Bloc’s leaders to hold first summit with Armenia on Tuesday at it ramps up efforts to combat Kremlin’s influenceThe EU is sending a team of experts specialised in combating Russian propaganda and interference to Armenia, as it increases its support to the former Soviet republic in a tense political period.In a highly symbolic sequence of events, EU leaders will hold their first summit with Armenia on Tuesday, after a pan-European gathering of about 45 leaders at the European Political Community
Bloc’s leaders to hold first summit with Armenia on Tuesday at it ramps up efforts to combat Kremlin’s influence
The EU is sending a team of experts specialised in combating Russian propaganda and interference to Armenia, as it increases its support to the former Soviet republic in a tense political period.
In a highly symbolic sequence of events, EU leaders will hold their first summit with Armenia on Tuesday, after a pan-European gathering of about 45 leaders at the European Political Community summit in Yerevan.
A few things that stood out this week. Scott Ketcham‘s wildly off-model Dennis the Menace and Joey didn’t bring about the amount of comments I thought it would. Though it sticks out like a sore thumb I am not bothered by it. For those who are there’s another Scott Ketcham panel coming next week. Will […]
A few things that stood out this week. Scott Ketcham‘s wildly off-model Dennis the Menace and Joey didn’t bring about the amount of comments I thought it would. Though it sticks out like a sore thumb I am not bothered by it. For those who are there’s another Scott Ketcham panel coming next week. Will […]
WASHINGTON, May 3 — Nato said yesterday it was working with the United States to understand Washington’s decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany as a rift in transatlantic ties deepens over the Middle East war.The Pentagon’s announcement of the troop withdrawal follows a spat between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Monday that Iran was “humiliating” Washington at the negotiating table.It also came as Trump announ
WASHINGTON, May 3 — Nato said yesterday it was working with the United States to understand Washington’s decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany as a rift in transatlantic ties deepens over the Middle East war.
The Pentagon’s announcement of the troop withdrawal follows a spat between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Monday that Iran was “humiliating” Washington at the negotiating table.
It also came as Trump announced that tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union would jump from 15 per cent to 25 per cent next week, accusing the bloc of failing to comply with a trade deal signed last summer.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Friday the withdrawal of around 5,000 troops from Germany was expected “to be completed over the next six to twelve months.”
Nato said yesterday it was “working with the US to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany.”
“This adjustment underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defense and take on a greater share of the responsibility for our shared security,” Nato spokeswoman Allison Hart wrote on X.
There were 36,436 active-duty US troops in Nato ally Germany as of December 31, 2025, compared to 12,662 in Italy and 3,814 in Spain.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said yesterday the US troop withdrawal “from Europe and also from Germany was to be expected.”
Republican concern
The decision is being met with skepticism by top Republican lawmakers who oversee US military policy.
In a joint statement yesterday, Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, chairs of the Armed Services Committees in their respective chambers, warned that pulling troops from Germany risks “sending the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin.”
Even though European allies are boosting defense spending, “translating that investment into the military capability needed to assume primary responsibility for conventional deterrence will take time,” they said.
The duo noted that Germany had heeded Trump’s calls for greater spending on defense and that it had allowed American planes to use German bases and airspace during the ongoing conflict with Iran.
‘Why shouldn’t I?’
Trump has threatened to slash US troop numbers in Germany and other European allies during both his White House terms, saying he wants Europe to take on greater responsibility for its defense rather than depending on Washington.
He now appears determined to punish allies who have failed to back the Middle East war or contribute to a peacekeeping force in the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Tehran’s forces have effectively closed.
Trump said on Thursday he might pull US troops from Italy and Spain due to their opposition to the Iran war.
“Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible,” he told reporters.
“Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn’t I?” Trump said.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Thursday that Berlin was “prepared” for a reduction in US troops and “discussing it closely and in a spirit of trust in all NATO bodies.”
However, Wadephul said large American bases in Germany are “not up for discussion at all” and cited the example of Ramstein Air Base, which he said has “an irreplaceable function for the United States and for us alike.” — AFP
The airline apologized to Pavel Talankin, the co-director and subject of the Academy Award-winning film, after his trophy went missing following a flight from New York City to Frankfurt.
The airline apologized to Pavel Talankin, the co-director and subject of the Academy Award-winning film, after his trophy went missing following a flight from New York City to Frankfurt.
What ever happened to the predictability of paychecks? Well, Jodie Sweetin has an idea.
After all, the Full House alum set the record straight about how much money she's recently earned from her...
What ever happened to the predictability of paychecks? Well, Jodie Sweetin has an idea.
After all, the Full House alum set the record straight about how much money she's recently earned from her...
In the small, remote Romanian village of Vacareni, nestled on the banks of the Danube and a mere 50 meters south of the border with occupied Ukraine, the calm you see in the day is merely an illusion. Houses with roofs painted in different colors — some of them rusted metal sheets — and neatly kept vegetable gardens dotting the valley project a sense of quiet. But at night, the buzz of drones and the echo of their explosions remind the village’s 1,400 residents that they are direct witnesses to
In the small, remote Romanian village of Vacareni, nestled on the banks of the Danube and a mere 50 meters south of the border with occupied Ukraine, the calm you see in the day is merely an illusion. Houses with roofs painted in different colors — some of them rusted metal sheets — and neatly kept vegetable gardens dotting the valley project a sense of quiet. But at night, the buzz of drones and the echo of their explosions remind the village’s 1,400 residents that they are direct witnesses to Russia’s offensive in neighboring Ukraine — an invasion they describe as a “disgrace” and one that has intensified in recent weeks.
A pessimist could construe Donald Trump’s warning about American troop reductions in Germany as a less brazen modern equivalent to the non-aggression Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939. Read More
A pessimist could construe Donald Trump’s warning about American troop reductions in Germany as a less brazen modern equivalent to the non-aggression Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939. Read More
Hong Kong photographer Gareth Brown has spent the past 19 years working on a personal project called “Bodies in Motion, Bodies at Rest” – using dance to showcase the city’s unique spots.
Hong Kong Dance Company dancer Debby Chuang at a derelict industrial building in Tsing Yi, reputedly a major paint factory operated by Swire in post-war Hong Kong. Photo: Gareth Brown.
For what he called a “very personal passion project,” he photographed ballerinas, contemporary and traditional dancers, a
Hong Kong photographer Gareth Brown has spent the past 19 years working on a personal project called “Bodies in Motion, Bodies at Rest” – using dance to showcase the city’s unique spots.
Hong Kong Dance Company dancer Debby Chuang at a derelict industrial building in Tsing Yi, reputedly a major paint factory operated by Swire in post-war Hong Kong. Photo: Gareth Brown.
For what he called a “very personal passion project,” he photographed ballerinas, contemporary and traditional dancers, as well as artistic swimmers and aerialists, against the backdrop of heritage buildings, natural landscapes, and modern infrastructure.
Dance artist Sudhee Liao at Pun Uk, a Meixian Hakka mansion in Yuen Long, dating back to 1934. The building was built by Hakka businessman Pun Kwan-min, who contributed financially to the 1911 Revolution to overthrow the Qing dynasty. In 1938, future Chinese premier Zhou Enlai stayed at Pun Uk. The mansion has a Grade II listing, and though seemingly sound, the structure has been left derelict for many years. Photo: Gareth Brown.
Aquatic performers Nora Cho, Grace Pang, Carmen Leung, Michelle Pang, and Chan Hoi-lam – members of the Hong Kong artistic swim team – at a river pool in Sheung Luk Stream, Sai Kung. The photo was taken before the deeper pools became popular with social media influencers and daredevil tombstoners. Photo: Gareth Brown.
Suku Limbu and Sajna Gurung, from the Hong Kong Nepalese Dance Group, at the Hindu Temple in Burma Lines, the former Queen’s Hill Army Camp in Fanling. The abandoned temple is a visually striking architectural gem. Designed as a place of worship for the Gurkhas of the British army, its hexagonal shape is reminiscent of a lotus blossom. Photo: Gareth Brown.
“Over the years, I’ve kept the works mostly to myself, dance and heritage friends,” said Brown, who is originally from the UK.
Having amassed a large collection, “I’m attempting to bring it to the attention of a wider audience.”
Contemporary dancer-choreographer Abby Chan at the Kam Tin Tree House, where the roots of a massive banyan tree have intertwined with the remains of an ancient study hall. It is located in Kam Tin, a historic traditional village famous for its many temples. Photo: Gareth Brown.Former Hong Kong Ballet star Irene Lo, now associate director of the Hong Kong Academy of Ballet, at the House of Convenience, or Fong Pin Yuen in Cantonese, on the outskirts of Tai O, Lantau Island. The facility was established by a Buddhist woman named Yip Sin-hoi in 1934 for seriously ill and dying patients to pass their final days. Photo: Gareth Brown.
The photographer said he usually found locations of interest – “culturally, historically, or they just look good” – and then chose dancers who best fitted the spot.
For example, at a river pool in Sheung Luk Stream, Sai Kung, he worked with members of the Hong Kong artistic swim team. At an abandoned Gurkha Hindu temple in Burma Lines, he collaborated with traditional dancers from the Nepalese community. An aerialist posed at a wall tree of the former Tung Chi College on Ship Street, which has since been demolished.
Prima ballerina Faye Leung, previously senior principal at Hong Kong Ballet, at Island Eastern Corridor, a prime example of the ambitious mass infrastructure projects that embody Hong Kong’s can-do spirit. The ballerina’s movements, full of power and grace, pay homage to this remarkable feat of modern engineering. Photo: Gareth Brown.
Joana Cambeses, an aerialist and acrobatic performer, hanging from a wall tree at the former Tung Chi College, on Ship Street in Wan Chai. The building has been redeveloped since the image was taken. Some of the most impressive wall trees could be found on Ship Street. Photo: Gareth Brown.
Contemporary dancer Sarah Xiao at the 33-metre historic granite edifice at Tai Tam Upper Reservoir Dam. Photo: Gareth Brown.
“If nothing else, the project is an interesting historical record of the [Hong Kong] dance industry, as well as locations that no longer exist or probably won’t exist for much longer,” Brown said.
The project gave him the chance to work with some of the city’s prominent dancers, such as Hong Kong Ballet principal dancer Yang Ruiqi, former Hong Kong Dance Company principal dancer Laura Pan, and dancer-choreographer Abby Chan.
Contemporary dancer-choreographer Flora Hon and actor-dancer Rick Cheung at Sunset Peak, Hong Kong’s third-highest peak, on Lantau Island. At the summit, there are 20 small concrete huts, constructed by missionaries in the 1920s. Legend has it that the huts served as a refuge from the sweltering heat and humidity of Hong Kong summers, as well as from the many spiritual distractions in the burgeoning city. Photo: Gareth Brown.Contemporary dancer Siobhan Dumigan braves cold temperatures at Cape D’Aguilar Battery, on the southernmost tip of Hong Kong Island. The World War II relic sits on a rocky outcrop in a hostile environment. Photo: Gareth Brown.
“I’ve been very lucky,” the photographer said of the collaborations.
At the heels of Brown’s solo exhibition at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club last year and another show at the Hong Kong Dance Awards ceremony last week, “Bodies in Motion, Bodies at Rest” is currently on display at The Corner Shop, a small gallery in Tsim Sha Tsui managed by the hotel Mondrian Hong Kong.
The exhibition will run until May 17.
Hong Kong Ballet principal dancer Yang Ruiqi at Plover Cove Reservoir in Tai Mei Tuk, the first freshwater coastal lake to be built in Hong Kong. The dam has a clean, futuristic aesthetic. Photo: Gareth Brown.
Laura Pan, former principal dancer at the Hong Kong Dance Company, at Shek Lo, an imposing abandoned colonial mansion in Fanling. The building – built in 1924 by Peter Tsui, founder of Wah Yan College – is a blend of Chinese and European architectural styles. Having been uninhabited since the 1980s, the Grade 1 historic structure has become a sanctuary for a large colony of bats. Photo: Gareth Brown.
Modern dancer-choreographer Lemon Doo and dance partner Tonia Wan at the Innovation Tower, designed by Zaha Hadid. The futuristic-looking building, located on the campus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hung Hom, has fluid curves with an ethereal, otherworldly appearance. Photo: Gareth Brown.
Exhibition: “Bodies in Motion, Bodies at Rest” – Photography by Gareth Brown.
Dates: April 20 – May 17, 2026.
Opening Hours: 11am to 11pm.
Venue: The Corner Shop by Mondrian, 11A-11D Hart Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui.
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