Author: staff

Martin rejected the protesters’ demands for a meeting, saying they did not represent any industry body and were trying to blackmail the government. It would set a dangerous precedent, he said, particularly given that the government last month already cut tax on petrol and diesel by 15 cents and 20 cents per liter, respectively. “The gun cannot be put to the head of government, any government, in this manner,” Martin said, noting how the protesters were refusing to reopen O’Connell Street unless they could gain access to his own Government Buildings office. “Everybody will be doing that every week,” he…

Pro-Tehran groups are using AI to create slick internet memes in English to try to shape the narrative during the Iran war in a bid to foster opposition to it, experts say. According to analysts, the memes appear to be coming from groups linked to the government in Tehran and are part of a strategy of leveraging its limited resources to inflict damage on the US, even indirectly. “This is a propaganda war for them,” Neil Lavie-Driver, an AI researcher at the University of Cambridge, said, referring to Tehran. “Their goal is to sow enough discontent with the conflict as…

The Solomon Islands, a small island nation in Oceania, recorded its best post-Covid tourism season so far in 2025. This is mainly due to increased promotional and marketing activity, as well as the country hosting key regional conferences last year, such as the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting and the Pacific Ministers Water and Wastewater Management Meeting. Tourist numbers from January to December last year surged by 13.6%, compared to 2024, according to the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (SINSO), with a total of 28,548 visitors recorded in 2025. This is only 382 less than the record 28,930 tourists…

Bardella’s press team did not respond to a request for a comment. Bardella and de Bourbon have been romantically linked since they were caught on camera leaving a media event together and taking the same car in January. Asked if he was in a relationship with de Bourbon later that month, Bardella said he was a happy man and no longer single, but that “my private life belongs to me.” Scrutiny of Bardella’s private life is certain to increase as France gets closer to next year’s presidential election. He is set to run as the National Rally candidate if Marine…

The European Union has strongly condemned Israel’s fresh wave of strikes against Lebanon, warning that the military escalation threatens to unravel the fragile ceasefire deal struck between the United States and Iran to end the war. Pakistan, which brokered the deal, said the truce would cover Lebanon “effective immediately”. But Israel quickly contradicted that assertion and launched new action, killing at least 254 people on Wednesday, according to Lebanese authorities. The figure marked the highest single-day death toll in the yearslong war between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite militia. “Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into the war, but Israel’s right to…

Asked on France Inter whether the leaks had prompted Barrot to withhold certain pieces of information during meetings of European foreign ministers, the French minister responded that they had indeed “cast doubt on the integrity of our deliberations.” “We must remain united,” Barrot added. Last month, the European Commission called the leaks “greatly concerning.” Though there has not been a formal European response, the EU has limited the flow of confidential material to Hungary and leaders have been meeting in smaller groups as a consequence. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has long been one of Europe’s most pro-Russian leaders. Budapest and…

Published on 09/04/2026 – 11:59 GMT+2 On one side sits Premier Viktor Orbán and his ruling Fidesz party, aligned with the conservative Patriots for Europe group. On the other side sits his challenger Péter Magyar and his Tisza party, embraced by the mainstream centre-right European People’s Party. If they shared a flight to Belgium, their views on Brussels could not be more different. Orbán fights EU influence to protect national sovereignty. Magyar wants to repair the relationship but avoids appearing to take orders from the EU, deliberately keeping his distance from leaders like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.…

German Bundestag President Julia Klöckner travelled to Estonia and Lithuania this week to discuss security threats and cyber defence with Baltic leaders on NATO’s eastern flank. Klöckner met Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal and Riigikogu Speaker Lauri Hussar on Wednesday during her inaugural visit to the Baltic states. She also held talks with Lithuanian Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas, President Gitanas Nausėda and Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys. “We talked about the resilience of our parliaments against hybrid attacks – and about the need for the EU to speak with one voice in the current situation,” Klöckner said on Instagram after the…

Published on 09/04/2026 – 10:57 GMT+2 “This is a time for vigorous debate at the highest levels. Not for infantile name calling.” Prior to the shaky two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, Donald Trump received widespread criticism for threatening to completely obliterate Iran in shocking social media messages. “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” Trump declared on his Truth Social platform hours before his set deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. One high-profile celebrity who has spoken against Trump’s language and actions is celebrated actor George Clooney, who condemned Trump’s…

“There was little concern from the European Commission or affiliated organizations and think tanks when progressive NGOs in Europe received substantial support from the United States (including via USAID and other programs),” he said. “Only now, when funding may reach their political opponents, is it being framed as ‘foreign interference.’” Broader cuts Zuleeg, the EPC chief, said the non-renewal of the CERV money, which amounts to around €250,000 per year, would mean the organization cuts back on work related to topics such as democracy and citizens’ participation. And while he made a distinction between think tanks, which organize events or…