Author: staff

European equities have been enjoying a strong 2025 so far, with major indices capping the first half of the year in positive territory and outperforming their US counterparts. But as investors weigh whether it’s time to lock in gains or ride the momentum, history suggests July might be the month to stay invested. In fact, July stands out as the most bullish month of the year for European shares. Backed by two decades of data, the month not only delivers higher-than-average returns but also does so with remarkable consistency.July: The best-performing month for European indicesTake the EURO STOXX 50, the…

Before his appointment as deputy commander in chief of the navy in March, Gudkov led the 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, which was accused by Kyiv officials and military bloggers of repeatedly committing war crimes in Ukraine, including executing and beheading prisoners of war. Gudkov is one of the highest-ranking military officials killed by Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion in February 2022.  Ukrainian intelligence previously assassinated chemical weapons chief Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov last December in Moscow. Several other senior Russian military officials have also been killed in attacks that the Kremlin has blamed on Ukraine.

Every person in the Netherlands has “forever chemicals” in their blood, according to the country’s first national study on the topic.The study, published Thursday, indicates that having per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (known as PFAS) in levels above safety thresholds does not automatically lead to illness.”However, it does mean that PFAS can have an effect on the body. For example, the immune system may function less effectively. The effects depend on the amount of PFAS, the duration of exposure, and a person’s individual health condition,” reads the study, conducted by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, or…

Bjerre said the bloc should also look into restricting access to EU funds for countries that violate European law. Another major issue for Denmark: EU enlargement. The minister called out Hungary’s ongoing blockade of Ukraine’s membership in the European Union, saying Denmark was “willing to look at all political and practical solutions for us to move forward.” If EU countries decide to escalate their ongoing Article 7 procedure, they could strip Hungary of its voting rights on aspects of European policy such as enlargement, removing Budapest’s ability to veto Ukraine’s membership. However, diplomats caution that moving ahead requires at least…

The first three places in this year’s ranking of the largest technology companies in Central and Eastern Europe were taken by Estonian fintech Wise, as well as two Polish companies: InPost and Allegro.The report shows that the value of 32 companies in the region exceeds $1 billion, while another 50 boast valuations above $250 million. The largest number of companies on the list come from Poland — the region’s biggest economy — with 39 technology firms from the country having a combined valuation of over $43bn. Meanwhile, Estonia and the Czech Republic each have 13 companies among the CEE digital…

Published on 03/07/2025 – 11:46 GMT+2CEOs from more than 40 European companies including ASML, Philips, Siemens and Mistral, are asking for a “two-year clock-stop” on the AI Act before key obligations enter into force this August. In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, made public on Thursday, they say this would allow “both for reasonable implementation by companies, and for further simplification of the new rules.” The AI Act – rules that regulate artificial intelligence systems according to the risk they pose to society – entered into force in August 2024, but will fully apply in 2027. The…

The landmark tech regulation has come under scrutiny in Brussels as part of an effort by European Union officials to cut red tape to boost its economy. The AI Act in particular has faced intense lobbying pressure from American tech giants in past months. European Commission tech chief Henna Virkkunen told POLITICO this week she would make a call on whether to pause the implementation by end August if standards and guidelines to implement the law are not ready in time. The chief officials lamented that “unclear, overlapping and increasingly complex EU regulations” is disrupting their abilities to do business…

Published on 03/07/2025 – 9:59 GMT+2•Updated 10:02US strikes on key nuclear facilities in Iran 10 days ago have pushed back Iran’s nuclear programme by up to two years, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, said on Wednesday.”We have degraded their programme by one to two years, at least intel assessments inside the department assess that,” Parnell told reporters at a news briefing. “All of the intelligence that we’ve seen led us to believe that Iran’s (facilities) have been completely obliterated,” Parnell said.On 22 June, the US launched multiple joint attacks with Israel against three of Iran’s nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz…

Microsoft began sending out layoff notices Wednesday, hitting the company’s Xbox video game business and other divisions.Among those losing their jobs are 830 workers tied to the tech giant’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington, according to a notice sent to state officials Wednesday.Microsoft said the cuts will affect multiple teams around the world, including its sales division, part of “organisational changes” needed to succeed in a “dynamic marketplace.” A memo to gaming division employees Wednesday from Xbox CEO Phil Spencer said the cuts would position the video game business “for enduring success and allow us to focus on strategic growth areas.”Xbox…

Last year’s European election reshaped EU politics. The Commission president must acknowledge a new alternative right-wing majority even as she fights to preserve her signature political achievement. Jun 25 6 mins read