Author: staff
Published on 12/02/2026 – 15:19 GMT+1•Updated 15:20 Two Israelis have been charged with using classified military information to place bets on how future events will unfold, authorities said on Thursday, accusing the individuals of “serious security offences.” A joint statement by the Israeli Ministry of Defence, domestic security service Shin Bet and police said that a civilian and a reservist are suspected of placing bets on the US-based prediction market Polymarket on future military operations based on information the reservist had access to. Israel’s Attorney General’s Office decided to prosecute the two individuals following a joint investigation by police, military…
By Toby Gregory Published on 12/02/2026 – 18:36 GMT+1 Asked what distinguishes his company from other electric vehicle manufacturers, Gu said its origin lies as much in technology as in automotive engineering. “Because actually, you know, the DNA of our company is quite different from the other Chinese EV brands,” he said. “We actually started as a tech brand.” He said that focus has driven a full-stack approach to intelligence, combining software, hardware and data to move beyond electrification alone. “What we saw in the last 12 to 18 months is the emergence of the AI power in the mobility space,”…
That means a “NATO 3.0,” he said, where Europeans pay more for their own defense and slim NATO’s activities down to its core task of defending alliance territory. The term won immediate praise from some allies. NATO 3.0 is “a good way to explain his point, which we totally agree on,” Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik told POLITICO. “We know the Americans, they need to be more present in the Pacific — and that is changing NATO as well,” he said. “We in Europe haven’t done enough.” More broadly, Colby’s remarks prompted relief from European allies, some of whom had…
Published on 12/02/2026 – 18:00 GMT+1 Hungary’s opposition leader Péter Magyar has admitted he was lured into a “honey trap” by his former girlfriend, and has rejected allegations of drug use. Magyar says Viktor Orbán’s government orchestrated the operation using secret service methods. Magyar’s Tisza Party is the main challenger to Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz in Hungary’s April elections, and is currently leading in the polls. The election campaign has lately intensified with personal attacks on activists and candidates, as well as the use of deepfake videos. On Tuesday, photos of a room with a bed began circulating online, with suggestions…
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…