Author: staff
Published on 30/06/2026 – 11:32 GMT+2 After the national team’s embarrassing World Cup exit, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz caused confusion with a post on the social media platform X. The chancellor praised the national team: “Even though going out hurts: what a game. With your commitment and team spirit at this World Cup you have thrilled our country. We are proud of you.” Merz’s post attracted a great deal of criticism in the comments. Comedian Oliver Pocher also spoke up on the social media platform Instagram beneath the chancellor’s post. “I hope the account has been hacked. But it fits…
In The Hague, celebrations for Morocco’s win over the Netherlands escalated into clashes with police as officers moved in to disperse crowds. Scenes move from street celebrations to arrests, with people running as riot police intervene and detain several individuals. Earlier, supporters gathered after the World Cup last-32 match, waving flags, honking car horns and filming the celebrations. The atmosphere then changes as police arrive, with baton charges and arrests on the streets. Some are pinned to the ground or led away by officers. Despite the unrest, other groups continue to celebrate Morocco’s victory from balconies and cars, with flags…
Over the past decade or so, set-jetting – aka travelling to a destination after being inspired by film or TV – has reached new heights. Game of Thrones sent hundreds of thousands of people to Dubrovnik, aka King’s Landing. Crash Landing on You made the tiny Swiss village of Iseltwald a must-visit for fans. Each season of The White Lotus brings hoards of tourists to the locale in question, from Taormina to Thailand. It can be difficult to predict where the next big surge will be, particularly in the age of streaming when there are dozens of new shows and…
Published on 30/06/2026 – 10:54 GMT+2 After turning the water algae green instead of “American flag blue”, Donald Trump’s reported $16 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is allegedly complete. It is now apparently in “full use” and will be treated again to be in “perfect shape” after 4 July celebrations. Now that’s out of the way, Trump has revealed his new project in a lengthy Truth Social post: Building “one of the Greatest Golf Courses anywhere in the World”. Trump said he has visited the “dilapidated, worn out, and very dangerous and outdated Golf Course known as…
Will the long-awaited defence investment plan be the prime minister’s final and most contentious act? After months of delays, a multibillion-pound funding gap, and the resignation of his defence secretary, has Sir Keir Starmer done enough to satisfy his military chiefs? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack the political and strategic stakes and assess what NATO allies, not least Donald Trump, will make of the plans. Elsewhere, with the PM’s departure from Number 10 on the horizon, is Labour already seeing a polling bounce? And after more than two years of disruption has Health Secretary James Murray finally succeeded where…
Feliks the eagles journey resembles a Hollywood movie script, with kidnappers, smugglers and clandestine border crossings. The year-old eastern imperial eagle from Serbia started flying in August and later set off on his first migratory flight toward the Middle East, only to be captured by poachers, sold illegally and retrieved in a daring cross-border mission. While Feliks returned home safely last week, his ordeal highlighted both the widespread practice of profit-driven, illegal animal trade and an unfaltering struggle by animal protection groups to counter it. “It’s getting worse year after year, season after season, day after day,” said Michel Sawan,…
Brazilian fans celebrated a dramatic 2-1 victory over Japan on Monday as Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time winner sent the five-time champions into the World Cup last 16. Crowds on Copacabana Beach and outside the stadium in Houston erupted as the final whistle sealed Brazil’s comeback victory. In Rio de Janeiro, music and dancing broke out along Copacabana after the late winner. In Houston, Brazil supporters gathered outside the stadium to sing, cheer and look ahead to a last-16 meeting with either Ivory Coast or Norway.
Car rental in Portugal for cash is a practical choice for travellers who want more control over their trip budget. Many visitors arrive in Portugal without a credit card or prefer not to block a large deposit on a bank card. This is common for families, business travellers, digital nomads, and tourists who want clear rental terms before arrival. Portugal is a country where a rental car can make the journey far more comfortable. Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, the Azores, and smaller coastal towns are easier to explore when you have your own vehicle. Public transport works well in major…
Security in the spotlight Presidency events will include meetings between political leaders that entail greater security risks. Last year, during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Ireland, a handful of unmarked drones swarmed into Irish airspace, raising fresh questions about Dublin’s defense capabilities. Barely a week later, Ireland unveiled a €1.7 billion plan to beef up its defenses, including €19 million for counter-drone technology “as soon as possible, not least because of the upcoming European presidency.” Tom Clonan, an Irish senator, defense analyst and former Irish army captain, warned that budgeted costs could multiply if there are unplanned expenses due…
Published on 30/06/2026 – 8:17 GMT+2•Updated 8:56 A record-breaking €3 billion loan to aerospace giant Airbus, announced by the European Investment Bank (EIB), is an “illustration of how Europe is ramping up its capacity and strategic autonomy” in a world where it is being “attacked on all sides”, European Investment Bank President Nadia Calviño has told Euronews. The loan, announced by the EIB on Monday, is intended to boost Airbus’s commercial aerospace and defence projects. It will support investments through to 2030 in projects across France, Germany and Spain. It is the largest commercial loan ever granted by the Luxembourg-based…