World

F-35 jets arrive in Poland to bolster NATO’s eastern flank

Published on 23/05/2026 – 15:06 GMT+2 Poland has received its first delivery of F-35 fighter jets from the United States this week, as it ramps up efforts to boost defences on NATO’s eastern flank. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz welcomed the three jets as they landed at Łask…

Uproar as Paris attacks coordinator granted prison leave

Published on 23/05/2026 – 13:07 GMT+2 A key member of a terrorist cell that carried out the November 2015 Paris attacks has been allowed multiple temporary prison leaves and could be eligible for conditional release. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Mohamed Bakkali was sentenced to 30 years in prison by a French court…

Fact-check: ‘Claqueurs’ not paid to back Merkel at European Parliament

Several MEPs and social media users have falsely claimed that “claqueurs” were brought in to support Germany’s former Chancellor Angela Merkel, as she received the European Order of Merit award at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 19 May. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT This newly created prize aims to honour individuals who…

The shocking case of the abandoned children: what we know

Portugal’s National Republican Guard arrested 41-year-old French national Marine Rousseau alongside a 55-year-old man earlier this week after two young boys were found abandoned by the side of a main road. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT According to the police force, the pair are “suspected of committing the crimes of domestic violence and…

EU clinches new trade deal with Mexico to bolster foothold in region

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa signed on Friday a revamped trade deal with Mexico as part of the EU’s efforts to expand its influence in Latin America, shortly after the Mercosur pact entered into force. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The deal was signed at…

EU weighs limited fiscal flexibility on energy after Meloni push

Published on 22/05/2026 – 13:58 GMT+2 The European Union is considering the use of “existing flexibilities” within its fiscal framework as part of its response to the energy crisis, European Commissioner for Economy Valdis Dombrovskis told journalists on Friday following a euro area finance ministers’ meeting in Cyprus. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT…

Zelenskyy invited to July’s NATO summit in Ankara, Rutte confirms

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy been invited to attend the annual NATO summit in Ankara in July, the alliance’s Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed on Friday. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “I invited him already,” Rutte said at a press conference following a foreign ministers meeting in Sweden. “He will be there.” Zelenskyy’s invitation…

‘Associate membership’ risks leaving Ukraine in limbo, Ireland warns

Granting “associate membership” to Ukraine risks leaving the country in limbo that could make it lose momentum to complete the path to a full membership status, said Helen McEntee, Ireland’s foreign minister. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The remarks come in response to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s unprecedented plan to create a tailor-made…

Do not get 100% of supply from one country, EU industry chief says

Published on 22/05/2026 – 18:31 GMT+2 EU Industry Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné called for EU businesses to diversify their suppliers on Friday as trade tensions with China ramp up. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The comments come as Beijing has made repeated threats towards the EU in recent weeks, while Brussels seeks to strengthen…