ECB books third straight annual loss
The European Central Bank said Thursday it booked its third straight loss in 2025 due to the lingering impact of a record run of interest rate hikes. The ECB lost €1.
France appoints new president at Louvre after jewellery heist
The president of France's famed Palace of Versailles took over as head of the Louvre following a litany of problems at the world's most-visited museum including a $100-million…
Despite drop in 2025, Russian oil exports exceed pre-war volumes: report
While Russian oil exports dropped last year, Russia is still exporting higher volumes than before its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, researchers said Tuesday, calling for stricter…
EU ire as Hungary stalls new Russia sanctions over Ukraine
The EU's top diplomat said she did not expect to get a deal on new Russia sanctions Monday after Hungary vowed to block them unless Ukraine re-opens a key oil pipeline.
US Supreme Court strikes down swath of Trump global tariffs
The US Supreme Court ruled Friday that Donald Trump exceeded his authority in imposing a swath of tariffs that upended global trade, blocking a key tool the president has…
UK to make tech firms remove abusive images within 48 hours of alert
Technology firms will be required to remove non-consensual sexual images within 48 hours under tighter UK rules proposed by the government today, following an outcry over…
Slovakia threatens Ukraine with reprisals over blocked pipeline
Slovakia's prime minister today threatened to cut emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if its neighbour does not reopen a pipeline that brings Russian oil to Slovakia…
Rubio visits Trump’s ‘friend’ Orban ahead of Hungary polls
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Hungary for talks with Prime Minister Viktor Orban today, ahead of elections where the nationalist leader faces a significant…
Norway police search ex-PM Jagland’s properties in probe over Epstein links
Norwegian police said today they had searched properties belonging to former prime minister Thorbjorn Jagland following the launch of a corruption probe over his dealings…
Council of Europe lifts immunity for ex-leader over Epstein ties
The Council of Europe today lifted diplomatic immunity for its former secretary general, Thorbjorn Jagland, who is being investigated for his ties to US sex offender Jeffrey…
France seeks probe after diplomat cited in Epstein files
France's foreign minister has requested a probe after the name of a French diplomat on leave appeared in numerous emails to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Apple, Google offer app store changes under new UK rules
Apple and Google have pledged changes to ensure fairness in their app stores, the UK competition watchdog said Tuesday, describing it as "first steps" under its tougher regulation…
Italian journalists declare strike over Olympic gaffes
Sports journalists at Italian public broadcaster RAI are going on strike over a gaffe-filled commentary of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony by the head of their department.
Macron says Epstein affair ‘mainly concerns’ US after ex-minister steps down
French President Emmanuel Macron Monday has distanced the counntry from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, saying it "mainly concerns" the US.
EU warns Meta it must open up WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots
The EU executive told Meta to give rival chatbots access to WhatsApp after an antitrust probe found the US giant to be in breach of the bloc's competition rules.
Japan PM Takaichi basks in historic election triumph
Japanese shares rose to record highs Monday after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's conservatives won a historic election landslide with a projected two-thirds majority.
US urges new three-way nuclear deal with Russia and China
The US has urged three-way talks with Russia and China to set new limits on nuclear weapons after the last treaty between Washington and Moscow expired.
Russian war bloggers report Starlink outage on Ukraine front
Russian military bloggers have reported a sweeping outage of Starlink internet terminals across the Ukraine front.
VW and Stellantis urge help to keep carmaking in Europe
Europe's largest carmakers Volkswagen and Stellantis have called for subsidies to keep carmaking in the EU as they struggle with challenges from US tariffs to Chinese competition,…
VPN firm Proton says countries using internet blackouts to boost censorship
As countries step up their use of internet shutdowns to muzzle dissent, some are also taking advantage of blackouts to increase censorship firewalls, internet privacy company…
Italy vows no operational police role for ICE at Olympics
Agents from the US immigration enforcement agency ICE will have no operational role in the Winter Olympics, Italy's interior minister said Wednesday, two days before the Milan-Cortina…
Paying for a selfie: Rome starts charging tourists to visit Trevi Fountain
Italy's Trevi Fountain has launched a new ticketing system, making the famous Rome landmark the latest tourist site to charge entry in a bid to raise funds and battle overcrowding.
UK’s Mandelson quits Labour over new reports of Epstein links
Former British ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson quit the Labour Party yesterday, seeking to avoid causing it "further embarrassment" after newly released US documents…
Dutch watchdog probes Roblox gaming platform over possible ‘risks to children’
The Dutch consumer watchdog has launched an investigation into Roblox to see if the popular gaming platform was doing enough to protect children amid reports they have been…
EU eyes migration clampdown with push on deportations, visas
The European Union today laid out plans to overhaul its visa system and step up deportations as part of a five-year migration strategy that cements a hardening line on the…
EU lawmakers want AI to pay for using copyrighted work
European Union lawmakers have demanded artificial intelligence (AI) providers pay for their use of copyrighted European content as they called for expanded rules to apply…
Spain to regularise 500,000 undocumented migrants
Spain's left-wing government approved Tuesday a plan to regularise around 500,000 undocumented migrants by decree, the country's latest break with harsher policies elsewhere…
Russia jails schoolgirl for four years for posters of pro-Kyiv fighters
A Russian court Thursday upheld a four-year prison term for a 17-year-old girl who hung posters of pro-Ukraine Russian fighters in her school, Russian independent media reported.
Barcelona train crash kills one in Spain’s second deadly rail accident in days
A commuter train near Barcelona ploughed into the rubble of a collapsed wall on Tuesday, killing one and injuring dozens in Spain's second deadly rail accident in days.
UK, France mull social media bans for youth as debate rages
Countries including France and Britain are considering following Australia's lead by banning children and some teenagers from using social media, but experts are still locked…