Author: staff
The EU is edging closer to one of its most controversial migration policies yet: sending failed asylum seekers to return hubs outside the bloc. Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur discuss the latest negotiations over tougher deportation rules, why countries are already exploring potential deals from Albania to Central Asia, and why critics warn the plans could create offshore detention centers. Then: France’s presidential race is drifting toward a scenario that many in Brussels dread, with far-right politician Jordan Bardella and far-left figure Jean-Luc Mélenchon gaining ground as the center splinters. And finally: Brussels wants Europe to build the advanced chips…
Right-wing candidate and Trump ally Aberaldo de la Espriella took the lead in a closely contested first-round presidential vote in Colombia, setting up a runoff with Iván Cepeda, an ally of Colombia’s outgoing President Gustavo Petro. Cepeda won 41% of the vote, while de la Espriella won 44% of the votes, with 99.98% of the results counted by electoral authorities. It was a stronger-than-expected showing for 47-year-old De la Espriella, a pro‑Trump lawyer, singer and clothier who calls himself “The Tiger” and has billed himself as a political norm-smashing outsider. Cepeda is a progressive senator who has promised to carry…
Mélenchon draws much of his support from working-class and immigrant communities, and his critics have condemned him for antisemitism and a “brutalization” of politics. While it would be a major coup for him to reach the second round in 2027, most polls predict he would then lose to Bardella by a landslide. Jean-Luc Mélenchon holds a sign during a protest against the influence of Vincent Bolloré and the far right on culture, in Paris, France on May 30, 2026. | Djoudi Hamani / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images It’s an election landscape that is already bringing the French…
Hilton now finds himself in with a real shot at entering the final runoff, despite never previously having held elected office on either side of the pond — and a political past which appears at odds with his embrace of MAGA Republicanism. He’s unlikely to prevail in November, given the Golden State’s Democratic ties and deep animosity towards Donald Trump — who has personally endorsed the British-American challenger. But advancing to the November election would, at a minimum, give Hilton a platform. And if there is one thing he is known for back in the U.K., it’s disrupting the status quo.…
By Amandine Hess & Manuela Scarpellini Published on 31/05/2026 – 21:16 GMT+2 The day after Paris Saint-Germain’s victory over Arsenal in the Champions League final, fans of Luis Enrique’s team took to the Champ de Mars to celebrate the two-time European champions returning from Budapest. Marquinhos: “Doing it once is history, twice is legend” On the famous park near the Eiffel Tower, giant screens had been set up to relive the key moments of the match: Arsenal’s early lead through Havertz, and PSG’s equaliser scored by Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé. Then came the battle through to the 120th minute before victory in…
Abela called a snap election in April, four years into his five-year term, amid fears the war in Iran and the ensuing economic shock could erode support for his government. Alex Borg, leader of the opposition Nationalists Party, appeared to concede defeat on Sunday, saying the outcome was “not the result we wanted, but it’s a very clear message.” Abela’s victory was widely expected, with polling ahead of Saturday’s vote showing his Labour Party on top. Still, the Labour Party’s majority appeared to be considerably smaller than its last victory in 2022, with around 18,000 votes separating the government from…
Russian forces launched a new series of air strikes on Ukraine on Sunday night, attacking its territory with more than 200 attack and decoy drones. Most of them were shot down, the AFU Air Force said (source in Russian), but 14 drones were recorded hitting 11 locations. “According to preliminary data, as of 08:30, the air defence intercepted 212 enemy UAVs of Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas and other types of drones in the north and east of the country,” the agency said. According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (source in Russian), a drone of Russian forces struck a company…
Martin Sellner speaks during an Identitarian protest in front of the Justice Ministry on April 13, 2019 in Vienna, Austria. | Michael Gruber/Getty Images Two years later, a confident Sellner made himself available to journalists for interviews at the remigration summit, dwelling on concepts that he says are now going mainstream. “We have a very neurotic relationship to our own ethnicity, our own ethno-cultural identity and I think we need to overcome that,” Sellner told reporters at the summit, calling on Europeans to overcome their “guilt complex” and “self-loathing” stemming from “post-war consensus.” At least three AfD politicians attended the…
The US military said late on Saturday its forces stopped a merchant ship trying to break through its blockade of Iranian ports by firing a missile into its engine room. According to the US Central Command, the Gambia-flagged cargo ship Lian Star ignored more than 20 warnings from US forces overnight as it tried to enter an Iranian port, the military said. Although the ship remained adrift in the Gulf of Oman, US forces have not boarded it, according to media reports. The latest action comes after hostilities resumed this week, despite a fragile ceasefire which has held since 7…
By Diana Resnik Published on 31/05/2026 – 11:50 GMT+2 A carefree life on a dream island in Greece, just switching off and relaxing – that’s now possible on Syros, but only on one condition: you must love cats. The animal welfare organisation “Syroscats (source in German)” is looking for volunteers aged 25 and over. “We welcome volunteers – individuals or couples – who are fit, mature, healthy and independent,” the organisation writes. In return, what you have to offer is: love cats and look after the animals for at least one month, around five hours a day, five days a week.…