Author: staff
Clashes erupted between protesters and police in Milan’s Corvetto neighbourhood on Friday following a demonstration against the 2026 Milan–Cortina Winter Olympic Games. The brief confrontation came at the end of a peaceful march by thousands against the environmental impact of the Games and the presence of US agents in Italy. Some protesters threw objects and firecrackers toward police, who responded with water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Earlier, a group of masked protesters had set off smoke bombs and firecrackers on a bridge overlooking a construction site about 800 meters from the Olympic Village that’s housing around…
The spectacular 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Friday evening evening showcased Italian culture and placed a heavy emphasis on the theme of harmony. Nevertheless, there was no shortage of criticism, with boos directed at Israel’s Olympic team, as well as US Vice President JD Vance when he appeared on the San Siro stadium’s big screen. Outside the venue, the city of Milan took centre stage on the eve of the Games – not only for high level political meetings, but also for widespread protests – Friday saw a demonstration by activists and students against the presence of the…
The Ukraine leader voiced concern that under that imperative Trump could strike a deal with Russia, leaving Ukraine out of negotiations about its own status. “If there are any bilateral agreements between Russia and the United States, the points that will be related to Ukraine cannot contradict the constitution of Ukraine, the laws of Ukraine, and they should not be discussed without Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. Pressure for the meeting is mounting on other fronts as well, with ongoing Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid forcing power plants to cut output even as nighttime low temperatures have plummeted to minus 20…
The US has given Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to reach a deal to end the nearly four‑year war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday. His comments came after overnight Russian strikes on energy infrastructure forced nuclear power plants to cut output. If the June deadline is not met, the Trump administration will likely put pressure on both sides to meet it, Zelenskyy added. “The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule,” he said. “And they say that…
Japan braces for more heavy snow over the weekend as Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency reports at least 45 deaths and over 500 snow-related injuries since January 20. The northwestern region of Niigata Prefecture recorded the highest number of deaths at 17, with over 170 injuries. Snowy conditions were seen in Aomori City and Wakkanai, with many vehicles stranded in snow. Japan’s Meteorological Agency warns of further heavy snow in western and northern coastal regions over the weekend. The agency urged local residents to remain alert for traffic disruptions and to be cautious of avalanches in heavy-snow areas from…
European governments are lagging behind global peers in using artificial intelligence (AI) in public services, according to a new study. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are struggling to translate AI ambitions into practical tools for civil servants, according to the Public Sector AI Adoption Index 2026 released today. The study, published by Public First for the Center for Data Innovation with sponsorship from Google, reveals that while AI use is accelerating globally, European nations are taking a more cautious, risk-averse approach that has left many public servants without access to the technology reshaping government work elsewhere. Despite widespread adoption—74…
Russian forces are pushing into EU and NATO territory through hybrid warfare tactics including surveillance, airspace violations and psychological operations — and increasingly in the digital realm. That is what a German soldier deployed in Lithuania experienced when he answered his phone and heard his own voice — a chat he’d had just hours earlier — by an unknown caller. “A comrade phones home, speaks for half an hour, and then gets a call from an unknown number. He answers – and hears his own conversation from earlier, recorded and played back,” Joshua Krebs described the experience in his book,…
Updated: 07/02/2026 – 7:00 GMT+1 Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this February 7th, 2026 – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel. … More
Ballet star Nicoletta Manni, prima ballerina at La Scala, carried the torch through the square before lighting the cauldron, which will burn guarded 24/7 until the Opening Ceremony this 6 February at San Siro Stadium. The relay, delayed by about an hour due to the crowd, had crossed several Milan suburbs earlier in the day. The Milan leg marked the 60th stage of a 12,000 km journey that began in Olympia last November. The flame is set to pass from the Duomo to Arco della Pace on Thursday before being escorted to San Siro Stadium for the 20:00 CET ceremony,…
Iranian and US officials arrived separately on Friday for indirect talks on Iran’s nuclear programme, mediated by Oman’s top diplomat. An Iranian convoy was seen departing from a palace on the outskirts of the Omani capital, Muscat, with Iranian state media acknowledging Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his Omani counterpart, Badr al-Busaidi. Only after the Iranian vehicles left did another convoy including an SUV flying the US flag enter the palace grounds. It stayed there for about an hour and a half before leaving, according to reports. Oman’s Foreign Ministry published a statement saying al-Busaidi met separately with Araghchi,…