- Ex-Chelsea star told he could reach ‘another level’ by joining Manchester United
- France arrests four suspects in death of far-right activist in Lyon
- Arsenal urged to sign ‘special’ £82m star ahead of Chelsea: ‘He’s got everything’
- US Ambassador Bill White meets Belgium’s Foreign Ministry amid controversy
- Six Arrested After Man’s Hand Severed at House Party
- Trump Warns Iran: Urgent Need for Nuclear Deal to Avoid Consequences
- Nicolas Jackson ‘open’ to return but Chelsea have signed his replacement
- European finance ministers approve €74 billion defence plans from eight states
EU
Four suspects have been arrested following the death of French far-right activist Quentin Deranque, who suffered a brain injury during a protest against MEP Rima Hassan, stated Lyon’s public prosecutor. Tensions rise ahead of municipal elections in March.
Finance ministers from eight European member states approved national defence investment plans worth €74 billion on February 17, 2026. A spokesperson for the Cypriot presidency stated this decision facilitates affordable loans under the EU’s Security Action for Europe scheme, which aims to enhance defence procurement.
The European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, will attend Trump’s Board of Peace meeting focusing on Gaza, but the European Commission remains cautious about membership due to concerns over governance, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The European Commission plans a new round of sanctions against Russia, including a proposed ban on maritime services for vessels carrying Russian oil, as officials consult G7 partners. This development comes as the war nears its fourth year, impacting energy revenues and sanctions enforcement.
Nearly a quarter of LGBTQ+ citizens in the EU have experienced conversion practices, with 38% of Greek respondents most affected, according to the ILGA Europe report. Helena Dalli, former European Commissioner for Equality, condemned these practices as harmful and grounded in falsehood during a recent Council of Europe debate.
European officials, including Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Silina, have urged for accelerated negotiations on a free-trade agreement with Gulf nations to diversify trade amid US tariffs and increasing Chinese exports. Talks aim to enhance business ties and energy cooperation.
Several US lawmakers, including Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, urged the European Union to maintain its methane regulations and avoid exempting US energy operators from compliance, highlighting the urgency of effective methane management amid upcoming EU-US trade agreements.
Leaders of the socialist and liberal groups in the European Parliament have expressed concerns to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about European Commission Vice-President Raffaele Fitto’s and Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius’s attendance at a political event in Slovenia, potentially breaching internal conduct rules ahead of elections.
Dessintey co-founder and product expert Davy Luneau stated that their mirror therapy devices aid motor rehabilitation by visually stimulating brain recovery. The company aims to expand its reach amid growing competition from US and Asian technologies, generating nearly €10 million in revenue.
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