Tag: Europe
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Fuel protests across Ireland have disrupted major transport routes and fuel infrastructure, raising concerns over potential interruptions to oil supply amid ongoing global energy pressure. Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the country was on the ‘precipice’ of refusing oil deliveries, citing blockades at the Whitegate refinery in Cork and fuel depots in Galway and Limerick.…
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (9 April), discussing Iran-linked attacks, Middle East security and the fragility of the recent ceasefire amid wider Gulf tensions. During a separate visit to UK forces, Starmer described the ceasefire as “fragile”, thanked personnel involved in…
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Russia has announced a temporary Orthodox Easter ceasefire in the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war, with Ukraine confirming it will reciprocate. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a 32-hour pause in hostilities from Saturday afternoon to midnight Sunday. The Kremlin said Defence Minister Andrei Belousov instructed Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov to halt operations, while maintaining…
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said the alliance is undergoing a “period of profound change”, rejecting suggestions it is “whistling past the graveyard” amid renewed scrutiny of transatlantic unity. Speaking at the Reagan Institute during his US visit, Rutte said Europe is taking “a greater and fairer share” of defence responsibilities, marking a shift…
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The European Commission plans to introduce flexibilities to methane import rules for fossil fuels, aiming to avoid disruptions in gas supplies across the EU. The move comes as European governments seek additional energy security following the US-Iran conflict. Ditte Juul Jørgensen, director-general for energy at the Commission, said the adjustments would allow importers to demonstrate…
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UK Defence Secretary John Healey provided a briefing at No. 9 Downing Street today (9 April) on recent Russian military activity in the North Atlantic, highlighting ongoing threats to the UK and Allied undersea infrastructure. Healey said, “In the last few weeks, while the eyes of many were trained on the Middle East, the UK…
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France has outlined plans to significantly expand its military capabilities, including a sharp increase in explosive drone stockpiles, under updated defence legislation presented on Wednesday (8 April). The revised military planning law adds €36 billion to existing spending commitments, bringing total defence investment for 2024–2030 to €449 billion. “Our armed forces must be capable of…
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US Vice President JD Vance has voiced strong support for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during a joint press conference in Budapest, days before Hungary’s parliamentary election. Speaking alongside Orbán, Vance criticised alleged external influence on Hungary’s election, accusing EU institutions of undermining the country’s economy and energy independence. Vance’s visit comes ahead of the…
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Ukraine’s armed forces say they have regained territory along the eastern and southeastern frontline, as fighting intensifies across multiple regions. Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s military, said Kyiv had retaken around 480 sq. km since late January 2026, including settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Despite these gains, he warned that Russian…
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Rising UK youth unemployment is coinciding with increased military recruitment, as the Ministry of Defence expands efforts to attract young applicants into the British Armed Forces. New data indicates applications to the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are at their highest levels in over five years, with 16% of 16–24-year-olds seeking work. Applications to…
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