Sweden's prime minister has promised to put IVF at the heart of his re-election campaign as he tries to win over female voters amid the country's record low birthrate. Ulf Kristersson's government recently increased the number of state-funded IVF attempts granted to aspiring first-time parents from three to six. Now he has said that if his party, the centre-right Moderates whose minority-run coalition depends on the support of the far-right Sweden Democrats hold on to power in September's general election, they will also fund IVF for additional children.
By contrast, France stagnated completely after growth of 0.2pc in the previous quarter, with falling consumer spending, weaker investment and declining exports weighing on activity. Italy also lost momentum, slowing sharply from 0.3pc growth to just 0.1pc as domestic demand weakened. Canada returned to growth after contracting at the end of 2025.
In Brussels she worked in the cabinets of Stanley Clinton-Davis, European commissioner for transport (1985-89), Bruce Millan (regional policy, 1989-95), and Neil Kinnock, who was responsible for transport until 1999 then vice-president of the commission until 2004. For Kinnock she was lead cabinet staff member. Belinda then worked as director for equality in the directorate-general of employment, before being appointed director for migration and borders in 2011.
Scotland announcing that it wants to cap the prices of essential items like bread, milk and eggs at a state-enforced low price. “People are struggling to buy an adequate shop to support their families,” John Swinney, the First Minister of the devolved nation, told cheering activists.
Right-wing populists in the U.S. have been building political ties across the Atlantic Ocean for years to support and learn from one another. Think President Trump, who developed a close relationship with former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Now, 10 U.S. mayors from liberal cities are following suit, joining a group called the Pact of Free Cities, where they can share strategies with their European counterparts on how to defend democracy and fight authoritarianism.
Global X built SHLD as a pure-play bet on the global rearmament cycle, not just the Pentagon contractor club. The fund holds 51 positions spread roughly half between US primes and half across allied manufacturers in Europe, Israel, South Korea, and Australia. The return engine is straightforward equity exposure to companies whose order books grow when governments buy weapons, ammunition, sensors, and increasingly drones and AI-enabled battlefield software.
The Sweden Democrats would be willing to allow young people who have already received deportation orders the chance to remain in Sweden, after the Moderate Party shifted on the issue. After the issue of young adults being deported without their parents became a major national issue at the start of 2026, three years after The Local first broke the story, the ruling Tido coalition mounted a U-turn, promising to adopt a safety clause to allow more of the affected adults to stay in Sweden.
Battle performed Eins, Zwei, Drei in Saturday's final (16 May), but received nul points from the public vote and just one point from the jury. The result continued a stark run in the televote: Battle is the third UK act in a row to receive nul points from the public, after trio Remember Monday in 2025 and Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander in 2024.
