International
Ursula von der Leyen, re-elected as president of the European Commission for five more years
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, obtained this Thursday the confidence of the European Parliament to repeat in office for five more years, thanks to the support of 401 MEPs in a hemicycle of 720 seats.
Before the vote, Von der Leyen explained to MEPs what their priorities would be for the new presidency, among which he confirmed his intention to appoint a Defense Commissioner, among whose objectives will be to promote a European anti-aircraft shield.
“We need to build common European projects, for example a complete air defense system, not only to protect our airspace, but also to send a clear and strong message of European unity in the field of defense,” Von der Leyen said.
In this way, he collected one of the proposals that the governments of Germany and Poland have promoted for the coming years.
Von der Leyen assured that European countries will always maintain the responsibility of their own troops, from their training to their deployment, but “there is much that Europe can do to support and coordinate efforts.”
In this sense, he said that he will extend cooperation between the EU and NATO.
German politics criticized the recent trip of the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, to Moscow, which the Hungarian president has defended as a “peace mission” and Von der Leyen called a “appeasement mission”: no one wants peace as much as the Ukrainians, he said.
In this sense, she was in favor of “giving Ukraine everything it needs to resist and emerge victorious” and at the same time “doing everything possible to protect the Europeans,” with NATO as a pillar of the collective defense architecture and reinforcing a defense spending that she still called “too low and ineffective.”
The mention of Hungary was the only reference to any of the 27 member states in the entire speech and led some MEPs from the bench of the two far-right groups, where Orbán’s own MEPs sit, booing Von der Leyen with chants in defense of the president.
At another point in his speech, he asked for the confidence of the European Parliament to revalidate his position at the head of the Community Executive, warning that Europe now faces “a clear decision that will define our world in the next five years, but also our place in the world in the next fifty.”
German politics, which today needs a majority of 361 seats in a European Parliament of 720 members, said that it asks for the confidence of MEPs because it came to politics “to make a difference for the whole of society” and with the generations of its children and grandchildren.
“I am convinced that the version of Europe after the end of World War II, with all its imperfections and inequalities, is still the best version of history. I will never stand by and watch how they destroy it from the outside or from the inside,” he said.
Von der Leyen declared herself “ready to lead that fight with all the democratic forces” of the European Parliament and said that she will always “reject the extreme polarization of our societies” or that “demagogues and extremists” destroy the European way of life.
Regarding her program, the president of the European Commission assured that her future team will include key members on issues such as competitiveness, simplification of legislation and defense and its industry, among others.
He also announced that he will appoint a European Commissioner whose responsibilities will include addressing the housing crisis and the first ‘European Affordable Housing Plan’.
As part of her political guidelines for the next European Commission (2024-2029), published today, the president assured that the European Union must “urgently address the housing crisis” that affects “millions of families and young people,” despite the fact that it has no competence in these policies.
The European housing plan and the portfolio entrusted to a European Commissioner “will address structural factors, develop a strategy for housing construction, offer technical assistance to cities and Member States and focus on investment.”
To this end, the new Commission, he said, will work with the European Investment Bank (EIB) on a “pan-European investment” for affordable and sustainable housing in order to attract more public and private investment.
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.
Panama confirms drug contamination of El Salvador coffee shipment occurred on its territory
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
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