ITALY: Umberto Bossi, the founder of Italy’s far-right Northern League and one of the most controversial figures of Italian politics, died on Thursday aged 84, his party said.

His death prompted swift reactions across the political spectrum. President Sergio Mattarella praised him as “a passionate political leader and sincere democrat,” while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni acknowledged his “fundamental contribution” to the formation of Italy’s first modern far-right coalition.

HUNGARY: Prime Minister Viktor Orban raised today the prospect of further actions his government could take against Ukraine to force the resumption of Russian oil deliveries that have been stalled to Hungary and Slovakia since January.

Speaking to media in Brussels a day after he blocked a €90 billion (£78bn) European Union loan to Ukraine, Mr Orban said he and his government have “a lot of cards in our hands” beyond holding up the financial aid to Kiev.

TUNISIA: A court sentenced human rights activist Saadia Mosbah to eight years in prison today and fined her £26,000.

Ms Mosbah, who leads the anti-racism group Mnemty, had been charged with money laundering and illicit enrichment and was arrested in May 2024.

DENMARK: Danish soldiers flown to Greenland in January were prepared to blow up key airport runways over fears that US President Donald Trump could invade the Arctic island, Denmark’s public broadcaster DR revealed today.

Citing sources in the Danish government and military, and also among European allies, DR says blood supplies were also brought in to treat the wounded in the event of fighting with US troops.