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  • European airports record longer waits at borders as EES deadline looms

    European airports record longer waits at borders as EES deadline looms



    European airports and airlines organisations issued on Monday the latest warning about the next implementation phase of the EU’s new biometric border system, “as the transition phase comes to an end right in the travel peak of the Easter holidays.”

    The Airports Council International (ACI Europe) and Airlines for Europe (A4E) have reported that the continued roll out of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), in which passengers give finger prints and facial scans, is causing more and more delays around Europe. 

    The two organisation said in a joint statement on Monday that since March 10th, when the registration of 50 per cent of third country nationals travelling to the Schengen area became mandatory, there has been “a continued deterioration in waiting times at border crossing points”.

    READ MORE about EES passport checks

    “Waiting times are now regularly reaching up to two hours at peak traffic times, with some airports reporting even longer queues,” the groups added.

    This happens “despite the continued use by border control authorities of both the partial and full suspension of EES processes … during travel peaks,” the statement read.

    A spokesperson for ACI Europe said that, based on a survey conducted by the group, “several airports across Europe have had to partially or fully suspend the EES, including those in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany”.

    READ MORE: EES border checks catch 4,000 over-stayers

    “Of those, Belgium, Greece, Portugal and Italy have seen some of the longest waiting times”, with airports of all sizes affected, including Brussels International in Belgium, Torino and Milan Malpensa in Italy, and Frankfurt Airport in Germany, “to name just a few.”

    She added that the list was “not exhaustive”.

    “It is clear that the issue is affecting a wide range of airports across Europe and has even led to passengers missing flights,” she said.

    The EES has being introduced gradually since October 12th 2025 across the 29 countries of the Schengen area (25 EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein) with the deadline for full implementation April 9th 2026.

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    “With the next critical milestones approaching – namely the requirement to register 100 per cent of third country nationals as of March 31st, followed by the end of the transition period on April 9th – airports and airlines warn that the situation risks deteriorating further,” the groups said in a statement.

    “From that point onwards, Member States will no longer be able to fully suspend the system in response to operational pressures, removing a key safeguard currently used to manage peak demand,” the statement said.

    The two organisations point at persisting problems regarding border control staff shortages, technical and maintenance issues with self-service kiosks, limited use of automated border control gates, reliability of the central IT system, and lack of availability of the EES pre‑registration app, currently deployed only in Sweden and Portugal.

    EES flexibility

    The two organisations called on the European Commission and EU Member States to “extend the possibility to fully or partially suspend… during the entirety of the 2026 summer season” and, if necessary, during winter too.

    A European Commission spokesperson said in January that member States will be able to partially suspend the EES over the summer. “After the completion of the roll-out, Member States will still be able to partially suspend EES operations where necessary during a period of an additional 90 days with a possible 60-day extension to cover the summer peak,” Markus Lammert said.

    “This will give Member States the necessary tools to manage potential extended queues,” he added

    Advertisement

    Biometric registration

    The EES, which collects digital personal records of visitors from third countries and replaces the manual stamping of passports, requires passengers to register fingerprints and facial images the first time they cross an external Schengen border. The data is recorded in a Europe-wide database tracking each time travellers enter and exit the Schengen area, to avoid people staying beyond the limits of the 90/180 day rule.

    Last week the British government urged UK tourists travelling to the Schengen area around Easter to allow additional time and follow travel operators’ guidance. “As with all journeys, travellers should follow their travel operator’s guidance and allow time to complete these checks, particularly if they have connections or onward transport booked,” the government note said.

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  • Grâce à CNews, le racisme a encore de beaux jours devant lui

    Grâce à CNews, le racisme a encore de beaux jours devant lui



    Sur la chaîne de Vincent Bolloré, le maire de Saint-Denis Bally Bagayoko a été assimilé en deux jours, d’abord à un «singe», puis à un «mâle dominant», chef «d’une tribu primitive». Des propos ouvertement racistes qui démontrent la prégnance de l’assignation raciale en France.

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  • Rams HC Sean McVay Backs Puka Nacua; Mentions Kirk Cousins as Potential Backup QB

    Rams HC Sean McVay Backs Puka Nacua; Mentions Kirk Cousins as Potential Backup QB



    PHOENIX – Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay isn’t ready to give up on talented wide receiver Puka Nacua. 

    McVay said the team was already aware of the latest off-field incident with Nacua that occurred on New Year’s Eve before a TMZ report made waves last week, and the Rams are continuing to gather information on that incident. 

    “I trust his heart,” McVay told reporters here at the NFL owners meeting on Monday. “I trust the human being. And I want to be able to put my arm around him. One of the most important things you can do as a coach is help guys grow. You don’t ever really say there’s one size that fits all. But what I’ve really leaned into the last couple years is let’s build and develop relationships, let guys continue to grow and give them grace in the middle of that journey.

    “But also, let’s have an understanding of what the expectations are and who you want to become.”

    Nacua faces a civil lawsuit for an alleged assault and battery by a woman who claims he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder on New Year’s Eve. Nacua’s attorney, Levi McCathern, has already strongly denied that his client made any antisemitic statements. He described the bites as “horseplay.”

    Nacua had previously issued an apology last December after performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes while appearing on an internet live stream.

    McVay says Nacua’s off-the-field issues have not risen to the level that the Rams do not want him to be part of the team’s long-term plans. McVay doesn’t believe that Nacua’s behavior hasn’t reached the point of being a distraction to the team, either. 

    “He and I have a close relationship,” McVay said. “We communicate clear, open and honest. The play on the field is amazing. And with what the play has dictated and determined, there’s a responsibility in terms of representing all things, not exclusive to just that. 

    “He knows that. Those are the expectations, and we’re hopeful that this will be an opportunity for him to learn and grow. And we are real hopeful that he’s going to be a Ram for a really long time. But he understands what the responsibility is, not exclusive to the production on the field.” 

    The Seattle Seahawks recently made Jaxon Smith-Njigba the highest-paid receiver in the league, inking him to a four-year, $168.6 million contract. Nacua, 24, would seem to be the next receiver in line to receive a life-changing new deal as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. However, sources I spoke with around the league said Nacua might have to wait to get paid, pointing to how the Rams traditionally handle contract extensions, along with his issues away from the field. 

    “Good players get paid,” an NFL personnel executive recently told me. “[Smith-Njigba’s] numbers will look remarkably low in two years. Puka is a tough one, because his injuries, style of play and hiccups off the field have to be considered.”

    A fifth-round selection by the Rams in the 2023 draft, Nacua is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is set to make $5.77 million in 2026. Over the last three seasons, Nacua is second in receiving yards (4,191) and fourth in receptions (313). Last year, Nacua led the NFL with 129 receptions, with 1,715 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. 

    In other roster news for the Rams, McVay shared the team is still exploring the possibility of who will backup 38-year-old quarterback Matthew Stafford. Last year’s backup, Jimmy Garoppolo, remains unsigned, and third-string quarterback Stetson Bennett is the only quarterback other than Stafford currently on the roster.

    McVay threw another name into the ring on Monday. 

    “I would love to have Jimmy Garoppolo back with us,” McVay said. “That’s a big deal for us. He’s earned the right to be able to take his time and do whatever he wants. Is there an opportunity to explore if it’s not Jimmy, maybe it’s Kirk Cousins? Of course, I’d love to be able to see what that looks like.”

    Cousins, 37, is still a free agent after getting released by the Atlanta Falcons earlier in March. McVay has worked with Cousins in the past, serving as the quarterback’s offensive coordinator for three seasons when they were in Washington. 

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  • Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks face death penalty under new Israeli law

    Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks face death penalty under new Israeli law


    A member of Ben-Gvir’s party, Limor Son-Har-Melech, who survived an attack by Palestinian gunmen in which her husband was killed, argued that the law was necessary, citing the example of how one of her husband’s killers was later released and went on to take part in the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel.

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  • European airports record longer waits at borders as EES deadline looms

    European airports record longer waits at borders as EES deadline looms



    European airports and airlines organisations issued on Monday the latest warning about the next implementation phase of the EU’s new biometric border system, “as the transition phase comes to an end right in the travel peak of the Easter holidays.”

    The Airports Council International (ACI Europe) and Airlines for Europe (A4E) have reported that the continued roll out of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), in which passengers give finger prints and facial scans, is causing more and more delays around Europe. 

    The two organisation said in a joint statement on Monday that since March 10th, when the registration of 50 per cent of third country nationals travelling to the Schengen area became mandatory, there has been “a continued deterioration in waiting times at border crossing points”.

    READ MORE about EES passport checks

    “Waiting times are now regularly reaching up to two hours at peak traffic times, with some airports reporting even longer queues,” the groups added.

    This happens “despite the continued use by border control authorities of both the partial and full suspension of EES processes … during travel peaks,” the statement read.

    A spokesperson for ACI Europe said that, based on a survey conducted by the group, “several airports across Europe have had to partially or fully suspend the EES, including those in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany”.

    READ MORE: EES border checks catch 4,000 over-stayers

    “Of those, Belgium, Greece, Portugal and Italy have seen some of the longest waiting times”, with airports of all sizes affected, including Brussels International in Belgium, Torino and Milan Malpensa in Italy, and Frankfurt Airport in Germany, “to name just a few.”

    She added that the list was “not exhaustive”.

    “It is clear that the issue is affecting a wide range of airports across Europe and has even led to passengers missing flights,” she said.

    The EES has being introduced gradually since October 12th 2025 across the 29 countries of the Schengen area (25 EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein) with the deadline for full implementation April 9th 2026.

    Advertisement

    “With the next critical milestones approaching – namely the requirement to register 100 per cent of third country nationals as of March 31st, followed by the end of the transition period on April 9th – airports and airlines warn that the situation risks deteriorating further,” the groups said in a statement.

    “From that point onwards, Member States will no longer be able to fully suspend the system in response to operational pressures, removing a key safeguard currently used to manage peak demand,” the statement said.

    The two organisations point at persisting problems regarding border control staff shortages, technical and maintenance issues with self-service kiosks, limited use of automated border control gates, reliability of the central IT system, and lack of availability of the EES pre‑registration app, currently deployed only in Sweden and Portugal.

    EES flexibility

    The two organisations called on the European Commission and EU Member States to “extend the possibility to fully or partially suspend… during the entirety of the 2026 summer season” and, if necessary, during winter too.

    A European Commission spokesperson said in January that member States will be able to partially suspend the EES over the summer. “After the completion of the roll-out, Member States will still be able to partially suspend EES operations where necessary during a period of an additional 90 days with a possible 60-day extension to cover the summer peak,” Markus Lammert said.

    “This will give Member States the necessary tools to manage potential extended queues,” he added

    Advertisement

    Biometric registration

    The EES, which collects digital personal records of visitors from third countries and replaces the manual stamping of passports, requires passengers to register fingerprints and facial images the first time they cross an external Schengen border. The data is recorded in a Europe-wide database tracking each time travellers enter and exit the Schengen area, to avoid people staying beyond the limits of the 90/180 day rule.

    Last week the British government urged UK tourists travelling to the Schengen area around Easter to allow additional time and follow travel operators’ guidance. “As with all journeys, travellers should follow their travel operator’s guidance and allow time to complete these checks, particularly if they have connections or onward transport booked,” the government note said.

    Read More

  • Rare young dinosaur skull discovered by Swiss team

    Rare young dinosaur skull discovered by Swiss team


    Dinosaur skull

    The animal was between eight and ten years old at the time of its death, according to initial analyses.

    Keystone-SDA

    An excavation team at the Dinosaur Museum in Aathal, canton Zurich, has uncovered an exceptionally well-preserved juvenile dinosaur skull in a boulder brought back from the US. Nicknamed Lucy, this fossil is one of the most complete in the world for this species.


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    The fossil comes from Wyoming, where the Zurich museum operates an excavation site in a quarry, it explained in a press release on Monday. The remains, which are around 150 million years old, were extracted from Jurassic rock layers in a geological formation known as the Morrison Formation.

    The precious fossil will go on public display for the first time at the Aathal museum on Friday. The boulder containing what appeared to be skull fragments arrived in Switzerland two years ago, but its contents were only revealed at the beginning of this year.

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    Long-necked herbivore

    Alongside the fragments, the characteristic flash of shovel-shaped teeth identified the species Camarasaurus, a long-necked herbivorous dinosaur. During the subsequent preparation work, the researchers noted just how well preserved the skull was.

    The extreme fragility of sauropod skulls, whose bones are very thin to lighten the weight borne by their long necks, makes their complete conservation exceptional, the museum points out. Quoted in the press release, Emanuel Tschopp, an expert from the Free University of Berlin, describes the discovery as extremely rare: according to him, only one skull of this size has ever been found in the United States.

    The animal preserved at Aathal was between eight and ten years old at the time of its death, according to initial analyses by the excavation team. The teeth are particularly interesting for research: they could provide clues about the diet of young sauropods, their migratory movements and even their body temperature.

    The specimen was given the nickname Lucy in reference to the daughter of the director of the Zurich museum, who was responsible for the excavations. These individual names, which have nothing to do with scientific nomenclature, are common in palaeontology to distinguish discoveries.

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    Adapted from French by AI/ts

    We select the most relevant news for an international audience and use automatic translation tools to translate them into English. A journalist then reviews the translation for clarity and accuracy before publication.  

    Providing you with automatically translated news gives us the time to write more in-depth articles. The news stories we select have been written and carefully fact-checked by an external editorial team from news agencies such as Bloomberg or Keystone.

    If you have any questions about how we work, write to us at english@swissinfo.ch

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  • Captain of Russian ‘shadow tanker’ sentenced to one year in French prison

    Captain of Russian ‘shadow tanker’ sentenced to one year in French prison



    A French court has handed down a one-year prison sentence and issued an arrest warrant for the Chinese captain of a tanker suspected of being part of Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’, in a case that highlights Europe’s growing efforts to enforce sanctions at sea.

    Issued on:




    2 min Reading time

    Chen Zhangjie, 39, was sentenced in absentia on Monday after failing to comply with French naval orders to stop his vessel, the Boracay, during an incident in September.

    The court in the western city of Brest also imposed a fine of €150,000, underlining the seriousness with which authorities are treating alleged sanctions evasion.

    The Boracay was intercepted by the French navy before being boarded and inspected. It was later released along with its crew, prompting a sharp reaction from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who described the operation as “piracy”.

    Despite the diplomatic tension, the ruling signals a firm stance from French authorities as scrutiny intensifies around maritime activities linked to Moscow.

    Russian ‘shadow fleet’ ship detained by French navy resumes voyage

    Shadow fleet under scrutiny

    The tanker had claimed to be sailing under a Benin flag and is believed to be part of a network of vessels used to transport Russian oil in ways that may circumvent Western sanctions imposed following the invasion of Ukraine.

    These so-called shadow fleets have become an increasing focus for European governments, who are keen to close loopholes in enforcement.

    According to an informed French source and the captain’s lawyer, two employees of a Russian private security company were also on board at the time of the interception. Their reported role was to represent Russian interests and gather intelligence, adding another layer of intrigue to the case.

    The European Union has already blacklisted 598 vessels suspected of participating in such operations, banning them from European ports and maritime services.

    The Brest court’s decision is therefore part of a broader effort to ensure that these measures carry real consequences.

    French prosecutor seeks penalty for captain in Russian shadow fleet test case

    Wider security concerns

    Beyond sanctions enforcement, the Boracay has also drawn attention for its alleged links to a series of unexplained drone flights over Denmark last year. These incidents formed part of a wider pattern of drone sightings and airspace violations across Europe that have often been attributed to Russian activity.

    No formal connection has been established between the tanker and the drone activity, and Moscow has consistently denied any involvement. Still, the overlap of maritime and aerial security concerns has heightened unease among European officials.

    While the case against Chen Zhangjie centres on non-compliance with naval orders, it reflects a much larger geopolitical picture – one in which maritime routes, energy supplies and security risks are increasingly intertwined. 

    (with newswires)

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  • Packers HC Matt LaFleur Responds to His NFLPA Grade: ‘You Can’t Please Everybody’

    Packers HC Matt LaFleur Responds to His NFLPA Grade: ‘You Can’t Please Everybody’


    PHOENIX — In late January, Matt LaFleur received a major nod of approval from the Green Bay Packers in the form of a contract extension. That solidified his position in the organization, likely for years to come. 

    But then came the annual NFLPA player survey, which complicated the picture slightly. The report, which was not supposed to be public this year but leaked through multiple media outlets, revealed that players gave him a B- grade, tied for third-worst in the NFL. That’s after LaFleur received an A- grade after the 2024 season. This year, it came down to “respect for players,” per the report.

    At the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix on Monday, LaFleur, who’s entering his eighth season with Green Bay, discussed how he’s handling the assessment of his coaching.

    “I try to take that with a grain of salt, but you don’t want to just dismiss that stuff. You got to look into it,” he told reporters. “I feel pretty confident with my conversations with the majority of our players, but certainly some guys felt a certain type of way. And the one thing I’ve learned in this business is: You can’t please everybody. You can’t be all things to all people. And ultimately, you got to make decisions that you feel are in the best interest of your football team.

    “Great leaders are great listeners, but that doesn’t mean we’re always going to do what that person suggests. It’s impossible.”

    Packers QB Jordan Love shares a moment with head coach Matt LaFleur prior to facing the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field last November. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

    The Packers traded for All-Pro edge Micah Parsons at the beginning of the season in a blockbuster deal with Dallas that made them look like a Super Bowl front-runner. But Parsons suffered a knee injury in December and the Packers’ defense looked thin without him. It didn’t help that the offensive line suffered injuries and underperformed. And Green Bay lost its final five games of the season, including its wild-card matchup against the rival Chicago Bears.

    “If I’m being honest about it, I think there were some guys that were upset about roles last year, and I think that took a toll on our football team,” LaFleur said.

    Micah Parsons suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his left knee in Week 15. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

    The late-season issues increased speculation that, perhaps, LaFleur might not receive an extension. And the losing streak probably didn’t help with morale in the locker room. 

    He was asked, specifically, about comments in the survey regarding his “respect for players.”

    “I don’t feel that way, but unfortunately, some guys did,” LaFleur said. “And so that tells me I got to do a better job of communicating. And it goes back to the relationship piece. I think it’s so critical. We always talk about, ‘Connected teams are powerful teams.’ And we’ve got to grow that connection. 

    “So certainly, that’s been a topic of conversation within our building. How do we get these guys a little closer? The more they know each other, the more they’re going to battle for one another. Although they may be competing within a certain position, they’re going to help each other grow and ultimately be better individual players, which should help our collective football team.”

    LaFleur and the Packers didn’t have any blockbuster acquisitions over the offseason, instead bringing in a group of role players — and trading veteran edge Rashan Gary to Dallas for a 2027 fourth-round pick. Green Bay largely stuck with last season’s core. As a result, the Packers must feel optimistic they can recreate the way they started their 2025 season, going 9-3-1 in their first 12 games.

    In a way, that’s yet another nod of confidence in LaFleur to generate better results with the same ingredients.

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  • Most Syrian refugees in Germany expected to return home in three years, Merz says

    Most Syrian refugees in Germany expected to return home in three years, Merz says



    Merz’s government has taken a tougher line on refugees and migrants, amid surging support for the anti-immigration AfD party.

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