Author: staff

Published on 08/04/2026 – 18:17 GMT+2 A former fire safety official in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana remained silent when questioned by prosecutors on Wednesday investigating a deadly New Year bar fire, his lawyer said. “My client exercised his right to remain silent as he does not yet have access to the case file,” lawyer Fabien Mingard told the AFP news agency. “He will answer the public prosecutors’ questions as soon as he has access to the file.” The former head of the Crans-Montana municipality’s fire safety department has not been named by Swiss media. “The hearing lasted only…

But Hegseth’s confidence that the massive military operation is in its waning days — he repeatedly referred to Operation Epic Fury in the past tense — contrasts with comments from Vice President JD Vance, who called the situation in the Middle East a “fragile truce” that could evaporate in the coming days. Vance is in Hungary stumping for far-right candidate Viktor Orbán.Hegseth said he was far more confident the deal will hold, thanks to the dominance of American military forces over the last six weeks.“In less than 40 days, Central Command, using less than 10 percent of America’s total combat…

A Bactrian camel calf has been born at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, as the site prepares to mark its 200th anniversary on April 29. The calf, named Sophia, was born to Izzy and Oakley, bringing the herd to eight. Keepers say the birth offers a timely boost as the zoo highlights its conservation work. The name honours Sophia Raffles, the first woman admitted to Zoological Society of London in 1826. Staff say the herd helps raise awareness of the critically endangered wild camel, or Camelus ferus. Fewer than 1,000 are thought to survive in Mongolia and China, with hunting and…

The European Parliament’s AGRI committee voted to support the deal struck by co-legislators on targeted amendments to the EU’s Common Market Organisation rules for agricultural products. The rule changes target contracts primarily, with a view to strengthening farmers’ position in the supply chain. But the trilogue compromise also included a ban on using several meat-related terms to advertise plant-based products or lab-grown meat, which has largely overshadowed the technical elements of the file. The most controversial terms, like “burger” and “sausage,” were not included among terms banned for plant-based products in the final deal, but the use of more specific…

European gas prices plunged sharply by around 20%, and Brent crude oil dropped significantly after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran, raising hopes of lower energy bills for consumers. The US‑Iran deal included Tehran’s agreement to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a critical energy corridor that handles roughly 20% of global oil and LNG — and with Iran’s commitment to do so, global markets are hopeful that trade flows will resume, easing pressure on prices. However, while some experts anticipate a sharp drop in energy prices, others warn that a fragile…

Multiple Israeli airstrikes struck central Beirut, sending large plumes of black smoke into the sky, footage shows. Fires broke out in buildings as emergency vehicles arrived at the scene. Israel’s military said it carried out a coordinated operation targeting more than 100 Hezbollah sites within minutes across Beirut, southern Lebanon and the Beqaa region. The strikes came hours after the United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire. Israel said the agreement does not apply to its operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

American men’s magazine Esquire has just revealed its list of the best new hotels in the world for 2026 – and the number one spot went to a property in Florence. Collegio Alla Querce, Auberge Collection has been named the hotel of the year, having first opened in March 2025. Beginning its life as a villa in the 16th century, Collegio Alla Querce served as a boarding school before being transformed into the 83-key hotel that stands here today. Located on a hillside, the property offers incredible views over the city’s UNESCO-listed historic centre and the Tuscan countryside. “It’s quiet…

But the damage done to the world’s supply chains, especially for energy, will simply not be undone overnight, even if — and it’s a big ‘if’ — the ceasefire holds, analysts say. “A temporary pause is just that — and both sides of the conflict have established a renewed reputation for unpredictability,” said Simon French, chief economist with London investment bank PanmureLiberum, via X. Moreover, said Peel Hunt chief economist Kallum Pickering, “Even if this truce marks the genuine end of fighting, some economic damage is already baked in.” He warned that whatever happens from here on, inflation will be…

Published on 08/04/2026 – 17:00 GMT+2 A video has gained significant traction online, purportedly showing the streets of Paris in turmoil following a recent riot. Posts on X say that the clip shows scenes from the French capital in recent days, and question why there appears to be no reporting on it in the media. Another post, meanwhile, compares the scenes to missile strikes in the Middle East, as the Iran war continues, before pushing the blame onto French President Emmanuel Macron. These posts have been seen hundreds of thousands of times — some with even more than one million…

Russian military hackers stole sensitive information from governments, militaries and critical infrastructure, “exploiting vulnerable routers worldwide,” the FBI revealed on Wednesday following a major international investigation. The US Department of Justice, together with international partners, exposed the large-scale operation, with the Russian hacking group Fancy Bear identified as the culprit. The hackers, part of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency and known as GRU Unit 26165, redirected internet traffic through ill-protected routers to steal passwords and encrypted data, according to a joint statement. Ukraine’s security service SBU, which also participated in the investigation, explained that after “compromising” vulnerable internet devices, the…