Indonesia hit by powerful 7.7 earthquake, Tsunami …

Russia has sharply criticized the European Union after the bloc approved its 21st package of sanctions, saying the new measures will damage European economies more than Russia and further increase tensions between Moscow and Brussels. In a statement released by Russia’s Permanent Mission to the European Union, officials said the approval process for the latest sanctions exposed growing divisions within the EU. According to Moscow, many member states were reluctant to support additional restrictions because of the economic burden they are already facing. Russia claimed the lengthy negotiations reflected increasing concern among European governments over the impact of sanctions on businesses, energy supplies and overall economic growth. The Russian mission accused the European Union of continuing a policy of confrontation despite rising economic challenges across Europe. It said EU leaders were ignoring the financial costs of sanctions while pursuing what Moscow described as a political campaign against Russia. The statement also referred to comments by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, who indicated that further sanctions could be introduced in the future. According to Russia, discussions on new sanctions have become a political ritual aimed at showing unity among EU member states rather than achieving practical results. Moscow argued that the restrictions have failed to weaken Russia in the way European leaders had expected. Instead, it claimed that European citizens and businesses are paying the price through higher energy costs, inflation and slower economic growth. The statement further argued that Europe’s economic difficulties have been intensified by the EU’s decision to reduce imports of Russian energy, continued financial and military support for Ukraine, and instability in global energy markets caused by ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Russian officials also pointed to a recent assessment by the European Central Bank, which highlighted geopolitical conflicts and energy market uncertainty as major risks to the European economy. Moscow said this assessment supports its argument that continued sanctions are creating additional pressure on European countries. Using a road journey as a comparison, the Russian mission said the European Union was following a path that could lead its economy into serious difficulties. It argued that EU policymakers should reconsider their current strategy instead of introducing more restrictions that, in Russia’s view, have produced limited results while increasing costs for Europe. The statement concluded by reaffirming that Russia considers the EU sanctions to be illegal unilateral measures. Moscow warned that any additional restrictions imposed by the European Union would receive what it described as an effective and appropriate response from Russia.

A drone attack launched by the Sudanese armed forces killed at least 35 people and left dozens of others injured after striking a traditional court session in the village of Ghara al-Zawiya, located in North Darfur. The civil monitoring group Emergency Lawyers reported that multiple missiles hit a customary gathering held under a tree where local elders, community leaders, and residents had assembled to resolve regional disputes. Eyewitness accounts confirmed that the victims included four tribal leaders alongside two commanders from the Rapid Support Forces, which currently holds administrative control over much of the Darfur region. Human rights observers and legal advocacy groups strongly condemned the attack, characterising the targeting of civilian infrastructure and traditional judicial venues as a violation of international humanitarian law. The incident underscores the growing deployment of uncrewed aerial systems across Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict, which has displaced millions and caused severe humanitarian degradation nationwide.