Author: staff
The dispute surrounding Hungary’s 20 August state celebrations goes far beyond the question of whether there will be fireworks over the Danube. The controversy that has unfolded in recent weeks is about the use of public money, environmental protection, national traditions and the role of state representation, but above all about punishing the Lounge group owned by Gyula Balásy. The situation is unusual in that while the government has confirmed that this year’s festive fireworks will go ahead, their organisation has been placed in completely new hands. The original contracts have been terminated, the previous main contractor has dropped out,…
The report, due to be published on Friday, comes out once a year and grades all 27 EU member countries on their compliance with the rule of law, issuing recommendations accordingly. POLITICO has not seen the full report. It lands days after a Spanish court ruled that civil servants had improperly created a public-sector job for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s brother, David Sánchez. The prime minister has repeatedly argued that he and his family have been targeted by politically motivated legal proceedings, accusing conservative judges of engaging in “lawfare.” The Commission also found only limited progress on Spain’s lobbying reforms,…
Storm-1516, a Russia-linked influence operation — which routinely disseminates fabricated claims about Europe and the West — comes in all shapes and sizes. This time round, researchers say it could be behind a social media video in which alleged militants from Hezbollah — an Iran-backed Lebanese militant group — threatened to carry out attacks on French soil ahead of Bastille Day celebrations on 14 July. In the video, three hooded men wearing military uniforms pose in front of a dummy of a French Foreign Legion soldier, whose face had the French flag painted on. They threaten to “shed blood” on…
Iran said any US attack on the Islamic Republic’s infrastructure would trigger broader regional destruction, pledging to have its forces target infrastructure across the region that Tehran says has remained untouched due to its restraint. Spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari said Tehran would not tolerate any US interference in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an “inviolable red line”. “If the recent threats by the president of the United States to target the infrastructure of the Islamic Republic are carried out,” Zolfaqari said, “all infrastructure across the region that has so far remained intact solely…
Published on 16/07/2026 – 15:08 GMT+2 It’s not coming home… and Mick knows it. Rolling Stones’ frontman Mick Jagger has gone viral over his reaction to England’s loss in the World Cup semi-finals last night. Jagger attended the game between England and Argentina yesterday, which ended in a 2-1 loss for England, who were hoping to play their first World Cup final since 1966. Footage captured of Jagger reacting to Enzo Fernández’s equalising goal has spread across the internet and sees Jagger shaking his head in disappointment. The video has resonated with fans, with one claiming: “Mick Jagger speaks for…
Opposition parties immediately attacked the prime minister, portraying the proposal as a power grab. “Meloni has betrayed Italians,” said Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein, telling parliament that “we will send you home with any electoral law.” Meloni’s term is due to end in September 2027, and the Italian leader wants to pass the reform ahead of the next general election. Many political observers believe she could send the country to the polls as early as next April, with pressure mounting from both the opposition, which appears to be coalescing around a united front, and within her own coalition. Roberto Vannacci’s…
As thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets on Thursday to protest against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, the former minister publicly acknowledged that his conflict with Ukraine’s commander-in-chief had contributed to his removal. Speaking at a tense media briefing, Fedorov revealed that Zelenskyy had been forced to choose between him and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. However, he insisted that he had never presented the president with an ultimatum of “either me or Syrskyi”. “I said then we will win with this commander-in-chief.” According to Fedorov, he accepted the president’s decision despite their differences. “When the president…
The streets of central Kyiv echoed with chants of “Shame” on Thursday 16 July as hundreds of protesters marched behind banners reading “The army is the priority”. In the crowd, a woman carrying a child held a placard stating: “I don’t want to die.” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Fedorov, 35, after six months in the post as part of a wider government reshuffle that also saw parliament accept Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko’s resignation and approve Serhii Koretskyi, former head of energy firm Naftogaz, as her successor. Fedorov, seen as a moderniser, had pushed drone innovation and reforms credited with slowing…
Published on 16/07/2026 – 14:17 GMT+2 A collection of early David Bowie songs from 1965 are set to be released on a new album that should have fans and Starman completists salivating. Coming out ten years since the death of the legendary artist, the tracks on ‘David Bowie: The Shel Talmy Recordings’ were recorded when Bowie played with his band The Lower Third. The artist then went by the name of Davie Jones – a name he later changed to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of the Monkees. The album was made with producer Shel Talmy, who was responsible for…
Thursday’s indictment is the latest chapter in the farm funds scandal saga that has convulsed Athens since last year. EPPO is investigating dozens of cases involving Greek farmers, or people posing as farmers, who improperly received subsidies for land they did not own or agricultural work they did not carry out. At the heart of the case is OPEKEPE, the now-defunct state organization responsible for distributing EU funds in Greece. Three of the MPs cited Thursday stand accused of instigation to commit abuse of trust, and one of them of instigation to unlawful management of EU funds. One of them…