Hungary threatens to quit EU
The long-distance battle between Budapest and Brussels has taken a turn for the worse as Hungary is now considering its membership of the EU. Finance Minister Mihaly Varga told Hungarian TV the question “could take on a new perspective when we become net contributors to the Union”. It is estimated that by 2030, Hungary would fall among the countries that pay more money to the EU budget than they receive. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has rejected European Commission charges on democratic deficits in the rule of law. In a tweet, he accused the EC of “pressure” and “double measures” – “just because we do not want the LGBTIQ lobby to enter our schools”.
Timanovskaya flies out of Japan
Krystina Timanovskaya, 24, the Belarusian athlete who refused orders to fly home early from the Olympics, has left Japan on a flight to Vienna this morning. She was expected to travel directly to Warsaw as Poland had granted her a humanitarian visa, but changed destination at the last minute. The athlete voiced fears for her safety after she was driven to Tokyo’s Haneda airport last week, following her criticism towards her coaches. Meanwhile, a Belarusian activist, Vitaly Shishov, that helped his compatriots escape repression in the country and who disappeared on Sunday in Kiev was found hanged in a park in the Ukrainian capital. The Belarusian NGO has accused the Alexander Lukashenko regime of the murder.
Johnson, Biden, offer support to Belarusian leader in exile
Belarusian opposition exponent in exile, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, was greeted with honors as leader in Downing Street by Boris Johnson, two weeks after meeting US President Joe Biden at the White House, and received assurance of Britain’s support for her cause. Johnson recalled the background of the events of the last few hours relating to the discovery of the body of Vitaly Shishov in Kiev and the escape of Krystina Timanovskaya from Tokyo.
Ship hijacked by armed men off UAE
Five days after the attack on the Mercer Street oil tanker off the coast of Oman another tanker was hijacked in the United Arab Emirates when a group of armed men boarded the Asphalt Princess flying the Panamanian flag and took the crew hostage. Some British sources suggested Iran may be behindthis new episode but Teheran immediately denied the charges.
Biden says Cuomo should resign over harassment report
President Joe Biden has called on Andrew Cuomo to resign after a damning independent inquiry found the New York governor had harassed multiple women. Mr Biden’s condemnation of Mr Cuomo came hours after the state’s Attorney General Letitia James said the governor had violated state and federal laws. In response, Mr Cuomo denied the charges.
Yet another agent involved in Capitol Hill fracas commits suidice
A fourth policeman involved in the assault on the US Congress on January 6 committed suicide on July 10. This was announced a few hours after the news of a third suicide among the agents who on that day tried to defend the Capitol Hill from assailants – Agent Kyle DeFreytag, 26.
Pope: Church in difficulty
Pope Francis has invted the faithful to help him reform the Catholic Church, which, he said, is in crisis. In a video for prayer intentions in August, the Pope said, “The Church always has difficulties, it always goes through crises, because it is alive: living things enter into crisis. Only the dead do not enter into crisis”. Francis said he dreams of making the Church ever more “missionary”.
Olympic men’s football: Brazil – Spain vie for gold
Olympics Football: Brazil and Spain will play for gold in the Men football event after the former beat Mexico 1-4 on penalties and Spain beat Japan 1-0 in extra time. The final for third place between Mexico and Japan will be played next Friday at 1pm while the Gold final between Brazil and Spain is scheduled for Sunday at 1.30pm.
