Author: staff
Finland is set to get its first cross-border rail link with continental Europe this summer. The long-delayed connection with Sweden could launch as early as June, authorities say. According to a European rail expert, the new route will create one of the longest journeys that can be taken by train within the EU. At the moment, travellers can only pass between the border towns of Tornio in Finland and Haparanda in Sweden – at the top of the Gulf of Bothnia – by bus or car. There is a rail line linking the two towns, but there’s a practical stumbling…
European ambassadors are gathering to prep for a leaders’ summit taking place in Cyprus next week. And yet again, the agenda will likely be dominated by geopolitical crises. Ian Wishart and guest co-host Ryan Heath explain how topics like the budget, enlargement and competitiveness are falling by the wayside as the bulk of the meeting will instead focus on the fallout of the Iran war. They also ask whether another leader will take over Viktor Orbán’s role as the bad boy around the summit table. Next, centrist dads unite! We discuss how Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Canadian PM Mark…
One EU diplomat said Meloni had proven to be a “totally different breed” of politician from Orbán. But another warned she came from the same political family as the Hungarian and shouldn’t be counted out. “At the last European Council, the only person to have agreed with Orbán was Meloni,” the second EU diplomat said, referring to the Italian leader’s confession to other leaders that she understood Orbán’s position on the Ukraine loan at the March summit. “You can see there is an ideological link between the two of them.” The Comeback Populist: Slovenia’s Janez Janša Slovenia’s former multi-term prime…
Updated: 13/04/2026 – 18:00 GMT+2 Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this April 13th, 2026 – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel. … More
The event took place at the White House in Washington, where the president greeted the driver and presented the food to reporters. He highlighted a provision allowing eligible workers to deduct up to $25,000 in tip income from federal taxes, framing it as a benefit for service workers. The appearance involved a pre‑cleared visit, as White House access requires security checks. During the event, the driver said she had received about $11,000 in tax relief, though no documents were shown. The administration has intensified its messaging on the policy ahead of the 15 April tax deadline, while public attention remains…
The same factors could push global inflation above 6 percent next year, it cautioned. Finance ministers and central bank governors from around the world are set to talk about little else at the IMF-World Bank spring meetings this week in Washington, D.C., and the IMF’s numbers — like many from private-sector forecasters — make clear how serious the risks of a protracted major conflict are. Hoping against hope To be sure, the IMF’s baseline forecast still clings to the hope that things will return to normal by the middle of the year, leaving little more than a small dent in…
The event launched an 11 day tour across four African nations and highlighted efforts to strengthen Christian Muslim relations in a country of about 47 million people. Despite rain, the pope addressed clergy and visitors at the hilltop basilica overlooking the Mediterranean, stressing peace and coexistence at a time of global tensions. Pope Leo XIV was welcomed by Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, Archbishop of Algiers, who received the pontiff as host of the visit and accompanied him to key religious and symbolic sites, including the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa. Known for his commitment to interfaith dialogue, Vesco has long…
Payan posted in March on X that he did not want West performing in his city. “I refuse to let Marseille be a showcase for those who promote hatred and unapologetic Nazism. Kanye West is not welcome at the Vélodrome,” Payan said. The push comes as other European governments take a harder line on West, who now goes by Ye. The rapper was recently barred from entering the United Kingdom in early April, with officials arguing his presence would not be “conducive to the public good,” prompting the cancellation of London’s Wireless Festival. West has repeatedly drawn condemnation for antisemitic…
Published on 14/04/2026 – 14:41 GMT+2•Updated 16:14 Italy has suspended the automatic renewal of its defence agreement with Israel, which involves the exchange of military equipment and technology research, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday. “In view of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defence agreement with Israel,” Meloni said on the sidelines of an event in Verona, according to Italian news agencies. Approved by Israel in 2006, the agreement is reviewed every five years. It calls for cooperation across defence industries, education and training of military personnel, research and development,…
The meeting, held during a two‑day visit, comes as Spain seeks to position itself between major powers while pushing for diplomatic solutions to the conflict in Iran. Sánchez is also scheduled to meet Premier Li Qiang and top legislator Zhao Leji before departing on Wednesday, underlining the importance of the trip for Spain’s foreign policy. The visit marks Sánchez’s fourth trip to China since 2023, an unusually high frequency among European leaders. Spain, a country of about 48 million people, has recently taken a more independent stance, including restricting US military access to certain bases during the Iran conflict, which…