UK meningitis outbreak total rises to 34 cases

The meningitis outbreak centered in Kent in the UK has grown to 34 linked cases — up from 29 — as hundreds of students lined up for a third straight day to be vaccinated. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said in an update this morning that 23 cases have been confirmed, with a further 11 cases that "remain under investigation". More than 400 people — students and others eligible — queued outside the University of Kent campus clinic for meningitis jabs at the start of the weekend. NHS Kent and Medway reported that 5,794…

Europe aims to regain momentum amid multiple crises

Europe’s hunt for an economic reset has stretched across two turbulent years, ever since the abrupt end of cheap Russian oil and gas collided with a steady slide in competitiveness against the United States and China. Each time a fix seemed within reach, President Donald Trump shifted the terms of debate—first with his Liberation Day tariffs, and now with the Iran War. Yet, in a twist, the very disarray Mr Trump provokes has jolted into motion reforms long stalled by member-state pushback. Chief among them is “EU Inc,”…

Israeli air strikes target Hezbollah in southern Beirut

Israel pounded Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, with a pre-dawn wave of strikes targeting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, the military said, after it had called on residents in several areas to evacuate. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel on 2 March to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Since then, Israel has struck targets across Lebanon and deployed ground forces in the country’s south. In a short statement, the army said its forces were…

Somali Ambassador to Sweden Presents Credentials to Finnish President, Community Welcomes Move

Helsinki – In a milestone for Somalia’s ties with the Nordic country, Somalia's Ambassador to Sweden, Ambassador Abdikarim Ahmed Mohamed, has officially presented his credentials to Alexander Stubb, a development that the Somali community in Finland has greeted with enthusiasm, the Finnish Somali Media Network (SSMV) reported. Officials say the ambassador’s presence in Finland should make it easier for Somali nationals to access consular services, removing persistent obstacles many have faced when seeking assistance…

Polish court rules same-sex marriages performed in the EU must be recognized

In a watershed for LGBT rights in Poland, the Supreme Administrative Court (NSA) has ruled that same-sex marriages performed in other EU member states must be recognised — a striking shift in a traditionally Catholic nation. The decision, delivered in line with a ruling by the EU’s top court, drew applause in the courtroom as longtime activists and same-sex couples gathered to celebrate. The case centred on Jakub Cupriak-Trojan and his husband, Mateusz Trojan, who married in Berlin in 2018. After the couple relocated to…

Trump likens Pearl Harbor to strikes on Iran during Japanese PM meeting

Invoking one of the most consequential ambushes in modern history, US President Donald Trump defended the war he launched against Tehran by comparing American strikes on Iran to Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor during talks in Washington with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. "We wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?" Mr Trump replied when a journalist asked why he had not told allies about his war plans. "You believe in surprise, I think much more so…

Israel conducts airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in southern Beirut

Early this morning, the Israeli military said it launched a barrage of strikes on Beirut aimed at the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, hours after urging residents in several districts to evacuate. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on 2 March, when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Since then, Israel has carried out strikes across Lebanon and sent ground troops into the country's south. In a brief statement this morning, the Israeli…

European governments take steps to tackle surging fuel costs

Soaring oil and gas prices linked to the war in Iran are rippling through global markets, piling pressure on governments to shield households from the fallout. The Government says it is preparing an “appropriate intervention” to curb rising fuel costs, with measures due to be finalised at the next Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. How are other nations stepping in to support families and businesses? Here’s a snapshot from across Europe. On Monday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled a £53 million (€61m) package for…

High Court claim against Gerry Adams has been discontinued

Three men injured in Provisional IRA attacks in England will discontinue their civil claim against former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, the High Court was told by their lawyers. The trio had sought a nominal £1 in damages, citing injuries from bombings in the 1970s and 1990s. The claimants are John Clark, hurt in the 1973 Old Bailey bombing in London; Jonathan Ganesh, a survivor of the 1996 London Docklands blast; and Barry Laycock, injured in the 1996 attack on Manchester’s Arndale shopping centre. They alleged Mr Adams was…