ITALY: The EU’s top court ruled on Friday that Italy can fast-track migrant deportations to “safe” countries, but with limits.

The Court of Justice of the European Union was asked if an accelerated asylum procedure, allowing officials to quickly return migrants from countries not facing war or significant crises, was permissible.

The fast-track process — and detaining migrants at facilities in Albania — was introduced by the far-right government of Premier Giorgia Meloni in 2023.  

SLOVENIA: The government announced on Thursday that it will ban the import, export and transit of all weapons to and from Israel in response to its actions in Gaza.

Slovenia described it as “the first such move by a European Union member state.”

The decision is primarily a diplomatic message, as Slovenia has almost no arms trade with Israel.

CAMBODIA: Two wounded soldiers welcomed home today, having been captured by the Thai army after the two sides had already implemented a ceasefire to end five days of fighting.

Their repatriation comes amid accusations and bickering over whether either side had targeted civilians and breached the laws of war, alongside sharp nationalist feuding on social media.

UKRAINE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for stronger sanctions by the international community against Russia on Friday, after an attack on Kiev killed at least 31 people.

President Zelensky said five children were among the dead and 159 had been wounded in Thursday’s attack.

He said: “No matter how much the Kremlin denies their effectiveness, sanctions do work and must be strengthened.”