Dave Keating

The EU wasn't impressed. Their response: What about capital, services and labour? Bigger question is why Starmer would present an idea (free movement for industrial goods) he should have known EU would knock down (We've seen this movie before)

We’re not part of your empire dream. Stay away.

This is an official government account in a democracy. This is what Orbanism looks like. The president bragging, via AI video, that he forced a comedian who mocked him off the air and ‘into the trash’.

Germany and Poland's foreign ministers have flown here to #GlobSec2026 in Prague following their NATO meeting in Sweden with Marco Rubio. They insist it was a lovely meeting and the transatlantic alliance is strong. "The discussions with Rubio were, as they always are, very solid, very committed to NATO and very committed to our very strong relationship with the United States," says Germany's Johann Wadephul. "So I’m really confident with the results of our discussions." Poland's Radosław Sikorski seems to throw other European countries (🇪🇸🇮🇹) under the bus by saying they were unhelpful in the Iran War by not allowing US bases in their territory to be used to stage attacks on Iran. "On bases, we understood fully how important this is for the US," Sikorski says. "And because each country has a different status of forces agreement with the US, we have hitherto thought of it as a national decision with the US, what they cannot and cannot do in the particular US bases. But the US clearly thinks of it as an alliance thing. So we need to take this into account and persuade all allies to be more helpful in the future."

A move still blocked at 🇪🇺 level by 🇩🇪🇦🇹

Former 🇺🇸officials here at #GlobSec2026 are still insisting Europeans can trust America. The July NATO summit will "show the unity of the transatlantic community" insists former 🇺🇸Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Philip Reeker. "If [Europe] needs American support, [Europe] should at least show support when challenges occur for the Americans" - ie, the Iran War and Strait of Hormuz closure. "Transactionalism needs to be met with transactionalism. If [Europe] finds itself in a situation, however it was created and what caused it, [Europe] needs to resolve that rather than sitting back and saying 'that's not our problem'." "It's unfortunate not to see officials from the Trump administration here participating and engaging. So it's up to others of us, who are former officials but still engaged through think tanks, to underscore that this relationship is so much more and so crucial - particularly when you talk about the trillions of dollars in trade and investment." "The West as a concept will endure because it is a concept based on choice. It's not a forced alignment, but one that meshes with security, prosperity and indeed values."

Rep. Norman: January 6th was an issue that was made up in the first place. Reporter: Made up? Norman: That was a staged thing from day one. Reporter: The riot was staged? Your Republican colleagues barricaded themselves in their chamber. You think they were acting?

Marine Le Pen: I believe France should withdraw from NATO’s integrated military command.

By signing #EU #Mexico later today, the EU is showing the rest of the world that it remains committed to partnership, diversification and predictable rules. 🇪🇺🤝🇲🇽 Implementation agreements is gaining momentum given the turbulent situation the world currently finds itself in.

Spain’s government has been outspoken in support of Palestinian rights and highly critical of Israel. Israel’s government has accused Spain’s of being anti-Semitic. Spanish Foreign Minister @jmalbares calls this “absurd and… ridiculous,” adding they are “pro-peace… anti-war.”

NATO's Rutte on arms production: You’ve seen the American president being very forceful with the big primes in the US — forcing them to quadruple production. I spoke with one of those CEOs a couple of days later — he was still trembling from that meeting in the White House. So that was good news.

"Europe's biggest enemy is not 🇪🇺 bureaucracy, we can deal with bureaucracy. Our biggest problem is too much national interest" says Kajsa Ollongren from the EU's foreign policy department EEAS at #GlobSec2026. Lack of unity and short-term thinking is what's holding Europe back

La Comisión Europea confirma a España como la gran economía de la zona euro que más crecerá en 2026 y 2027, y prevé que el paro baje del 10% por primera vez desde la crisis financiera ✅ La Comisión Europea confía en que España mantendrá el liderazgo económico en la Unión Europea (UE) en los próximos años. Las Previsiones de Primavera del Ejecutivo comunitario señalan un avance del PIB de nuestro país del 2,4% en 2026 — una décima más respecto al ejercicio de proyecciones de otoño— y del 1,9% en 2027, ritmos que casi triplican el crecimiento previsto para la zona euro en 2026 (0,9%) y lo superan ampliamente en 2027 (1,2%). ✅ España se confirma como la economía grande del área monetaria con mayor avance del PIB en el horizonte de previsión, muy por encima de Alemania (0,6% y 0,9%), Francia (0,8% y 1,1%) e Italia (0,5% y 0,6%). ✅ Las previsiones de Bruselas mejoran en dos décimas la proyección de crecimiento para 2026 que el propio Ministerio mantuvo en el Informe de Progreso Anual remitido a la Comisión (2,2%), en un contexto marcado por la elevada incertidumbre derivada de la guerra de Irán y la volatilidad de los mercados energéticos. ✅ La creación de empleo se mantiene como uno de los grandes motores de la economía española: el empleo crecerá un 2,3% en 2026 y un 1,4% en 2027, frente al 0,4% en ambos años de la zona euro. La tasa de paro se reducirá al 9,9% en 2026 y al 9,6% en 2027, bajando del 10% por primera vez desde 2007. ✅ La inflación repuntará tres décimas en España en 2026 hasta el 3,0%, mientras que en el conjunto de la zona euro el repunte alcanza nueve décimas hasta ese mismo nivel. En 2027, se moderará hasta el 2,5%, en línea con la media del área monetaria (2,3%). La elevada penetración de las energías renovables —el escudo renovable— y las medidas de respuesta adoptadas por el Gobierno actúan como amortiguador frente a los shocks energéticos. ✅ La Comisión confirma la senda de consolidación fiscal: el déficit público se situará en el 2,4% del PIB en 2026 y bajará al 2,0% en 2027, claramente por debajo de la media de la zona euro (3,3% y 3,5%), que ve ampliarse su desequilibrio en el horizonte de previsión. ✅ La deuda pública sobre PIB caerá al 99,6% en 2026 y al 98,9% en 2027, situándose por debajo del umbral del 100% por primera vez desde 2013. ✅ En un contexto marcado por la guerra de Irán y la volatilidad de los mercados energéticos, las previsiones de Bruselas confirman la singularidad de la trayectoria española en el área monetaria: la única economía grande de la zona euro que combina crecimiento muy por encima de la media, creación intensa de empleo, reducción del paro y consolidación fiscal.

When Ben-Gvir was 18, the IDF refused to draft him for his compulsory military service because his politics were too extreme. 30 years later, Netanyahu appointed him Minister of National Security, in charge of the police and the prisons. Netanyahu knew exactly what he was doing.

1/ How long will we continue to tolerate this kind of behaviour from 🇮🇱 politicians? Once again, it reflects a profound lack of respect, dignity and humanity among members of the government.

You may not treat Polish citizens who have committed no crime in this way. In the democratic world we do not abuse and gloat over people in custody. We demand justice for our citizens and consequences for you.

This New York Times piece is worth your time. Here’s what is happening, as simply as I can put it. Back in January, Trump sued the IRS, an agency he controls, demanding $10 billion over the leak of his tax returns a number of years ago. IRS lawyers did their jobs. They wrote a memo laying out the defenses that could beat the suit, including the fact that Trump filed too late. His own lawyer was in court when the leaker pleaded guilty in October 2023, more than two years before Trump sued. The Justice Department never showed up to court. Never argued back. Never used the defenses sitting on their desk. The judge got suspicious and ordered both sides to explain whether they were actually opposing each other or just colluding. The day before that brief was due, Trump dropped the suit. Same day, his Justice Department announced a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded “anti-weaponization fund.”  Trump gets a formal apology. The IRS agrees to drop any audits of him and his family, even though a 2024 Times report found a loss in an ongoing audit could cost him over $100 million. The acting Attorney General, Trump’s former criminal defense attorney, picks the five commissioners who decide who gets paid. Trump can fire any of them. Proud Boys and Oath Keepers are not ruled out. This is the most corrupt thing I’ve ever seen from an American president. Where in the hell are my Republican colleagues? nytimes.com/2026/05/19/adm…

"Can we trust the United States?" former NATO Secretary General @AndersFoghR asks former US defence secretary Mark Esper at #GlobSec2026. "Yes, Europe can trust the US" Esper replies. This is followed by a long silence in the room. "Where's the clap?" Esper asks, referring to one person who clapped earlier. "I understand there's some disbelief" he concedes.

The abominable treatment of civilians aboard the flotilla, including that which is documented in footage shared by Itamar Ben-Gvir, is unacceptable. Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has directed officials to summon the Israeli ambassador to demand assurances regarding the safety and security of Canadians involved. Canada has already imposed strict sanctions on Mr. Ben-Gvir, including asset freezes and a travel ban, in response to his repeated incitement of violence. The protection of civilians and respect for human dignity must be upheld everywhere, at all times.

Hasta el 70% de las habitaciones reservadas por la FIFA en Boston, Dallas, Los Ángeles, Filadelfia y Seattle han sido canceladas, informó la Asociación de hoteles de EUA.