Author: staff
Published on 27/05/2026 – 15:41 GMT+2•Updated 15:53 European countries have roundly rejected Russia’s threat against diplomats based in Kyiv and confirmed their representations would continue to operate without interruption. Germany, France, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Estonia and the European Commission are among those that have summoned Russia’s ambassadors to convey their outrage after the Kremlin published a notification urging foreign citizens and diplomatic staff to leave Kyiv “as soon as possible” ahead of fresh air strikes. “Through its actions, Russia demonstrates daily its cynicism and contempt for international law,” the French Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson said on Wednesday. “France strongly…
Egypt has made a string of major gas discoveries over the past two months — capped by its biggest find in the Western Desert in 15 years — as the Iran war drives energy demands to record highs, poising Cairo for a return to its role as a major gas export hub. “I think the new discoveries will help address Egypt’s challenging energy balances but are unlikely to be transformational,” said Bill Farren-Price, head of gas research at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. “Rising power demand is still likely to outpace upstream gains, although the reforms are likely to…
Earlier this week Italy reported two suspected cases among passengers who had arrived from Uganda, but they later tested negative for Ebola, the disease prevention agency said. Meanwhile, Belgium has direct daily flights to and from Congo. Brussels Airlines said Wednesday it is making changes to its crew schedules given that the United States has banned entry to the country from the region, but added: “These changes are being implemented without affecting the current flight schedule.” “In times like these, flights are more vital than ever to keep the region connected and to allow vital medication and medically trained personnel…
Published on 27/05/2026 – 15:12 GMT+2 Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his British counterpart Keir Starmer on Wednesday inked a “major” new defence and security treaty as the embattled UK leader continues to rebuild relations with Europe. The pair met in London to finalise the agreement, which aims to bolster British borders, tackle organised crime, boost collective defence and further deepen cooperation with the European Union, which the UK voted to leave in 2016 following a divisive referendum campaign. In a post on X, Cezary Tomczyk, Poland’s secretary of state of the Ministry of Defence, shared a video of…
The Texas primaries offered a revealing snapshot of the political dynamics that are likely to shape the remainder of President Donald Trump’s second term, especially the next five months before the Congressional midterm elections. More than a routine state-level contest, the races in the Lone Star State became a test of Trump’s continuing grip over the Republican Party, the ideological direction of MAGA politics, and the balance between electability and fealty to the president. The clearest message came from the Republican Senate primary, where Trump-backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton soundly defeated Senator John Cornyn, a towering figure in Texas…
Published on 27/05/2026 – 10:32 GMT+2•Updated 11:15 French luxury department store Galeries Lafayette closed its first flagship store in China on Wednesday, 27 May, thirteen years after it opened. The retailer cited falling sales in recent years as the reason for the closure. While the luxury market experienced strong growth in the mid-2010s, notably thanks to the rise of the middle class, the Covid-19 pandemic and China’s property crisis proved to be a turning point, abruptly curbing China’s domestic consumption and forcing the sector to adapt to new economic realities. “We have seen a decade of growth in the luxury…
Published on 27/05/2026 – 13:18 GMT+2 “Damn the jellyfish! Damn all the jellyfish!!” Remember that Friends episode in which a jellyfish stings Monica and Joey steps out of his sandy hole to offer some medical advice? “There’s really only one thing you can do,” says Joey. “You’re going to have to pee on it.” When questioned about his emergency cure, he affirms that he saw it on the Discovery Channel – something which Chandler confirms. “You know what, he’s right. There’s something like ammonia in that which kills the pain.” Well, if you’re heading to the ocean on your upcoming…
Published on 27/05/2026 – 13:26 GMT+2 Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Wednesday there was “no reason” to withdraw support for his predecessor Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who is under investigation for corruption, following the publication of new details about the case. “I think there is no sufficient reason, there is no reason to change that position,” Sánchez told a Rome news conference after a meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. The Socialist premier, in office since 2018, reiterated his “full cooperation with the judiciary” and respect for the presumption of innocence. Zapatero, who governed from 2004-2011,…
Published on 27/05/2026 – 12:56 GMT+2 Five villagers stuck in a flooded cave in central Laos for more than a week were found alive, rescuers said on Wednesday, but two others remain missing. The villagers entered the cave in Xaisomboun province on 19 May, but heavy rain triggered flash flooding that blocked the exit and trapped seven people, according to Lao and Thai rescue teams involved in the operation. Bounkham Luanglath of the Lao organisation Rescue Volunteer for People, which has been working closely with local authorities in the rescue efforts, told the Associated Press news agency that five people…
By Theo Farrant & AP Published on 27/05/2026 – 13:20 GMT+2 Less than two months after the record-breaking Artemis II mission, NASA has revealed new details about its plan to build a long-term human presence on the Moon. The agency says it is already ordering landers, rovers and drones for the first phase of what it calls “Moon Base” – a programme designed to support astronauts living and working on the lunar surface for extended periods. Here’s everything you need to know about NASA’s announcements. What is NASA’s Moon Base plan? NASA wants to build a permanent lunar base near the Moon’s south…