Author: staff

The European Accessibility Act, which entered into application in June 2025, reflects this changing perspective. It establishes common accessibility requirements for products and services such as e-commerce, banking, smartphones, computers, ticketing systems, self-service terminals and e-books. By harmonising standards across the single market, the legislation reduces fragmentation, lowers compliance costs and enables companies to scale accessible solutions more efficiently across Europe. Accessibility is not simply a matter of rights or compliance — it is a proven tool for driving innovation and strengthening Europe’s long-term competitiveness. Accessibility should also be understood as a quality standard. Many features originally developed for people…

Socialists and Democrats MEP Chloé Ridel said US President Donald Trump’s attacks on the International Criminal Court (ICC) are “unacceptable”, accusing him of seeking to “erase the court” because it is “out of his control”. Ridel called on the European Commission to “act now” after a year of attacks against the Hague-based institution. She said the European Union has “the means to protect the court” through a blocking statute that could “block the effects of the American sanctions against the court”.

Residents of Lazaro Cardenas, on Mexico’s Pacific coast, fill sandbags and stack them along the seafront as waves threaten businesses. Military personnel are also seen on the beach, while the swell reaches the shoreline and nearby properties. The rough conditions have already damaged buildings and other structures along Playa Azul beach. Local business owners are worried about more damage as Hurricane Polo passes offshore. The storm was downgraded to Category 4 after reaching Category 5, the highest category.

European motorists are paying record prices at the pump, while investors in the companies that produce and refine those fuels are having a remarkable year. Europe’s renewed fuel crisis has driven a powerful rally in the region’s oil and gas companies, with share prices up between 40% and nearly 90% since January. The biggest gains are not simply about crude oil. The more important story is happening inside refineries. Shortages of diesel, petrol and jet fuel have pushed the gap between the price of crude and the price of the fuels made from it, known as the crack spread, to…

Is the Burnham bounce starting to show? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy dig into a mega poll projecting Labour as the largest party at the next general election – but still 85 seats short of a Commons majority. What do these numbers mean for Andy Burnham, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage? And how could a split on the right of British politics help Labour keep the keys to Number 10? Plus, has Tony Blair’s call to rejoin the EU made things awkward for the prime minister ahead of the Labour conference in Liverpool?

Children deserve a safer internet, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen when presenting the EU Kids Act on 17 September. The proposal sets graduated thresholds for social media access, bans addictive design features like infinite scroll for under-18s, and requires platforms to verify age using a privacy-preserving “yes/no” token instead of a birth-certificate check. Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen presented it as a delay, not a ban. Children get eased into risky platforms at 13, 15, and 18 rather than being locked out entirely. That framing worries digital rights groups. “The way the proposal is framed is that…

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday for a state visit to the United States, where he was greeted by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump. The footage shows Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, walking along a red carpet, with US and Chinese flags on display as military personnel take position. The ceremony featured the national anthems of both countries, a 21-gun salute and a military flyover. Trump and Xi then spoke briefly before Xi’s motorcade left the base.

Published on 24/09/2026 – 8:11 GMT+2 Ahead of European markets opening, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 1.3% in morning trading to 65,883.41, as some chipmakers got a boost from the recent interest in artificial intelligence. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.7% to 8,700.50. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 0.5% to 24,715.95, while the Shanghai Composite dipped 0.8% to 3,902.33. Trading was closed in South Korea for the Chuseok autumn harvest holiday. In energy trading, benchmark US crude fell 0.82% to $91.40 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, lost 0.83% to $102.22 a barrel. The price for a barrel of Brent…

The World Spa Awards has announced its 2026 winners, recognising the top spas, wellness retreats, brands and experiences across the globe. In its 12th edition, the platform highlighted that Italy made a “strong showing” this year, as it was named the World’s Best Spa Destination for 2026 – ahead of nominees from Australia, Hawai’i, the Maldives and Japan. Several Italian properties also took home global titles this year, including the Palazzo Fiuggi, which was crowned the World’s Best Wellness Retreat. Located in the historic spa town of Fiuggi, known for its mineral rich waters and sweeping hilltop views, the expansive…

Wenn die mächtigsten Männer der Welt aufeinandertreffen, steht die globale Ordnung im Mittelpunkt. In Washington sprechen Donald Trump und Xi Jinping über Zölle, Taiwan und die Vorherrschaft bei Künstlicher Intelligenz. POLITICO-Reporter Hans von der Burchard analysiert, ob bei den verhärteten Fronten diplomatische Lösungen möglich sind und wo Stillstand droht. Auf der UN-Bühne in New York hat SPD-Umweltminister Carsten Schneider den deutschen Ausstieg aus fossilen Energien bis 2045 präsentiert. Doch wie viel Substanz steckt wirklich in der neuen Roadmap? Energie-Expertin Johanna Sahlberg von POLITICO PRO „Energie & Klima am Morgen“ hat das Papier exklusiv ausgewertet und ordnet ein, wie der Plan…