The Royal Moroccan Air Force’s first F-16 Block 72 carried out its maiden flight on 6 October in Greenville, South Carolina, Lockheed Martin has announced. It is now progressing through pre-delivery testing after some delays in the programme. It is the most eye-catching piece of a rearmament drive that is…

The DANA weather system Storm Adam began to ease on Tuesday after leaving at least five people dead and causing severe flooding in eastern Spain. In the Valencia region, the Civil Guard evacuated more than 2,100 people and rescued almost 500 since the start of the storm, according to the…

Negotiations are at an advanced stage on a deal worth around €150 million between Israeli defence companies Israel Shipyards and Rafael and the Republic of Cyprus, for the supply of naval vessels equipped with advanced weapons systems, according to a report in the Israeli financial newspaper Calcalist. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The…

Published on 20/10/2026 – 8:01 GMT+2 On today’s show: Estelle Nilsson-Julien reports from Paris, where the political blame game continues over who is responsible for the weekend’s unrest. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has accused the “ultra-left movement” of seeking to “orchestrate deep unrest” in the run-up to next year’s…

The European Union is scrambling to find an additional €70 billion for Ukraine next year, after Russia’s escalating assault on the country and its economy rendered the bloc’s existing financial support plans insufficient. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT At the end of a two-day summit last week, EU leaders heard directly from Ukrainian…

Published on 19/10/2026 – 17:00 GMT+2 As France continues to reel from the unprecedented violence that engulfed parts of the country over the weekend, the stories of those who fought back against rioters have sparked a wave of public support. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Millions of social media users have watched the…

Published on 19/10/2026 – 17:19 GMT+2•Updated 17:20 The three political groups underpinning the European Parliament’s centrist majority are set to re-elect their leaders on Tuesday, with little prospect of surprises despite growing tensions within their alliance. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and the…

France is reeling after violent clashes and looting during nationwide protests over the cost of living and school conditions. In Paris, Lille, Lyon, Marseille and other cities, damaged shops, smashed windows and burnt debris marked the aftermath. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Shopkeepers condemned the destruction, saying it traumatised staff and threatened family-run…

Pope Leo XIV held a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy late on Monday afternoon, just days after he spoke with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the Vatican said. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT During his conversation with Putin, the pontiff had called for a humanitarian truce in Oleshky, a city under Russian siege,…

Published on 19/10/2026 – 23:12 GMT+2 Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang warned that Germany is falling behind in the artificial intelligence race as he spoke to members of the media in London last week. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Despite its strong potential and wealth of talent, Huang believes progress in Europe is being…