EU President: "The West is not what it used to be"

Following Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, which Brussels has described as "unjustified", the European Commission president has held telephone discussions with representatives from Norway, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

Von der Leyen has also spoken with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, fueling speculation about an improvement in EU-China relations after years of tensions between them.

"The West as we know it no longer exists," Ursula von der Leyen declared.

However, describing the EU as a "great friend" of America, she insisted that the long-standing bond between both sides of the Atlantic was still the same, despite recent changes.

Digital tracking on encrypted platforms leads to the destruction of drug smuggling

Operation Bulut, coordinated by Europol, led to nearly 300 arrests across Europe, using encrypted platforms to track criminals' communications.

Authorities have dismantled four major criminal networks responsible for drug trafficking in the European Union and Turkey, arresting more than 230 people in an operation known as Operation Bulut.

The latest three arrests were made in the Netherlands and Germany on Wednesday, bringing the trans-European operation to a close. Europol said the investigation was carried out in various countries and involved authorities in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.

At least 50 dead after boat catches fire in Congo

A boat has capsized after catching fire in the northwestern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), leaving at least 50 people dead and hundreds missing.

Dozens were rescued after the accident on the Congo River late Tuesday night, but many of them were burned.

A search for the missing is underway with rescue teams supported by the Red Cross. The wooden motorboat with about 400 passengers caught fire near the city of Mbandaka.

Zero-tariff trade zone: Meloni to meet Trump in Washington

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss tariffs.

After meeting with Trump in Washington, she will return to Rome to host US Vice President JD Vance on Friday.

Meloni will try to persuade the Trump administration to negotiate with the 27-member bloc to resolve disputes over tariffs and is said to be in regular contact with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The US recently rejected the EU's proposal for "zero-to-zero" tariffs on cars and industrial goods.