Author: staff
The debate reflects a wider shift in how Brussels manages money. While traditional cohesion funds have been managed jointly by EU governments and regions, during the pandemic the bloc moved to a more centralized model, with national recovery plans negotiated directly between capitals and the Commission. That model showed the EU could move money faster when spending decisions were controlled more tightly from Brussels, the officials said, adding that the same logic is now shaping talks on the bloc’s next long-term budget. Von der Leyen has pushed to steer more EU money toward defense and competitiveness. Under two restructuring scenarios…
Published on 13/05/2026 – 9:29 GMT+2 Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur told Euronews there is “no question” that accountability needs to be enforced when it comes to the bloc’s €90 billion loan, as the former chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is investigated over graft allegations. “We need to have accountability in place,” Pevkur told Euronews’ programme Europe Today. “It is definitely something Ukrainians are looking into very seriously because it is also important for them that there are no rumours or problems involved with that kind of assistance. “At the end of the day, they need to…
An edgy Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez confronted journalists in a rare news conference on Tuesday and claimed he was the victim of an “organised campaign” to unseat him. Pérez called for new club elections and told his opponents to present themselves and challenge him and his board of directors. “I want to talk about all those I believe are behind this campaign…some people are moving in the shadows to run for elections. Well, let them run,” he said. “This is the opportunity I am giving them.” Usually calm and soft-spoken, Pérez appeared agitated and got into discussions with the…
By Anna Desmarais & AP Published on 13/05/2026 – 10:49 GMT+2 OpenAI ‘s CEO Sam Altman took the witness stand on Tuesday to defend his business record in a trial pitting him against Elon Musk, rebutting testimony that disparaged his leadership at a pivotal time for the ChatGPT maker. The trial, now in its third week, could determine OpenAI’s structure after it successfully raised billions of dollars in investment for its flagship artificial intelligence frontier model, ChatGPT. Musk’s lawsuit alleges that Altman persuaded him to donate $38 million to OpenAI when it was a nonprofit, only for the company to shift to a…
Published on 13/05/2026 – 11:29 GMT+2•Updated 11:38 From viral dance challenges to must-try recipes and even shopping, TikTok has evolved from just being a social media app that provides short-form entertainment. Now, the tech company has moved into the travelsphere, with the launch of “TikTok GO” – a new in-app feature that allows users to book local services, including hotels, attractions, and tours directly within the platform. Integrated across TikTok’s existing discovery tools, including video content, search results and location pages, the feature is powered by partnerships with major travel platforms such as Booking.com, Expedia, Viator, GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Trip.com.…
Amid mounting complaints of rising violence and overcrowding across European prisons, the number of prisoners in the EU increased by 2% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the latest figures from Eurostat. In 2024, there was one prisoner for every 883 inhabitants in the EU, with the highest rates found in Hungary, Poland, Latvia, and Czechia. Only one in 18 adult prisoners was female, and one in five prisoners across the bloc had a foreign citizenship in their reporting country in 2024. On the other hand, the lowest prisoner rates were observed in Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark,…
Updated: 13/05/2026 – 10:35 GMT+2 Footage released on May 12 showed Yamal waving a Palestinian flag during FC Barcelona’s La Liga title parade celebrating the club’s 29th league title. In a news conference, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said he did not like such gestures, but added that Yamal was old enough to make his own decisions. … More
In December 2025, Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for children under the age of 16. This measure sparked debate among teenagers, parents, experts, and politicians around the world, reaching Europe too. Not only countries like France, Greece, Spain, and Denmark are considering plans to forbid the use of social platforms to under 15s and under 16s, but also the European Union (EU) is exploring this option. On Tuesday, the European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen, said the EU could propose a bloc-wide social media ban for children as early as this summer.…
Updated: 13/05/2026 – 10:00 GMT+2 Professor Luke O’Neill, from Trinity College Dublin, acknowledges the virus situation is “a bit scary” given the mortality rate. But he asks authorities to “reassure” people about its low danger, as it is a known strain of hantavirus, the Andes variant, and it has “not changed”. … More
US President Donald Trump said he would ask Xi Jinping to “open up” China to American firms as he heads to Beijing on Wednesday for a high-stakes summit that will also bring up the Iran war. In a sign of Trump’s focus on business, Nvidia chief Jensen Huang boarded Air Force One during a stopover in Alaska, with Tesla’s Elon Musk also travelling on the presidential plane to China. “I will be asking President Xi, a Leader of extraordinary distinction, to ‘open up’ China so that these brilliant people can work their magic, and help bring the People’s Republic to…