Author: staff

Published on 27/07/2026 – 16:49 GMT+2 The chairman of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States (ARIS) Mendy Chitrik praised Qatar’s leadership for welcoming a delegation of rabbis on Monday during a condolence visit to the emir, saying the meeting reflected friendship, mutual respect and the importance of dialogue between communities. Rabbi Chitrik made the remarks after he and fellow rabbis met Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on Monday to offer condolences following the death of the Father Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Speaking to Euronews after the meeting, Rabbi Chitrik said the delegation had…

The difference between packing for an adult and a child isn’t all that much. You both need weather-appropriate clothing, shoes, toiletries, and, of course, your unmentionables. There is one essential that kids need that (most) adults don’t: Their teddy. Whether your little one’s beloved stuffed toy comes in a traditional bear shape or in the form of some other animal, it’s imperative that they come with you on your adventures – and make it back safely – or you may face some serious tantrums. Luckily for you, easyJet has unveiled a new initiative to make sure cuddly toys make it…

To address this complaint, the Commission is considering excluding firms with dwindling profits — including potentially Germany’s big automotive sector — from the scope of the tax. Currently, CORE applies in the same way to EU and foreign firms operating in the bloc. The Commission fears that taxing foreign firms in the EU at a higher level than European ones might violate international trade rules, said one of the officials. Tax confessionals The rotating Council presidency of the EU, held by Ireland, which is steering the budget negotiations, is planning to put forward a new package of taxes ahead of…

The European Commission said Europe’s firefighting capacity is struggling to keep pace with increasingly intense wildfires in Spain and France, as blazes continue to overwhelm local resources. “These fires are out of capacity,” a Commission official told reporters on Monday, referring to the devastating blazes that have already consumed more than 80,000 hectares in Spain and over 42,000 hectares in France. Both fires remain uncontrolled and have forced more than 320,000 people to leave their homes. As wildfires continue to rage across Spain and France despite one of the EU’s largest-ever emergency responses, Commission officials conceded that the EU is…

Social media is aflutter with the vote for the new eurozone banknote design, which was announced last week. Netizens are fiercely debating which of the 10 finalists is their favourite, and the discourse has inevitably put the original notes back in the limelight. While you’ve no doubt seen the designs while handling cash over the years, there’s a good chance you’ve never stopped to actually look at them properly. Unlike euro coins, which have different designs on the front depending on which country produced them, the euro notes are identical across the bloc. Every note has a window or doorway…

Published on 27/07/2026 – 14:53 GMT+2 British singer Boy George, frontman of the band Culture Club, has released a song in solidarity with Israel. Titled ‘Od Nirkod (We Will Dance Again)’, the reggae-style song has not been made available on streaming platforms and was instead posted on the artist’s X account, along with the caption “Shalom”. The song’s title is a phrase closely associated with the 7 October Hamas attack on the Supernova Sukkot Gathering festival, which led to the death of 378 people and Israel to launch its military campaign in Gaza. It is also the title of a…

As this travel journalist knows, when it comes to Sanrio, the obsession knows no bounds. An unending collection of plushies, stocking up on kawaii stationery, decking your room with Hello Kitty bedding, and the list goes on from there. If you don’t already have enough merch, there’s only one thing left to do: board a flight to Japan’s capital city and visit a Sanrio-themed “hotel” experience. We say hotel, but it’s not a place where you can stay the night… Tokyo’s Shinjuku-ku ward is currently hosting Sanrio fan favourites as part of the “Hotel Floria Tokyo – Sanrio Characters Exhibition”…

It’s a bittersweet birthday for the EU-US trade deal. One year after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump struck the landmark agreement in Turnberry, Scotland, transatlantic trade relations are being jeopardised by fresh threats from the US. Last week’s €890 million fine imposed by the Commission on US tech giant Google sent the Trump administration into a fury. Posting on Truth Social, the president said the US will launch investigations into unfair trade practices, signalling that his administration is prepared to retaliatewhenthe EU enforces its digital rules against US firms. However, Trump may have…

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has taken a swipe at his critics in a rambling, self-congratulatory Instagram post, telling them to “meditate, pray, or watch a football match” instead of “spending their time and energy hating us.” In a 15-slide post on his account, Infantino celebrated what he called the “best show in the world” and defended the football governing body against “those behind their screens spreading hate and false rumours.” The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which took place across the United States, Mexico and Canada, wrapped up on 19 July, as Spain defeated Lionel Messi’s Argentina 1-0 to lift the…

Published on 27/07/2026 – 11:54 GMT+2 British comedian, writer, musician, broadcaster and wildlife conservationist Bill Oddie has died aged 85. Oddie’s agent, David Foster, has paid tribute to the “intelligence and wit” of “Britain’s “best-loved birder”. He said in a statement: “Bill was a multi-talented celebrity – wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist. Yet it was never fame that he valued. Instead he encouraged us to respect and protect the environment.” Foster added: “He taught us the wonder of it. He protested, lobbied and campaigned for it. He led the way and people of all ages and…