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- Justice Department seeks reinstatement of criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia
- Builders uncover £7.6 million in gold hidden within walls of Belgian property
- Hiker rescued from Rocca Capra area of Mount Etna in Italy
- Maritime diaper banks report increased demand amid rising costs for families
- Trump administration files 31 lawsuits for state voter data access, status updates provided
- Five teenagers named following fatal wrong-way crash on M9 in Co Kildare
- Helicopter crash in Sifnos, Greece, kills three, including British couple
- Trump threatens to bomb Oman amid tensions following Iran deal expiration
EU
The EU is revising the Tobacco Taxation Directive, proposing a 139 per cent increase in minimum excise duties on cigarettes. This overhaul also aims to establish EU-wide minimum taxes on vapes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, marking the most significant change in tobacco taxes in over a decade.
Wildfires are raging across Belgium, Germany, France, Croatia, Spain, and Greece amid extreme heat and dry conditions. In Belgium, a major blaze has consumed 3,000 hectares in the High Fens reserve, prompting the deployment of over 250 firefighters and international aid through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
Two Spanish F-18 fighter jets intercepted and destroyed an unidentified drone in Romanian airspace early on Sunday, 24 kilometres north of Galati. Defence Minister Miruta confirmed the incident, highlighting Romania’s role in the European Union’s defence and the importance of vigilance amid ongoing tensions with Russia and Ukraine.
The UK and EU agreed a new 10-year fishing deal, giving EU boats continued access to British waters, in a major breakthrough, years after Britain left the EU. The agreement was seen as key to unlocking progress in wider trade discussions.
NATO membership is like a Netflix subscription, you get charged whether you use it or not. With this level of corruption it is cheaper and more procatial to cancel it and develop an EU defence army. That will boost the EU economy and create millions of jobs in the EU.
The UK’s leading business lobbying group, the CBI, is calling for a major reset in relations with the EU, saying the current post-Brexit setup is “no longer fit for purpose”. Ahead of a UK-EU summit on 19 May, the group has urged both sides to rebuild trust and take “practical steps” to reduce red tape, ease staff mobility, and coordinate on climate, defence and energy.
Belgium’s parliament voted decisively to abandon its planned nuclear phaseout, with 102 votes in favour of the motion.
Cliff Notes – Greece launches state app to limit children’s screen time The Greek government…
Almost all of Tuesday’s front pages in the UK cover the Spain and Portugal blackouts – with some right-leaning publications blaming net zero and others looking at the chaos caused by the blackouts. Much of the power has since been restored – although that’s not reflected on the front pages as they had already gone to print.
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