Starmer’s chief of staff resigns as pressure rises over Mandelson post
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney has resigned as criticism intensifies over the decision to appoint Peter Mande...
Two people were killed and dozens injured in overnight Russian drone attacks across Ukraine, as strikes on energy infrastructure left many regions without power amid freezing temperatures, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The attacks targeted Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Khmelnytskyi, and Odesa, involving more than 200 drones, Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
“The situation in the energy system remains difficult, but we are doing everything we can to restore all services as quickly as possible,” he added.
Zelenskyy also called for urgent international support. “Ukraine still needs more protection, above all, more missiles for air defense systems,” he said.
“If Russia is deliberately dragging out the diplomatic process, the world’s response must be decisive: more assistance for Ukraine and more pressure on the aggressor,” Zelenskyy added.
The strikes came a day after Ukrainian negotiators arrived in the United States to discuss a 20-point peace proposal with the Trump administration, focusing on security guarantees and post-war recovery. Russia has yet to comment on the plan.
Ukraine is facing an acute energy crisis, with the damaged power grid providing only 60% of the country’s electricity needs. Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhia have been particularly hard hit, leaving families struggling to stay warm in freezing temperatures.
In Russian-occupied Zaporizhia, more than 200,000 consumers were left without electricity after a Ukrainian drone strike on Saturday, Governor Yevgeny Balitsky said. Nearly 400 settlements remain without power, with crews working to restore supply.
Zelenskyy noted that over the past week alone, Ukraine has faced more than 1,300 attack drones, roughly 1,050 guided aerial bombs, and 29 missiles of various types, underlining the ongoing intensity of Russia’s campaign.
Storm Leonardo hit Spain and Portugal on Tuesday, forcing more than 11,000 people from their homes, as a man in Portugal died after his car was swept away by floodwaters and a second body was found in Malaga.
Iran would retaliate by striking U.S. military bases across the Middle East if it comes under attack by American forces, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday (7 January), stressing that such action should not be seen as targeting the countries hosting those bases.
At least 31 people have been killed and scores wounded in a suicide bombing at a mosque in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, during Friday prayers, prompting widespread international condemnation.
U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators have discussed an ambitious goal of reaching a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine by March, though the timeline is widely viewed as unrealistic due to deep disagreements over territory, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks.
A Japanese city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival, saying growing numbers of badly behaved tourists are disrupting daily life for residents.
Portugal voted on Sunday in a presidential runoff between leftist Antonio Jose Seguro and far-right challenger Andre Ventura, with surveys indicating a decisive victory for Seguro despite weather disruptions and pockets of political fatigue.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney has resigned as criticism intensifies over the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said a man suspected of shooting senior military intelligence officer Vladimir Alexeyev in Moscow has been detained in Dubai and returned to Russia.
Police in riot gear pushed toward a group of protesters who launched fireworks, flares and smoke bombs during a demonstration in Milan on Saturday, as the city hosted events on the first full day of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 8th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment