Author: staff
A German official told reporters: “Germany and France have agreed to a final attempt at mediation between the industries, to be conducted by experts. Due to the upcoming decisions on the federal budget, a result must be reached by mid-April.” FCAS, which also includes Spain, is intended to replace Germany’s Eurofighter and France’s Rafale jets by around 2040. The program includes a warplane — which lies at the heart of the disagreement between the two defense giants — as well as drones and a combat cloud. While German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is open to developing two separate planes, Macron has…
Published on 19/03/2026 – 12:13 GMT+1 Especially, now that Russia’s war in Ukraine and the US-Israeli war in Iran have become deeply interlinked. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, energy and petrol costs are soaring. And because that vital waterway handles a massive share of global fertiliser shipments, it also means higher grocery prices for everyone. To ease the pressure, Trump announced last week that he is lifting some sanctions on Russian oil. The US Treasury issued a temporary permit allowing countries to purchase Russian crude currently stranded at sea. Washington insists this only applies to already loaded cargo,…
Travellers are facing rising airfare costs and reductions in flight schedules as the conflict in the Middle East causes oil prices to soar. Experts predict ticket prices could remain elevated for months even if the war de-escalates. Increased demand on flight routes that avoid Middle East and Gulf stopovers also means flyers are having to pay more. Which airlines are increasing fares? The US-Israel and Iran war has seen oil prices rocket due to attacks on refineries in the region and the impossibility of transporting oil through the Strait of Hormuz, which in turn is spiking jet fuel costs. Cathay…
The city of Cáceres want to become European Capital of Culture 2031, a recognition awarded each year by the European Union to highlight the continent’s cultural wealth. In total, nine cities are competing to represent Spain in this edition. Among them are Burgos, Granada, Jerez de la Frontera, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Oviedo, Mallorca, Potries and Toledo. A shortlist is expected to be drawn up this month, with the the final decision will be announced in December. The European Capitals of Culture initiative was launched in 1985 at the instigation of the European Commission and since then more than…
4chan has until 2 April to implement age assurance, carry out a “suitable and sufficient” illegal harms risk assessment, and rewrite its terms of service or face a daily penalty of £200. Listen AI generated Text-to-speech
A residential building in Tel Aviv was damaged early on Thursday 19 March after a missile strike, as emergency services responded at the scene, according to footage filmed by the Associated Press. Police, firefighters and ambulances were deployed around the building, where shattered windows and debris were visible. The Israeli military said late Wednesday it had detected a missile launch from Iran and activated air defence systems to intercept the threat over central Israel. Authorities reported at least eight impact points across the Tel Aviv district, including nearby Ramat Gan and Bnei Brak. An earlier strike killed two people in…
Slovenia goes to the polls Sunday in an election pitting the liberal Golob against right-wing populist Janez Janša, who currently has a narrow lead according to POLITICO’s Poll of Polls. Leaked audio and video recordings, published earlier this month and apparently designed to tie Golob’s government to corruption, showed prominent Slovenian figures apparently discussing illegal lobbying and the misuse of state funds. Slovenian authorities this week announced that four operatives of Black Cube, a private intelligence firm founded by former members of the Israel Defense Forces, had visited the country and conducted “illegal surveillance” and “wiretapping.” Representatives for Black Cube…
Published on 19/03/2026 – 10:29 GMT+1 US envoy John Coale met Belarus leader Aliaksandr Lukashenka in Minsk on Thursday, as Washington pushes for the release of hundreds of political prisoners in the Russia-allied country. The authoritarian state has released dozens of prisoners in recent months, largely due to US efforts. President Donald Trump has sought a rapprochement with Minsk since taking office last year, easing sanctions on the country and welcoming it to his “Board of Peace.” There are more than 1,100 political prisoners in Belarusian jails, many arrested after a disputed 2020 election that triggered widespread protests, according to…
The storm brought heavy rain and winds reaching up to 90 km/h, toppling walls, signboards and trees across Pakistan’s largest city. In the Baldia Town area, including Mawachh Goth, rescuers recovered 13 bodies from a collapsed building, while emergency teams continued operations on 19 March to search for more victims. Officials said most deaths were caused by structural failures as roofs and walls gave way during the storm. Rescue workers reported multiple incidents across Karachi, with several people also injured. The Pakistan Meteorological Department warned that further storms could affect Sindh in the coming days. Power outages and traffic disruption…
After a targeted attack on Shabana Mahmood’s immigration reforms, has Angela Rayner forced another climbdown from the Starmer premiership? Rayner allies are eyeing her return to frontline politics before the May elections – will Rachel Reeves be her next target? And does the Prime Minister really need his former deputy’s support? Sam and Anne consider all the factors and assess how credible a Rayner vision for Britain would be. Elsewhere, the UK launches a 50% tariff on all steel goods being imported into the country, but what is the move trying to achieve? Plus, what does the public really think…