Author: Press Room

Israel halts Russian grain ship amid stolen Ukrainian wheat row

Published on 30/04/2026 – 12:06 GMT+2 Israeli import company Zenziper has halted the unloading of a cargo vessel allegedly carrying grain stolen by Russia from temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, Israeli media have reported. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Ukraine’s foreign ministry welcomed the development, saying it shows that Kyiv’s legal and diplomatic efforts are having an effect. “This is also a clear signal to all vessels, captains, operators, insurers and governments: do not buy stolen Ukrainian grain. Do not become part of this crime,” Andrii Sybiha said on X. According to reports, the company said that “in light of the circumstances” it had…

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PSG vs Bayern – a semifinal for the ages and football at its very best

Published on 30/04/2026 – 11:24 GMT+2 It was a fantastic match that electrified the Parc des Princes and will go down in Champions League history! French defending champion Paris Saint-Germain secured a one-goal lead, having been up 5-2 but having also feared the worst. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT But the German 35-times champions showed their tenacity and talent to reduce the deficit to one. The second leg in Munich next week promises a huge one. To talk about what happened on that memorable Tuesday and what else is moving European football these days, host Stefan Grobe was joined by two other big…

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From statements to actions: Here’s which European countries are spending the most on defence

European leaders seem to be acting upon their promises to spend more on defence. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Following US pressure, which saw President Donald Trump lambast NATO allies for not reaching defence spending targets, the continent’s investments in 2025 grew by 14% — more than all other continents — to reach €739 billion. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), it’s the steepest climb since the 1950s and twice the amount as 10 years ago, as many NATO members move to meet the new 5% of GDP spending target set for 2035. Last year, Berlin invested around €97 billion…

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Czechia: A small country with big nuclear energy ambitions

With just 10.5 million residents and an economy much smaller than those of France or Germany, the Czech Republic seems an unlikely leader in Europe’s nuclear revival. Yet, in Brussels and the Visegrád region, Prague is influential, quietly assembling an ambitious nuclear expansion program. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Nuclear energy already supplies around 40 percent of the country’s electricity, generated by six reactors at two plants: Dukovany and Temelín. The government wants to go much further. Under its updated National Energy and Climate Plan, Czechia has set a target of 68 percent nuclear electricity by 2040, a share that would rival France…

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Santorini announces new restrictions after scientists flagged volcanic activity

The Greek authorities have put in place new Civil Protection measures for Santorini, following the recommendations of scientific committees monitoring the seismic and volcanic risk, following the recent extraordinary meeting of the Standing Scientific Committee for Seismic Risk Assessment and Seismic Risk Reduction. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The measures mainly concern the control of access and stay in specific areas due to possible geological phenomena and will be in force until 31 March 2027. The main provisions have to do with the control of traffic in the main port of Santorini in order to avoid overcrowding and to reduce the time vehicles…

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Kyiv vows response as Russia ships stolen grain to multiple countries

Published on 29/04/2026 – 11:47 GMT+2 Ukraine is tracking multiple vessels carrying grain it says Russia stole from the occupied territories and shipped to at least four countries, as the diplomatic row over Ukraine and Israel over another stolen grain purchase rumbles on. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The Ukrainian foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday that Moscow’s sales of stolen grain are not limited to Israel, and that the total number of countries that have bought its shipments is likely bigger. “Such shipments arrived in Turkey, Egypt, Algeria and some other countries. These are only the cases I can recall from memory that…

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How engaged are young Europeans in online civic and political life?

Young Europeans seem to be more politically active than their older counterparts. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In 2025, nearly one in four Europeans aged 16 to 29 said they engaged in civic or political issues online, according to the latest Eurostat figures. This includes expressing their opinions on civic or political issues, participating in online consultations, or voting. In comparison, slightly more than one-fifth of the overall population said they did the same sort of thing. One of the main things that draws young Europeans to the web to express their political views appears to be its flexibility and ability to give…

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Conspiracy theories abound after White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting

Leaders across Europe have condemned the shooting that took place at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on 25 April, which US President Donald Trump attended. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice-President JD Vance were among those evacuated at the Washington Hilton hotel after gunshots were fired near the main security screening area for the annual event. Suspect Cole Tomas Allen has since been charged with attempting to assassinate the president. He has not yet entered a plea, and the US Department of Justice says it has yet to establish a clear motive. European Commission President Ursula…

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Magyar says EU money to arrive in Hungary ‘soon’ after meeting with von der Leyen

Published on 29/04/2026 – 19:25 GMT+2•Updated 19:33 Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar said EU funds could soon be released to Hungary following a series of high-level meetings in Brussels on Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Magyar met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in their first direct talks since his election victory on 12 April. The pair discussed steps to unlock billions of euros in EU funding currently frozen over concerns about corruption and rule of law. Hungary risks losing around €10 billion in post-pandemic funds intended to support its economy unless Magyar secures a deal before an August deadline. Magyar will…

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Italy says it has filed to be civil party in probe into Swiss bar fire that killed 41

Published on 29/04/2026 – 19:36 GMT+2 Italy’s government said on Wednesday that it had filed to be a civil party in the criminal proceedings surrounding a devastating fire at a bar in Switzerland which killed 41 people, including six Italians. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The civil claim was prompted by “the substantial resources” used for “medical, psychological and logistical assistance to the Italian nationals involved,” the government said in a statement. The blaze at Le Constellation, a bar in the upmarket Alpine resort, broke out in the early hours of 1 January as people celebrated the New Year. Prosecutors believe the New…

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