Author: staff

Über die Ergebnisse der Reise sprechen die EU-Staats- und Regierungschefs am 15. und 16. Oktober bei ihrem EU-Gipfel in Brüssel. Die EU droht damit, den Zugang chinesischer Unternehmen zum Binnenmarkt einzuschränken, sollten die Gespräche scheitern. Die EU und China verhandeln seit Juni. Die Staats- und Regierungschefs der EU haben erklärt, sie wollten die große Menge chinesischer Importe und das hohe Handelsdefizit mit China, nicht länger hinnehmen. „Ich glaube, unsere chinesischen Partner haben verstanden, dass dies direkte Auswirkungen auf die Zukunft bedeutender europäischer Unternehmen hat – buchstäblich Tausende von Arbeitsplätzen“, berichtete Šefčovič. „Und auch auf das soziale Gefüge und das Sozialmodell,…

Spain’s parliament on Friday rejected two housing decree-laws promoted by the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, aimed at tackling a housing crisis that has spurred nationwide protests. The two votes are a heavy political blow to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and went ahead as hundreds of protesters gathered outside parliament. These rejections, delivered in a voice vote, represent a parliamentary setback for the executive and came after a sitting marked by last-minute negotiations and uncertainty over the support of its parliamentary partners. Sánchez spoke for a few minutes before the vote to urge MPs to “do the right thing…

A fleet of 5,000 drones filled the night sky over Nanchang in Jiangxi province on Thursday, forming images including an aeroplane and a humanoid robot kicking a football. Large crowds gathered along the riverbanks to watch the performance, with many spectators filming the show on their phones. The display was part of the city’s National Day celebrations and one of many events held across China to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. A spectacular lightshow illuminated Dubai’s Burj Khalifa on Thursday to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic…

Historically high diesel prices in the EU and growing concerns about a potential US diesel export ban have prompted calls for action in the bloc. European Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said on Friday that the bloc was ready to work with the International Energy Agency on the possible release of fuel reserves to bring down energy prices. On Wednesday, the International Energy Agency confirmed that it could consider releasing more emergency oil stocks if supply disruptions worsen. At the time of writing, the size of a potential release has not been confirmed, although France suggested releasing 50 million barrels of…

BRUSSELS — The G7 club of rich countries are preparing to convene later today to explore whether to release further diesel reserves to bring down fuel prices. Four people familiar with the matter confirmed the plan to POLITICO. The meeting will take place after the U.S. pressured European countries to act on their reserves or face an export ban. The meeting of the Group of Seven, which includes France, Germany, Italy, the U.K., the U.S., Canada and Japan, will come on Friday afternoon amid growing concern over rising diesel costs that have triggered a pressure campaign by Washington.

Seven member states have called for a fundamental rethink of the European Space Shield, proposing a new space security architecture that centres on protecting EU space systems and leaves capability development to national governments. Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden want the capitals in the driving seat and a narrower scope that respects national control over military space capabilities. Paris and Berlin have long been sceptical of the European Space Shield, an initiative Brussels pitched last year in the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030. Now the bloc’s two heavyweights have set out their own vision of space security…

A brown bear slammed its body against a car in northern Japan. The incident took place on Tuesday in Bifuka, where the two bears were believed to be a mother and her cub. The two bears were spotted on a road in Hokkaido. The sighting forced the vehicle to stop as the animals approached. No injuries were reported. Hokkaido police released the dashcam footage from the incident on 29 September. Bear sightings have become an increasingly visible issue in parts of northern Japan.

The budget battle is only just beginning, and the growth figure chosen by the government for 2027 is already prompting reservations. In an opinion published on Thursday (source in French), the High Council for Public Finance (HCFP) judged that the draft budget and social security financing bills, presented the same day to the Council of Ministers, were based in particular on a 1.0% growth forecast it considers “optimistic”. The institution chaired by Amélie de Montchalin, currently First President of the Court of Audit and formerly minister for Public Action and Accounts under Emmanuel Macron, also highlights the “significant uncertainty” surrounding…

Published on 02/10/2026 – 14:49 GMT+2 Artificial intelligence has decoded a letter written on Napoleon Bonaparte’s orders for the first time in more than 200 years. The document was not a letter written directly by Napoleon. It originated at the headquarters of Eugène de Beauharnais, Viceroy of Italy, and was an encrypted troop briefing passed to Marmont on Napoleon’s orders. An engineer at cybersecurity company SentinelOne, Carter Church, wrote on social media that OpenAI’s GPT-6 Astra model deciphered an encrypted 1809 letter sent to French General Auguste de Marmont. The AI model transcribed the image to break the cypher in…

The UK has just announced that airlines will no longer be able to charge parents to secure seats next to their children. The new rules, which come into force today (2 October), apply to children under the age of 14 with a parent or accompanying adult. Before the rule change, a parent and child could be charged up to £104 (€122) on a return ticket to book seats next to each other. Passengers will also be able to correct simple name errors on bookings for free. Previously, some airlines were charging up to £40 (€47) to do so. “Parents should…