna breakfast spots is Milkwood (Image: Portia Jones ) One of our favourite breakfast spots in Pontcanna is Milkwood, a dog-friendly neighbourhood bistro and cafe focused on quality Welsh produce and seasonal specials. By night, the Dusk menu features crafted cocktails, wine, and pizza on Friday and Saturday nights. So you can feast day and night, foodie fans. We particularly love the Shakshuka dish for breakfast, which features perfectly oozy eggs atop a herby and spiced tomato sauce. Order a cheeky side of chorizo for extra brunching oomph. 83 Pontcanna Street, CF11 9HS 4. Hard Lines Hard Lines is a small-batch Welsh Coffee Roastery that serves a mean espresso, gorgeous silky smooth flat whites, and pour-overs made to perfection. Their cafe at St Canna Court in Canton serves a range of brunch and breakfast dishes alongside quality coffee. Typical menu items include loaded breakfast baps, pancakes, huevos rancheros, and banana bread. Cowbridge Rd East, CF5 1GX 5. Park Side Park Side's brunch muffin (Image: Paul Vernon ) Parkside has opened a second Cardiff location with sophisticated interiors and an impressive all-day brunch menu. The indie business already has one cafe in Heath, which opened in 2021. Their new location in Lakeside, right by the popular and gorgeous Roath Park, aims to offer a sophisticated brunch option while serving up established classics, including coffees, cakes, and cocktails. The all-day menu features several new creations, like stuffed sourdough eggy bread with smoked bacon and cheddar, and buttermilk fried chicken French toast with hot honey. The first Park Side is already loved for its cakes and sweet treats, and the independent bakery Carrot Top Bakery will continue to provide for the new Lakeside cafe. 6. Brød Looking for pastries and coffee in Pontcanna? Try Danish bakery Brod for a little slice of Denmark in the 'diff.' It offers traditional Danish pastries and freshly brewed, aromatic coffees supplied by Clifton Coffee Roasters. The Sunday Times also singled out this hip bakery as being "unmissable." It's the brainchild of Betina Skovbro, who combined her heritage and love of baked goods to the city in November 2015, since expanding to Penarth, then the east of Cardiff. 126 Wyndham Crescent, CF11 9EG 7. Forest Tea Rooms You'll find no-nonsense breakfast food at the rather secluded Forest Tea Rooms in Tongwynlais (Image: Portia Jones ) You'll find no-nonsense breakfast food at the rather secluded Forest Tea Rooms in Tongwynlais. Look, this isn't a posh hipster cafe. Don't come here expecting deconstructed avocado on toast, okay? Adjust your expectations, and you will have a fuss-free breakfast experience in a rustic and leafy cafe in the woods. It's a family-run business in a gorgeous forest setting that even has the odd peacock roaming around. Heol Y Fforest, CF15 7JR 8. Servini's at the Summerhouse Servini's at the Summerhouse (Image: Portia Jones ) Since Servini's took over the summer house in Bute Park, it has been offering a fabulous selection of locally roasted coffee, breakfast, and lunch sandwiches. Eat al fresco in beautiful Bute Park and enjoy a relaxed morning in the outdoors. Their outdoor seating area is also dog-friendly, so you can take a break from your dog walk to grab a hot brew and a bap. Bute Park Summer House 9. Ground The dishes in Ground look (almost) too good to eat (Image: Portia Jones ) Ground Bakery is MasterChef star Thomas Simmons' coffee shop venture, whose first cafe was in the affluent creative area of Pontcanna. It's an artisanal boulangerie and speciality coffee house and is just yards away from his hugely successful restaurant, which now has three sister locations in Canton, Penarth and Cowbridge. This small and sleek venue serves a range of brunch dishes and baked goods, including (melt-in-your-mouth) overnight bacon, mushrooms and eggs, Llys Meddyg smoked salmon and eggs and house beans and eggs 15 Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9HQ 10. Bentleys Cafe Bentley's Café on Wellfield Road is a standout among Roath's hipster cafe offering (Image: Portia Jones ) Bentley's Café on Wellfield Road is a standout among Roath's hipster cafe offerings. It perfectly combines old-school cafe vibes with modern decor and excellent service. Take a seat and have a proper cup of tea alongside toasties, omelettes, massive breakfasts, and tasty avo on toast. 35 Wellfield Road, CF24 3PA 11. Wally's Kaffeehaus Wally's Delicatessen and Kaffeehaus brings a little slice of Viennese coffee house culture to Cardiff (Image: Wally's Kaffeehaus ) Wally's Delicatessen and Kaffeehaus brings a little slice of Viennese coffee house culture to Cardiff. They offer a great range of continental breakfasts, open sandwiches, and strong coffee to kick-start your morning. After breakfast, make sure to check out their foodie emporium on the ground floor. It's a real treasure trove of local European food and local produce. Royal Arcade 12. KIN+ILK Pontcanna KIN+ILK Pontcanna site is a stark and stripped-back bit of Scandi cool, smack bang in the tree-lined 'burbs of Pontcanna (Image: Portia Jones ) KIN+ILK Pontcanna site is a stark and stripped-back bit of Scandi cool, smack bang in the tree-lined 'burbs of Pontcanna. There's plenty of outdoor seating here too, giving this uber-hip café a real 'European neighbourhood' feel. Try the delicious Turkish eggs slathered in creamy, garlic yoghurt or their incredibly moreish pancake stack. 31 Cathedral Road, CF11 9HB 13. Penylan Pantry If you're in the market for hipster eats and ethical plates, head to Penylan Pantry in Roath (Image: Portia Jones ) If you're in the market for hipster eats and ethical plates, head to Penylan Pantry in Roath. They whip up healthy breakfasts packed with sustainably sourced ingredients and local produce in cutesy café surroundings. 72 Kimberley Rd, CF23 5DN 14. The Ivy Cardiff The Ivy Cardiff (Image: The Ivy ) Have a swanky brunch at the Ivy Cardiff and spoil yourselves with a range of delectable dishes in utterly divine surroundings. This eclectic city restaurant serves modern British and international Ivy-inspired classics from breakfast to dinner. Typical breakfast items include hot buttermilk pancakes, The Ivy full breakfast, smoked salmon crumpet and avocado Benedict. St David's Centre on The Hayes 15. Ramon's Breakfast and Burger Bar The mountain of food was never-ending (Image: Richard Swingler ) Whether it's modest beans on toast or a stomach-challenging mega breakfast, Ramon's is an iconic cafe deep in the student heartlands that serves up huge portions of your fave dishes. Our hungry reporter, John, bravely took on Ramon's colossal Titan breakfast challenge, which contains a staggering 57 items. This breakfast trial requires participants to polish off eight rashers of bacon, eight sausages, eight fried eggs, six hash browns, six slices of black pudding, a pound of mushrooms, a pound of fried potatoes, a huge omelette, tomatoes, baked beans, three vanilla pancakes, four slices of buttered bread and another four slices of fried bread or toast. Read how he got on here. 64 Salisbury Rd, Cardiff CF24 4AD 16. The Secret Garden, Bute Park Right in the centre of Bute Park lies the Secret Garden Cafe (Image: Wales Online ) Right in the centre of Bute Park lies the Secret Garden Cafe. This hip park cafe serves up herby eggs, granola, and coffees that are to die for, especially after a walk around the lush green surroundings. Bute Park 17. Let Them See Cake Content cannot be displayed without consent This homely cake shop in the heart of Victoria Park is one of Wales' most Instagrammable bakeries and rose to prominence after being featured on a TV show. The perfectly pastel pink Cardiff shop front was revealed to the world BBC series Hot Cakes in 2022, which followed the delicious team as they bake their way into the hearts of the nation - and their social media feed. Along with beautiful hand-crafted, stylish buttercream cakes, the bakery also serves brunch from Wednesday to Sunday. Expect pretty plates of Wyau (Forage Farm Eggs), Sweet Stack French Toast and Byti Bach (brioche buns with either smoked bacon or Teifi halloumi) 593 Cowbridge Rd E, Cardiff CF5 1BE 18. Milk & Sugar Planning a chilled weekend breakfast? Milk & Sugar on Pontcanna Street has you covered. Part of a group of independent city venues, whatever you order is freshly cooked and will start your day off right. You can tuck into a full breakfast, pancakes or egg benedict, or specials like flat iron steak. There's a selection of cold-pressed juices, and if you're feeling adventurous, try the chaga mushroom latte, which is described as an "immune system booster, energiser and mood enhancer." 79 Pontcanna St, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9HS 19. Hiraeth kitchen Content cannot be displayed without consent Hiraeth is a small neighbourhood restaurant opposite Victoria Park, that's been making waves on the foodie scene. Known for its tasting menus and use of regional produce, including locally foraged ingredients and some from their own smallholding, it has exceptional eats in an intimate setting Hiraeth has also been named in the prestigious Michelin Guide, the AA Guide and the Good Food Guide. Article continues below They recently started offering brunch, which is currently served on Saturdays only. Expect quality produce from a monthly changing menu, perfectly plated.
Libya Observer
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Libya Observer
Russia, Turkey to use their influence to prevent renewed fighting in Libya
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Tuesday that Russia and Turkey have agreed to leverage their influence over Libyan factions to help prevent the resurgence of armed conflict in the country. Lavrov made the statement during a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, following their meeting in Moscow. His remarks come in the wake of recent deadly clashes in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. News Tagged: Turkey
The Sun
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Russia to present peace 'memorandum' to Ukraine at new talks
MOSCOW: Russia said Wednesday it had drafted a peace 'memorandum' outlining its terms for ending the Ukraine conflict and would present it to Kyiv at a new round of direct talks in Istanbul next Monday. Ukraine did not immediately comment on the announcement. Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting have accelerated in recent weeks, with the two sides meeting for their first face-to-face talks in over three years earlier this month in Istanbul. 'Our delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, is ready to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary explanations during a second round of direct talks in Istanbul on Monday, June 2,' Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. 'I would like to once again express our gratitude to our Turkish partners for providing a hospitable venue, as confirmed yesterday by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during his visit to Moscow,' Lavrov added. Medinsky, a Russian political scientist and former culture minister, led Russia's negotiating team during the first round of talks on May 16. US President Donald Trump has put pressure on both sides to broker an end to the three-year conflict.
