Author: staff
“IDF soldiers themselves admit to war crimes. They killed not only civilian Palestinians but even their own hostages,” the center-right politician continued. Sikorski’s criticism seemed to add fresh fuel to the dispute. “What you wrote reflects ignorance and a deep lack of understanding,” Sa’ar responded on X on Monday. The IDF is a “professional and ethical army,” the minister added, and “there is no Western military that fights terrorism more precisely, or on the basis of better intelligence, than the IDF.” The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed it had completed an initial investigation into the act and that “appropriate measures” would be taken against…
During last month’s multinational exercise Grand Quadriga 2026, German troops in Seedorf weren’t just training with drones, they were also building them. Instead of traditional live-fire drills, troops used reconnaissance drones, real-time data links and FPV systems to identify targets and engage them within seconds. FPV (first-person view) drones are unmanned aircraft piloted remotely fitted with an onboard camera, offering operators a live, direct view. As part of the so-called “Spark Cells” programme, soldiers worked alongside the Bundeswehr’s Cyber Innovation Hub (CIHBw) to build, test and refine some of these small unmanned systems themselves. The aim is to ensure they…
Google Flights has long been a go-to for those looking to save money on their travels, with the tech giant giving users the ability to track the prices of flights to their destination of choice in the hopes of snagging a bargain. First launched in 2016, Google then expanded the tracking option to hotels last year, with travellers able to monitor the prices of hotels that match their preferences, with filters such as brand, amenities, star rating and price. However, it’s taken until now for the search engine to allow price tracking for the exact hotel you want to stay…
Zsolt Hegedűs, a former surgeon now best known for his dance moves, will serve as health minister, while former armed forces chief Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi will take defense. László Gajdos, the director of an award-winning zoo, will serve as environment minister, and former farmer Szabolcs Bóna will oversee agriculture and food economy. The remaining portfolios — bringing the total to 16 — are expected to include interior, justice, transport and investments, education, social affairs, a prime minister’s office, rural development, culture and digital technology, with more nominations expected in the coming days. The restructuring marks a deliberate shift away from Orbán-era…
Published on 20/04/2026 – 16:11 GMT+2 The dense “terms and conditions” that most users scroll past when opening a social media account contain sweeping permissions to collect user data and limit users’ ability to take companies to court. Those are some of the conclusions from a new Harvard University research tool that documents old and current versions of legal documents. The so-called Transparency Hub stores over 20,000 documents and tracks the terms of over 300 platforms, including TikTok and Instagram. The goal of the platform is to make it easier for people to know where their data is going and…
Foreign airlines are preparing to return to Qatar’s airspace after a temporary shutdown triggered by regional tensions, with international carrier operations set to resume in phases. In a statement issued on Monday, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) confirmed that foreign carriers will gradually restart services to and from Doha’s Hamad International Airport (HIA), marking the first step in reconnecting the country with global air networks. “This decision follows a comprehensive assessment of the situation, conducted in coordination with all relevant national entities, to ensure the highest levels of readiness and operational efficiency,” QCAA said. It affirmed that “all flights…
Europe, in efforts to disentangle itself from Russian gas, has become increasingly aware of the vulnerability of its web of pipelines, subsea cables and offshore installations to hybrid attacks. A million kilometers of undersea cables transport 95 percent of the world’s internet traffic, and more than 200,000 kilometers of active oil and gas pipelines run across Europe. That physical infrastructure is at risk amid an escalation in hybrid attacks. The attacks on cables and pipelines are across frontiers and jurisdictions, mandating the need for a cross-border, coordinated response. In this special podcast episode produced by POLITICO Studio, policy experts and industry leaders come together to discuss the vulnerabilities…
Updated: 20/04/2026 – 14:35 GMT+2 A skydiver crashed into the scoreboard at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia, leaving him suspended mid-air. First responders rescued him within 30 minutes as the crowd watched. The incident delayed the spring football game, and the skydiver was reported to be in stable condition. … More
To offset those unexpected outlays, the government plans to freeze €4 billion worth of expenditures this year and later reassess if the country can afford those costs, French business daily Les Echos reported Friday. It is unclear whether the freeze will hit all spending across the board or will be concentrated in certain ministries. “These €4 billion are directly linked to rising costs resulting from higher interest rates,” French Economy Minister Roland Lescure told French daily Le Parisien on Monday. When asked about the plans, the French economy ministry referred POLITICO to Lescure’s quote in Le Parisien. The government is…
Published on 20/04/2026 – 14:13 GMT+2 The cruise ships that were stranded due to the Iran war, and subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have now departed the key ports in the Arabian Gulf region. On Friday, Malta-flagged passenger vessel Celestyal Discovery departed Dubai, becoming the first cruise ship to transit the Strait since the Iran war began. In a statement Celestyal Cruises also said that the Celestyal Journey ship had departed Qatar’s capital Doha, confirming the “successful and safe transit of both its vessels” through the waterway. “Following their successful transit, both Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey are…