Author: staff
Spaniards held a minute of silence in tribute of the victims of a deadly train derailment. Lawmakers also paused outside the Congress of Deputies in Madrid, while Real Madrid players observed a moment of reflection during training, showing nationwide solidarity. At least 39 people were killed and more than 120 injured in the crash, the deadliest rail accident in Spain in over ten years. The incident occurred on Sunday evening when an Iryo train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz. It crossed onto the opposite track and collided with an oncoming train, which also left the rails. Emergency…
By Rebecca Ann Hughes Published on 08/04/2025 – 16:00 GMT+2 •Updated 19/01/2026 – 14:43 GMT+1 The number of airlines restricting power bank usage is growing across the globe in response to incidents caused by malfunctioning electronics. Lufthansa Group, which includes Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, Eurowings, ITA Airways and Swiss International Air Lines, became the latest to introduce new rules on 15 January. Flyers are limited to two power banks per person, and usage in-flight, including charging using on-board power sockets, has been banned. So what are the rules, and which airlines are clamping down on passengers bringing these small…
Published on 19/01/2026 – 14:30 GMT+1 Don’t bet against Officer Judy Hopps. American animated buddy cop comedy Zootopia 2 has been breaking records since its debut in cinemas over the Thanksgiving period last November. It became the highest global animated opening of all time, the highest global debut of 2025, the highest global opening for any animated film in Disney history, and crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office in just 17 days. It also became Walt Disney Animation Studios fifth billion-dollar title since 2013, following in the footsteps of Frozen, Frozen 2, Moana 2 and Zootopia.…
BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday that Berlin and Paris would negotiate a joint strategy to stave off U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats in the run up to a gathering of the bloc’s 27 leaders in Brussels this week. French President Emmanuel Macron’s office on Sunday asked the European Union to activate the bloc’s Anti-Coercion Instrument, nicknamed the trade bazooka. Germany — dependent on trade with the U.S. to a greater extent than France — has been more reluctant to hit back hard at Washington. “France is affected by the American tariffs to a different extent…
Published on 19/01/2026 – 14:17 GMT+1 Iran appears to be using executions “as a tool of state intimidation,” the United Nations said on Monday, as it denounced a jump in capital punishment globally in 2025. The Islamic republic reportedly executed 1,500 people last year, UN rights chief Volker Türk said in a statement. “The scale and pace of executions suggest a systematic use of capital punishment as a tool of state intimidation, with disproportionate impact on ethnic minorities and migrants,” he warned. The spike in executions in Iran, which according to rights groups is the world’s most prolific executioner after…
By Laila Humairah Published on 19/01/2026 – 14:26 GMT+1 From broadband expansion in Indonesia — to clean energy in Uzbekistan, the AIIB’s biggest projects since its operations first began in 2016 have shown the organisation’s commitment to building a lasting impact on communities by meeting infrastructure needs of countries beyond its roots in China. From the 57 founding members to 111 approved countries today, the strength of AIIB is in its diverse and unique network. In his outgoing speech as president of the AIIB, Jin Liqun reflected on the 10 years of his tenure: “During this period, we have worked with…
By Patrick Whittle with AP Published on 19/01/2026 – 12:41 GMT+1 Sharks are the most feared predators in the sea, and their survival hinges on fearsome teeth that regrow throughout their lives. But changes in the ocean’s chemistry could put those weapons at risk. That is the takeaway from a study performed by a group of German scientists who tested the effects of a more acidic ocean on sharks’ teeth. Scientists have linked human activities including the burning of coal, oil and gas to the ongoing acidification of the ocean. As oceans become increasingly acidic, sharks’ teeth could become structurally weaker and more…
Trump announced the establishment of the board — which he touted as “the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place” — on Friday as a key part of his 20-point plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas. The committee, chaired by Trump, will oversee the transitional governance of Gaza. The U.S. embassy in Brussels did not immediately respond to questions about the invitation. Putin, for his part, has spent the last four years waging a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has killed thousands of civilians, and demolished towns and cities. Invitations to join…
Published on 19/01/2026 – 13:27 GMT+1 Thousands of Norwegians are expected to receive letters from the military on Monday informing them that their homes, vehicles, boats and machinery may be requisitioned in the event of war. “The requisitions are intended to ensure that, in a wartime situation, the armed forces have access to the resources necessary for the defence of the country,” the military said in a statement. Around 13,500 preparatory requisitions will be issued for 2026. The letters have no practical impact in peacetime other than to let owners know that the military may take over their goods in…
Published on 19/01/2026 – 13:01 GMT+1 All eyes turn to Davos today, as the World Economic Forum (WEF) commences its annual meeting. Some of the world’s most powerful elite, including government leaders and business execs, have gathered in Switzerland to engage in “forward-looking discussions to address global issues and set priorities”. One of the key themes of this year’s event is building prosperity “within planetary boundaries” – with WEF highlighting that nature loss impacts 75 per cent of Earth’s land and poses “significant economic risks”. The argument that the world should transition to nature-positive business models to unlock $10 trillion…