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Category: News
May 18, 2025
News

Yes, Europe Also Uses Non-Tariff Trade Barriers to Edge Out U.S. Firms in Digital Sector.

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❓What Happened: The tax policy advocacy group, Americans for Tax Reform, is sounding the alarm that the European Union (EU) is continuing to use non-tariff trade barriers to disadvantage U.S. technology companies in the European market.

👥 Who’s Involved: Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform; the European Union (EU); U.S. tech companies; and China.

📍 Where & When: Americans for Tax Reform’s president, Grover Norquist, laid out the concerns with EU regulatory burdens in a recent opinion editorial.

💬 Key Quote: “This is not regulation; it’s non-tariff protectionism disguised as principle,” Norquist said.

⚠️ Impact: Norquist warned that the EU’s actions could push American firms out of the European digital economy and risk ceding dominance to China.

IN FULL:

Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform, has sounded the alarm over European Union (EU) policies that he claims unfairly target American technology firms. Writing in an opinion editorial this week, Norquist criticized the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) as measures designed to penalize U.S. companies through excessive regulations and censorship demands.

Norquist argues that these policies are not genuine regulatory measures but rather “non-tariff protectionism disguised as principle.” He accused the EU of benefiting from U.S.-developed platforms and technologies, such as cloud services and artificial intelligence (AI), while imposing fines and taxes that ultimately fund the European welfare state “at the expense of America.”

Recent years have seen growing tensions between U.S. tech firms and European regulators. For example, X (formerly Twitter), the platform owned by Elon Musk, faced scrutiny after signing an EU code of conduct aimed at combating “illegal hate speech online.” Musk’s somewhat more permissive approach to free speech has clashed with European laws, drawing criticism from EU leaders.

Norquist further emphasized that 80 percent of Europe’s digital technologies are imported, primarily from the United States. He cautioned that the EU’s approach could undermine collaboration with American innovators and pave the way for China to dominate the digital economy.

“Europe’s leaders must recognize their role in escalating trade tensions and commit to a unified front,” Norquist urged. “Let us innovate together, compete together, and halt China’s march toward economic and technological dominance.”

This reflects similar criticisms by President Donald J. Trump, who has hammered the EU for its tariffs on U.S. goods and its use of regulations, security measures, and value-added tax (VAT) to undermine the competitiveness of U.S. exports.

Image: European Union 2017 – European Parliament.

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May 17, 2025
Immigration
News

Judge Dismisses Charges Against 98 Illegals Who Entered Restricted National Defense Area.

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❓What Happened: A judge in New Mexico dismissed charges against 98 illegal immigrants who crossed into a restricted National Defense Area.

👥 Who’s Involved: Judge Gregory B. Wormuth, 98 illegal immigrants, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

📍 Where & When: Restricted land along the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico, dismissals began being filed late Wednesday.

💬 Key Quote: “The United States provides no facts from which one could reasonably conclude that the defendant knew he was entering,” said Judge Wormuth.

⚠️ Impact: Dismissal of charges could set a precedent for similar cases; illegal immigrants remain in custody and may still face deportation.

IN FULL:

A federal judge in New Mexico has dismissed charges against 98 illegal immigrants who crossed into a restricted National Defense Area near the U.S.-Mexico border. The area, established under the Trump administration, forms part of the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Huachuca and is marked by “Restricted Area” signs in both English and Spanish.

Judge Gregory B. Wormuth ruled that the illegals could not be prosecuted for entering the restricted zone because they were reportedly unaware it was military property. “The United States provides no facts from which one could reasonably conclude that the defendant knew he was entering,” Wormuth claimed, insisting that requiring intent to enter military land is necessary to avoid “absurd and unfair results.”

The dismissed cases are among approximately 400 misdemeanor charges filed against illegal immigrants who entered the restricted area. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously praised the establishment of the National Defense Area, emphasizing its role in reducing illegal crossings. “When you cross illegally, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Hegseth said during a visit to the area earlier this year.

Defense attorneys argued that the border crossers were unaware of the restricted zone’s boundaries, with some arriving in the dark or unable to read warning signs. One attorney described the area as “just a bunch of desert,” asserting that the charges were unexpected.

Despite the dismissals, the illegal immigrants remain in custody and may still face deportation for entering the U.S. unlawfully.

President Donald J. Trump‘s border policies have already massively reduced illegal crossings in the first few months of his term. According to the U.S. Border Patrol, registered encounters with migrants in March dropped 97 percent compared to March 2022. Similar trends have been seen on the northern border with Canada as well.

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May 17, 2025
Crime
News

Climate Activists Sentenced for Airport Runway Glue Plot.

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❓What Happened: A group of Just Stop Oil activists were convicted of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance after planning to disrupt London’s Heathrow Airport by gluing themselves to the runway.

👥 Who’s Involved: Nine Just Stop Oil activists and Judge Hannah Duncan.

📍 Where & When: The judge’s ruling occurred on May 16, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: Judge Hannah Duncan stated the activists showed “no remorse” for their actions and wasted court time to garner publicity for themselves.

⚠️ Impact: The activists avoided prison, receiving either suspended sentences or credit for time already served, which will do little to deter other climate extremists.

IN FULL:

Nine activists from the climate extremist group Just Stop Oil have avoided jail after being convicted of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance in connection with a planned disruption at Heathrow Airport. The group had intended to glue themselves to the airport runway, but police intervened, preventing what authorities described as “unprecedented disruption.”

The case was heard at Isleworth Crown Court, where Judge Hannah Duncan noted that the activists had not breached the airport’s perimeter fence and had caused no “actual harm” or disruption. However, she criticized the group for showing “no remorse” for their actions. The court handed down suspended sentences to some defendants, while others were deemed to have already served their time.

Despite these weak sentences, Judge Duncan slammed the activists for treating the courtroom as an “extension of the protest.” She stated, “There are women and children who have been abused, sexually assaulted or raped who are waiting for court rooms. You used one for seven weeks. Some of you dragging it out as much as you could at every opportunity, lying about your actions and intentions that day all to get more publicity.”

The planned protest was part of a broader campaign by Just Stop Oil, which demands the end of all fossil fuel usage. The group has gained notoriety for its extremist tactics, which include throwing paint on priceless works of art, blocking major roadways across the United Kingdom, and vandalizing pieces of British history like the Magna Carta and Stonehenge.

Members of the group have been sentenced for past actions, including a five-year sentence for cofounder Roger Hallam for disputing traffic in 2022. However, in March of this year, his sentence was deemed excessive and reduced to four years.

Climate extremists’ protests on public roads have had dire consequences, with people suffering permanent damage after being prevented from reaching hospitals in a timely fashion following medical episodes, or even dying after being diverted to busier roads where they were involved in accidents.

Image by Panhard.

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May 16, 2025
Economy
Immigration

Why Is Mexico’s Govt Lobbying Against Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill?’

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❓What Happened: House Republicans proposed a five percent tax on remittances sent out of the U.S. by non-U.S. citizens, sparking opposition from Mexico. In response, Mexican government officials are lobbying House Republicans in the U.S. to drop the provision from President Donald J. Trump’s budget bill.

👥 Who’s Involved: U.S. House Republicans, Mexican Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and President Trump.

📍 Where & When: U.S., ongoing discussions as of May 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Imposing a tax on these transfers would disproportionately affect those with the least, without accounting for their ability to pay,” Barragán wrote in a letter to U.S. Congressional leaders.

⚠️ Impact: The proposal could generate $1 billion in tax revenue by 2026, but faces resistance from Mexican government officials, as remittances from the United States comprise a significant portion of the country’s revenue.

IN FULL:

The foreign remittance tax provision in President Donald J. Trump‘s budget plan, currently working its way through the House of Representatives, has become the target of a lobbying campaign by the Mexican government, which seeks to remove it from the legislation. Under the plan being pushed by President Trump and his allies in Congress, cash remittances sent by non-U.S. citizens to family members abroad would be subject to a five percent tax.

In a letter to House Ways and Means Committee leaders, Reps. Jason Smith (R-MO) and Richard Neal (D-MA), Mexico’s Ambassador to the U.S., Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, urged the U.S. lawmakers to reconsider the tax measure. “Imposing a tax on these transfers would disproportionately affect those with the least, without accounting for their ability to pay,” Barragán wrote, claiming the provision will have unintended consequences such as increased use of unregulated financial channels.

Mexico is the third-largest recipient of remittances among nations worldwide. In 2024, the country received an estimated $64.745 billion in remittances, with most of the money sourced through transfers from the United States. The country’s heavy reliance on payment transfers from the U.S. as a source of revenue has even prompted Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to weigh in on the issue, declaring it “arbitrary and unjust” and calling it “a measure that is unacceptable.”

The Joint Committee on Taxation released estimates that the tax could generate $1 billion in revenue by 2026, rising to $3 billion by 2034. During his first term in office, President Trump pushed for a remittance tax to recoup costs for his border wall with Mexico.

As part of the Mexican government’s push against the tax provision, Barragán has met with U.S. lawmakers, including Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) and Maria Salazar (R-FL). Salazar stated she is still evaluating the proposal.

Image via Mexico City Government.

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May 16, 2025
Media
News

Nearly 600 Voice of America Staffers Laid Off.

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❓What Happened: Nearly 600 Voice of America (VOA) employees, primarily contractors, were fired as part of a Trump administration overhaul of the agency.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Trump administration, U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), VOA employees, and senior adviser Kari Lake.

📍 Where & When: The firings were announced this week, with the employees’ last day set for May 30.

💬 Key Quote: Kari Lake stated, “I don’t have editorial control over the content of VOA and OCB programming, but I can ensure our outlets have reliable and credible options as they work to craft their reporting and news programs.”

⚠️ Impact: The dismissals represent one-third of VOA’s workforce and coincide with a shift toward using One America News Network for news-feed services.

IN FULL:

The Trump administration has terminated nearly 600 employees at Voice of America (VOA) as part of a broader effort to reform the agency. The affected individuals, many of whom are contractors, were informed this week that their employment will end on May 30.

The dismissals account for approximately one-third of the agency’s workforce. Employees were instructed to return VOA property, including badges and credentials, by the same date. The move comes amid a restructuring of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA.

This wave of firings follows an announcement by USAGM senior adviser Kari Lake that One America News Network (OANN) will now provide news-feed services to the agency’s outlets. Lake emphasized her role in ensuring credible and reliable options for the agency’s reporting, stating, “I don’t have editorial control over the content of VOA and OCB programming, but I can ensure our outlets have reliable and credible options as they work to craft their reporting and news programs.”

The restructuring efforts have faced legal challenges. Last month, a federal judge ruled against the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle VOA and its affiliated services. Despite this, the administration appears committed to reshaping the agency’s operations and partnerships.

VOA has been a source of controversy in the past. In 2020, the news outlet was accused of parroting propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cuts to the USAGM have also affected other broadcasters like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which launched a lawsuit against the Trump administration in March, arguing President Trump violated the Constitution by withholding Congress-approved funding.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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May 16, 2025
News

Nine Armed Fugitives on the Loose After Jailbreak.

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❓What Happened: Eleven inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, with two apprehended and nine still at large.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Susan Hutson, New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, and local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

📍 Where & When: The escape occurred Friday morning at the Orleans Justice Center, less than three miles from the French Quarter.

💬 Key Quote: Sheriff Susan Hutson described the situation as “very serious and unacceptable,” while Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick stated it’s “more than likely” the escapees had assistance.

⚠️ Impact: The public has been urged to remain vigilant as the escapees are considered armed and dangerous, and authorities are conducting a full-scale search.

IN FULL:

Authorities in New Orleans are conducting a “full-scale search operation” after eleven inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center on Friday morning, according to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. Two of the escapees, including Kendell Myles, have been apprehended, but nine others remain at large.

Sheriff Susan Hutson revealed the inmates were discovered missing during a routine headcount at 8:30 AM. She urged the public to stay alert, warning that the escapees should be considered armed and dangerous. “We are launching a full investigation to determine how this escape occurred, including reviewing facility protocols, staff performance, and physical security measures,” Hutson stated.

The escaped inmates have charges ranging from drug possession to murder, according to reports. Concerningly, the escape appears to have been a relatively simple matter of cutting through drywall and escaping through a space accommodating ventilation and piping behind a jail wall.


The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office is collaborating with local, state, and federal law enforcement to locate the fugitives. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick suggested that the escapees likely received outside assistance and have since changed out of their jail uniforms. “We don’t want panic, but we do want people to be mindful,” Kirkpatrick noted.

The Orleans Justice Center, where the incident took place, is less than three miles from the French Quarter, a popular tourist destination. One of the fugitives, Kendell Myles, was apprehended on Royal Street, a busy and popular avenue in the French Quarter.

Sheriff Hutson emphasized the gravity of the situation, calling it “very serious and unacceptable,” and vowed accountability for anyone who aided in the escape.

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May 16, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
News
World

‘We Don’t Need a Lesson in Democracy’ — German Leader Slams Vance, While Arresting Citizens Traveling to ‘Remigration’ Conference.

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❓ What Happened: German Chancellor (Prime Minister) Friedrich Merz slammed Vice President J.D. Vance, saying Germany does not need lessons on democracy, while it is arresting activists trying to attend a conference on “remigration.”

👥 Who’s Involved: Friedrich Merz, J.D. Vance, German anti-mass migration activists.

📍 Where & When: Merz’s comments were published in the German newspaper Die Zeit, while the arrests of activists occurred in Munich on May 15.

💬 Key Quote: “Of course, we are not on the way to a ‘tyranny’ as we hear from the USA. We really have to reject such statements.” — Friedrich Merz.

⚠️ Impact: The comments of Merz greatly contrast with his government’s actions on the same day, lending further strength to Vance’s comments.

IN FULL:

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has dismissed Vice President JD Vance‘s critiques regarding German democracy, but is banning citizens from travelling overseas to a conference on remigration at the same time. Vance made his comments earlier this year at the Munich Security Conference.

Vance has criticised the German treatment of the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and its supporters, saying, “I think, unfortunately, the will of voters has been ignored by a lot of our European friends.”

Merz slammed Vance in an interview this week in German media, saying, “Of course, we are not on the way to a ‘tyranny’ as we hear from the USA. We really have to reject such statements. Germany has been freed from tyranny by the USA, Germany today is stable, liberal and democratic. We don’t need a lesson in democracy,” he insisted, despite the country’s troubled past.

The interview was given the same day German authorities arrested six anti-mass migration activists at a Munich airport as they were en route to a conference on remigration—the return of immigrants to their home countries—in Milan, Italy. Two of the activists were arrested on the aircraft, as they had already boarded, and were removed.

German police later explained that letting the activists go to the “Remigration summit” could “damage the reputation” of Germany. The activists were later released but banned from travelling to Italy, Austria, or Switzerland until Sunday.

Merz’s comments also come after the German domestic spy agency declared the AfD to be “right-wing extremists“, allowing them to spy on members of the party and use undercover informants to infiltrate it. However, following a lawsuit and pressure from the Trump administration—which described the move as “tyranny in disguise”—the agency has put the classification on hold.

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May 16, 2025
News

New Antitrust Concerns as Gaming Giant Complains of iPhone Ban.

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❓What Happened: Apple has blocked Fortnite’s submission to the App Store in the U.S. and European Union (EU), preventing its release on iOS devices. The move comes just four years after a U.S. federal court found that Apple had engaged in anticompetitive behavior towards Epic Games, the parent company of Fortnite, and will likely spark a new round of litigation and antitrust allegations.

👥 Who’s Involved: Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, and Apple.

📍 Where & When: Online platforms in the U.S. and EU; announcement made early Friday morning.

💬 Key Quote: “Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the U.S. App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union,” according to Fortnite’s X (formerly Twitter) account.

⚠️ Impact: Fortnite will remain offline for iOS users worldwide until Apple reverses its decision.

IN FULL:

Fortnite, the globally popular video game developed by Epic Games, has been blocked from the U.S. App Store and Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union (EU) by Apple, according to a statement shared by the company on its X (formerly Twitter) account early Friday morning. The move by Apple is the first escalation in several years in an ongoing dispute between the two companies, which saw an antitrust lawsuit in 2021 conclude with a U.S. federal court determining Apple had engaged in anticompetitive behavior but did not constitute a monopoly.

The post stated, “Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the U.S. App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union.” As a result, the game will remain offline for iOS users worldwide until Apple lifts the restriction.

Epic Games revealed that it submitted Fortnite for review last week in an effort to launch the game on the App Store in the U.S. However, Apple has not yet provided a public explanation or responded to requests for comment regarding the decision to block the submission.

Fortnite, which has millions of players globally, is currently inaccessible on iOS devices due to this development. While the tensions between Apple and Epic Games have lain dormant for several years, this move by Apple is likely to renew allegations of monopolistic behavior and, potentially, a new round of antitrust litigation.

In 2021, U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers held that while Apple’s App Store did not constitute an anticompetitive monopoly, its anti-steering policies limited competition and were ordered eliminated. Anti-steering is when an online retailer bars consumers from being directed by an app to an external, online storefront.

If the litigation proceeds, it could become one of the first significant antitrust cases under the second Trump administration.

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May 16, 2025
Jack Montgomery
News

‘He Knew Exactly What That Meant’ — DHS and Secret Service Investigating Comey Over ‘8647’ Post.

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❓What Happened: Former FBI Director James Comey deleted an Instagram post showing “8647” in seashells, a phrase tied to mob slang for killing and referencing President Trump, prompting a DHS and Secret Service investigation.

👥 Who’s Involved: James Comey, President Donald J. Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, DHS, and the Secret Service.

📍 Where & When: Online, with Comey’s post deleted and investigation announced on May 15, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “He knew exactly what that meant; a child knows what that meant,” Trump said of Comey’s post.

⚠️ Impact: Trump’s swift response and the ongoing probe highlight his administration’s zero tolerance for veiled threats, exposing Comey’s reckless partisanship after his Russiagate missteps.

IN FULL:

Former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey has deleted a picture he shared on Instagram spelling out ‘8647’ in seashells. To ’86’ someone means to remove or kill them in the slang of the hospitality industry and organized crime, while ’47’ almost certainly refers to President Donald J. Trump, who is the 47th U.S. President.

“I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message,” Comey wrote in a new Instagram post, trying to suggest someone else had arranged the shells. “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me,” he added, despite his extensive background in law enforcement.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Secret Service are investigating the post, which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem characterized as having “called for the assassination of [President] Trump.”

President Trump has said he does not believe that Comey did not know what the words implied, telling the media, “He knew exactly what that meant; a child knows what that meant.”

“If you’re the FBI Director, and you don’t know what that meant… That meant ‘assassination,’ and it says it loud and clear,” the America First leader continued, adding that, while Comey “wasn’t very competent,” he was “competent enough to know what that meant.”

President Trump fired Comey, who facilitated the bogus Russiagate investigation, during his first term, after which he became a strident anti-Trump partisan. Two attempts were made on Trump’s life in 2024, including one at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which saw the America First leader struck in the ear by a sniper, and three rallygoers more seriously shot, one fatally. President Trump believes Democrats’ “inflammatory” rhetoric against him inspired the attacks.

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May 16, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
UK

Ukrainian Migrant Charged With Setting Fire to Properties Owned by British PM.

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❓What Happened: A Ukrainian man has been charged with arson and attacking properties owned or linked to British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

👥 Who’s Involved: Roman Lavrynovych, Sir Keir Starmer, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

📍 Where & When: The attacks occurred between May 8 and May 12; Lavrynovych was charged on May 15.

💬 Key Quote: “Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service’s counter terrorism command, we have authorised criminal charges against a 21-year-old man after three fires in north London,” confirmed Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) counter terrorism division.

⚠️ Impact: The arrest raises questions on the motive regarding the attacks and what the suspect’s Ukrainian background may have to do with them.

IN FULL:

A Ukrainian migrant has been charged after trying to set several properties on fire that British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer owns or has links to. One fire occurred on May 12 in Kent at the house the Prime Minister lived in before moving into Number 10 Downing Street last year.

Roman Lavrynovych, a 21-year-old Ukrainian national, was arrested and has been charged with three counts of arson for fires at Sir Keir’s home, another property linked to the Prime Minister, and a vehicle that is also connected to him. All of the attacks took place from May 8 to May 12. One person had to be helped out of one of the properties by firefighters.

Lavrynovych was arrested on May 13 at his home in south-east London and was charged on May 15. “Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service’s counter terrorism command, we have authorised criminal charges against a 21-year-old man after three fires in north London,” Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service counter terrorism division, said.

So far, no motive has been put forward by police regarding the attacks, which appear to have clearly targeted the Labour Party leader.

The attack is just the latest serious criminal act by a Ukrainian in recent months in Western Europe. In late March, a Ukrainian man stabbed five people in Amsterdam. Prosecutors later floated the idea that his motive could have been terrorism.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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