Briefly

DENMARK

Diplomat summoned over reported spying

Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the acting US ambassador for a meeting on Thursday over media reports suggesting an escalation of US intelligence operations in Greenland. The meeting with US Acting Ambassador to Denmark Jennifer Hall Godfrey was held in Copenhagen and included a representative from Greenland's government. "The focus of the meeting was the article in the Wall Street Journal: US Orders Intelligence Agencies to Step Up Spying on Greenland", the ministry said in a statement. The report, published on Tuesday, said US intelligence agencies have been directed to identify individuals in Greenland and Denmark who align with US strategic interests concerning the Arctic island, citing unnamed sources.

CANADA

2nd largest airline pauses nine routes

Canada's second-largest airline, WestJet, is pausing nine routes between the United States and Canada as demand dampens for travel between the two countries, local media reported on Thursday. According to CBC News, flights from Canadian cities to US cities of Austin, Los Angeles and Chicago are among those impacted. WestJet announced in April that it would add new domestic routes within Canada and make it easier to connect with flights to Europe. The changes came as fewer Canadians travel south amid trade-related tensions, and as US President Donald Trump continues using annexationist rhetoric toward Canada, which he has repeatedly said should be the 51st state of the United States, said the report.

EUROPE

Cardinal Prevost chosen new pope

Cardinal Robert Prevost, a longtime missionary in Latin America, was elected as the surprise choice to be the new leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday, becoming the first US pope and taking the name Leo XIV. Pope Leo appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after white smoke billowed from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, signifying the 133 cardinal electors had chosen him as a successor to Francis, who died last month. Prevost, 69 and originally from Chicago, has spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and has dual Peruvian nationality. He became a cardinal only in 2023. He has given a few media interviews and is known to have a shy personality.

Xinhua - Agencies