Latest News
- Iran and Israel exchange strikes as Trump calls for immediate ceasefire
- Zelensky criticises Reform UK for removing Ukrainian flags from town halls
- French military jet downs Russian drone entering NATO airspace in Latvia
- France and Germany scrap joint fighter jet programme over disputes
- Trump warns Netanyahu of potential isolation if attacks on Iran persist
- Central Okanagan food bank seeks to prevent millions of pounds of food waste
- Nithya Raman defeats Spencer Pratt to advance in Los Angeles mayoral race; California governor’s race results still pending
- Iran and Israel launch mutual attacks amid rising tensions and ceasefire breach
EU
France and Germany announced the abandonment of their Future Combat Air System (FCAS) joint fighter jet programme due to unresolved disagreements between companies involved. This setback hinders European defence cooperation amid rising geopolitical tensions, although development of the Combat Cloud digital network will proceed.
During the EU-Western Balkans summit, momentum for EU enlargement was underscored by Hungary’s decision to lift its veto on Ukraine’s accession negotiations. António Costa noted that upcoming talks will showcase renewed European unity, particularly ahead of the June summit, despite ongoing challenges in the accession process.
US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Pudzer has stated that President Trump remains deeply dissatisfied with European nations over their refusal to assist during the Iran conflict. The US expects European allies to permit access to military bases, prompting questions about transatlantic reliability and damaging relations further.
French President Emmanuel Macron vowed this week to tackle the country’s growing infertility problem as part of efforts to revive the country’s sluggish birth rate, describing the subject of infertility as “the taboo of the century”. More than three million people in France are said to suffer from the condition, making it a major public health issue – but one that has never been treated as such.
It’s been described as a bombshell moment. The upper echelons of Sweden’s government and defence forces last week shocked the nation by explicitly warning that war might come to Sweden, and that each and every Swede should prepare themselves. While some have taken the warning seriously and flocked to the stores to stock up on fuel and survival kits, others have accused the country’s leaders of fear-mongering.
‘I’ll go to work and won’t come home. He will come and kill me.’
France’s controversial new culture minister, Rachida Dati on Wednesday said she plans to run for Paris mayor in 2026, only days after joining President Emmanuel Macron’s reshuffled government. Dati’s arrival was the biggest surprise in last week’s cabinet shake-up that saw 34-year-old Gabriel Attal take over as prime minister.
France’s top court confirmed ‘complicity in crimes against humanity’ charges against cement maker Lafarge linked to the firm’s past operations in war-torn Syria on January 16, 2024.
France’s top court on Tuesday annulled a lower court decision to extradite Edgardo Greco, a convicted mafia killer-turned-pizza chef who has been on the run since 2006, to Italy.
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