The highlight of the first plenary session of 2026 was the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Spain and Portugal's accession to the European Union, marked with a formal sitting addressed by His Majesty Felipe VI, King of Spain, and His Excellency Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Republic of Portugal. Members debated with the European Council and European Commission on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 18 December 2025 and the geopolitical tensions currently facing Europe. Parliament also heard and debated a presentation of the Cyprus Council Presidency's programme of activities. Several debates on external issues were held with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, including: on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark and the need for a united EU response to the United States, the situation in Venezuela following the extraction of Maduro and the need to ensure a peaceful democratic transition, and Iran's brutal repression of protesters. Further debates were held following Council and Commission statements on: preparations for the EU-India Summit; tackling AI deepfakes and sexual exploitation on social media through full use of the EU’s digital rules; the pending approval of the Hungarian national plan for Security Action for Europe (SAFE) funding; the attempted takeover of Lithuania’s public broadcaster and the threat to democracy in Lithuania; online piracy of sports and other live events; and the proposed cybersecurity and digital networks acts. Finally, Members rejected a motion of censure against the European Commission, and adopted a resolution requesting an opinion from the Court of Justice on the compatibility of the proposed EU–Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) with the EU Treaties. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Expansion and modernisation of the energy infrastructure in Member States is one of the key challenges of the ongoing energy transition in the EU. The electricity grids need to develop in order to ensure the security of energy supply, increase the resilience of Europe's energy system, and integrate the rapid roll-out of renewable energy sources, particularly at the distribution level. Given the peristent challenges relating to permit-granting procedures and delays in grid connection approvals at the national level, on 10 December 2025 the European Commission published the European grids package. Along with the Commission proposal to introduce a new framework on the trans-European energy infrastructure guidelines, the proposal on acceleration of permit-granting procedures forms the core part of the grids package. It seeks to introduce a coherent regulatory framework at the EU level that addresses key challenges to a timely and cost-efficient development and upgrade of the transmission and distribution grids, storage, recharging stations and renewable energy projects. Major hurdles addressed in the proposal are incoherent administrative systems, lack of resources in national competent authorities, the complex nature of environmental impact assesments, the lack of public acceptance, the limited digitalisation of the procedures and data availability, as well as various judicial challenges. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Timely, cost-efficient expansion and modernisation of the European energy infrastructure is one of the key challenges in the EU's ongoing energy transition. Grid development is needed to ensure energy supply security, increase the resilience of Europe's energy system and integrate the rapid roll-out of renewable energy sources. Cross border infrastructure plays a vital role in connecting national energy networks. Meeting the 2030 interconnection targets is particularly important for completing the energy union and reaching European Union energy and climate goals. Given the scale of investment required, the persistent governance challenges around cross border projects and the need to enhance the robustness of the scenarios on which they are based, the European Commission has put forward a proposal to revise the TEN-E regulation, as part of the European grids package published on 10 December 2025. The proposal is one of two legislative initiatives forming the core of the package (the other is on accelerating permit granting procedures). Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Elon Musk is planning to support the Republicans ahead of midterms after mending relations with Donald Trump, according to the WSJ Read Full Article at RT.com

Russian arms conglomerate Rostec has developed a dedicated anti-drone round for standard-issue assault rifles Read Full Article at RT.com

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink is helping the US develop an $800 billion “prosperity plan” for Ukraine Read Full Article at RT.com

Berlin should repatriate its gold reserves held in the US amid uncertainty over Washington’s policies, a German lawmaker has said Read Full Article at RT.com

The January PMI showed a modest rise in private-sector activity but significant underlying price pressures and more job losses in Germany Read Full Article at RT.com

The Marine Research Institute’s vessels Þórunn Þórðardóttir and Árni Friðriksson left the capelin survey route around midday yesterday and headed closer to shore due to the weather. Þórunn took shelter in Aðalvík in the Hornstrandir area, while Árni sought refuge in Húnaflói.

[allAfrica] Geneva -- Weeks of heavy rainfall have caused widespread flooding in southern and central Mozambique, forcing families from their homes and submerging entire neighbourhoods as rivers overflow, the United Nations said Friday.

In Malawian politics, there are men who come and go, and then there are men who shape the direction of history without ever shouting for attention. Enock Chakufwa Chihana belongs firmly to the second category. Born in 1962 in Rumphi, at the northern edge of Malawi’s political imagination, Chihana did not merely enter politics — […] The post Enock Chihana: The Kingmaker, the Gateway to the North, and the Man Every President Must Court appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The longtime congressman and No. 2 House Democrat is backing Adrian Boafo, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing Prince George’s County.

Conservative activists who have long been loyal to Trump over his first-term work to curb abortion rights now say they sense less urgency from the president.

President Donald Trump said the Canadian leader was no longer welcome on his “prestigious Board of Leaders” after the pair traded barbs in high-profile speeches in Davos.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has blasted Vladimir Zelensky for his criticism of Ukraine’s European supporters Read Full Article at RT.com

Conglomerate Press Corporation plc and its majority shareholder Press Trust, have donated relief items worth K142 million to people affected by floods in Dwangwa, Nkhotakota, as part of efforts to support communities displaced by the disaster. The donation, which targeted flood-affected families in Kakuyu and other affected areas in Dwangwa, includes maize flour, blankets, cooking […] The post PCL, Press Trust donates K142 million relief items to Dwangwa flood victims appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

US-EU relations have “taken a big blow” amid Donald Trump’s insistence on acquiring Greenland, top diplomat Kaja Kallas has said Read Full Article at RT.com

The African Union has lifted Guinea’s suspension and asked the country to immediately resume participation in its activities Read Full Article at RT.com

“We are approaching this with full commitment, and I hope that we can finally reach an agreement,” says Anton Kári Halldórsson, municipal manager of Rangárþing eystra.

For decades it's been known as a the home of Alan Partridge - but now Norwich has a new claim to fame... it's the most depressed city in the UK.

The legendary star was in hospital when he passed away last week, surrounded by family and friends.

Nancy Pelosi has rebuked Democrats over supporting a vote to hold the Clintons in contempt over refusal to testify on the Epstein probe Read Full Article at RT.com

Arizona’s top prosecutor claims that state law could justify lethal force against masked ICE agents Read Full Article at RT.com

Anna Podedworna, 40, killed Izabela Zablocka, 30, out of 'sexual jealousy' before covering it up with a series of 'deliberate, calculated, gruesome, and time-consuming acts', jurors were told.

The Met Office has issued a 31-hour yellow weather warning for wind and rain for South West England and South Wales running from 2am today until 9am tomorrow.

Adel Kerari, 27, of Lisgar Terrace in Hammersmith and Fulham, was jailed at Inner London Crown Court for two years and eight months in prison.