Author: staff

The streets of Damascus are once again full of life, as people are preparing for the annual Eid celebrations. The Syrian capital, Damascus, is regaining some of the spirit that was almost lost after years of war. With the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, the city is breathing again and this year’s Eid al-Fitr preparations are fully underway. Markets that were once stagnant and fearful are now bustling with people. Vendors loudly call out to their customers, as if to make up for the years of silence and repression they endured. Attempts to restore normal life are evident in every…

The daylight saving time has proven difficult to scrap. Meanwhile, time zones do not match solar time in many EU countries. Putting a stop to the seasonal time change isn’t easy, largely for political reasons. This Sunday Europeans will once again lose an hour as the clocks wind forward.It’s something few people enjoy, as shown by a 2018 survey, according to which 84% of EU citizens are against the phenomenon.According to scientific studies, the hour change can upset our body’s alignment with sunlight, which may result in sleep deprivation and affect several diseases.Switching the clock seasonally is also at odds…

The four soldiers, whose identities have not been released, went missing early on Tuesday when they were on a mission to recover another Army vehicle during unit training. US and Lithuanian authorities are struggling to drain a swampy area in Lithuania in an ongoing effort to recover four American Army soldiers who went missing three days ago.The soldiers’ armoured vehicle was discovered submerged in 15 feet of water and so far teams have been unable to get inside or pull it out.US Army Europe and Africa said that cranes, a large-capacity pump and more than 30 tons of gravel have…

European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi said her office launched an administrative inquiry into potential misconduct by Georgieva days after Bulgarian media reported on apparent links between the magistrate and an alleged criminal. Asked to comment on the matter, EPPO declined. Georgieva claims she was pressured in a campaign related to a high-profile investigation into the Bulgarian state-owned gas storage expansion facility, Chiren.  She accused Delyan Peevski, a member of Bulgarian parliament, of threatening to stop her from indicting a former energy minister involved in the Chiren project. “They are threatening me, and successfully. I feel threatened by Peevski. First there was…

Last year, Beijing announced provisional tariffs on European brandies after a majority of EU countries approved duties on electric vehicles made in China. France’s foreign minister has said that France and China are making progress towards resolving a trade dispute over cognac imports.Jean-Noël Barrot said the conclusions of a Chinese investigation that could potentially lead to the permanent implementation of provisional duties on European cognac imports have been delayed until June.”We’ll be really pleased when the problem is behind us. And it’s clear that, step by step, we’re moving towards a resolution,” Barrot said.Last year, China announced provisional tariffs of between…

The European Commission said more time is needed to present the review of its regional funding programme, which accounts for one-third of the EU budget. A mid-term evaluation of the EU’s regional funding programme was initially scheduled for release this week, but was abruptly removed from the agenda of the College of Commissioners.Speculation has emerged that concerns over potentially reallocating these funds for defence purposes contributed to the delay in the aftermath of the recent EU push on security amid geopolitical uncertainties.“We are still working on this. It is a complex issue that requires proper consideration and the right approach,”…

The trip to the semi-autonomous Danish territory comes as relations between the US and the Nordic country nosedived after President Donald Trump repeatedly suggested that the US should control the island. US Vice President JD Vance, his wife and other senior US officials have visited an American military base in Greenland, part of a trip that was scaled back following an uproar among Greenlanders and Danes who were angry that the original itinerary was planned without consulting them.Soon after arriving on Friday, Vance briefly addressed US troops stationed at the base as he and his wife sat down to lunch with…

The country officially abolished the monarchy in 2008, two years after King Gyanendra Shah was ousted. At least two people have been killed in Nepal after protesters demanding the restoration of the abolished monarchy clashed with police. The violence took place on Friday in the east of the capital Kathmandu, where a rally had been organised by groups loyal to the former King Gyanendra Shah. The Home Ministry said a protester died while receiving treatment in hospital, while a local TV station said one of its staff died when the building he was filming from was set on fire.Several protesters…

The new government takes office at a pivotal moment, with U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly threatening to seize the Arctic island and refusing to rule out using military force or economic coercion to snare it. Greenland has been a self-ruling Danish territory for decades, and contains vast reserves of critical minerals while occupying a key strategic location in the Arctic. Vance is expected to arrive imminently with a U.S. delegation that includes his wife Usha Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Greenland’s new government Friday, pointedly emphasizing…

This move comes as a fresh blow to the UK high street, which has been struggling to recover from the pandemic, witnessing a number of big name closures such as Debenhams. British books and stationery giant WH Smith will sell 480 retail outlets to Modella Capital, the owner of Hobbycraft, in a deal worth approximately £76m (€91.2m). The Swindon-centred brand, which has been trading since 1792, will subsequently vanish from UK high streets soon. Several stores in shopping centres and retail parks will be acquired as well, although the timeline for the transition is not yet publishedThe high street business…