The harps are ringing out in Brussels as Ireland takes over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council, succeeding Cyprus. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT It marks the eighth time that the nation of 5.4 million people which joined the bloc in 1972, has assumed the unenviable role of “honest broker”. “We…

As Europeans become increasingly worried about rising prices, many believe that their standard of living will worsen in the future. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Almost one-third of citizens (29 percent) believe that their personal standard of living will decline over the next five years, while only 18 percent expect it to improve,…

The ground shakes as German Leopard tanks fire at their targets, drones buzz overhead and Tiger helicopters roar low across the training area. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Less than an hour’s drive from Vilnius, tanks, helicopters, fighter jets and nearly 3,000 soldiers are simulating Lithuania’s defence against a potential Russian attack. Over…

Published on 30/06/2026 – 9:00 GMT+2•Updated 10:40 Serbia is experiencing a monumental political shake-up but it looks more like a calculated strategy from a politician who has dominated Serbian politics since 2012. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT For over eighteen months, student-led demonstrations have shaken Belgrade. This powerful protest movement erupted after a…

Published on 30/06/2026 – 11:32 GMT+2•Updated 14:21 After the national team’s embarrassing World Cup exit, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has caused astonishment with a post on the platform X. The chancellor praises the national team: “Even though going out hurts: what a match. With your commitment and team spirit at this…

Published on 30/06/2026 – 14:40 GMT+2•Updated 18:37 Montenegro’s governing Europe Now! (Pokret Evropa sad!) party has taken a significant step towards closer integration with Europe by joining the European People’s Party (EPP) as an observer member. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The decision was approved by the EPP’s Political Assembly during its meeting…

At least four people have been trapped after a four-storey block of flats collapsed in central Athens on Tuesday, the Greek fire brigade said. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Emergency services have been deployed to the scene to help with the search and rescue operation and footage shown on local media showed workers…

Published on 30/06/2026 – 21:47 GMT+2 The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) said on Tuesday they were conducting raids in four countries to probe alleged misappropriation of EU funds by the former far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European parliament. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The EPPO said the searches were…

Published on 30/06/2026 – 22:19 GMT+2•Updated 22:20 French President Emmanuel Macron spoke out against a global rise in the number of executions on Tuesday during a speech at the ninth World Congress against the death penalty. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “The death penalty still remains, in many regions of the world, a…

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has at last presented his government’s Defence Investment Plan, a spending programme that aims to ensure Britain’s military future by raising defence investments to £80 billion (€92.8 billion) a year by 2029. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Building and buying stealth fighter jets, submarines and warheads are all…