Author: staff

The Olympic flame is close to completing its short tour of Greece and soon to be on its way to Italy for the Winter Games next February. A handover will take place on Thursday 4 December, the start of a 63-day, 12,000-kilometre relay through all 110 Italian provinces, highlighting cultural sites and host venues before reaching Milan’s San Siro Stadium for the opening ceremony. Its journey officially began a week ago with a spectacular ceremony at the archaeological site where the Olympics began. For several weeks, however, before the flame was lit, dozens of young people, either dancers or actors,…

Published on 02/12/2025 – 19:09 GMT+1 •Updated 19:12 The EU executive will present fresh guidelines on Wednesday meant to reinforce the bloc’s market protection in the face of rising foreign risks. The doctrine’s launch comes after months of tense exchanges with China, which has restricted exports of rare earths and chips – both crucial to several strategic EU industries. The EU is also grappling with a sharp shift in the trade policy of its closest ally, the US, whose nationalist, protectionist approach has put Brussels under extreme pressure, resulting in what many see as an unbalanced trade deal reached in…

Published on 02/12/2025 – 18:29 GMT+1 •Updated 18:33 The detention of Federica Mogherini as part of an investigation into suspected fraud by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office has sent shockwaves in Brussels and Rome. Mogherini is well-known in diplomatic circles, highly connected and has served in top political roles including the Italian foreign minister under Matteo Renzi and as High Representative of the European Union. She currently serves as Rector of the College of Europe, an institution dedicated to European studies seen as platform to access EU jobs. Early years: from communist youth to social democrat minister Mogherini, born in…

Updated: 02/12/2025 – 18:00 GMT+1 Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this December 2nd, 2025 – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel. … More

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A post on Facebook has sparked confusion — and disbelief — after claiming that German cities have built “sleek robotic mailboxes” where residents can dispatch lost items, such as wallets and keys, that the machines will then return to their original owners. “Once dropped inside, the mailbox scans the contents using internal cameras and AI-trained object recognition systems,” the post says. “The system then cross-checks the item with local address databases and initiates an automated return,” it continues. “Items are packed in tamper-sealed envelopes and rerouted through existing postal networks — often reaching the owner within 48 hours.” Multiple users…

Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan held its first winter auction of premium yellowtail, where a Kirameki-branded fish weighing 14.5 kilograms sold for a record-tying 4 million yen, or over 22,000 euros. The top-grade winter yellowtail, shipped annually from December, must weigh at least 14 kilograms and meet strict freshness standards to earn the Kirameki label. The record-priced fish came from Noto, an area recovering from last year’s major earthquake. A supermarket operator purchased the fish, saying they hoped to support the region’s revitalization by promoting its high-quality seafood.

“We are the ones who decide, Jordan and me,” she said. Le Pen was found guilty last year of embezzling European Parliament funds and sentenced to an immediate five-year ban from running for public office. She will return to court in January after appealing all charges, which she has repeatedly denied and framed as politically motivated. She has said Bardella will run in her place if the appeal court upholds the election ban, but a decision won’t be known before spring.  Shifting dynamic But while Bardella is officially his party’s plan B, polls show he is starting to outshine his boss. In…

Published on 02/12/2025 – 13:24 GMT+1 A Libyan man accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in a Tripoli prison has been transferred from Germany to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face justice. Prosecutors at the ICC allege that Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri was a senior commander at the Mitiga prison in Tripoli, where they say he ordered or oversaw crimes including murder, torture and rape between 2015 and 2020. El Hishri was arrested by German authorities on 16 July on a sealed warrant issued by the court in The Hague. He was in custody in Germany…

Published on 02/12/2025 – 15:37 GMT+1 For the first time in more than three decades, condoms will no longer enjoy VAT-exempt status in China as a new law seeks to boost birth rates. The legislation, approved on 25 December 2024, sets out a revised list of tax-exempt goods and services, which cover areas such as agriculture, medical treatments, and cultural activities — but it notably omits birth control products such as condoms. These items will now be subject to a 13% levy, signalling a policy U-turn after years of strict family planning laws in China, designed to limit population growth.…