Le Journal

‘Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are deliberately depriving civilians of heat, light and basic services in the middle of harsh winter,’ an EU commissioner saidThe European Commission has offered a bit more detail on the deployment of 447 emergency generators from EU reserves to Ukraine, mentioned in the earlier post (12:33).“The generators – mobilised from rescEU strategic reserves hosted in Poland – will be distributed by the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine in cooperation with the Ukrainian Red Cross to the most affected communities.The EU will not let Russia freeze Ukraine into submission and will continue helping Ukrainians get through this winter.”They are designed to break Ukrainian spirit. They will fail.We won’t let Russia freeze Ukraine. We bring light and warmth where Russia sends darkness. Continue reading...

Rolling coverage of the final day of the World Economic Forum in DavosLagarde is also critical about some of the numbers for economic growth being banded around in Davos this week, saying they are usually nominal numbers – the real growth figures (adjusted for inflation) are lower.It’s important to speak the truth, she says, adding:“We have to be honest about the numbers we use”. Continue reading...

Lining up for best supporting actor in the year’s most hotly-tipped film, the Lewisham-born actor has long been a favourite of the Malcolm X director and is poised for brighter limelightIn the aftermath of the Oscar nominations, Wunmi Mosaku was heralded as Britain’s saviour after her best supporting actress nod at Hollywood’s most prestigious awards. The UK had been facing its first nomination-less year in the acting categories since 1986.But the Sinners star was joined by a fellow cast member, Lewisham-born, Delroy Lindo, who will also be representing Britain on the big night on 15 March. Continue reading...

Interim leader Delcy Rodríguez told influencers of US threat to kill leaders if they did cooperate after capture of MaduroThe communications minister holds a phone up to a microphone before a gathering of regime-friendly influencers.On speakerphone is Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, who claims that when US forces captured the dictator Nicolás Maduro, she and other members of his cabinet were given 15 minutes to decide whether to comply with Washington’s demands – “or they would kill us.” Continue reading...

Judge shelves inquiry into use of Israeli-made software to target ministers’ phones citing chronic lack of cooperationSpain’s highest criminal court has again shelved its investigation into the use of Israeli-made Pegasus software to target the mobile phones of senior Spanish ministers, including the prime minister, citing a chronic lack of cooperation from the Israeli authorities that has violated “the principle of good faith” between countries.The investigation began in May 2022 after the Spanish government revealed that the phones of the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, and the defence minister, Margarita Robles, had been infected the previous year with the spyware, which, according to its manufacturers, NSO Group, is available only to state agencies. It was later established that the phones of the interior minister and the agriculture minister had also been targeted. Continue reading...