LA REVUE GAUCHE - Left Comment

2026-06-11T02:18:47.730-07:00

'Children are dying,' Cuba says as US blockade hampers delivery of UN aid

By Gavin Blackburn

Published on 10/06/2026 - EURONEWS

The blockade, coupled with expanded US sanctions that punish companies doing business with the Cuban state, has intensified the worst economic and energy crisis on the island in over a generation.

Cuba's government said on Wednesday that the US oil blockade that has crippled the island is preventing the United Nations from distributing 170 containers of humanitarian aid.

US President Donald Trump has set his sights on ending more than six decades of communist rule in Cuba.

In January, he cut off oil supplies to Washington's arch-foe from its main supplier Venezuela and threatened other countries with sanctions if they came to Cuba's rescue.

Since then, only one oil tanker, from Russia, has made it through.

Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said that 170 containers of UN aid worth $6.3 million (€5.4 million) "is not reaching beneficiaries due to the fuel shortage."

Writing on X, he stressed that the blockade was "not only hampering the performance of the Cuban economy" but also affecting the work of international organisations.

An electric tricycle transports customers during a blackout in Havana, 21 March, 2026 AP Photo

The blockade, coupled with expanded US sanctions that punish companies doing business with the Cuban state, has intensified the worst economic and energy crisis on the island in over a generation.

Parts of Havana have been without power for up to 30 hours at a time in recent days, and food, running water and medicine are in increasingly short supply.

Trump claims that Cuba, which lies 150 kilometres off Florida's coast, poses a major threat to US national security and floated the possibility of a "friendly takeover" of the island of 9.6 million people.

On Monday, the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for the US sanctions to be "lifted immediately."

"Children are dying because doctors lack access to essential medical supplies and medicines. This is unacceptable," he said.

Pretext for military action

Recent US sanctions targeting Cuba’s leadership and the indictment of former President Raúl Castro are a “pretext” for the Trump administration to persuade the American people to support a military intervention, Cuba’s top diplomat to the United States said on Tuesday.

Ambassador Lianys Torres Rivera repeated accusations against the Trump administration made by other Cuban officials, including the foreign minister and the president, and complained that the US is targeting Cuban civilians with its decades-old embargo and new blockade of energy shipments to the island.

Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Cuba Lianys Torres Rivera speaks in Washington, 9 June, 2026 AP Photo

“The sanctions against our leaders, we see as a pretext to make the American people think we are a threat,” she said at Cuba's embassy in Washington.

“We are not a threat to the US and we don’t want confrontation.”

Torres Rivera, who holds the formal title of chargé d’affaires, described the situation as “a war without bombs.”

She said efforts to change Cuba’s government by coercion or force would be met with fierce resistance.

“Raúl is sacred,” she said of the indictment by a federal grand jury last month of Castro.

The 95-year-old former president faces conspiracy and murder charges related to the 1996 downing of two unarmed civilian planes operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue while he was serving as Cuba’s defence minister.

“Raúl is a sacred symbol of the revolution, and we will defend Raúl — as we will the country — until the end,” Torres Rivera said. “If we are attacked, we are going to respond and we are prepared for that. But we don’t want it.”

Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other administration officials have repeatedly denied that Cuba’s economic strife is America’s fault and repeatedly cast the blame on the government’s socialist policies.

They have not ruled out military action against the island but have said they are willing to give Cuban authorities time to make reforms.

2026-06-11T02:18:36.529-07:00

ANOTHER GRENFELL

Hong Kong charges seven people and two firms over massive fire that killed 168

By Gavin Blackburn

Published on 10/06/2026 - EURONEWS

The massive blaze, which engulfed seven of the eight high-rise apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court estate in November, prompted a months-long investigation into the cause.

Hong Kong filed manslaughter charges against several people and companies on Wednesday over the world's deadliest residential building fire in decades, which killed 168 people at a public housing estate last year.

The massive blaze, which engulfed seven of the eight high-rise apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court estate in November, prompted a months-long investigation into the cause.

Public hearings were told that almost all life-saving fire safety measures had failed on the day of the blaze because of human errors.

The directors of the construction contractor and the consultant firm involved in Wang Fuk Court's renovation at the time of the fire, as well as an inspector, were accused of manslaughter along with their companies, according to charge sheets seen by the AFP news agency.

Seven individuals in total were charged with laundering money and evading tax.

The defendants appeared in court on Wednesday and told the judge that they "understood" the charges.

The court heard those accused of manslaughter "unlawfully" killed 168 from the residential buildings in November, including residents and a firefighter.

The cases were adjourned until September.

A Hong Kong police representative said on Wednesday that the force had arrested 35 people in connection with the fire, working with Hong Kong's anti-graft watchdog, ICAC.

"We suspect that this unfortunate incident was caused by individuals acting in their own self-interest...with complete disregard for the safety of residents' lives and property," ICAC's principal investigator Hazel Law told reporters.

Substandard construction safety netting and cigarette butts were focal points of the probe into the causes and rapid spread of the deadliest residential building fire globally since 1980.

Fire alarm systems for seven of eight blocks had also been deactivated, which "greatly shortened the time for residents to evacuate," leading counsel Victor Dawes had told an independent committee conducting the probe.

Required fire-retardant nets were not used in many places and the windows were covered by foam boards, which may have contributed to the spread of fire into the flats, the panel heard earlier this year.

The Fire Investigation Task Force had maintained that an ignited cigarette caused combustible material to catch fire, sparking the blaze.

Thousands of residents lost their homes in the blaze and relocated into temporary housing.

2026-06-11T02:18:14.874-07:00

Myanmar’s Rare Earth: The Hidden Costs Of The Global Green Transition – Analysis

June 11, 2026
Shwetaungthagathu Reform Initiative Centre
By Htay Su Wai

The global transition toward renewable energy and electric vehicles has accelerated demand for rare earth minerals, placing Myanmar’s conflict-affected borderlands at the center of emerging critical mineral supply chains. As rare earth extraction expands in Kachin State following the 2021 coup, environmental degradation, weak regulation, and fragmented governance structures have increasingly shaped the country’s role in the global green economy.

Key Takeaways:

Myanmar has become the world’s third-largest producer of rare earth elements, after the US and China, for advanced renewable energy technologies, as China increasingly shifts environmentally destructive extraction beyond its borders into Myanmar’s weakly regulated frontier regions.

The rapid expansion of rare earth mining in Kachin State after the 2021 coup reflects fragmented governance systems involving militias, armed actors, informal taxation networks, and opaque cross-border business arrangements operating with limited environmental oversight or accountability.

Myanmar’s rare earth frontier exposes a deeper contradiction within the global green transition: while wealthier societies pursue cleaner energy and “greener” cities, the environmental and human costs of extracting critical minerals are increasingly displaced onto conflict-affected and politically fragile regions, creating zones of ecological sacrifice that remain largely invisible within global climate narratives.

Introduction

Rapidly reducing dependence on fossil fuels and accelerating the transitiontoward renewable energy have become central to global climate strategies and the pursuit of a net-zero future. Electric vehicles, wind turbines, batteries, and other low-carbon technologies are increasingly viewed as essential tools for addressing climate change and advancing sustainable development goals. Yet the technologies driving this transition depend heavily on critical minerals, particularly rare earth elements essential for renewable energy systems and advanced manufacturing industries.

As global demand for critical minerals intensifies, governments and industries face growing challenges surrounding supply chain security, environmental sustainability, and geopolitical competition. While the expanding critical mineral economy presents economic opportunities for resource-rich developing countries, it also risks reproducing patterns of environmental degradation, corruption, conflict, and unequal resource governance commonly associated with the “resource curse.”

Myanmar has emerged as an increasingly important supplier within regional rare earth supply chains linked to China’s processing industries. According to Global Witness, Myanmar’s exports of rare earth minerals to China increased dramatically from approximately US$1.5 million in 2014 to nearly US$780 million by 2021. Much of this extraction has concentrated in Kachin State along Myanmar’s northern borderlands, where long-standing conflict dynamics and contested territorial authority continue to shape local governance systems.

As extraction rapidly expands, Myanmar’s rare earth frontier increasingly reveals a deeper contradiction at the heart of the global green transition: while renewable energy technologies are promoted as environmentally sustainable solutions, the environmental and governance costs associated with critical mineral extraction are increasingly displaced onto fragile border regions affected by conflict and weak regulation.

Myanmar’s Rare Earth Boom and China’s Supply Chain Shift

Rare earth minerals have become strategically important because of their essential role in renewable energy technologies and advanced manufacturing industries. Heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium and neodymium are particularly valuable because they are used in permanent magnets essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, batteries, smartphones, and high-performance electronics. As governments accelerate climate goals and low-carbon industrial strategies, global demand for these minerals has surged dramatically.

China has dominated the global rare earth industry since the 1980s and continues to control much of the world’s processing and refining capacity. However, the environmental consequences of rare earth extraction within China became increasingly severe over the past decade. Illegal mining, toxic waste, poisoned waterways, and long-term ecological degradation generated mounting environmental concerns, particularly in Jiangxi Province, often referred to as China’s “rare earth kingdom.”

In response, Chinese authorities intensified environmental enforcement measures after 2016 and shut down many domestic heavy rare earth mining operations. Yet while China reduced environmentally destructive extraction within its own territory, global demand for rare earth minerals continued to rise rapidly. Rather than reducing extraction overall, mining activities increasingly shifted across the border into Myanmar’s weakly regulated frontier regions. While China argues for a non-interference policy in the Myanmar crisis for Western powers, they are exploiting the Myanmar Civil War as a tool to increase China’s influence in Myanmar by dealing with both the military-led government and the ethnic military. China’s cooperation with KIA for rare earth minerals from Kachin state is evidence of China’s double standard in its own foreign policy towards Myanmar.

A six-month investigation by Global Witness documented how this highly polluting industry expanded rapidly into Myanmar’s Kachin Special Region 1, a semi-autonomous territory controlled by militia groups affiliated with Myanmar’s military establishment. Within just a few years, the region became one of the world’s largest suppliers of heavy rare earth minerals.

Reports indicate that thousands of Chinese workers and technicians crossed into Myanmar between 2016 and 2019 to establish and operate mining sites using the same in-situ leaching methods previously employed in Jiangxi. The mines continue to supply Chinese state-owned processing companies that dominate the global rare-earth refining industry. Commodity research firm Roskill noted in 2021 that nearly all major Chinese state-owned enterprises involved in heavy rare earth processing had become dependent on Myanmar as a source of raw materials.

The expansion of extraction into Myanmar demonstrates how stricter environmental governance in one country can displace ecological harm into weaker regulatory environments elsewhere. As one industry expert cited by Global Witness observed, “the environmental challenges that come with this type of mining in China have spread to a neighbouring nation.”

Fragmented Governance After the Coup

The rapid expansion of rare earth extraction in Myanmar cannot be understood solely through global market demand. It is also deeply connected to fragmented governance systems that intensified following the 2021 military coup.

Rather than producing a simple absence of governance, the post-coup crisis generated overlapping systems of competing authority involving military actors, militias, ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), border business networks, and informal economic actors. In many extraction zones across northern Myanmar, governance operates through negotiated control, informal taxation systems, and localized power arrangements rather than centralized state regulation.

In Kachin Special Region 1, mining operations reportedly function through opaque agreements involving militia-controlled authorities and cross-border commercial actors. Although foreign investment in small- and medium-scale mineral extraction is technically illegal under Myanmar law, enforcement remains limited in conflict-affected borderlands where competing systems of authority overlap.

The Institute for Strategy and Policy-Myanmar (ISP) reported that militia leaders and affiliated business networks have become central brokers in the rare-earth economy, facilitating mining operations, granting access to extraction sites, collecting informal taxes, and controlling cross-border trade routes into China. In many cases, Myanmar-registered companies reportedly function as fronts for Chinese investment operating through informal and opaque commercial arrangements.

The post-coup political environment has further weakened environmental oversight and institutional accountability. Under fragmented governance conditions, extraction activities continue with limited regulatory monitoring, while armed actors and border business networks benefit economically from the rapid expansion of rare earth mining.

Myanmar’s rare earth sector, therefore, illustrates how conflict-affected borderlands can become integrated into global supply chains through systems of shadow governance and informal extraction economies operating beyond effective environmental regulation.
Environmental Consequences in Kachin State and Beyond

The environmental consequences of rare earth extraction in Myanmar increasingly mirror the ecological devastation previously witnessed in China’s Jiangxi Province, where decades of poorly regulated mining contaminated waterways, destroyed forests, and generated massive long-term cleanup costs. China’s “Take profit without responsibility” policy in neighbouring countries for Rare-earth mining clearly downgrades China’s role as a global normative actor.

Mining operations in Kachin State commonly use in-situ leaching methods that inject chemical solutions such as ammonium sulfate directly into mountainsides to extract rare earth minerals. While highly profitable and relatively inexpensive, this process leaves behind toxic wastewater, contaminated soil, deforested landscapes, and unstable terrain vulnerable to erosion and landslides.

Global Witness documented how mining sites across Kachin State have expanded rapidly across mountainous terrain, with thousands of chemical collection pools identified near river systems and forest areas. Local communities have reported worsening access to clean water, dying fish populations, contaminated farmland, and the disappearance of wildlife from nearby forests. Residents also described growing fears about surrounding toxic exposure, respiratory illnesses, and long-term environmental destruction linked to chemical leaching processes.

The environmental consequences are no longer confined to isolated mining zones. Recent environmental monitoring in Thailand detected alarming levels of arsenic contamination in transboundary river systems linked to mining activities upstream in Myanmar, including areas associated with rare earth extraction. Investigations reported by Mongabay found growing concerns along the Salween River basin, where communities increasingly fear the impacts of toxic contamination on fisheries, agriculture, drinking water systems, and local livelihoods.

These developments highlight how environmental harm generated within Myanmar’s conflict-affected borderlands increasingly carries regional ecological and human security consequences. The contamination of shared river systems demonstrates that the environmental costs of weak extraction governance do not stop at national borders.

The long-term implications may prove severe. In China’s Jiangxi Province, authorities estimated that environmental cleanup costs linked to rare earth mining could exceed US$5.5 billion, with ecological recovery potentially taking up to a century. Myanmar currently lacks both the institutional capacity and regulatory mechanisms necessary to manage environmental remediation on a comparable scale.

The Hidden Contradiction of Global Green Transition

Myanmar’s rare earth frontier reveals a critical contradiction at the heart of the global green transition. Renewable energy technologies are frequently presented as environmentally sustainable solutions to climate change. Yet, the extraction systems that support these industries often impose severe environmental and social costs in politically fragile regions.

The environmental burdens associated with critical mineral extraction are not distributed equally. Instead, they are increasingly externalized onto vulnerable borderland communities where governance systems remain weak, fragmented, and conflict-affected. A green transition that ignores the social and environmental impacts on local communities is not truly green; it is simply greenwashing under the language of sustainability. While industries and consumers elsewhere benefit from electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and advanced technologies, the ecological and political consequences of extraction are concentrated in frontier regions such as northern Myanmar.

This dynamic raises broader questions about environmental governance, supply chain accountability, and the political economy of climate transition policies. Efforts to accelerate renewable energy adoption without addressing extraction governance risk reproduce new forms of environmental injustice and conflict-linked resource exploitation.

Myanmar’s rare earth frontier ultimately reveals a critical paradox at the heart of the global green transition: technologies designed to secure a sustainable future increasingly depend upon extraction systems rooted in environmental destruction, fragmented governance, and conflict-affected borderlands. Without stronger environmental accountability and conflict-sensitive supply chain governance, the pursuit of clean energy risks reproducing new forms of ecological injustice under the banner of sustainability.
Policy Recommendations

Addressing the environmental and governance challenges of rare earth extraction in Myanmar requires stronger international cooperation, conflict-sensitive environmental governance, and improved supply chain accountability.

Key priorities include:

Strengthening environmental monitoring in conflict-affected extraction areas and tightening regulations on rare earth trade linked to environmentally harmful practices, particularly within Chinese-linked supply chains.

Improving transparency and traceability in critical mineral supply chains, including the potential use of blockchain technologies to reduce illicit trade and improve accountability.
Expanding responsible sourcing standards for companies and governments reliant on rare earth minerals for renewable energy, electric vehicles, and advanced manufacturing.

Enhancing regional cooperation to address transboundary environmental impacts such as river pollution and ecological degradation. Local actors, including the NUG and EAOs, should also consider long-term environmental consequences in governance decisions.

Encouraging ASEAN to take a more active role in addressing regional environmental risks stemming from Myanmar’s extractive and ecological crises.

About the author:

Htay Su Wai is a Junior Research Fellow at the Sustainability Lab of the Shwetaungthagathu Reform Initiative Centre (SRIc) and holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, Germany.

Source: This article was published by The Sabai

About Shwetaungthagathu Reform Initiative Centre
The Shwetaungthagathu Reform Initiative Centre (SRIc) is a hybrid think tank (non-partisan) and consultancy firm that advances sustainable governance, policy innovation, and sustainability literacy in Myanmar. Through its Sustainability Lab, SRIc conducts in-depth public policy research and analysis to promote sustainable development and guide Myanmar toward a more resilient, equitable, and environmentally conscious future. SRIc provides strategic policy advocacy, CSR consultation, and the development of sustainability roadmaps grounded in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. These services support public institutions and private sector actors in aligning their operations with the Sustainable Development Goals. By integrating rigorous research with actionable consultancy, SRIc supports responsible business practices, fosters innovative CSR strategies, and designs impactful sustainability pathways. SRIc contributes to local transformation & global sustainability efforts through this dual approach.
View all posts by Shwetaungthagathu Reform Initiative Centre →

2026-06-11T02:17:48.172-07:00

China’s Nuclear Power Capacity Has Nearly Doubled Since 2016 – Analysis

June 11, 2026

By EIA

From 2016 to 2024, China’s nuclear generation capacity increased 76% (24 GW), based on our International Energy Statistics (IES) data. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Power Reactor Information System (PRIS), China added an additional 1.1 GW of nuclear power capacity in 2025 and 2.2 GW in 2026 (through May). China is continuing to build out its nuclear generating capacity and has 36 reactors under construction, accounting for more than 49% of total world nuclear construction, according to PRIS.

China’s nuclear fleet is concentrated near population centers in the eastern part of the country, along the Pacific Ocean coastline from the Liaoning province in the north to the Hainan province in the south. According to IAEA’s PRIS, China’s existing nuclear fleet mostly consists of pressurized water reactors.

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, World Bank, Global Energy Monitor, Global Nuclear Power Tracker, and International Atomic Energy Agency Note: MW=megawatts

As of May 2026, China had 60 operational reactors with 58.7 GW of total capacity installed at 18 different sites. China has also implemented strategies to help rapidly expand its nuclear power plant fleet.

Nuclear projects in China use a standardized project management approach for design, licensing, and construction for multiple reactor technologies. Reactors are built in batches of 6 to 10 reactors to take advantage of economies of scale. China is also building up a nuclear supply chain with a focus on domestic manufacturing of the main plant components to decrease reliance on foreign nuclear vendors.

Additionally, China’s average build time for nuclear power plants is below the global average. According to the World Nuclear Industry Status Report, 2022 the average build time for a nuclear power plant in China between 2012 and 2021 was six years, compared with a global average construction time of about nine years. More recent reporting in 2024 similarly indicates that Chinese firms built reactors both inside and outside of China in five to seven years.

China started construction of six new reactors in 2025 and two new reactors, Xuwei-1 and Taipingling-4 in 2026 through May. China has also commissioned two new units so far in 2026: Sanao-1 and Taipingling-1. In total, China has 36 reactors under construction across 19 sites which will add about 38.9 GW of additional capacity.

Data source: U.S. Energy Information administration, World Bank, Global Energy Monitor, Global Nuclear Power Tracker, and International Atomic Energy Agency Note: MW=megawatts

China is building its first small modular reactor (SMR), the Linglong-1, a domestically designed 100 MWe pressurized water reactor that can be used for power generation, water desalination, and district heating. The project is intended to demonstrate commercial operation and is expected to start operation in the first half of 2026. The Linglong-1 uses the ACP100 SMR design, a modular design, allowing certain components to be built in a factory and installed onsite.

Principal contributors: Slade Johnson, Jonathan Russo
Source: This article was published by EIA

About EIA

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) collects, analyzes, and disseminates independent and impartial energy information to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.

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2026-06-11T02:17:33.807-07:00

Trump’s Iran Predicament Is His Own Fault – OpEd

LIBERTARIAN ANTI-IMPERIALISM

June 10, 2026
MISES
By Connor O’Keeffe

Over the weekend, Iran and Israel launched direct strikes on each other for the first time since all parties agreed to a ceasefire back in early April.

It began with an Israeli strike on Beirut after a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the government of Lebanon was rejected by Hezbollah—the actual combatant that is fighting Israeli forces. Iran responded as they warned they would, with a wave of ballistic missiles aimed at targets in Israel. The Israeli government claimed all those missiles were intercepted—though videos posted to social media appear to show at least some getting through.

After the attack, Trump reached out to reporters and claimed he was going to call Israeli PM Netanyahu and tell him not to attack Iran in response. The president told a Financial Times reporter that he, not Netanyahu, was calling the shots.

However, a few hours later, Israeli forces did exactly what Trump had publicly demanded they not do and launched airstrikes on targets across Iran. Afterward, Trump called on both sides to “stop shooting” and, at the time of writing, it appears that both have for the moment.

But the situation remains just as fragile as it had been before the exchange.

One of the main sticking points holding back Trump’s attempt to reach a lasting peace deal continues to be the fighting in Lebanon. Days after US and Israeli strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader, the militant group Hezbollah began launching rockets into Israel, presumably to help exhaust interceptor stocks and to take some heat off their allies in Iran.

In response, Israel launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. The Israeli government ordered the evacuation of all territory up to the Litani River. Israel’s defense minister claimed none of the 600,000 residents would be allowed to return to their homes until Israel felt that its security was guaranteed (meaning when Hezbollah was no more).

Eventually, as US and Israeli interceptor stockpiles dwindled and the global economic consequences of the war became more acute, Trump backed down from his original demand of an “absolute surrender” and pursued a ceasefire with Iran.

However, despite all the tactical successes of US and Israeli forces, on the strategic level, time was more on Iran’s side. US and Israeli missile defenses were running dangerously low. And Iran had made it clear to everyone that they are the dominant power controlling the Strait of Hormuz and that it was rather straightforward for them to use that power to cause worldwide economic pain—something that gave them, arguably, even more leverage over their opponents than they had before Trump launched the war.

What appears to have convinced the Iranians to agree to a ceasefire despite a position that was getting stronger with time was both an assurance from Trump that the fighting would also stop between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and some signaling that the US was willing to unfreeze Iranian assets or deliver some form of financial compensation to the Iranian regime.

Trump may have succeeded in convincing the Iranians of both, but that was the easy part. If he is genuine about wanting to reach a deal, he faces several difficulties that make a lasting peace agreement highly unlikely in the near future.

For starters, Lebanon, being a key part of not only a potential future deal but of the ceasefire itself, has kicked off what is, in effect, a game of chicken between Israel and Iran. The Israelis seem to want either for the war to restart and continue until the Iranian regime collapses or, at least, for Iran to abandon Hezbollah. And the Iranians appear to want the US to step in and restrain the Israelis.

Towards those ends, Israel has continued to launch attacks in southern Lebanon. In fact, they have recently pushed north of the Litani River and occupied territory beyond the already massive “temporary” buffer zone they announced back in the spring. And Iran has launched strikes across the region in response to signal their continued support for Hezbollah and their willingness to return to a full-on war if Trump doesn’t keep the Israelis in line. As the Iranians probably intended, the current setup highlights and amplifies the differences between Trump and Netanyahu’s aims.

The regime currently in power in Tel Aviv has invested a lot of time, energy, and money in the last few decades into steering US military power towards Israel’s regional rivals. The American warfare state, which is always in need of new enemies to justify its existence, has been happy to oblige on a number of occasions.

However, although the Israeli government and its official and unofficial lobbying entities in Washington are among the most effective interest groups active in modern DC, they are not the only ones. Sometimes things don’t go the way Tel Aviv wants, such as when Obama reached a nuclear deal in 2015 with Iran, Israel’s biggest regional rival at the moment.

But then came Donald Trump. Pro-Israel groups poured millions of dollars into his campaign and, after winning back in 2016, he governed as a bombastically pro-Israel president—withdrawing from the JCPOA and pivoting to a “maximum pressure” posture against Iran that moved the region closer to war. However, despite some direct engagements, a full-on US war on Iran did not break out.

But when Trump returned for his second term last year, the situation was more urgent from the Israeli perspective since support for Israel among the American public was collapsing after the IDF’s brutal response to the Hamas attack on October 7.

Being pro-Israel is already nearly disqualifying for Democratic candidates. And support among (especially young) right-wingers is also falling quickly. The prospect of the next president being anybody even close to as pro-Israel as Trump was clearly growing dimmer, which may have been why Netanyahu made such a push for Trump to launch a war on Iran now.

Israeli war hawks and their ideological allies here in the US are clearly not pleased that Trump has been unwilling to go all the way and wage war until the Iranian regime collapses. Many are still agitating for Trump to stop trying to make a deal and do just that. But Trump does appear to have been rattled by the economic consequences of the Strait of Hormuz being closed. And understandably so.

Gas prices have jumped up to the Biden-year levels he campaigned against, with oil prices likely to rise a lot higher soon as the market’s temporary shock-absorbers are exhausted. Also, food prices are likely to follow as the war-induced fertilizer shortage during the spring planting season carries over into a food shortage and a new parasite threatens the country’s beef supply. A lot of future economic pain has already been locked in, and the Strait remains closed.

However, if Trump prioritizes the country’s economic well-being and abandons this war, he risks running afoul of the pro-Israel donors, lobbyists, and commentators that have so far been some of his most enthusiastic and financially-generous supporters. And that is especially true if he follows through and agrees to unfreeze some or all of the $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets that Tehran has demanded as a prerequisite for ending the war and opening the Strait. That would be a political disaster for Trump after he spent years decrying Obama for sending “pallets of cash” containing less than $2 billion in unfrozen Iranian assets to Tehran as part of the JCPOA.

It is hard to see how Trump could possibly reach some lasting peace agreement in the near future that all sides will abide by. Just about anything the Iranians are willing to agree to will be a political disaster domestically, but so is any prolonged closure of the Strait if Trump can’t deliver something the Iranians will accept. And everything that even appears like a step towards ending the war rather than restarting it will probably be resisted, if not sabotaged, by the Israelis—barring some major escalation against Hezbollah that Iran would never agree to or allow.

Trump is in a genuinely difficult position. But it’s important to remember that it’s entirely his fault.

None of these challenges are surprising or even unexpected. The danger of a closed Strait and the escalatory nature of the conflict were all things skeptics and restrainers have been citing as a reason to avoid a war with Iran for decades. Trump dismissed those concerns and charged ahead under the delusional assumption that it would all work out. He deserves no sympathy.

But he’s also not the only one who deserves blame. Many people over many years have worked hard to push the US towards a war with Iran. The Israel lobby was instrumental, of course, but they were not the only ones. The weapons industry, other Gulf countries, hawkish think tanks, the intelligence agencies, the establishment press, and, really, the entire political establishment were instrumental in kicking off and escalating the interventionist project that marched the country up to the brink of war with Iran.

Now, as it’s becoming harder and harder to pass this war off as anything other than a disaster, several hawkish figures such as Robert Kagan and Max Boot have tried to distance themselves from a conflict they helped prepare the political, ideological, and institutional ground for. Their criticisms are often sound. But the attacks are always focused on Trump and Trump alone. And deliberately so.

As things get worse, the political establishment will want the public to think of this episode as an out-of-the-blue, madman-led diversion from what had been decades of sound foreign policy. But that isn’t true. The political class has spent decades propagandizing the public into thinking of the US military as a global police force that had, not just the ability, but the duty to intervene anywhere in the world to liberate the oppressed and overthrow tyrants.

The tragedy of this war is not that Trump abandoned America’s foreign-policy consensus, it is that he followed it all the way to its logical conclusion.

About the author: Connor O’Keeffe (@connorokeeffe) writes a weekly column for the Mises Wire, hosts Guns & Butter a weekly podcast on current trends, and co-hosts the Power & Market podcast. He has a master’s in economics and a bachelor’s in geology.

Source: This article was published at the Mises Institute

About MISES

The Mises Institute, founded in 1982, teaches the scholarship of Austrian economics, freedom, and peace. The liberal intellectual tradition of Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973) and Murray N. Rothbard (1926-1995) guides us. Accordingly, the Mises Institute seeks a profound and radical shift in the intellectual climate: away from statism and toward a private property order. The Mises Institute encourages critical historical research, and stands against political correctness.
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2026-06-11T02:17:18.738-07:00

The Primacy Of Maritime Security – OpEd

June 11, 2026
Unipath
By Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani

Growing disorder is afflicting the maritime domain from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean and into the Arabian Gulf region. The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has shifted the focus of strategic experts from a form of sea blindness, which gave more importance to land security over maritime security, to a deep interest and concern for maritime affairs.

One should view maritime security not just as a military matter but also in terms of economic disruption and human security. Indeed, the Gulf, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, represents one of the world’s most strategically sensitive maritime corridors. It is a transit route for more than a quarter of the global seaborne oil trade and for a significant portion of the world’s liquefied natural gas, fertilizer and essential commodities such as helium.

Since events escalated at the end of February 2026, the number of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz has dropped by 90%. It is easy to take freedom of navigation at sea for granted, yet the prosperity of nations, the flow of global trade and the growth of the world economy all depend upon it. Maritime routes carry the great majority of international commerce, at a scale that no network of roads, railways or air transport could ever replace. This system connects producers to markets, delivers food and energy between continents and supports the daily lives of billions of people.

However, this transport system is not guaranteed. Disruption of critical sea lanes can quickly affect supply chains, prices, energy, security and economic stability far beyond any region. Protecting maritime routes is therefore not only a matter of national interest but a shared international responsibility.

Qatar firmly believes that maritime security cannot be achieved through military measures alone. It requires a comprehensive strategic approach based on three key pillars:The first is dialogue and de-escalation. Regional security is not sustainable without diplomatic engagement and channels of communication among all concerned actors. In this, Qatar, in full coordination with the regional partners, reaffirms its support for the Pakistani mediation efforts, which constitute the most credible and active channel of dialogue.
The second pillar is respect for international law. The principles of the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) must remain the foundation of maritime governance. Freedom of navigation and the protection of civilian shipping are essential principles we must preserve jointly. Therefore, Qatar firmly rejects the use of international waterways as a tool of political pressure. If we allow such a precedent, then what we have seen in the Strait of Hormuz can happen in the Indo-Pacific or elsewhere. Article 44 of the UNCLOS clearly says that states bordering straits shall not hamper transit passage.
The third pillar is international and regional cooperation. No single state can secure maritime routes alone. The complexity of modern threats requires deeper coordination between regional partners and international allies. The situation in the Strait of Hormuz cannot be allowed to reoccur, and Qatar together with our partners will spare no effort to reach a sustainable political solution to keep this waterway safe and fully open.

The security of the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Arabian Gulf is intertwined with global security. What happens in our waters affects global markets and supply chains and international stability itself. The Gulf region is currently the point of impact, but the shock waves extend far beyond it, affecting countries remote from the actual military theater. Safeguarding freedom of navigation is not just a regional priority. It is also an international strategic imperative.

This article is based on a speech delivered on May 30, 2026 at the 23rd International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue, a defense and security summit held in Singapore

.About the author:

Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Qatar

Source: This article was published by Unipath Magazine

About Unipath

Unipath is a professional military magazine published quarterly by the Commander of the United States Central Command as an international forum for military personnel in the Middle East and Central Asia region.

2026-06-11T02:16:56.352-07:00

The European Parliament And U.S. Interests – Analysis

June 11, 2026
By Kristin Archick
Congressional Research Service (CRS).

The European Parliament (EP) is the only directly elected institution of the 27-country European Union (EU). The EP’s current 720 members represent the EU’s roughly 450 million citizens. The EP has accumulated more power over time (most recently with the 2009 Lisbon Treaty) as part of EU efforts to improve democratic accountability in EU policymaking. Congress-EP ties are long-standing, and the EP’s potential to shape or otherwise influence aspects of U.S.-EU relations—such as trade, digital rules, and policies on Russia and China—may be of interest to Congress. The most recent EP elections were in June 2024.

Role and Responsibilities

The EP plays a role in the EU’s legislative and budget processes and has a degree of oversight responsibility. The EP works closely with the two other main EU institutions: the European Commission, which represents the interests of the EU as a whole and functions as the EU’s executive, and the Council of the European Union(informally the Council, or Council of Ministers), which represents the interests of the EU’s national governments. Although the European Commission has the right of legislative initiative, the EP shares legislative power with the Council of the EU in most policy areas, giving the EP the right to accept, amend, or reject the vast majority of EU laws (with some exceptions, such as taxation and most aspects of foreign policy). Both the EP and the Council of the EU must approve a European Commission proposal for it to become EU law in a process known as the ordinary legislative procedure or co-decision. The EP must approve the accession of new EU members and international agreements (including on trade) and may issue nonlegislative resolutions (used, for example, to provide opinions on foreign policy issues).

With the Council of the EU, the EP decides how to allocate the EU’s annual budget (fixed as a percentage of the EU’s combined gross national income). The EP has a supervisory role over the European Commission, limited oversight over the Council of the EU, and monitors EU policies, including through investigations and public hearings. EU member states are required to take EP election results into account in choosing the European Commission president, and the EP must approve each new slate of European Commissioners, including the president, every five years.

Structure and Organization

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) serve five-year terms. Voting for the EP takes place on a national basis, with the number of MEPs elected in each EU country based roughly on population size.
Political Groups

Once elected, MEPs caucus according to political ideology (rather than nationality) into groups, which span the political spectrum and typically represent over 200 national political parties. In the 2019-2024 EP, there were seven political groups; in the current EP, there are eight, as well as a number of “nonattached” or independent MEPs (see Figure 1). Although the majority of MEPs hail from political parties that support the EU project, some are considered to be antiestablishment and euroskeptic—that is, critical of the EU or anti-EU to varying degrees. Most euroskeptic parties in the EP are on the right or far right and hold predominantly nationalist and anti-immigration views.

No single group in the EP has an absolute majority, making compromise and coalition-building key features of the EP. Historically, the two largest groups—the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) and the center-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D)—have tended to dominate the EP by cooperating in unofficial “grand coalitions.” At the same time, voting blocs may vary on specific pieces of legislation. The relative size of the political groups also helps determine EP leadership and committee posts.

EP Leadership, Committees, and Delegations

MEPs elect a president of the EP every two-and-a-half years (twice per parliamentary term). The president oversees the work of the EP and represents it externally. Roberta Metsola, a Maltese MEP from the EPP, was reelected to a second term as EP president in July 2024. The EP has 22 standing committees that are key actors in the adoption of EU legislation. Each committee considers legislative proposals that fall within its jurisdiction and recommends to the full EP whether to adopt, amend, or reject proposed legislation. The EP also may establish temporary committees on specific issues or committees of inquiry on breaches of EU law. Forty-eight EP delegations maintain parliament-to-parliament relations throughout the world (including with the U.S. Congress).
Location and Administration

The EP’s official seat is in Strasbourg, France (a location near Germany symbolic of postwar peace), where plenaries typically are held once per month. Committee meetings and some part-plenary sessions occur in Brussels, Belgium. A Secretariat of over 7,000 nonpartisan civil servants and contract staff, based in both Brussels and Luxembourg, provides administrative and technical support. MEPs and political groups also have their own staff assistants (around 3,000 personnel total). The EP has faced criticism that its multiple locations entail a wasteful duplication of resources and sizeable commuting costs, as well as calls for greater transparency about MEPs’ office and travel expenses. The EP tightened ethics rules in 2023 following the so-called Qatargate corruption scandal involving alleged bribes paid to several MEPs and staffers. In 2025, allegations of corruption and bribery within the EP involving China’s Huawei technology company renewed questions about EP lobbying and transparency rules.

Source: Created by CRS, drawn from European Parliament data. For current EP seats, see https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/search/table, updated regularly. For 2019-2024EP seats, see https://results.elections.europa.eu/en/european-results/2019-2024/outgoing-parliament/.

The 2024 EP Elections

In the June 2024 elections, the overall size of the EP increased to 720 MEPs due to EU demographic changes. Pro-EU center-right EPP and center-left S&D retained their positions as the two largest groups. Voter concerns about migration, the economy, and EU climate policies helped drive increased support for euroskeptic parties and a loss of seats for the centrist, economically liberal, pro-EU Renew Europe (RE) group and the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), composed of pro-environment parties and leftist regional parties (e.g., Catalonian, Corsican). Despite the gains by euroskeptics, the EPP, S&D, RE, and Greens/EFA hold a combined 450 seats (63%). Average turnout across the EU was 51% (same as the 2019 election).

Euroskeptic parties in the EP hold a range of views, including on EU reforms and attitudes toward Russia. The largest euroskeptic group in the new EP is Patriots for Europe (PfE), an alliance of far-right parties. The Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) is farther right and more stridently euroskeptic. The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) is considered a more moderately euroskeptic group. The Left group includes former communist parties and some far-left EU critics.

In the new EP’s first year, one analysis indicated that the EPP, S&D, and RE voted alike in 88% of decisive EP plenary votes. The EPP also has cooperated with ECR (regarded by the EPP as pro-Europe, pro-Ukraine, and pro-rule of law) and with PfE and ESN on selected issues (including a resolution on Venezuela, changes to an EU deforestation rule and corporate sustainability reporting rules, and measures to facilitate migrant returns). The EPP’s willingness to partner at times with ECR, PfE, and ESN reportedly has generated tensions with S&D, RE, and the Greens/EFA.

The United States, Congress, and the EP

With the Lisbon Treaty, the EP gained a more prominent role in some aspects of U.S.-EU relations, particularly with the right to approve or reject international agreements. In 2010, the EP initially rejected a U.S.-EU accord on countering terrorist financing due to concerns about U.S. data privacy safeguards; the EP subsequently approved this accord and other U.S.-EU information-sharing and data protection agreements. EP approval of some regulations is necessary to fully implement EU commitments on tariffs under the 2025 U.S.-EU framework agreement on trade, tariffs, and other issues; the EP considered and negotiated some changes to the regulations amid broader U.S.-EU tensions and U.S. legal and policy developments.

More generally, the EP’s role in EU lawmaking may affect certain U.S. interests. The EP was central to shaping and approving the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, which applies to many U.S. companies doing business in Europe. In the 118th Congress, some House and Senate Members voiced concern that EU digital rules approved by the EP could target U.S. technology firms; such concerns persist in the 119th Congress, and Trump Administration officials and some Members also have criticized EU digital rules as censoring free speech. Meanwhile, some EP positions on China have aligned with U.S. concerns, for example, about China’s military provocations against Taiwan. Many MEPs support Ukraine and EU sanctions on Russia (although decisions on sanctions rest with the member states). Some MEPs also have welcomed EU efforts to help boost member states’ defense spending and Europe’s defense industry.

Interparliamentary exchanges between Congress and the EP date back to the 1970s. The Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue (TLD) has been the formal mechanism for engagement between the U.S. House of Representatives and the EP since 1999. TLD meetings are intended to take place twice a year to discuss various political and economic issues. Some MEPs and analysts have long argued for further enhancing cooperation with Congress, suggesting that closer ties could help strengthen U.S.-EU relations and reduce frictions. At the same time, structural and procedural differences between Congress and the EP could pose challenges to greater legislative cooperation.

About the author: Kristin Archick, Section Research Manager

Source: This article was published by Congressional Research Service (CRS).

About CRS
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS has been a valued and respected resource on Capitol Hill for nearly a century.

View all posts by CRS →

2026-06-10T21:58:02.456-07:00

Defying Russia: Poland and Germany plan massive offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea

By Diana Resnik

Published on 10/06/2026 - EURONEWS

Despite hybrid attacks from Russia, Poland is betting on offshore wind power from the Baltic Sea. At a forum in Berlin, one message was clear: the region could become Europe’s next major energy hub. Will Europe seize this opportunity?

Germany's offshore wind energy expansion is progressing only slowly. Yet after phasing out nuclear power, the country has effectively put all its eggs in one basket. For too long, Germany remained dependent on imports of fossil fuels. However, Russia has now been ruled out as an energy supplier due to its full-scale war against Ukraine, while the conflict involving Iran and the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have placed Germany's energy-dependent economy in an increasingly precarious position.

Jan Tombiński: 'A Good Crisis Should Not Be Wasted'

“A good crisis should not be wasted,” says Jan Tombiński, Poland’s ambassador to Germany. He cites a Chinese proverb that carries a powerful message: every crisis also presents an opportunity.

That opportunity was the focus of discussion on Tuesday at the 4th German-Polish Energy Transition Forum in Berlin. Diplomats and business leaders from Germany and Poland gathered at the Polish Embassy to explore joint solutions to emerging challenges.

According to Tombiński, Poland has now become an even more important economic partner for Germany than the United States. The economies of both countries are deeply interconnected. Closer German-Polish cooperation in offshore energy offers significant opportunities to strengthen Europe's overall energy sovereignty.

The Baltic Sea is the key area for this cooperation. Yet Germany has so far been hesitant to expand offshore installations there, potentially missing a major opportunity to increase energy independence through cross-border collaboration.

Warsaw has also recognized that it became overly dependent on energy imports. “We put ourselves in this position, and we must get ourselves out of it,” says Jacek Kostrzewa, President and CEO of the National Energy Conservation Agency (KAPE).

Poland’s economy is thriving. While many major European economies are stagnating, Poland has consistently grown faster than the EU average for years. Real GDP growth of approximately 3.3 to 3.5 percent is expected in 2026.

How Poland’s Strategy Works

Konrad Wojnarowski, State Secretary at Poland’s Ministry of Energy, explains the country's approach. Russia is no longer considered a reliable partner, while war continues to destabilize the Middle East. As a result, Poland is pursuing a strategy based on “diversification of energy sources.”

Onshore and offshore renewable energy must continue to expand, while energy storage infrastructure must be developed. At the same time, Poland intends to continue investing in nuclear power. “Strengthening security and ensuring supply” is the guiding principle.

The costs of inadequate preparation, Wojnarowski warns, would be enormous. “A nationwide blackout would cost Poland €9.5 billion per day.” Therefore, Poland’s objective is “as little dependence on Russia as possible.”

Poland has significantly accelerated the expansion of wind energy. The country's installed onshore wind capacity surpassed the 2,000-megawatt mark years ago and has now exceeded 11 gigawatts (11,000 megawatts), enough to supply approximately seven to ten million households annually.

Poland’s first offshore wind farm is already under active construction and is expected to become fully operational in the second half of 2026.

Which Direction Will Europe Take?

But where is Europe heading?

“Cross-border cooperation is extremely important,” says Piotr Wiśniewski, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Polish Chamber of Renewable and Distributed Energy (PIGEOR) and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of EnercoNet.

“We need the right infrastructure. In twenty years, it will work very well,” Wiśniewski says.

Germany’s offshore wind activity in the Baltic Sea remains significantly smaller than in the North Sea. The Baltic 1 and Baltic 2 offshore wind farms off the coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania feed electricity into the German grid but remain part of a relatively limited regional expansion effort.

By contrast, Poland is pursuing a much more dynamic development strategy in the Baltic Sea region and is rapidly expanding its capacity. In addition to Baltic Power, projects such as Baltic 3 and Baltic 9+ are currently under development. German companies are increasingly involved as suppliers and project developers.

Dr. Elmar Stracke, Strategy and Policy Advisor at the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), confirms that Germany’s offshore wind sector faces challenges.

“Things are moving better in Poland than they are here,” Stracke says. Germany needs more efficient spatial planning and greater efficiency in achieving its offshore expansion targets.

According to Stracke, the future lies neither in Germany nor in Poland alone, but offshore—in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.

“The sea is the space that matters, not the individual coastline,” he says.

However, this vision requires major investments in energy infrastructure. “The infrastructure of the energy system must be resilient enough not to throw us off course.”

Hybrid Threats in the Baltic Sea: Taking Responsibility

The Baltic Sea presents not only opportunities but also significant challenges.

The region has become a central stage for hybrid threats. Russia has increasingly relied on signal interference, sabotage, and provocations aimed at critical Western infrastructure and at increasing political pressure on European supporters of Ukraine.

Undersea telecommunications cables, data links, and gas pipelines face constant threats. At the same time, growing interference signals over the Baltic Sea are disrupting the navigation systems of both ships and aircraft

Wojnarowski’s response is straightforward: Europe must assume greater responsibility from both a military and an energy-security perspective.

Poland is the largest recipient of the European SAFE (Security Action for Europe) defence financing program. The initiative is helping modernize the country’s armed forces while strengthening its domestic defence industry, which also contributes to securing the Baltic Sea region.

Will Germany Unlock the Baltic Sea’s Potential?

Dr. Dirk Biermann, Chief Operating Officer of transmission system operator 50Hertz, emphasizes that the company feels a responsibility to make greater use of the Baltic Sea’s potential.

50Hertz operates the high-voltage electricity transmission grid in north-eastern Germany and is already making significant efforts to develop the region’s still largely untapped opportunities.

According to estimates by the European Commission from 2019, the technical offshore wind potential for all EU countries bordering the Baltic Sea exceeds 90 gigawatts.

The initiative also coincides with the upcoming 35th anniversary of the German-Polish Treaty of Good Neighbourship, providing a symbolic boost for future cooperation.

Several projects are already in development to advance this vision. Among them is the Bornholm Energy Island concept, designed as a central offshore energy hub in the Baltic Sea region.

The Bornholm Energy Island Diana Resnik, Euronews

Additional plans include cross-border subsea cable connections linking offshore wind farms with power grids in Germany, Denmark, Poland, and the Baltic states, enabling the exchange of renewable electricity between countries.

A joint subsea interconnector between Lithuania, Latvia, and Germany—the Baltic-German PowerLink—is also under consideration. The project aims to strengthen cross-border electricity trade across the Baltic Sea region and facilitate the integration of up to 2 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity.

The Baltic-German PowerLink Diana Resnik, Euronews

Overall, the trend is clearly moving toward diversification and resilience—toward a more interconnected and integrated energy market in the Baltic Sea region.

2026-06-10T21:53:44.659-07:00

‘Coal power has lost its status’: Solar power outstrips coal in US despite Trump's attacks

By Angela Symons with AP

Published on 10/06/2026 - EURONEWS

States won by Trump in the 2024 election accounted for 74 per cent of all solar capacity installed in the first quarter of 2026.

Even as President Donald Trump boosts coal over clean energy, solar power is hitting new milestones in the US and remains the leading source of new power.

Data released on 10 June by global energy think tank Ember, along with a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and analytics firm Wood Mackenzie, show the continued growth of solar and decline of coal in the US despite federal policy. In May, for the first time, solar supplied more of the nation’s electricity than coal, or 12.8 per cent, Ember said. Coal supplied 12.2 per cent, its fourth-lowest monthly share ever.

“For years solar power has risen in the US electricity mix," says Nicolas Fulghum, senior energy and data analyst at Ember. "At the same time, coal power has lost its status, first as the largest source in the US mix, and then gradually over the years has fallen even further.”

Solar also became the third-largest source of electricity in the US in May, behind natural gas and nuclear, Fulghum says. Coal generation hit an all-time monthly low in April and rebounded only modestly in May, allowing increasing solar generation to overtake coal, he adds.

US electricity demand is increasing

Electricity is produced by converting sources of energy – fossil fuels, renewable resources and nuclear – into electrical power. Burning coal, oil and natural gas for electricity emits carbon dioxide, trapping heat in the atmosphere and warming the planet. By contrast, solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower and nuclear are carbon-free.

After about two decades of essentially flat electricity consumption in the US, electricity demand is increasing to power artificial intelligence, grow domestic manufacturing and electrify transportation and heating. Fulghum says he expects to see more months where solar exceeds coal generation, before overtaking it on an annual basis in a few years.

These milestones signify that solar “has staying power” at a time where there's less support for renewable energy at the federal level, he adds.

Wind and solar combined have overtaken coal in the past, and wind power alone has outpaced coal during spring months when wind speeds pick up. Ember gets its hourly and monthly data from the US Energy Information Administration.

Globally, electricity generation from renewables is growing rapidly. Renewables will become the largest global energy source, used for almost 45 per cent of electricity generation by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency.

Trump helps the struggling US coal industry while curtailing solar and wind

Last week, Trump announced a plan to boost the struggling US coal industry by spending nearly $700 million (€606m) to support coal-fired power plants and coal exports. Trump said at a White House event that “coal’s a great business”, and that "in terms of power, there’s really nothing like it”.

Martin Pochtaruk, CEO and founder of Canadian-based solar panel manufacturer Heliene, says Trump can say that coal is coming back, but investors will invest their money in whatever brings the best return. And for power generation that is solar, making it the fastest-growing fuel, he adds.

A White House spokeswoman defended the administration's overall energy policies, saying they were geared toward strengthening the country's security.

“The President has reversed the Left’s devastating policies, saved the American coal industry, prevented the retirement of more than 17 gigawatts of power, and saved lives during heightened demand periods," Taylor Rogers said in a statement.

A train with coal pauses on the tracks in Grafton, W.Va., March 18, 2026. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File

Solar remains the leading source of new power

While Trump is trying to reverse the coal industry's decline, solar has been the top source for new power for five years, SEIA says. SEIA and Wood Mackenzie say solar and battery storage were practically the only energy resources being built in the first quarter, making up 91 per cent of all new generating capacity.

The Trump administration has cancelled solar and wind projects, implemented policies that slowed clean energy permitting and development and terminated $7 billion (€6.06bn) in funding intended for affordable solar energy projects across the US.

“As power demand skyrockets, political and regulatory attacks are slowing down the exact resources we rely on,” Darren Van’t Hof, interim president and CEO of SEIA, says. “Impeding the only sector that is actively building new power is a reckless gamble that will only drive electricity bills higher.”

Several groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency over cancelling the Solar for All program. A district court dismissed the case last week citing lack of jurisdiction. The plaintiffs have another filing pending in the Court of Federal Claims.

In a ruling on Saturday (6 June), a federal judge struck down guidance from the Internal Revenue Service restricting tax credits for wind and solar projects.

Trump has blamed renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power for skyrocketing energy costs. But energy analysts say recent price hikes are based on growing demand, ageing infrastructure and increasingly extreme weather events that are exacerbated by climate change. Most recently, the war in Iran that Trump launched has also led to a spike in energy cost

Top states for solar voted for Trump

States won by Trump in the 2024 election accounted for 74 per cent of all solar capacity installed in the first quarter of 2026, with Texas, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Arizona and Mississippi ranking among the top 10 states for new solar additions, SEIA says. The US now exceeds a total of six million installations nationwide across all solar sectors, which includes large-scale solar arrays, commercial, community solar and residential or rooftop solar.

Johanna Neumann, at the Environment America Research and Policy Center, says it's “good news for our health and our planet that solar continues to grow”, and also, not surprising.

“Today we can harness solar more affordably than any other energy source. It’s scalable. And it’s also our most abundant renewable energy source,” says Neumann, senior director of the centre's campaign for 100 per cent renewable energy. “So I think it’s hard to keep the lid on a good idea, especially if the economics are tilting in your favour as well, which they are in the case of solar.”

Environment America's renewable energy dashboard shows that 32 US states generated at least 10 per cent of their retail electricity sales from solar, wind and geothermal energy last year, compared to 18 states in 2016. Clean energy in the South is booming, particularly in Florida, Arkansas and Mississippi, Neumann says.

“I think there is a misconception in the United States that clean energy is something for the coasts and liberal cities,” she says. “The true story of renewable energy is a 50-state story.”

2026-06-10T21:43:29.309-07:00

World will cross 1.5°C warming limit by 2030 if emissions continue at current rate - report

By Angela Symons

Published on 11/06/2026 EURONEWS

The rate of human-induced warming remains at an all-time high, according to the latest Indicators of Global Climate Change report.

The world is edging dangerously close to the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C warming threshold, with human-induced warming reaching 1.37°C in 2025, a major new report warns.

If emissions continue at current levels, the 1.5°C limit will be crossed around 2030, according to the analysis by more than 70 scientists from 56 institutions across 17 countries.

The fourth edition of the Indicators of Global Climate Change (IGCC), published today (11 June) in the journal Earth System Science Data, tracks the key measurements that tell us how fast the climate is changing and why. It paints a clear picture: the Earth is warming at an accelerating rate, driven almost entirely by human activity.

“Our study shows greenhouse gas emissions are at an all-time high, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels,” says Dr. William Lamb, Senior Researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany.

“The good news is that solutions are already available. By investing in renewables and electrification, governments can cut emissions while building cleaner, more reliable and more secure energy systems.”

World’s carbon budget will be exhausted in three years

The carbon budget – the total amount of CO2 that can still be emitted while keeping warming less than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels – now stands at just 130 billion tonnes from the start of 2026. At current emissions levels, that will be exhausted in around three years.

The 1.5-degree limit is the cornerstone of the 2015 Paris Agreement, an international treaty designed to prevent the most catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis.

Global greenhouse gas emissions hit a record 56.8 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024, driven mainly by the burning of fossil fuels. Concentrations of the three major greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – have all risen since 2019, with CO2 now at 425.6 parts per million.

The report also found that the Earth’s energy imbalance – the gap between the heat entering the planet and the heat escaping it – has more than doubled in recent decades and is now at a record high. This means the planet is storing heat faster than at any point in modern measurements.

“The Earth’s energy imbalance is growing fast, driving changes in every component of the climate system, including ocean and continental warming, permafrost thawing, ice loss, and sea level rise,” says Dr Karina Von Schuckmann from French research institute Mercator Ocean International.

Sea are rising and getting warmer

Global sea levels reached a new record in 2025 – 23cm of rise since 1901 – and the rate is accelerating. The oceans are absorbing much of the excess heat, with average sea surface temperatures hitting their second highest level on record last year.

A newly added indicator in this year’s report captures the scale of marine heatwaves: the number of days affected has more than tripled globally between 1991 and 2025. In 2025 alone, the world experienced 65 marine heatwave days, damaging ecosystems, threatening fish stocks and disrupting the ocean-atmosphere systems that regulate the Earth’s climate.

On land, the picture is just as bleak. Average maximum land temperatures over the last decade were nearly half a degree higher than the decade before – a shift that is pushing extreme heat to new levels around the globe.

“Nearly all of the warming over the last decade is driven by human activities,” says Dr Samantha Burgess of the Copernicus Climate Change Service. “The impacts on livelihoods and ecosystems are already being felt worldwide, and will accelerate as temperatures continue to increase.”

The scientists behind the report are also sounding the alarm about a less visible risk: the global datasets used to track these changes are themselves under threat. Funding cuts – including the Trump administration’s decision to scrap the US State Department’s global air quality monitoring programme last year – are creating dangerous gaps in the evidence base that climate science and policy depend on.

“Without this, future assessments will be much more difficult at a time when urgent climate action is needed,” warns Dr Chris Smith of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.

2026-06-10T21:41:07.250-07:00

World’s largest, deepest, oldest whale graveyard discovered in Indian Ocean

Chinese scientists have discovered a massive whale graveyard of around 500 skeletons, some dating back to more than 5 million years, at the bottom of the Indian Ocean west of Australia, according to research published in the journal Nature on Wednesday. The whale fall provides shelter and sustenance to a vibrant ecosystem of marine species, many believed to be new to science.

Issued on: 10/06/2026
By: FRANCE 24

Scientists said discovering a necropolis of this scale was completely unexpected. © AFP via Handout, Global TREnD, IDSSE

The world's largest whale graveyard has been discovered at the bottom of the Indian Ocean by Chinese scientists, who found that the vast expanse of both new and ancient carcasses supports huge communities of deep-sea life.

It is also the deepest and oldest known whale graveyard on Earth, according to research published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, with some fossils dating back 5.3 million years.

From inside a small submersible, the Chinese researchers saw an array of strange animals – many believed to be new to science – living off the whale carcasses.

A new, though extinct, species of whale was also identified among the nearly 500 skeletons found up to 7,000 metres deep along a 1,200 kilometre corridor of bones in the Indian Ocean west of Australia.

Lead study author Xiaotong Peng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences told AFP that the researchers were "astonished" when the scale of their discovery became clear.

A huge array of animals including sea anemones, sponges and sea stars were found living off of the whale carcasses. © AFP via Handout, Global TREnD, IDSSE

It was known that when whales die and drop to the seafloor, their sunken bodies – called "whale falls" – provide a source of food to bottom-dwelling creatures.

"But discovering a necropolis of this scale was completely unexpected: the size of distribution, the depth and the age range were far beyond anything we had imagined," Xiaotong Peng said.

The researchers had several theories for why so many whales died in this particular corridor, including that it is a popular foraging area and has a V-shaped trench that funnels carcasses to the ocean's floor.
'Truly incredible experience'

For the discovery, the Fendouzhe submersible carried out 32 dives in 2023 – though what it found was only revealed in Nature on Wednesday.

The sub took up to three people on the dives, collecting the fossil samples using robotic arms.

Study co-author Peng Zhou said witnessing the whale graveyard "was a truly incredible experience".

Fossil samples being collected by the robotic arm of the submersible. © AFP via Handout, Global TREnD, IDSSE

"The vibrant ecosystems we saw offered a completely different perspective on this otherwise dark and cold ocean floor."

Among the animals they discovered living off the carcasses were jellyfish, worms, snails, crustaceans, brittle stars and molluscs called bivalves.

Extrapolating from the number of bones they found, most of which were from beaked whales, the scientists estimated there could be more than 10 million carcasses across the area called the Diamantina Zone.

The soft tissue and lipids inside that many carcasses "translates to roughly 6.7 million tonnes of sequestered carbon", Xiaotong Peng said.

This provides an immense source of sustenance for animals, similar to how hydrothermal vents create their own ecosystems on the ocean floor.

Some of the animals seen by the scientists also live in hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, suggesting whale carcasses could help connect these deep-sea communities to each other.

While this is by far the largest whale graveyard yet found, fossils found during trawling suggest there could be others off South Africa, the Iberian peninsula and the Crozet islands, according to the study.

'More blockbusters to come'?

University of Hawaii oceanographer Craig Smith, who discovered the first whale fall in 1987 but was not involved in the new research, told AFP it was "extremely exciting".

The scientists catalogued nearly 500 skeletons up to 7,000 metres deep along a 1,200 kilometre corridor of bones. © AFP via Handout, Global TREnD, IDSSE

"The vast number of fossil whale falls documented, including a new species of beaked whale, is truly amazing and is of major importance to understanding whale evolution and whale distributions over geologic time," he said.

Whale fall researcher Amy Baco-Taylor at Florida State University told AFP the "remarkable discovery" would "likely provide many new insights".

"It does seem very strange" that so many whales died in this area, Baco-Taylor admitted, adding that "we don't know enough about whale consciousness".

US palaeontologist Stephen Godfrey compared the "truly unique discovery" to past major underwater finds, such as when scientists first identified hydrothermal vents teeming with life on the ocean floor in 1977.

He called for future submersible voyages to find more whale graveyards across the world.

This discovery "reminded me of a trailer for the first in a series of epic movies", Godfrey commented in a linked Nature paper.

"I hope that there will be many more of these blockbusters to come."

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

2026-06-10T21:31:16.845-07:00

S.Korea hits Coupang with record fine over e-commerce data leak

Seoul (AFP) – South Korea hit e-commerce giant Coupang with a record $408 million fine Thursday over a leak that allegedly exposed more than 30 million customers' data and has provoked the ire of US lawmakers.

Issued on: 11/06/2026 - RFI

Coupang's fine is by far the largest ever penalty for a data leak in South Korea

© ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP

Coupang, the country's largest online retail platform, signalled in a statement that it would challenge the fine in court.

The government's move caps a months-long probe into Coupang, which is incorporated in the United States.

Allegations of a massive data leak first surfaced in November and have become an unexpected source of friction between Seoul and Washington.

Seoul's Personal Information Protection Commission said it would "impose a total of 624.68 billion won in fines... on Coupang for violating safety obligations and collecting personal data without legal grounds".

It is by far the largest ever penalty for a data leak in South Korea -- far exceeding the previous record of a $88 million fine imposed last year on mobile carrier SK Telecom.

"Inadequate basic safeguards, including poor management of authentication signing keys and lax access controls" caused the personal data of around 37.5 million users to be exposed, the commission said in a statement.

Coupang has maintained that only 3,000 customer records were involved.

Commission chair Song Kyung-hee told a press briefing Thursday that the retail giant should have notified affected individuals within 72 hours.

But Coupang "delayed breach notifications", she said. "As a result, those individuals were unaware of the breach and deprived of the opportunity to take steps to prevent secondary harm."

Coupang on Thursday apologised for causing concern to customers and the public, vowing to strengthen its data protection framework.

"However, we regret that proactive measures taken to prevent secondary damage and explanations based on clear facts regarding last year's data breach were not sufficiently reflected" in the commission's decision, it said.

"After receiving the commission's official ruling, we expect the facts to be clearly established through legal procedures," Coupang added.
US dispute

The commission also said Coupang had "unlawfully collected the online activity records of about 11.17 million users on third-party websites and apps, and stored them in a database in a state that allowed individual identification".

In April, South Korean lawmakers sent a joint letter raising concerns over "undue pressure" from US politicians regarding Seoul's investigation into the e-commerce giant.

The letter, co-signed by nearly 100 MPs, followed accusations by US Republicans that the probe into the US-listed company constituted "discriminatory regulatory actions" against American businesses.

The dispute has also reportedly affected high-level security talks between the two allies, according to local media.

Washington is said to have warned it would halt such talks unless the legal protections of Coupang chairman Kim Bom -- an American citizen also known as Kim Bom-suk -- were guaranteed.

The Coupang fine will "again draw backlash from the US" for its size, said Kim Dae-jong, professor of business at Sejong University in Seoul.

"Given it's far more than the previous high imposed on SK Telecom, Washington is expected to protest the move, with the view that it is an over-the-top measure," he said.

"Coupang is certain to challenge the move by taking it to court," Kim added.

© 2026 AFP

2026-06-10T21:28:42.929-07:00

In ageing South Korea, AI dolls care for the elderly

Yongin (South Korea) (AFP) – In her tiny apartment in South Korea, where she lives alone, 78-year-old Bang Chun-ja spends her days with a childlike AI-powered doll she says she prefers to people.

Issued on: 11/06/2026 - RFI

Bang Chun-ja, a South Korean elderly woman living alone, holds Hyodol, an AI-powered healthcare doll designed for elderly people, during an interview with AFP at her home in Yongin © Jung Yeon-je / AFP
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The doll greets Bang when she returns home, sings to her when she feels bored, reminds her not to skip meals or medication -- helping her maintain a routine -- and tells her it loves her.

Bang has limited contact with her grown-up daughter, and fell into severe depression after major back surgery, spending hours alone staring at the ceiling in pain.

After a difficult divorce and years of hard work as a hairdresser and single mother, Bang told AFP that "at this age, there is nothing harder than being hurt by people".

But "when I'm with Hyodol, I never get hurt", she said, holding the cuddly doll with pigtails and a pink gingham dress, provided by her local municipality.

The doll "only makes me laugh", she added.

79-year-old Kim Young-bun, a South Korean elderly woman living alone, says the AI-powered healthcare doll is a source of comfort © Jung Yeon-je / AFP

Bang is one of many South Koreans battling loneliness in a country where birth rates are among the world's lowest and almost half the population is 50 or older.

In 2024, South Korea recorded more than 3,920 "lonely deaths", people dying alone and remaining undiscovered for extended periods -- the highest since records began in 2017.

Around 42 percent of households in the Asian tech powerhouse are single-person, with social isolation affecting the country's vulnerable elderly in particular.
'By my side'

Authorities are providing AI care devices -- some designed to detect signs of lonely deaths -- to seniors living alone, including in districts of Seoul and in Yongin, south of the capital.

Hyodol's head Kim Ji-hee says Hyodol's character was designed to be dependent on its user, as many older Koreans have spent their lives enduring gruelling work to provide for their families © Jung Yeon-je / AFP

They also include a smiling robot made by the company Wonderful Platform, and similar cute dolls from the firm Mr. Mind.

In the United States, a lamp-like AI device called ElliQ offers similar companionship and safety-monitoring services.

Hyodol, the startup behind the dolls of the same name, says around 14,500 are in use in South Korea, whether owned by individuals, rented out by governments or used in nursing homes.

Bang, in Yongin, said her daughter lives far away and has health issues of her own, so "having Hyodol by my side is a huge help".

Developing the doll involved years of field research, said company head Kim Ji-hee.

Hyodol can converse using ChatGPT, but is also programmed with scripts based on Kim's real-life interviews.

People she met included a widow estranged from her adult children over financial woes, who stored piles of their belongings at their mother's home.

Hyodol, the startup behind the dolls of the same name, says around 14,500 are in use in South Korea, whether owned by individuals, rented out by governments or used in nursing homes © Jung Yeon-je / AFP

"She lived alone with four fridges and three washing machines," Kim, 49, told AFP.

The interviews revealed the "pain of having no one to tell when something upsetting happens, and no one to share with when something joyful happens", Kim said.
Warmest welcome

Hyodol has strict data security protocols, with voice recordings only used internally to train the doll's chatbot, Kim said.

Users give prior consent for certain health-related recordings, such as those related to sleep, mood, meals and pain levels, to be shared with their welfare workers.

Because many interviewees spoke fondly of parental or mentor figures, Hyodol was created as a grandchild-like companion designed to "love its users unconditionally," Kim said.

Made with soft, cushiony materials, the doll also makes spontaneous requests, asking users to pat its head, hold its hand or share snacks with it, although it cannot eat. © Jung Yeon-je / AFP

One of the earliest scripts she wrote was a greeting for users returning home, which she wanted to feel like the "warmest welcome in the whole wide world."

"Grandma, where have you been? I waited for you all day," it says. "Next time you go out, please take me with you!"

Made with soft, cushiony materials, the doll also makes spontaneous requests, asking users to pat its head, hold its hand or share snacks with it, although it cannot eat.
'Sense of emptiness'

Hyodol's character was designed to be dependent on its user, as many older Koreans have spent their lives enduring gruelling work to provide for their families, Kim said.

"When they begin to feel they are no longer needed, they experience a profound sense of emptiness."

Oh Sun-hwa, a nurse who recommended the doll to Bang, said she had seen it significantly ease depression among seniors living alone.

But she also worried the technology could further reduce human contact, with family members potentially visiting less if they felt AI devices were caring for their parents.

In her apartment, another user, 79-year-old Kim Young-bun, said the doll was a source of comfort.

Authorities are providing AI care devices -- some designed to detect signs of lonely deaths -- to seniors living alone, including in districts of Seoul and in Yongin, south of the capital © Jung Yeon-je / AFP

"I had no one to talk to all day -- to the point my mouth almost felt stale from not speaking. But then this little one came along and chatters with me all the time."

"I'm so grateful to be with you again today," the doll told Kim in a chirpy cartoon-like voice.

"So am I," Kim replied, doting on the doll.

"Thanks for being with me. I love you," the device said.

© 2026 AFP

2026-06-10T21:24:46.744-07:00

AI robot cleaners leave the lab for China's living rooms

Beijing (AFP) – Beijing cleaner Lin Meiqiong found her work a little easier the day she was paired with an unlikely new colleague -- a tall, wheeled robot with AI-powered tidying skills.

Issued on: 11/06/2026 - RFI

The service is a baby step towards a future in which robots increasingly take over manual labour from humans © WANG Zhao / AFP

The 56-year-old and her white-and-silver partner, fitted with cameras and two mechanical claws, are part of a new human-robot cleaning service offered by Chinese household help platform 58.com.

It's a baby step towards a future espoused by tech evangelists in which robots increasingly take over manual labour from humans -- though at the moment, such services are largely a data-gathering exercise for companies and a novelty for curious customers.

The robot took several minutes to fold a pair of trousers © WANG Zhao / AFP

"It's definitely different," Lin told AFP in between cleaning the kitchen and wiping down windows.

"I used to have to do everything myself," she said. "It's reduced the workload a bit."

The cleaning service, a collaboration between 58.com and Chinese robotics company X Square, costs 149 yuan ($22) for three hours and is available in Beijing and tech hub Shenzhen.

Helped into the apartment by an X Square engineer, the AI-operated Quanta X1 Pro robot uses its cameras to identify areas it could spruce up.

As Lin scrubbed the floor on her knees, it picked up rubbish and folded clothes strewn across a sofa.

Helped into the apartment by an engineer, the robot uses its cameras to identify areas it could spruce up © WANG Zhao / AFP

Grasping a pair of dark grey trousers, it raised its upper body to stretch the fabric taut, before laying it flat and arranging it into neat halves.

The process took several minutes and resembled a child learning to fold clothes for the first time.

Future iterations of the robot will respond to voice commands and even be able to chat, said the engineer, Hu Bowen.
'Better than a lab'

Around 200 households have booked the service since it was rolled out in March.

Tan Pei, who works in advertising and booked the robot to clean her Beijing flat, said she had chosen the service because she was interested to "see what it could do".

China's robots still have limited performance in real-life settings © WANG Zhao / AFP

"Even though it's not that perfect, there are still parts of it that surprised me," such as folding a pair of trousers "quite well", she said.

China's robots have wowed audiences with fluid dancing and set-piece martial arts displays onstage, but their application and performance in real-life settings remains limited.

For companies like X Square, the logic of launching an imperfect service lies in data collection for so-called embodied artificial intelligence.

Unlike large language models trained on vast quantities of internet content, robots lack comparable real-world datasets.

Robot cleaners still can't match human dexterity, with experts saying their widespread deployment is still a long way off © Hector RETAMAL / AFP

"We don't have a robot internet yet," Christoforos Mavrogiannis from the University of Michigan told AFP.

"It is much more informative to put the robot out there and study what happens than staying forever in the lab."

X Square engineer Hu said he sends his robots to work in a "completely unfamiliar environment".

"That is very challenging, but this unfamiliar data is also very helpful for the robot's growth."

As investment into embodied AI booms, similar trials in China include robots directing traffic in cities like Hangzhou or working on factory floors.

Around 200 households have booked the human-robot cleaning service since it was rolled out in March © WANG Zhao / AFP

On the domestic help front, firm GigaAI also plans to deploy 100 humanoid robots into households in central Wuhan this autumn for free home-service trials.

Investors have poured more than 57.7 billion yuan ($8.5 billion) into China's embodied AI industry so far this year, already soaring past the total for last year as a whole, according to business database ITjuzi.
'Very elementary stage'

But a myriad of hurdles stand in the way of widespread deployment.

As the Quanta X1 Pro's clothes folding demonstrated, robots still can't match human dexterity.

"Even though many companies are working on building better hands and building autonomy for hands, we don't have that yet," the University of Michigan's Mavrogiannis said.

Privacy will become a big issue with AI-powered robots, as they have access to huge amounts of personal data © Hector RETAMAL / AFP

There are multiple regulatory issues even once the physical capability is there.

Privacy will become a big issue, as robots would have access to huge amounts of personal data.

"We don't know where that data is going, where it's located... who is looking at that information," said Valeria Alessandra Macalupu Chira from Queensland University of Technology.

The safety of clients and their homes is another unresolved issue.

"I think we are still at a very elementary stage," said Yang Jianfei from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University.

Investors have poured more than 57.7 billion yuan ($8.5 billion) into China's embodied AI industry so far this year © WANG Zhao / AFP

Robots currently require supervision by humans who can activate emergency stop functions, he noted, and there are not yet recognised industry-wide safety standards.

Experts agree broad adoption seems a long way off.

Asked whether she thought robots would revolutionise her industry, cleaner Lin did not seem too concerned.

"Compared with people, it's obviously still not quite there," she said. "After all, it's a robot."

© 2026 AFP

2026-06-10T21:20:45.257-07:00

Kenyan protester killed at demonstration against US Ebola facility

Kenyan police shot dead a protester on Tuesday as hundreds demonstrated against a government-backed quarantine centre for Americans exposed to Ebola, with anger mounting over Nairobi's determination to press ahead with the facility.

Issued on: 10/06/2026 - RFI

Demonstrators gather in a protest against a US-backed Ebola quarantine facility, intended to host Americans exposed to Ebola, in Nanyuki town, Laikipia County, Kenya, on 9 June, 2026. REUTERS - Monicah Mwangi

Patrick Wahome has helped organise protests in the central town of Nanyuki against the facility, and, like multiple eyewitnesses at the scene, told news agencies that the man died from a gunshot wound to the head.

The NGO Vocal Africa also posted on X about the killing.

Early on Tuesday, police began firing tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters. Some waved Kenyan flags and one carried a white cross emblazoned with the phrase "Reject Ebola" in red.

More than 10 protesters were also detained by police, Reuters reporters said. At least two of them saw a body lying motionless with a large wound to the head in the back of a police van, though they said they had not witnessed the shooting themselves.

A police spokesperson said he had no information about the incident.

"Hooded police officers fired live bullets and arbitrarily arrested 19 protesters," the non-profit Kenya Human Rights Commission said in a statement posted on its social media accounts late on Tuesday.

Officers had also attacked protesters and journalists, the statement added.

The proposed 50-bed unit at Laikipia Air Base, near Nanyuki, has angered many Kenyans.

Protester Priscilla Imani told Reuters the area's association with the quarantine facility was also deterring tourists who come to climb Mount Kenya or see rhinos. "Laikipia is not a dumping site," she said.

A country with no cases

With no recorded cases of Ebola, many Kenyans are struggling to understand why their government is allowing the United States to build an Ebola facility in their country to treat US citizens.

Some protesters directed their anger at President William Ruto, who last week said his administration was doing "the right thing" by establishing the centre.

Others accuse the US of offloading the risk of caring for those exposed to the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, where there have been more than 500 confirmed cases and 100 confirmed deaths.

Two people were killed during similar protests in Nanyuki last week.

Police officers detain a protester taking part in a protest against a US-backed Ebola quarantine plan to establish a 50-bed facility at a Kenyan air force base intended to host Americans exposed to Ebola, in Nanyuki town, Laikipia County, Kenya,on 9 June, 2026. REUTERS - Monicah Mwangi

A High Court judge has twice issued orders barring Kenya's government from taking steps to build or begin operations at the site.

Joshua Malidzo, a lawyer challenging the quarantine plan, said the court's deadline expired on Monday without the government complying.

US military planes have continued to ferry in staff and equipment after the court issued its orders, according to US and diplomatic sources and flight-tracking data, with several aircraft expected to land this week.

Satellite imagery seen by Reuters also shows a build-up of white tents since late May on a roughly 11-acre plot on the air base.

Requests for comment to a government spokesperson have gone unanswered.

A US-led facility for US citizens

The United States has said it is aware of the court challenge and is "working with the Kenyan government to resolve any objections".

Several US citizens have been exposed to Ebola in eastern Congo and Uganda. Six, including one who tested positive, were moved to a medical facility in Germany last month, while another was taken to the Czech Republic.

US President Donald Trump's administration has said it will not allow any Ebola cases to enter the US.

The Nanyuki facility is designated for Americans who have been exposed to the virus but remain asymptomatic. Kenyan officials have said the facility would also serve Kenyans and foreign nationals, but US officials have not confirmed this.

(with newswires)

2026-06-10T21:02:29.965-07:00

Pakistan renews air strikes on Afghanistan, killing dozens

Pakistan on Wednesday launched deadly air strikes on Afghanistan after a period of relative calm following months of fighting at the beginning of the year. Pakistan's government said 26 "militants" were killed while Afghan authorities said at least 12 people, including children, died in provinces near the border.

Issued on: 10/06/2026 -
By: FRANCE 24

An armed Taliban security personnel walks through a marketplace in Asadabad, Kunar province, Afghanistan, on June 10, 2026. © Wakil Kohsar, AFP

Pakistan has renewed deadly air strikes on neighbouring Afghanistan, officials in both countries said Wednesday, in the worst violence in weeks following a period of relative calm.

Pakistan's government said on Wednesday that 26 "militants" linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group were killed in the attacks.

"In the aftermath of recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan .... precise and calibrated Strikes were carried out along Pakistan Afghanistan border areas on hideouts and safe havens," Pakistan's information minister Attaullah Tarar posted on X.

He did not comment on any civilian casualties after Afghan authorities, who have denied Afghanistan is used for militancy, said at least 12 people, including children, were left dead in the strikes.

An AFP journalist saw a house completely destroyed in the southeastern province of Khost, where residents were digging graves to bury those killed in the overnight attack.

Afghanistan's government spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said "11 children, one woman, and one elderly man were killed" in strikes on Khost, Kunar and Paktika provinces.

Islamabad said the strikes came in response to "recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan" and killed 26 militants linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group.

"Precise and calibrated Strikes were carried out along Pakistan Afghanistan border areas on hideouts and safe havens," information minister Attaullah Tarar wrote on X, without commenting on civilian casualties.

The attack in Khost's Spera district killed nine people and wounded 10 others, including children, a provincial official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

In neighbouring Paktika, two residents said a separate attack killed three civilians in Barmal district.

The strike hit a home, and those killed were children, one of the residents said.

The strikes are the deadliest in weeks and follow a period of relative calm at the border after conflict between the two countries erupted in late February.

Residents pay the price as Afghanistan-Pakistan border remains closed

An escalation saw fierce fighting along the frontier and unprecedented Pakistani air strikes on Afghan cities – including the capital Kabul and southern Kandahar, where the supreme leader is based.

At least 372 Afghan civilians were killed and 397 others wounded in that conflict in the first three months of this year, a United Nations report published last month said.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been fraught since the Taliban took power for a second time in 2021.

Security issues have proved a sticking point, especially Pakistan's demand that Afghanistan curb the TTP militant group.

Islamabad accuses the Taliban government of sheltering militants behind a surge in attacks, particularly the TTP, which has waged a violent campaign against Pakistan for years.

Afghan officials deny the charge and counter that Pakistan harbours hostile groups and does not respect its sovereignty.

The border between the neighbours has remained largely closed since a flare-up in violence in October, freezing bilateral trade.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

2026-06-10T21:02:11.018-07:00

Has Russia given up on Kinburn Spit, its westernmost foothold in Ukraine?

ANALYSIS

At the start of the war in Ukraine, the Russian capture of Kinburn Spit – a narrow piece of land that holds the key to several Ukrainian ports – was hailed as one of Moscow’s most significant victories on the southern front. From there, Russia could launch attacks on the Ukrainian mainland, and use it as a springboard should it make an attempt to take Odesa. Now, Russian forces appear to have pulled back from the once so-strategic spit. What is going on?

Issued on: 10/06/2026 -

FRANCE24
By: Sébastian SEIBT

Kinburn Spit was seen as one of the most strategic important locations in Ukraine at the beginning of the war in 2022. © Darkngs/Creative commons

On June 8, two days before Russia would have celebrated its four-year anniversary of the capture of the Kinburn Spit – Moscow’s westernmost military position in Ukraine – a member of the Crimea-based Ukrainian partisan group Atesh had astonishing news to report: Russian troops seemed to have abandoned the disputed land strip between the Dnipro-Bug estuary and the Black Sea, located on the tip of the Kinburn Peninsula, northwest of Crimea.

The main reason, the agent reported, was that their supplies had been “completely disrupted” by Ukrainian drone strikes. Vital deliveries of ammunition, fuel and food had come to a total standstill, said the agent, who was cited by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and Ukrainian media outlets, and most members of Russia’s 337th VDV Regiment had been redeployed elsewhere.

A relic of Russia’s initial plans for Odesa

Russia has not confirmed the reported loss of the 10-kilometre-long sandbar, which at its base measures around 4 kilometres in width, and at its peak, some 100 metres.

Yet in 2022, after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kinburn Spit became a strategic priority for Kyiv because it lies at the mouth of the Dnipro River – between the Dnipro-Bug estuary and the Black Sea, south of Kherson – and controls access to the key port of Mykolaiv and nearby Ochakiv, while allowing artillery and missile attacks on Ukraine’s southern coast.

Although the spit is tiny, it has offered Russia plenty of military vantage points. © Wikimedia Commons

Since then, Ukraine has made repeated attempts to take it back. Kyiv deems Kinburn Spit as so important that it last year asked the United States to include it in any future peace plan Washington may present to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

In the early days of the war, the spit was indeed of crucial importance.

“In the beginning of 2022, the Russians wanted to go all the way to Odesa,” Tor Bukkvoll, an expert on the Russian military and the war in Ukraine at the Norwegian Defence and Research Establishment, explained. The plan, he said, was to use the spit as a springboard to go deeper into southern Ukraine.

Will Kingston-Cox, a Russia specialist at the International Team for the Study of Security (ITSS) Verona, said that by taking the strip, Russia has been able to control the Dnipro-Bug estuary and the access to Kherson.

Could it affect Black Sea shipping?

As the war has worn on, however, experts say the Kinburn Spit’s strategic importance has steadily decreased.

First off, because Russia seems to have dropped its plans to take Odesa, Bukkvoll said. Secondly, because the situation around the city of Kherson – which was recaptured by Ukraine at the end of 2022 – as well as along the Dnipro River, seems to have largely stagnated. Instead, the focal point of the war has moved to Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia regions.

Still, if the report is confirmed, it would be a significant win for Ukraine. Kingston-Cox described it as “a step towards restoring safer navigation” in the Black Sea.

But, noted Frank Ledwidge, a senior lecturer in war studies at the University of Portsmouth, “the Kinburn Spit has no importance at all as long as the Russians occupy the left bank of the Dnipro, which they do”.

But a Russian withdrawal would still remove a major obstacle for Ukrainian exporters wishing to use the ports in Mykolaiv.

And, Kingston-Cox said, “Russia would also lose its ability to use the spit as a forward position for observation, which it has been doing, and for its artillery and for drones, and for electronic warfare, and the harassment of shipping routes.”

But the most important result would be the symbolic value – perhaps even more so than the military one, Bukkvoll said.

At the end of 2022 and at the beginning of 2023, Ukrainian forces pushed the Russians out of the outskirts of Mykolaiv. But Moscow still managed to hold on to Kinburn Spit.

“If Ukraine can confirm control, it would be able to say that Mykolaiv Oblast has been fully liberated,” Kingston-Cox said. That, he said, would have “serious political value” for Ukraine. Not the least since President Volodymyr Zelensky would be able to use it as an argument to convince its backers that Kyiv is holding the military initiative.

Supply lines and drones

Ledwidge also said it would be a way for Ukraine to shift the world’s focus from the battlefields that are not going so well, and “show you what it wants you to see”.

In Donbas, or the Kharkiv region, the situation for Ukraine still remains difficult. Further south, however, Kyiv has in the past few days claimed a series of successful drone attacks against important infrastructure in Crimea, including a bridge that links the peninsula (which Russia illegally annexed in 2014) with southern Ukraine, a railway, and several oil facilities.

But beyond the symbolic value – and the impact it would have on Ukrainian propaganda – a Russian withdrawal from Kinburn Spit would also underscore Kyiv’s increased capabilities to conduct medium-range strikes and have the enemy retreat by itself by cutting vital supply lines “without a direct assault”, Bukkvoll said.

It also shows how vulnerable the supply lines that were established at the beginning of the war have become in a conflict that is now dominated by drones. So far, the Ukrainian drones have had the upper hand in disrupting supply lines to troops in exposed areas.

Bukkvoll argued that Russia may have decided that it now costs more to defend its supply lines to the Kinburn Spit than to just let it go.

If the Russian withdrawal is confirmed, it remains to be seen what the future will hold for Kinburn Spit. Will Ukrainian forces occupy it – and potentially become targets for Russian drones themselves – or will it become a no-man’s-land? What is certain is that if Kyiv moves in, it will first have to clear it from mines and set up solid air defence systems.

This article was adapted from the original in French.

Russia's conscripts recount pressure to fight in Ukraine

Warsaw (AFP) – After Russian police started using facial-recognition cameras to identify men wanted by military authorities, a young bank worker spent weeks avoiding the Moscow metro.

Issued on: 11/06/2026 - RFI

Russia's has hardened its once-avoidable conscription system amid the war

© Alexander NEMENOV / AFP

But on snowy Friday evening in late 2024, heavy traffic pushed him underground to visit his mother. At the next station, two officers entered the carriage and detained him for draft evasion.

Within three days, he was sent to a military unit near Moscow for year-long mandatory service.

Like other Russian conscripts who described their experiences to AFP, he spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

The cases show how, amid the war with Ukraine, Russia has hardened its once-avoidable conscription system and the pressure draftees -- officially not sent to war -- come under to sign contracts to fight in Ukraine once inside the military machine.

"Before 2022, there were many ways to avoid the draft without doing anything illegal," said Artyom Klyga, a lawyer with the Movement of Conscientious Objectors.

"Now very few legal ways remain."

'Record numbers'

It used to be relatively easy to secure a medical exemption, perform alternative civilian service, or avoid the draft by staying in education.

Since invading Ukraine, Russia has made conscription year-round, raised the upper age limit from 27 to 30, tightened medical exemptions and introduced an online summons system.

Timofey Vaskin of Shkola Prizyvnika, or the School of Conscripts, said the demand to find ways out of service had "risen sharply".
In Moscow, facial-recognition cameras and a unified recruitment system have made men easier to find and faster to process © Alexander NEMENOV / AFP

In Moscow, facial-recognition cameras and a unified recruitment system have made men easier to find and faster to process.

Once conscripted, the pressure to sign a fully-fledged army contract often starts within days.

"They are without means of communication, without access to parents, right groups or journalists," Klyga said.

One common tactic is to present a military contract as a normal job, Vaskin said.

Conscripts are told they can work "from nine to six", earn far more and avoid routine duties.

Others are promised roles as drivers or clerks, or that the contract will last "just one year".

In fact, army contracts are effectively open-ended.

"It is a major success of the Russian authorities that they have convinced many people that conscripts simply serve for a year," Klyga said.

"As a result, conscripts are now ending up in the war in record numbers."
'People like you'

Last year, 422,000 Russians signed voluntary contracts to fight in Ukraine, according to ex-president Dmitry Medvedev -- six per cent down on 2024.

At the same time, some 295,000 people were called up for military service.
Last year, 422,000 Russians signed voluntary contracts to fight in Ukraine

If conscripts sign a contract to fight, they can end up on the front "within a month," Klyga said.

After being caught on the metro, the former bank worker was held for three days in a detention centre without a shower or change of clothes.

No one forced him to sign-up, he said, but the idea was constantly present.

"You're a good fit, we need people like you," he was told.

"You could get a decent role, earn money and not do the usual duties," he recalled his superiors saying.

Some in his unit agreed immediately. For a while, he considered it.

A DJ from Moscow who tried to avoid service told AFP he could not obtain a driving licence or international passport without proper military papers.

He gave in and was assigned to an army medical unit for a year -- where he met contract soldiers trying to find a way out.

"None of them want to serve," he said. "They all want out."

He recalled some commanders telling him: "Don't sign anything. Don't ruin your life."

- 'Break a person' -

In one case, Vaskin reported a prohibited phone was planted on a conscript, who was told to choose between detention or signing a combat contract.

Klyga's organisation has documented complaints from conscripts being kept awake all night in heavy chemical protection suits, forced to dig holes and then refill them, and others who said their signatures were forged on enlistment documents.

If conscripts sign a contract to fight, they can end up on the front within a month, rights advocates say © STRINGER / AFP

"Under constant pressure they break a person," he said.

One conscript told AFP that a man in his unit swallowed a needle in an attempt to get discharged.

"He was covered in blood when they brought him in," he said.

He survived and was eventually discharged.

Those that end up fighting -- through pressure or coercion -- often do not tell their relatives.

"They simply leave, and the family only finds out later," Klyga said.

In some cases, parents only discover what happened after their son has been killed at the front.

© 2026 AFP

2026-06-10T20:37:06.120-07:00

How cyber criminals are taking advantage of the FIFA World Cup

By Anna Desmarais

Published on 09/06/2026 - EURONEWS

From fake websites to malicious calendar invitations, here is how cyber attackers have already been taking advantage of the FIFA World Cup hype.

While football fans around the world wait with bated breath for the FIFA World Cup to start, cyber criminals are already hard at work online.

The tournament, heralded by the organisers as the biggest event of its kind ever, will see 104 teams go head-to-head in 16 North American cities across Canada, the United States and Mexico when the games begin later this week.

Cybercriminals have already created thousands of World Cup-related campaigns and, heading into the tournament, the Canadian and American governments have issued warnings for spectators to keep a close eye out for scams.

Here is what campaigns have already taken place online and what to expect as we wait for the kick-off.

Thousands of fake FIFA websites

One of the most popular schemes for cybercriminals is the fake FIFA website or merchandise store, according to cybersecurity firms Fortinet and Check Point.

In a recent report, Fortinet identified over 13,000 World Cup-themed websites registered between January and May. Approximately 8% of these websites were classified as malicious or suspicious based on scam activity and patterns on the website, the analysis found.

Most of the websites they identified were used to attract users who are looking for tournament information and services by using World Cup-related keywords and abusing the FIFA branding, Fortinet said.

The goal of these sites is to “steal sensitive information such as payment card details, personal identification data, and login credentials” by tricking World Cup hopefuls into buying fake tickets, Fortinet said.

Often called “card not present,” fraud, these sites have been in place at other major events, such as the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, and look to exploit “urgency and scarcity to pressure rapid purchasing decisions,” according to Check Point.

Fortinet observed some scammers posting fake World Cup travel packages, including tickets, hotel and transportation on messaging app Telegram “while creating a strong sense of urgency,” the report said.

The Telegram posts redirect potential buyers to a fake ticketing website hosting a sham checkout page, where they are prompted to enter their personal information. After putting in their payment information, the victim receives a fake invoice.

Other websites also replicate sports-related gambling sites that face increased demand during large events such as the World Cup, the report said. Cyber criminals often distribute “fake or trojanized betting applications disguised as legitimate software,” to trick users into placing bets on their platforms.

Fake jobs, profiles and streaming services on social media

Cybercriminals are not just restricted to traditional websites; they also created 1,700 fake social media profiles on Facebook and Instagram, the report said.

“The widespread presence of unofficial accounts using FIFA branding increases the risk of brand abuse, misinformation, fraudulent promotions, phishing attempts, and other social engineering activities targeting football fans ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026,” the report said.

On the LinkedIn job site, scammers have been circulating fake job advertisements to trick users into thinking they were applying for short-term roles in event staffing, hospitality, logistics and media support.

Hackers often impersonate real recruitment agents for their scams, directing prospective job applicants to fake calendar schedules that have a phishing site embedded to steal their personal information.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, X and Telegram have also distributed fake links to streaming platforms that promise to livestream a specific game with a group of fans.

The links would often appear a few minutes before a match begins, often within closed groups or channels, and users are pressured into quickly registering their information or installing a fake “player” before the stream starts.

However, in many of the social media cases, Fortinet noted that fans have been quick to spot fakes, with many taking to Reddit to ask other fans to confirm whether they have been the victim of a scam.

Euronews Next contacted these platforms to see whether they have increased any content moderation or scam detection ahead of the World Cup, but did not receive an immediate reply.

How to protect yourself

Consider verifying the domain name of a website or email address related to the World Cup before deciding to click on it, Check Point said in a list of recommendations.

Only book through On Location, FIFA’s hospitality partner, for hospitality packages or directly with the hotel that you want to stay at, the cybersecurity firm said.

If booking online, use a credit card instead of a debit card to buy something tournament-related due to stronger protections against scammers, it suggested.

If a fan sees something suspicious, Check Point suggests slowing down before acting, because buying into urgency can make it easier to fall for a scam.

For fans going to the World Cup, Check Point recommends running phone and app updates before arrival at the stadium so hackers cannot access devices that have security flaws.

2026-06-10T20:36:37.330-07:00

Football history: Jules Rimet, the man behind the World Cup plan

Jules Rimet's brainchild has come a long way in 96 years. Fourteen teams accepted an invitation to take part in the inaugural tournament in 1930. In 2026, more than half of the 48 squads competing have battled through two years of qualifying games.

Issued on: 08/06/2026 - RFI

Jules Rimet(centre) hands over the trophy bearing his name to the Uruguay captain Obdulio Varela after his side's 2-1 win in the final match of the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. AFP

By: Paul Myers

Before Rimet's plan, the most prestigious international football team prize was handed out at the Olympic Games which was organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Rimet, a founding member of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) in 1904, wanted his organisation to be the big noise in football.

And after taking up the Fifa presidency in 1921, the 54-year-old Frenchman proposed his World Cup concept at the 17th Fifa congress in Amsterdam in May 1928.

Compatriot Henri Delaunay, who was a Fifa vice-president as well as a top executive with Rimet at the French Football Federation, backed Rimet's resolution "to organise a competition which would be open to the representative teams of all of the affiliated national associations."

Unsurprisingly, the associations in the Americas were up for the cup but their European counterparts were reluctant to send their squads on a three-week voyage across the Atlantic Ocean for a two-week tournament before a three-week trip back home.

Two months before the start of the event, no European teams had registered. Rimet, who had trained as a lawyer, had to twist a few arms in France to persuade his home country to boost the credibility of the competition. The Belgian-born Fifa vice-president Rodolphe Seeldrayers eventually wooed his football association to participate.
Egypt miss World Cup boat

Egypt would have made it 14 teams but their ship from Egypt to Europe was held up by a storm in the Mediterranean and they missed their connecting boat to Uruguay from Marseille.

The 1930 tournament started on 13 July with two games. France took on Mexico at the Estadio Pocitos in Montevideo and a few kilometres to the north, Belgium played the United States at Estadio Parque Central.

Just over two weeks later Uruguay were the champions after beating Argentina 4-2 in the final at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.

Nearly 69,000 fans packed into the arena to see the 1924 and 1928 Olympic champions maintain their international supremacy and vindicate Rimet's decision to create the tournament.

Fittingly, he handed the cup – named Victory – over to the Uruguay skipper José Nasazzi.
World Cup gains traction

Further proof of the World Cup's popularity came in the 1934 event in Italy.

Thirty two of Fifa's 50 then members wanted to take part in the 16-team competition. To reduce the field, Fifa introduced a qualifying competition that included hosts Italy.

They survived the qualifiers and after winning the competition proper, Rimet was on hand to present the trophy the victorious Italy squad.

And he gave the Italians the trophy again in 1938 after they beat Hungary 4-2 in the final in Colombes just outside Paris.

But 15 months after the showdown, the world was engulfed in war.

Fifa, having relocated in 1932 from Paris to Zurich, Rimet was able to continue the organisation's operations in neutral Switzerland as nations battled for global domination.
Post-war development

The World Cup re-emerged in 1950 with a cup renamed the Jules Rimet trophy in 1946 to honour his 25 years as Fifa president. There was also an incentive: the first nation to win the cup three times would keep it in their trophy cabinet for ever.

In 1950, Rimet handed his namesake cup to Uruguay and he was at the heart of the award ceremony in June 1954 as West Germany won the competition for the first time.

Just after the final, Rimet, who was approaching his 81st birthday, stepped down as Fifa boss after 33 years in charge of the organisation he had helped to establish in his early thirties.

He died on 16 October 1956 a few days after his 83rd birthday in Suresnes on the western outskirts of Paris.

When two-time champions Italy faced Brazil in the World Cup final in 1970 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexcio City – the venue for the opening game of the 2026 tournament – they were not only playing for the title but also the right to keep the cup.

Brazil, who had triumphed in 1958 and 1962, claimed the Jules Rimet trophy and eternal bragging rights after thumping Italy 4-1.

Platini sues Infantino in French courts as Fifa feud heats up

Former UEFA president Michel Platini said on Monday he is suing FIFA president Gianni Infantino, in the latest chapter of a battle that began when scandal derailed Platini's 2015 bid for the FIFA presidency. After unsuccessful attempts in Switzerland, Platini is now turning to the French justice system to make his case.

Issued on: 09/06/2026 - RFI

Former president of the the European Football Association (Uefa), Michel Platini, at the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland, 8 July 2022. AP - Alessandro Crinari

In a statement sent to French news agency AFP four days before the start of the 2026 Fifa World Cup, 70-year-old Platini, who ran the 1998 edition of the tournament in France, said his lawyers had filed two complaints in French courts.

The statement said the French justice system "is tasked with fully uncovering the conspiracy hatched against French soccer player Michel Platini to prevent him from assuming the Fifa presidency that had been promised to him".

When Sepp Blatter left his position as president of the governing body of world football in 2015, Platini, the head of European governing body Uefa, stepped forward as the most likely successor.

But the former France captain and coach was quickly submerged in the widening scandal. Instead his deputy at Uefa, Infantino, grabbed the Fifa presidency, starting a long-running vendetta.

On Monday, Platini named Infantino, 56, as well as former Fifa officials Marco Villiger and Domenico Scala, as targets of his suit. He also asked for former Swiss Attorney Michael Lauber and other officials in that department to be investigated by their French counterparts.

The first of the actions announced by Platini's statement on Monday is a civil suit "to seek compensation for all the damages he has suffered as a result of the tactics used to prevent him from being elected Fifa president in 2015".
Internal manoeuvres

The second is a criminal complaint to force an investigation into a "criminal conspiracy to commit false accusation...influence peddling....and aiding and abetting influence peddling.

"This complaint specifically targets the individuals who worked to eliminate Michel Platini from the race for the Fifa presidency."

Platini has previously filed two separate complaints in Switzerland, but neither came to court.

Blatter, Platini seek redemption in court over football corruption charges

Swiss prosecutors, for their part, launched a long-running criminal action against Platini for a payment he received from Fifa in 2011, but have three times failed to obtain a conviction.

Swiss authorities have also investigated Infantino for his use of private jets and for three secret meetings with Lauber in 2016 and 2017.

Platini reiterated on Monday that he believed he had been wronged.

"The Parisian investigating judge, along with investigative agencies, police, and gendarmerie, are tasked with uncovering and exposing the internal manoeuvres within Fifa, with the possible complicity of Swiss magistrates, to block the path of the three-time Ballon d'Or winner to the helm of world soccer," said the statement.

2026-06-10T20:36:13.626-07:00

Top African referee denied entry into the US and will miss World Cup

By Gavin Blackburn

Published on 09/06/2026 - EURONEWS

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed in a statement that Artan, who says he was detained for 11 hours at Miami International Airport, would play no part in the World Cup.

Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been dropped from officiating at the World Cup after being barred from entering the United States, world football's governing body FIFA said on Monday.

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed in a statement that Artan, who was refused entry to the US after arriving at Miami International Airport on Saturday, would play no part in the World Cup.

In an interview with the New York Times, Artan said he had been detained for 11 hours and held in a cell, despite claiming he had a valid visa.

Speaking from Istanbul, Artan said, "I'm just a referee trying to live my biggest dream, to go to the World Cup".

He told the newspaper he was questioned on Somali politics by US border officials and said "I think they have a problem with my country".

Artan would have been the first Somali to referee at a World Cup.

"FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States," the spokesperson told the AFP news agency.

FIFA emphasised that it was powerless to influence the decision, which it said was the sole preserve of tournament co-hosts the United States.

"FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan's status will not be changed at present," the spokesperson said.

"In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country."

Referee Omar Artan signals a penalty during the CAF Champions League final in Rabat, 24 May, 2026 AP Photo

A spokesperson for United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said Artan was denied entry following a routine inspection.

"Following inspection, the traveller, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry."

Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration as part of a broader immigration crackdown.

In a statement to AFP, Artan said he wanted to concentrate on the future.

"Despite the circumstances I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career," he sai

"I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions."

Somalia offers referee 'unwavering support'

Somalia defended Artan after his entry ban.

"The Ministry of Youth and Sports reaffirms its unwavering support for Omar Artan and...has full confidence in his integrity, professionalism and continued contribution to the advancement of football both in Somalia and internationally," the country's ministry of sports said in a statement.

Artan was among the 52 referees announced by FIFA for the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

He has been officiating in the Somali national football league championships since he became a FIFA referee in 2018 and refereed in the most recent edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

In 2025, he was named by the Confederation of African Football as men's referee of the year.

Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud praised Artan in April after he made history as the first Somali to be selected to officiate at the World Cup finals.

"I commend the effort, professionalism and integrity shown by referee Omar, as he has become a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis," said Mohamud.

Somali World Cup referee Omar Artan receives warm welcome home after being denied entry to US

By Nathan Rennolds

Published on 10/06/2026 - EURONEWS

Andrew Giuliani, who is leading the White House task force for the FIFA World Cup, has said Artan was denied entry to the US for a "very good reason," without offering further details.

Somali football referee Omar Artan returned home on Wednesday to a swarm of fans and reporters after being denied entry to the United States ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

Crowds gathered at Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport waving Somali flags and brandishing posters while photographers scrambled to capture shots of the referee as he stepped onto the runway.

Artan is one of the world's top-rated officials and had been in line to become the first referee from Somalia to take charge of a World Cup fixture before he was refused entry to the US at Miami International Airport last week.

Somalia is among a number of nations subject to a travel ban issued by US President Donald Trump, who has sought to crack down on immigration since his return to the White House.

Speaking to The New York Times, Artan said on Tuesday that he had been questioned by US border officials about his documentation and career for 11 hours before being taken to a holding cell and eventually flown to Istanbul.

“I am very, very disappointed,” he told the paper.

"I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup," he continued, adding that he had the "right papers" and the "right visa".

Image shared by the Office of the Somali Prime Minister. Nasra Bashir Ali/X

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said Artan had been refused entry to the country following a routine inspection.

"During processing, the traveller underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP's inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility," the CBP said. "Following inspection, the traveller, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry."

Andrew Giuliani, who is leading the White House task force for the FIFA World Cup, has said the refusal was for a "very good reason" and that he supported the decision, without offering any additional details on the matter.

Border control has taken centre stage ahead of the 2026 edition of the tournament, with a number of national teams experiencing visa issues and being subjected to additional security measures.

The decision to deny Artan entry has prompted particular criticism from across the football world and beyond.

England and Arsenal legend Ian Wright questioned whether the move was within the "spirit of football" and branded it a "World Cup of chaos".

"I feel for the American fans who are desperate for this," he said in a video posted to social media. "How embarrassing for them this must be".

The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also weighed in on the decision, sending his support to Artan

"This won’t be the end of your story on the world stage," he said.

Infantino defends World Cup ticket prices, says fans 'should chill' about ref denied US entry

By Gavin Blackburn

Published on 10/06/2026 - EURONEWS

The 2026 men's World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams and is the biggest and most ambitious in the event's history, with matches taking place in Mexico, Canada and the United States.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended World Cup ticket prices on Wednesday, saying “if we are doing something wrong, everyone in North America is doing something wrong.”

FIFA priced tickets starting at $140 (€121) for the 48-nation, 104-game tournament that starts on Thursday and priced regular seats up to $8,680 (€7,518) for the 19 July final in New Jersey.

It raised prices for the final to $10,990 (€9,518) and then $32,970 (€28,556).

After criticism from fans, FIFA offered a small amount of $60 (€51) tickets to national federations for their regular supporters. Infantino said on Wednesday 130,000 tickets were offered at that price, out of 6-7 million total.

Infantino said the average ticket price was under $500 (€433) for the tournament and was comparable to other US sports during their playoffs, a claim that while true for resale prices does not appear to be accurate for list prices.

He said he was unconcerned about investigations by attorneys general in California, New Jersey, New York and Texas.

“We are very relaxed about it because before starting to sell 6.5 million or 7 million tickets we check what we do with the best lawyers,” he said. “We welcome every investigation.”

The NBA Finals have had wildly varied get-in prices, ranging from a minimum of about $500 for the first two games in San Antonio to about $10,000 (€8,661) for Game 3 in New York. Game 4 in New York was much less, dropping to about $4,000 (€3,464) on Wednesday

The Stanley Cup Final this year between teams in Las Vegas and Raleigh, North Carolina, has included a get-in price of at least $600 (€519) for each of the first four games of the best-of-seven series.

FIFA powerless to get US entry for Somali referee

Infantino said it was “unfortunate” that Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US and said people “should chill.”

He said FIFA cannot dictate to governments who to let into their countries, though it is working “behind the scenes.”

“We always try to make the situation as positive as possible and to find solutions," he said. "Sometimes we manage, other times not.”

“We don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth,” he said.

Artan insisted he had the correct visa for the US but he was turned back at Miami International Airport and then put on a flight back to Turkey.

A US State Department official said the referee was "associated with suspected members of terrorist organisations", therefore "making the traveller ineligible for admission to the United States."

Thousands of people turned out to welcome Artan back to the Somali capital Mogadishu on Wednesday.

"I will be at the next World Cup and will continue to make Somalia proud...Despite what has happened to me, I am not discouraged," he told journalists.

Artan, who was named the 2025 men's referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football, would have been the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup.

Meanwhile, concerns were rising that the curtain-raiser in Mexico City could be disrupted by social unrest.

Protesters blocked an avenue leading to the Estadio Azteca on Tuesday although lines of police prevented the demonstrators from reaching the stadium.

Thousands took part in the demonstration following a week of action that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called a "provocation."

Sheinbaum has said that the opening match was "guaranteed," though the left-leaning leader again ruled out using police to repress the demonstrations.

US President Donald Trump, who has forged a close friendship with Infantino, announced plans to attend the World Cup, although he did not say which games.

"I spoke to Gianni this morning...he said there's never been anything close," to the success of the coming tournament, Trump said.

Messi sparkles on return

On the pitch, Argentina's superstar Lionel Messi scored moments after coming off the bench on Tuesday to dispel any injury doubts and help the holders win their final warm-up game.

The 38-year-old Messi had not featured for Argentina in the build-up to their title defence after injuring a hamstring playing for Inter Miami in late May.

He was introduced as a substitute with 20 minutes left to huge acclaim from a capacity 88,000 crowd against Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, and his clever through ball played in Lautaro Martinez, who was fouled in the box.

Messi, who drove Argentina to their third World Cup crown in Qatar four years ago and is set to feature in his sixth World Cup, lashed in the penalty to help the reigning champions ease to a 3-0 win.

Argentina's first match is on 16 June against Algeria in Kansas City.

Along with Spain, France and England, Argentina are among the favourites to win the title.

2026-06-10T20:31:30.584-07:00

Striking teachers bring Mexico City to a standstill ahead of World Cup

Thousands of demonstrators blocked a major avenue leading to Mexico City's Azteca Stadium on Tuesday, days before the 2026 World Cup opens at the venue, as teacher-led protests disrupted the capital. The demonstration, organised by a dissident faction of the CNTE teachers' union, followed a week of unrest that President Claudia Sheinbaum described as a "provocation".

Issued on: 10/06/2026 -
By: FRANCE 24

Teachers and students march to the Ciudad de Mexico Stadium in Mexico City on June 9, 2026 © Gerardo Magallon, AFP

Thousands of demonstrators blocked an avenue leading to Mexico City's Azteca Stadium on Tuesday, just days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off at the venue.

As football fans flood into tournament co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico, the Central American country is grappling with chaotic teacher protests in its capital.

Tuesday's protest, led by a breakaway group of the CNTE teachers union, follows a week of demonstrations that President Claudia Sheinbaum has called a "provocation".

"As if to say, 'Look at how bad the situation is in Mexico,'" she told a press conference

The Azteca stadium will host the World Cup's first game – pitting Mexico against South Africa – on Thursday, with a vast global TV audience set to tune in for the opening ceremony and the match.

Authorities have deployed thousands of officers and set up concrete barriers surrounding the venue to block protests.

"We intend to reach the stadium," demonstrator Angel Villalobos told AFP on Tuesday. "The government has given some responses, but they don't help, they don't satisfy."

Sheinbaum said earlier that the opening match was "guaranteed", though the left-leaning leader again ruled out using police to repress the demonstrations.

READ MOREUS to complete Trump's long-promised Mexico border wall by late 2027

Her government has favored dialogue with the protesting teachers, but to no avail.

"We're going to continue our struggle," said Austreberto Flores, another protester looking to block Azteca Stadium.

The CNTE teachers union has been on strike since last week to demand a salary raise and the reversal of a pension law -- which the government considers unfeasible.

The teachers have also set up camp near the World Cup fan zone in Mexico City's Zocalo square.

On June 1, police dispersed protesters in the area with rubber bullets and teargas.

"They want to make it seem like there is mass social turmoil in Mexico, and that's not true," Sheinbaum has said of the protests.

The teachers have called for demonstrations on Thursday that will also include families of so-called "disappeared" people, who are alleged to have been killed or kidnapped by Mexican authorities or criminal gangs.

The 2026 edition of the world's biggest football extravaganza is the most logistically complex ever staged.

Mexico is still rushing to complete renovations at subway stations and at its main airport ahead of the tournament.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

2026-06-10T20:25:27.675-07:00

Oxfam warns Europe’s corporate giants are fuelling inequality

Europe’s biggest companies are paying more than two-thirds of their profits to shareholders on average, diverting money that could otherwise support investment, climate action and workers’ wages, according to Oxfam.

Issued on: 09/06/2026 - RFI

Protestors hold banners reading "We no longer want social and fiscal inequality” at a demonstration in Bayonne, southern France, 2 October 2025. AFP - GAIZKA IROZ
By:RFI
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Oxfam France on Tuesday warned that a trend towards larger shareholder payouts was fuelling inequality and called for new limits on executive pay and dividend payments.

The charity argues that major firms have the resources to help strengthen Europe’s long-term economic future.

“While public finances run dry, companies have more than enough resources to invest in our future and Europe’s economic competitiveness, but they prefer to reward shareholders,” said Alexandre Poidatz, Oxfam's spokesperson on multinational regulation.

Oxfam said this pattern was visible across Europe’s biggest corporate players. Its report found that the 100 largest companies in Europe by turnover paid out an average of 70 percent of their profits to shareholders between 2022 and 2024.

Some companies, including Spain’s Telefónica, British oil giant BP and the Zurich Insurance Group, paid shareholders more than they made in profits over the period, it said.

Billionaire wealth on the rise, says Oxfam, warning of 'aristocratic oligarchy'

'Inequality is a choice'

Oxfam said the figures showed that Europe’s biggest firms were prioritising short-term shareholder returns over wider social and environmental goals.

According to the report, nearly half of the companies surveyed paid out 32 times more to shareholders than they invested in green transition measures.

The charity said such spending choices mattered at a time when governments across Europe were facing strained public finances, businesses were under pressure to adapt to climate targets and many workers were struggling with the cost of living.

“When regulatory measures are in place, things work out, and when they aren’t, everything goes haywire,” said Cécile Duflot, executive director of Oxfam France.

Oxfam argued that the current model was not "inevitable", but rather the result of choices made by corporate leaders and policymakers.

“Inequality is not inevitable: it is a choice. Europe’s largest companies must stop choosing a model that benefits only a minority and start acting in the interests of the many,” it said.

World's richest one percent made over $40 trillion in a decade, says Oxfam

Calls for fairer rules

Poidatz said a fairer distribution of company profits would create a more “virtuous” long-term model and, in his view, one that would also prove “much more competitive in the medium term”.

He added that rules designed to curb excessive payouts should not be seen as holding companies back.

“Regulation is not a barrier to competitiveness. On the contrary, it is the framework for a desirable future. Ambitious nations cannot wait for Brussels to set things right."

Oxfam is urging European lawmakers and business leaders to cap CEO pay at a maximum of 20 times the median employee salary.

It also wants companies to limit dividend payments until they can guarantee “decent” wages and put in place an “ambitious climate strategy”.

The NGO is also calling for quotas to increase women’s representation in senior management roles.

Oxfam said its recommendations would help ensure that Europe’s largest companies contribute more effectively to a fairer and greener economy, while still supporting competitiveness over the longer term.

2026-06-10T08:00:55.976-07:00

RINGER

French star Wembanyama leads Spurs fightback against Knicks

Listed height	7 ft 4 in (2.24 m)

French basketball star Victor Wembanyama scored 32 points as the San Antonio Spurs beat the New York Knicks 115-111 to relaunch their bid for the 2026 NBA crown.

TRUMP CURSED THE KNICKS

Issued on: 09/06/2026 - RFI

Victor Wembanyama scored 32 points as his San Antonio Spurs team beat the New York Knicks 115-111 to win Game 3 in the NBA Finals series.

Getty Images via AFP - NATHANIEL S. BUTLER

By:Paul Myers

After an error cost his side the second game in the best-of-seven series, 22-year-old Wembanyama atoned with a match-winning performance to help his team reduce the Knicks' overall lead to 2-1.

"We showed better poise at times," said Spurs boss Mitch Johnson after Game 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York which was attended by the US president Donald Trump.

French star Wembanyama leads Spurs into NBA finals showdown with Knicks

"I thought we finished the game still with some things that need improvement, but stronger than we did the last two games. We were in attack mode," Johnson added.

The Knicks, who host Game 4 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, are searching for their first NBA Finals title since 1973 while the Spurs last won the honour in 2014 after sweeping past the Miami Heat 4-1.

'Tried to relax'

Wembanyama, who was voted the most valuable player (MVP) during his team's surge through the Western Conference finals to the title showdown series, told reporters: "I really tried to relax. It's hard to put your head out of the water. I need some time off, let my brain cool down, recover. Recover as much for the body as for the mind."

Stephon Castle added 23 points to Wembanyama's haul.

Castle scored 18 in the first half and five points late in the fourth quarter.

"I feel like we still haven't really done anything," Castle said.

"Obviously we're still down 2-1 and we're looking forward to the next game.

"Obviously it feels good to win, especially on the road after dropping two bad ones at home.

"But I think our confidence has been the same throughout this series regardless of what happens."

Jalen Brunson, who claimed the MVP accolade during the Knicks run to the Eastern Conference title, scored 32 points.

Change of tactics

"I tell the guys, it's a seven-game series for a reason," said Knicks coach Mike Brown said.

"The Spurs are a great team. They are well-coached. They have an iconic player in Wembanyama. It's not going to be easy."

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It was New York's first loss since a 109-108 setback against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 of an Eastern Conference first-round series on 23 April.

"Didn't do what got us 13 straight wins in a row – that's how you lose a game," said Knicks pivot Karl-AnthonyTowns.

"We didn't do what we've been doing for 13 [games]. We decided to do something different, and it ain't going to work."

2026-06-10T07:55:27.569-07:00

EU says Ebola outbreak makes ceasefire in DRC more necessary than ever

The European Union’s crisis management commissioner has called for a ceasefire between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, saying the need for peace has become even more urgent with the spread of the Ebola outbreak.

Issued on: 08/06/2026 - RFI

Congolese health workers stand at the Bunia Evangelical Medical Center during a visit by European Commissioner for Equality, and Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib, to assess the response to the Ebola outbreak, 7 June 2026. © Gradel Muyisa Mumbere/Reuters

By:RFI
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"A ceasefire was already a political necessity. Now t has become a health emergency," Hadja Lahbib, EU commissioner for crisis management, told journalists on a visit Sunday to DRC’s eastern Ituri province, the epicentre of the current Ebola outbreak.

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak an international health emergency, and the virus continues to spread across central Africa, with nearly 500 confirmed cases.

Efforts to contain the spread have been complicated by the ongoing conflict between the Congolese government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group. Violence has displaced large numbers of people, forcing them to leave their homes, and disrupting access to healthcare.

Lahbib said a recent humanitarian airlift delivered almost 100 tonnes of emergency supplies, including medicines, tents and protective equipment. Five additional flights are scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks to Bunia airport, a key logistics hub.

Speaking during a visit to a new treatment centre near Nyakunde, Lahbib said her presence was intended to demonstrate solidarity with the affected communities, "not only through the supplies we send or the emergency funding we provide, but also by being present. This has an impact. It builds confidence".

EU commissioner for crisis management Hadia Lahbib (R) with WHO representatives at the Bunia airport, 7 June 2026. © Paulina Zidi/RFI

Lahbib said that being there shows that she trusts the scientific evidence that shows that the virus is only transmissible under certain conditions.

"If we follow preventive measures, we can protect ourselves," she said.

The two-storey treatment has a capacity to treat 50 patients. It is currently treating are 27 or 28, according to the centre’s logistics director Mikael Di Marco.

It takes two to three days to confirm a case of Ebola, he said "but we are trying to accellerate things, notably by decentralising our laboratories".

A further 18 beds will be added to the facility, along with a day care for the children of patients undergoing treatment.

Lahbib also announced an additional €5 million in support, on top of the €15 million already disbursed for humanitarian assistance, to help deploy diagnostic centres in affected areas.

2026-06-10T07:35:07.936-07:00

French PM announces measures to combat child abuse amid Lyhanna protests

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Tuesday presented initial measures to better protect children, following a meeting with key ministers, in a bid to quell public anger sweeping the country over the death of 11-year-old Lyhanna.

Issued on: 09/06/2026 - RFI

Protesters hold placards depicting Lyhanna, an 11-year-old girl found dead on 4 June in southwestern France, during a demonstration in Auch on 8 June. AFP - VALENTINE CHAPUIS

Lecornu held a 90-minute meeting with several ministers on Tuesday morning to discuss child protection and sexual violence, in the wake of a case that has shocked France.

He proposed increasing penalties for serial rapists, who could face life imprisonment instead of the current 20 years.

Regarding crimes against children, Lecornu proposed that investigations be carried out "within a maximum of three months".

These measures are in response to what is seen as the inaction of the justice system regarding the main suspect in Lyhanna's death, Jérôme B – who had been the subject of several prior complaints and reports.

Further proposals include modifying the statute of limitations, informing victims throughout the legal process, and requiring justification for decisions to dismiss sexual crimes and offences.

Other measures are being finalised and will be incorporated into the draft law on child protection, already presented to the Council of Ministers late last month and due to be examined by parliament in July.
'Overwhelming failings'

"The justice system hasn’t done its job, I don’t understand why we have to wait so long," the mother of 10-year-old Rosa, who accuses Jérôme B of rape, said speaking from Toulouse.

She had filed a complaint in August 2025, which did not result in the suspect being summoned and was not followed by sufficiently rapid investigative actions.

Many months passed between this report and the abduction of Lyhanna in Fleurance, southwestern France, on 29 May this year.

The pressure has been mounting on the government, with demonstrations held in several French cities.

A silent march in tribute to Lyhanna, an 11-year-old girl found dead on 4 June after having been reported missing since 29 May, in Fleurance, southwestern France. AFP - LIONEL BONAVENTURE

On Monday evening, more than 60,000 people protested failings in the case, and lawsuits are expected over the inaction of the public authorities.

Rosa's mother's lawyer on Tuesday announced his intention to sue the state for "gross negligence" and to bring the case against the Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, before the Court of Justice of the Republic.

Although he quickly acknowledged "overwhelming failings," Darmanin has ruled out resigning.

On Monday, he ordered that the 70,000 complaints currently pending in the courts involving children be reviewed by 14 July.

He was questioned by the Senate on Tuesday morning along with his colleague, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who defended the way police and gendarmes handled cases of sexual violence against minors.

In a letter to his ministers made public on Monday evening, Lecornu emphasised his "horror" but also "a lack of understanding regarding the circumstances" of Lyhanna's death.
System under strain

The judicial system is "not sufficiently on the side of victims," Aurore Bergé, the Minister Delegate for Gender Equality, told France 2 television.

Meanwhile, the High Council of the Judiciary has deplored the "discrediting of thousands of judges," responding to criticism of the handling of the case and its "exploitation."

Several prosecutors described to French news agency AFP a judicial system under extreme strain, buckling under the accumulation of cases where distinguishing "a super-priority among priorities" becomes difficult.

In 2025 and 2026, prosecutors received dozens of government directives concerning drug trafficking, domestic violence, attacks on elected officials or the environment.

Franck Rastoul, the public prosecutor in Aix-en-Provence, southern France, says there are 3.6 million cases being processed nationwide but no new resources have been created.

"We will have to prioritise these cases even more, even if it obviously means processing others at a reduced pace," he says.

The Lyhanna case has also become an issue in the 2027 presidential campaign, with potential and declared candidates divided on how to respond in matters such as the resources allocated to the justice system, the accountability of judges and possible legislation to better protect victims.

Lecornu has promised that funding for combatting gender-based and sexual violence "will be maintained" in the 2027 budget and said he will meet with MPs who support a comprehensive text on sexist and sexual violence "at the end of the week".

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