Author: staff
Residents in Beijing gathered at Luxin Forest Park in Tongzhou to watch a molten iron fireworks show ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Horse. The display forms part of New Year celebrations across the capital. The Year of the Horse is the seventh sign in the 12 year Chinese zodiac cycle. It is linked to energy, intelligence and independence. Organisers say the molten iron tradition dates back centuries in northern China. the event blended folk craft with the festive mood of modern Beijing.
Published on 12/02/2026 – 16:58 GMT+1 Switzerland will hold a referendum this summer to decide on whether to cap the country’s population at 10 million, the government said. Proponents of the initiative, led by the national-conservative Swiss People’s Party (SVP), which holds the most seats in parliament, tallied enough petition signatures to put the issue to the country-wide vote on 14 June, the government said. The federal statistics office says Switzerland had a population of 9.1 million people by the end of the third quarter of 2025. People born abroad have made up about 30% of that in recent years.…
Thrace, at the southeastern edge of Europe, has for decades been a “forgotten frontier” in the European narrative, far from the centres of decision-making and investment. Today, however, that picture is changing rapidly. The region is being reshaped into a critical geopolitical and energy hub as Europe accelerates its decoupling from Russian energy and looks for new, secure gas gateways. Thrace — and Alexandroupolis in particular — is now at the heart of this redesign, taking on a growing role in the EU’s energy diversification. From a “forgotten border”, the region has evolved into a strategic crossroads for European energy…
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Storm Nils swept across France’s Atlantic coast, causing damage in and around the Arcachon Basin. In the port of Arcachon, strong winds tore sails and canopies from moored boats as owners checked their vessels and secured moorings. In nearby La Teste-de-Buch, several pine trees were uprooted, with some falling near parked cars and beachfront areas. Forestry officials said weakened trees may remain unstable even after the storm. Local authorities continued to monitor conditions as strong winds persisted in the region.
The investigation concerns “the sale of 23 Commission buildings to the Belgian state in 2024,” a Commission spokesperson told POLITICO. The property sale “followed established procedures and protocols,” the spokesperson said, expressing confidence that the transaction was conducted in compliance with applicable rules. “The European Commission is committed to transparency and accountability and will cooperate fully with EPPO and the competent Belgian authorities on this issue, providing any information and assistance needed to ensure a thorough and independent investigation into this matter,” the spokesperson added. According to reporting first published by the Financial Times, the searches took place at multiple…
By Euronews Published on 12/02/2026 – 15:21 GMT+1 Analysts expected Mercedes-Benz to report poor figures but the €5.8bn in operating profits for 2025, announced this Thursday, were significantly lower than the predicted €6.6bn. The car manufacturer’s operating profits fell by 57% and turnover fell by 9% last year. This is mainly due to the poor sales figures in China, which fell by 19% compared to 2024. China remains the most important market for the German car making behemoth, with almost a third of all Mercedes cars are sold there. In addition to the “intense competition with China”, Mercedes-Benz cites “global tariffs…
Travellers to Europe are increasingly favouring lesser-trod regions and quieter shoulder seasons, new data shows. As overtourism plagues popular destinations and climate change makes traditional holiday spots uncomfortably hot in summer, visitors are changing tack. Research by Mabrian and Data Appeal has found that overseas tourists are particularly seeking out northern climes and nature-based experiences for their European adventure. Coolcations on the rise Classic destinations are still high in travellers’ bucket lists, the data showed, with regions like Lazio and Tuscany in Italy, Andalusia in Spain and Attica in Greece representing nearly a third of total overseas visitor stays in…
Mit über 108 Milliarden Euro Wehretat erlebt Deutschland einen historischen Wendepunkt in der Verteidigungspolitik. Für Kanzler Friedrich Merz gehören Wirtschaftswende, Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und Rüstung zusammen. Aber kommt die „Zeitenwende“ auch in der Realwirtschaft an? Wo bremsen Bürokratie, europäische Konflikte und politische Kontrolle? In dieser Premierenfolge analysieren Joana Lehner und Jürgen Klöckner die drei größten Probleme für die Rüstungsindustrie. Im Policy-Talk ist Sven Kruck zu Gast. Er ist der Co-CEO von Deutschlands erfolgreichstem Drohnenhersteller Quantum Systems. Kruck spricht darüber, wie Rüstungsgeschäfte eingefädelt werden, zum Beispiel jetzt auf der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz. Er erklärt, wie er den Wettbewerb mit den etablierten Konzernen wie Airbus…
By Laura Fleischmann Published on 12/02/2026 – 12:27 GMT+1•Updated 13:31 Lufthansa cancelled hundreds of flights across Germany on Thursday as pilots and cabin crew staged a coordinated 24-hour strike in disputes over pensions and job security. The walkout began at 12:01 am and runs until 11:59 pm, affecting all departures from German airports including major hubs in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin. The strike involves approximately 4,800 pilots represented by Vereinigung Cockpit union and around 20,000 cabin crew members organised by the Unabhängige Flugbegleiter Organisation, who are conducting parallel actions over separate disputes. Lufthansa did not specify how many flights would be…