Author: staff
Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever has pushed back forcefully against criticism from U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White, who accused the country of being antisemitic. White had reacted strongly to an Antwerp prosecutor’s recommendation that two Jewish men be prosecuted following an investigation into alleged illegal circumcisions. Several Belgian politicians have reproached White for getting involved in Belgian domestic affairs. “Belgium is not an antisemitic state, this is nonsense,” De Wever told VRT News on Wednesday. “A diplomat must decide how he fulfills his task, but I think this does not contribute much.” On Wednesday morning, White slammed the Antwerp prosecutor’s…
Published on 06/05/2026 – 6:41 GMT+2 White House officials are urging China to use its influence with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, just days before US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet in a highly-anticipated summit in Beijing. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Chinese officials to use Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to China to urge Tehran to release its chokehold on the critical waterway. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Araghchi on Wednesday, the official Chinese Xinhua news agency reported. “I hope the Chinese tell him…
By euronews Published on 06/05/2026 – 23:01 GMT+2•Updated 23:04 Paris Saint-Germain reached the Champions League final despite conceding late in a 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich in the second leg of their semifinal on Wednesday. Ousmane Dembélé gave PSG an early lead in the third minute, finishing into the top left corner after a quick exchange between Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Fabián Ruiz in midfield. Bayern equalised in stoppage time through a 90+4 minute goal, but the German side were unable to overturn the aggregate score as PSG advanced 6-5 overall following last week’s 5-4 first-leg victory in Paris. Bayern had earlier…
Polish President Karol Nawrocki said Wednesday that Poland is ready to host American troops withdrawn from Germany and that he would personally lobby Donald Trump to send them east. The offer comes as the Pentagon prepares to pull around 5,000 troops from Germany over the next year, with Trump suggesting the cuts could go even further. “If President Donald Trump decides to reduce the American military presence in Germany, then we in Poland are ready to receive American soldiers,” Nawrocki said during NATO exercises in Lithuania. He added that Poland already has “the infrastructure ready” for such a move. Nawrocki’s…
Dressed in period uniforms, Mexican and French reenactors restaged the Battle of Puebla, marking the 164th anniversary of the Mexican victory led by Ignacio Zaragoza over a larger French force. The battle, fought on 5 May 1862 against troops sent by Napoleon III, remains a symbol of resistance and national pride, despite not ending the French intervention. Commemorations are centred in Puebla, where the fighting took place, with reenactments drawing participants and spectators each year. In Mexico City, the tradition has been recognised as cultural heritage since 2023, reinforcing its role as a living link to the past. While Cinco…
And Crosetto said at an event during Italy’s Armed Forces Day that “in a world that has gone crazy … it is our duty to ensure that Italy can defend itself,” validating Trump’s longstanding demand that NATO allies should do — and spend — more to defend themselves. Meloni will try to convey alignment when she sits down with Rubio, including through increased defense spending, according to analyst Filippo Simonelli of the Rome-based Istituto Affari Internazionali think tank. And longer-term commitments offer a potential path to ease tensions without requiring immediate public concessions: Crosetto’s meeting is a sign that something…
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday that commercial shipping through the key Strait of Hormuz will be ensured. “We thank captains & shipowners in Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman for complying with Iran’s Strait of Hormuz regulations & contributing to regional maritime security. With aggressor’s threats neutralised & new protocols in place, safe, stable passage through SOH will be ensured,” the IRGC said in a social media post. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump also posted on social media on Wednesday, threatening to restart bombing on Iran if it does not agree to a deal to end the…
Harris-Hess referenced a ministerial meeting in Nicosia last week, where EU capitals aligned on an EU-wide restriction, as an indication of the political momentum. Whatever form a ban takes, if it is decided, it is necessary to discuss “What is the environment we want to see for those who can access the service?’ It can’t be nothing, it has to be some form of protection,” for those minors between the lower age set by restrictions and the 18-year-old age of majority, he said. While saying that legally, an EU-wide ban is a possibility, Harris-Hess rejected the word “ban” as “emotionally…
Activists from FEMEN and Pussy Riot staged a protest in Venice ahead of the Venice Biennale, using smoke flares and slogans to denounce Russia’s return. The demonstration took place as journalists gathered before the event, which runs from 9 May to 22 November, and reflects wider tensions between artistic openness and political responsibility. Organisers said the Russian pavilion will remain closed to the public. Performances will instead be recorded and shown on screens during the exhibition. The move follows the resignation of the international jury, which cited the participation of countries under investigation by the International Criminal Court, as well…
Das Interview mit Björn Höcke im Podcast „ungeskriptet by Ben“ erreicht Millionen. Aber kritische Nachfragen fehlen. Pauline von Pezold und Frederik Schindler über die Stellen, an denen man hätte einhaken müssen: von Höckes familiärer Prägung durch Propaganda von Holocaust-Leugnern über geschichtsrevisionistische Zahlen bis hin zu seiner Freundschaft mit militanten Neonazis. Das Buch „Höcke – Ein Rechtsextremist auf dem Weg zur Macht. Die AfD und ihr gefährlichster Vordenker“ von Frederik Schindler ist im Verlag Herder erschienen. Die AfD und der „kleine Mann“. Die Partei präsentiert sich als Anwalt der Schwachen, doch ein Blick in die aktuellen Konzepte zur Grundsicherung zeigt ein…