Le Pen vows to fight ‘political’ ruling, as France’s main parties stage rival rallies

Officials from the UK and EU are drafting a declaration to address "fluctuations" in the global economy, with the UK proposing a “new strategic partnership” to enhance trade and maintain a united European stance against challenges posed by Donald Trump. This initiative is being prepared ahead of a UK-EU summit scheduled for 19 May, emphasizing a "common understanding" on various mutual interests. The efforts aim to reinforce transatlantic alignment during uncertain economic times. Full Article

European and Ukrainian officials are concerned that Donald Trump may abandon peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, potentially using minor progress as a reason to disengage. Despite his promise to end the war quickly, Trump has struggled to gain support for a ceasefire amid Putin's refusal to meet key demands, prompting worries that he is preparing to leave the resolution efforts to Ukraine and Europe. As tensions rise, Kyiv is reportedly preparing for a possible...

SummaryA report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) has criticized the EU's plan to secure 20% of the global semiconductor market by 2030 as "essentially aspirational" and "deeply disconnected from reality." The ECA concluded that the EU is "very unlikely" to achieve this target amid surging global demand for microchips driven by sectors such as defense, green technology, and artificial intelligence. The findings raise concerns about the bloc's ability to effectively respond to the...

SummaryOn Monday, a massive power outage struck Spain and parts of Portugal and France, disrupting transport networks and mobile communications, with authorities investigating a potential cyber attack as the cause. The blackout, which cut off over 10GW of demand, affected millions, halting trains, delaying flights, and causing traffic lights to fail, prompting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to hold a crisis meeting. While efforts to restore power began, full recovery was expected to take 6 to...

German minister has criticized suggestions that the country might cede territory, labeling such ideas as 'akin to capitulation.' In a positive development for Ukraine, the conservative CDU announced that Johann Wadephul, a seasoned pro-Ukraine politician and close ally of incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz, will serve as Germany's next foreign minister. Wadephul, 62, is recognized for advocating increased military support for Ukraine and has been a significant adviser on foreign policy matters. Full Article

Germany’s ambassador to the UK, Miguel Berger, expressed optimism about the upcoming EU-UK summit on May 19, viewing it as a potential starting point for improved relations and future discussions on revising Boris Johnson's Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) in 2026. The summit aims to establish a new defence and security pact and address various reforms, including youth mobility and energy cooperation, though challenges remain due to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s red lines against returning...