Author: staff
Published on 13/04/2026 – 8:00 GMT+2 Europe changed the way it’s thinking about modern military technology after the war in Ukraine and in Iran. Today’s conflicts ask for affordable, AI-driven, mass-produced equipment rather than expensive, sophisticated tools. The Commission’s 2025 Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 makes unmanned aircraft systems, also called drones, the flagship of its defence ramp-up. The Commission’s 2026 Action Plan on Drone and Counter-Drone Security focuses on a new approach to drone production through industrial scaling and the rapid production of counter-drone technology. The aim is to create a competitive European drone market, strengthen the EU’s preparedness and…
Updated: 13/04/2026 – 12:00 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
Published on 13/04/2026 – 12:03 GMT+2 Donald Trump continues his efforts to reshape Washington… After his controversial interior design changes, the renaming of the Kennedy Center and the White House’s East Wing ballroom project, Trump wants his very own arch in the nation’s capital. Indeed, the White House has unveiled plans for a giant “Triumphal Arch” – dubbed the “Arc de Trump”, as it bears an uncanny resemblance to France’s Arc de Triomphe. If approved, the 76m monument would be taller than both the US Capitol building and the Lincoln Memorial. It will be “the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal…
Among the measures to ease the immediate pressure are a temporary reduction of the mineral oil tax by 17 cents per liter for two months, and the option for companies to pay their employees a tax-free “relief bonus” of up to €1,000. “The strain over the past few weeks has been unbearable for many people — unbearable for small and medium-sized businesses, but also for individual citizens,” said Markus Söder, the leader of the Bavarian conservatives. “Daily reminders that prices are going up, like at the gas pump [have caused] a sense of powerlessness, anger, and a real heavy burden…
Good morning from Brussels, which is awakening this morning to a new dawn in Hungarian politics as Viktor Orbán is ousted after 16 uninterrupted years in power. I’m Mared Gwyn. After a rancorous and bitter electoral campaign in which Hungary’s place in Europe and the world took centre stage, Péter Magyar — a former Orbán confidant who broke ranks with the Fidesz party to lead the conservative Tisza Party just two years ago — has won a supermajority of an estimated 138 of the 199 seats in parliament, and is now poised to become the Hungarian Prime Minister. It brings…
The US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports on Monday, after talks between the warring sides in Pakistan collapsed, with US President Donald Trump blaming the Islamic Republic’s refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Trump had announced on social media he would blockade the strategic Strait of Hormuz trading route that he has been demanding Tehran fully reopen, after his Vice President JD Vance left negotiations with an Iranian delegation in Islamabad on Sunday. The stall in talks dashed global hopes of a deal to permanently end the war that has killed thousands and thrown…
“His professionalism will be essential to uphold what matters most in competition enforcement: objectivity, independence and equal treatment for all companies operating in Europe,” Ribera said on Bluesky. Whelan succeeds Linsey McCallum, who has led the department on an acting basis since the departure of Frenchman Olivier Guersent last summer. Ribera expressed “sincere appreciation” for McCallum’s leadership, noting her role in ensuring continuity in the Commission’s work. In her post, Ribera framed the department’s future mandate through a philosophical lens, calling for enforcement grounded in fairness and the protection of the vulnerable. “In these uncertain times, our responsibility is more…
Modern warfare has evolved way beyond basic weapons, and unmanned drones are now central to conflict. The EU is increasing drone production to defend Europeans against these changing threats. Recent wars, like Ukraine and Iran, show that drones are used in large numbers and quickly depleted. But European countries still rely heavily on foreign suppliers for drones, creating strategic vulnerability. The EU wants to reduce this dependence by building its own industrial capacity, and introducing new funding programs to support drone manufacturing, like the European Defence Industry Programme. It’s also coming up with new subsidies to boost key components used…
Local officials in Cap‑Haïtien said severe overcrowding during traditional Easter festivities at the Citadelle Laferrière triggered the incident, causing asphyxiation and trampling. At least 30 people were reported killed, and dozens were injured, with around 30 patients still in hospital on Sunday, while others remained unaccounted for, raising concerns about crowd safety at large public gatherings. Authorities said autopsies began on 12 April as the Haitian National Police opened an investigation into the causes of the disaster. The Citadelle Laferrière, a UNESCO‑listed fortress visited by thousands each year, was hosting a school outing and cultural celebrations near the entrance when…
Markets face a sobering Monday after weekend optimism over a peace talks breakthrough faded. Investors are bracing for a high-impact week shaped by geopolitics, inflation data and the start of earnings season. Oil prices resumed their climb, with international benchmark Brent crude and the US benchmark WTI trading above $100 a barrel. On Monday morning in Europe, Brent front-month futures were up 7%, trading at nearly $102 a barrel, while WTI gained nearly 8% and surged to $104. This comes as the US military prepares to blockade ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, where much of the shipping…