Daily brief
The upcoming EU summit in Brussels will focus on the bloc's competitiveness, according to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who highlighted this as the central theme for the meeting of European leaders.
A Belgian court has requested the trial of a former diplomat for his alleged role in the 1961 assassination of Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba (ongoing coverage).
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides has challenged NATO Secretary General candidate Mark Rutte's stance, insisting on the need for genuine EU defence autonomy separate from the alliance.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is scheduled to meet with NATO's Mark Rutte and attend the EU summit in Brussels.
President Donald Trump has reiterated criticism of UK Labour leader Keir Starmer, while Irish Deputy Prime Minister Micheál Martin has adopted a tactful diplomatic approach.