Author: staff

ATHENS — The Greek government is set to ban children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the draft law by addressing young people directly in a TikTok video, where he accused “the addictive design of some apps” and their “profit model that’s based on your attention” of taking away “some of your innocence and freedom.” “I am certain that many of you … will be angry with me,” he added. Under the proposed legislation, anyone under the age of 15 would be barred from using social media, with parents or guardians…

European leaders have hailed the initial ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, though key issues affecting their own interests — such as access through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz— remain vague and uncertain. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the deal brokered by Pakistan would bring “much-needed de-escalation” to the Middle East, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a solution leading to a “lasting end to the war”. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has emerged as one of Europe’s staunchest critics of the US-Israeli strikes, said the ceasefire was “good news” but cautioned…

Published on 08/04/2026 – 14:50 GMT+2 A Syrian man accused of torturing dozens of people during his country’s civil war denied all charges at the opening of his trial in the Netherlands on Wednesday, claiming he was the victim of a conspiracy. Rafiq al Q, 58, told judges at the District Court of The Hague that the nine victims in the case, the witnesses and Dutch police were all lying about his role as a lead interrogator for the pro-government National Defence Force. “All of them are conspiring against me,” he said, speaking through an interpreter. Prosecutors said the defendant…

The first earnings season of 2026 carries unusual weight. European companies will report their quarterly results this month against a backdrop that has shifted dramatically since their last guidance: a conflict in the Middle East that erupted in late February, a surge in energy prices that pushed eurozone inflation to 2.5% in March and an ECB now expected to raise interest rates for the first time in years. The numbers landing from mid-April will do more than tell investors how the first quarter went. They will set the tone for how European executives are pricing the crisis — and how…

With overtourism on the rise in several European countries like Greece, Spain, Italy and France, travellers are now looking for destinations where they can avoid the crowds while still having a memorable holiday. This trend is mainly driven by Gen Zers and millennials, who want more hidden gems and authentic experiences on their travels. This can be anything from finding destination dupes for more popular holiday spots, or off-the-grid places that focus on local communities and conservation. Finding more affordable spots is another factor supporting this shift, too. So, which under-visited European countries should you pick for your next getaway?…

Published on 08/04/2026 – 14:02 GMT+2 Raja Ravi Varma’s 19th century painting Yashoda and Krishna has been bought for €15.3 million (17.9 million dollars) to become the most expensive piece of Indian art to be sold at auction. The luminous oil-on-canvas depiction of an infant Krishna and his foster mother Yashoda set a new record at a Delhi auction last week. Its value far exceeded pre-auction estimates which topped around €11 million. The sale smashes the previous record set by Indian painter and director M.F. Husain’s Untitled (Gram Yatra), which was bought for nearly €12 million ($13.8 million) last year…

Bei Umfragewerten um die 40 Prozent greift die AfD in Sachsen-Anhalt nach der Macht. Pauline von Pezold und Frederik Schindler haben das Antragsbuch zum Landesparteitag seziert: Von der Konfiszierung privater Vermögenswerte bei Asylbewerbern über das Ende der schulischen Inklusion bis hin zur Kündigung der Rundfunkstaatsverträge. Die beiden analysieren, wie radikal der geplante Umbau wirklich ist. Den Spaziergang von Gordon Repinski mit Spitzenkandidat Ulrich Siegmund hört ihr hier.⁠ Ein Bundestagsabgeordneter fliegt auf Steuerzahlerkosten in die USA und nutzt offizielle Termine im State Department offenbar, um die „Isolation der AfD“ aufzubrechen. Der Ärger im Bundestagspräsidium und wie Julia Klöckner nun eine strengere…

Published on 08/04/2026 – 12:04 GMT+2 Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun arrived in China on Tuesday at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, in what she’s calling a “journey for peace” as Beijing continued its decades-long push for the self-ruled island to come under its control. The visit is the first by a Taiwanese opposition leader in a decade and comes ahead of a meeting in Beijing between Xi and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, scheduled for May. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament has stalled its government’s attempts to pass a $40 billion (€34.2 billion) special defence budget, expected to fund…

Published on 08/04/2026 – 13:33 GMT+2•Updated 13:36 Two ships have become the first to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the United States and Iran agreed an overnight ceasefire, according to maritime monitor MarineTraffic. The Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth crossed the strait at 10:44 am CET, while the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach transited earlier at 8:59 am CET, after departing the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas a bit over an hour earlier at 7:28 am CET. The passages mark the first confirmed transits under what are likely the new terms of the truce affecting the world’s most critical energy chokepoint.…

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it “a moment of relief” and is set to travel to the Middle East on Wednesday to work with Gulf partners on making the reopening of the strait permanent. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the goal now was a “lasting end to the war.” Pope Leo said he welcomed the ceasefire announcement “with satisfaction and deep hope,” after condemning as “unacceptable” Trump’s threat on Tuesday to erase an entire civilization. “Only through a return to the negotiating table can we bring the war to an end,” the Pontiff said after his general audience Wednesday…