Author: staff

The email disparaged the work of Portuguese EPP lawmaker Sebastião Bugalho ahead of the EPP’s vice-chair elections. When asked, Bugalho’s office said he “will obviously not comment on forged emails.” Pedro López de Pablo, the EPP’s press director, said: “The group has been informed that there will be an investigation.” The Parliament’s probe was announced by EPP group chair Manfred Weber to all the group’s lawmakers at a closed-door meeting on Monday afternoon, according to four people in the room. They were granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive internal matter. Halicki sent his request for an investigation by Belgian authorities to…

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. During his conversation with Putin, the pontiff had called for a humanitarian truce in Oleshky, a city under Russian siege, to allow food and medical aid to arrive and for civilians to be evacuated safely. According to a statement from the Vatican’s Press Office, Oleshky was also the focus of his talks with Zelenskyy. “During the conversation, the Holy Father drew attention to the serious situation in the city of Oleshky, in…

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of five Central Asian countries agreed to deepen cooperation on transport, critical minerals and security at a C5+1 meeting in Samarkand on Monday. The talks brought together the United States, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In a joint statement, they backed investment in the Trans-Caspian trade route, closer industrial cooperation and simpler customs procedures. A trade route to Europe The Trans-Caspian route, also known as the Middle Corridor, connects Central Asia with European markets through the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus and Turkey, bypassing Russia. “We’re going to enhance…

Trump made room for the possibility of other topics to be discussed in such a meeting but reiterated that it would be “based on denuclearization.” “If President Xi wants to have it, I’d have it,” he said. “I’m sure we would talk about other things like trade too but yeah I would do that.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that discussions were taking place over the possibility of a meeting, but there was no “clear understanding” yet about what the potential summit’s agenda would consist of. The possibility of a high-level summit between the three…

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. Despite its strong potential and wealth of talent, Huang believes progress in Europe is being blocked by too much hesitation and analysis and has called on policymakers to be quicker to put AI into practice. In response to concerns about the country’s technological competitiveness, the German government has been planning closer cooperation with the US company. At the Invest in Germany investment summit in Berlin this week,…

Ecuadorian priest Patricio Sánchez died after a large cross fell on him while he was celebrating Mass at a church in Guayaquil on Saturday evening. Footage captured the moment the cross came loose from the wall behind the altar and struck Sánchez as he addressed the congregation. The service was being streamed live on social media. The Archdiocese of Guayaquil later confirmed his death and expressed its condolences to the religious congregation he belonged to. A memorial Mass was held at the church on Sunday, attended by clergy and parishioners.

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. Shopkeepers condemned the destruction, saying it traumatised staff and threatened family-run businesses, while others stressed that violence undermined the protesters’ cause. Cleanup crews and residents worked to clear the streets as the country assessed the damage from one of its worst episodes of unrest in recent years. Watch the video for more.

Torrential rain caused severe flooding in eastern Spain, leaving at least four people dead and prompting more than 400 rescues in the Valencia region. Floodwaters swept away parked cars, submerged roads and left some residents stranded, with emergency crews airlifting people to safety. In Oliva, one of the worst-hit areas, two people died, including a 79-year-old woman found at home. Authorities ordered around 100 municipalities to remain indoors for several hours as heavy rain battered the Mediterranean coast. Most restrictions were lifted by early Monday afternoon as conditions improved.

Published on 19/10/2026 – 21:20 GMT+2 “I am confident that Iran’s cause, like Russia’s, is a just cause,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday at a joint press conference in Tehran with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. Lavrov accused Washington and Israel of launching what he described as an unprovoked military campaign against the country whilst reaffirming Moscow’s commitment to continue supporting Tehran. His remarks came hours after US President Donald Trump defended easing economic pressure on Moscow, arguing that further sanctions could jeopardise negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. He said he also wanted to ensure…

Published on 19/10/2026 – 15:40 GMT+2 Twenty-five Chinese carmakers were among the 60 on display this year, offering many visitors their first chance to see such their models in the metal. Marques such as Zeekr, Changan, Denza and AITO are emerging onto the European market, and the Paris car show is an important moment for them to promote their unique technology and style. This biennial event comes amid trade tensions between Europe and China, including a new deal to limit the number of hybrid cars exported from China to the EU, and Chinese firms now making cars in European factories…