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The debate about Biden's age
Joe Biden refuses to release recording about his memory

Audio recordings from the investigation into President Joe Biden's memory will not be made public. The White House has decided that, writes American media.

Republicans in the US Congress have demanded the recordings be released, but White House legal experts and the Justice Department have invoked something called executive privilege.

In the investigation into Biden's memory, special prosecutor Robert Hur concludes, among other things, that Biden is a "well-meaning older man with a bad memory."

Transcripts of the recordings are already public and the White House says there is no legitimate reason to release the audio files.

"Your likely goal is to edit the clips, distort them and use them for partisan political purposes," writes White House representative Ed Siskel in a letter to congressional Republican leaders.

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Riots in New Caledonia
The riots cost France hundreds of millions of euros

The violent riots in New Caledonia cost France "several hundred million euros", writes French BFM TV and refers to a statement from Louis Le Franc, the country's representative on the island group. He also estimates that upwards of 5,000 people have participated in the riots.

The large protests continued on Thursday morning with attacks on private and public buildings.

The military and police have been called in to protect the archipelago's two airports as a result of the unrest. Four people have died and over 200 people have been arrested.

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Scotland wants to release all short-term prisoners

Scottish local authorities want to release all prisoners sentenced to less than four years in prison free, The Scotsman reports. Politicians hope the radical proposal will be the solution to overcrowding in Scotland's prisons.

- I had hoped that we would never have to resort to these measures, but as the situation is now, we have no choice, says Minister of Justice Angela Constance.

The proposal is not yet hammered out and ready, but the politicians agree to vote it through on May 26.

Angela Constance says public safety is the top priority and that no one convicted of a sex crime or domestic violence will be released early.

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Close to two tons of methamphetamine in Spanish record seizure

1,800 kilos of methamphetamine have been seized by Spanish police, several media reports. The seizure is the largest ever in Spain regarding the drug - and the second largest in Europe so far, writes Spanish El Mundo.

In connection with the seizure, five people were arrested, including the leader of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel. According to the police, the drugs were to be delivered to several countries around Europe.