Author: staff

By AP Published on 29/05/2025 – 16:48 GMT+2The US economy shrank at a 0.2% annual pace from January through March, the first drop in three years, as President Donald Trump’s trade wars disrupted business, the government said on Thursday in a slight upgrade of its initial estimate.First-quarter growth was brought down by a surge in imports as companies in the United States hurried to bring in foreign goods before the president imposed massive import taxes.The January-March drop in gross domestic product — the nation’s output of goods and services — reversed a 2.4% gain in the fourth quarter of 2024.Imports grew…

Mass tourism is once again testing the limits of Europe’s most visited places – and islands are among the hardest hit. With limited land and fragile infrastructure, record visitor numbers have driven up housing costs and stretched local services beyond breaking point. In recent years, protests have erupted across archipelagos as residents call on local governments to start putting them first. A new analysis from BookRetreats.com has delved into which islands are most overloaded and which have been quietly modelling a more sustainable approach. Overtourism is particularly damaging in small regions”Tourism has transformed many of Europe’s islands, but the pace…

Published on 29/05/2025 – 16:18 GMT+2It’s been nearly five months since we lost visionary director David Lynch, and now his memorabilia are up for auction.Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) have announced the David Lynch Collection, which includes more than 450 items like Lynch’s vinyl collection, books, scripts, paintings, instruments and treasured movie collectables. Even some of his woodshop tools and accessories.“Julien’s and TCM are honored to represent and offer to the public for the first time this incredible collection of one of the greatest and most revered filmmakers of all time, David Lynch,” Catherine Williamson, the managing director…

The research found there is still confusion about financial products. Two-thirds of people do not understand what a credit card APR is and more than half are unaware that BNPL regulation is underway. However, Brits are clear on their priorities for financial products, with 44 percent wanting a product that charges no interest at all.   With the average household credit card debt sitting at £2,534* compared with £51 for the average active Clearpay customer, you can understand why Brits are gradually changing the way they pay.    More options mean more people can access exactly what they need. As money expert…

Travellers heading to or through Switzerland this summer may find themselves unexpectedly grounded.The country’s national airline, Swiss, has confirmed it will cancel around 1,400 flights from now through October as it confronts an ongoing shortage of pilots.The cuts will affect multiple short-haul routes from Zurich and Geneva, including flights across Europe. Some long-haul services, such as those to Shanghai and Chicago, will also operate less frequently.And some routes, including its summer service to Hurghada in Egypt, have been suspended entirely.What Swiss is doing to address the shortfallSwiss says it ‘deeply regrets’ the situation and has introduced a range of short-term…

“First of all, I have invited the Google management and important industry representatives to the chancellery for talks in order to examine the alternatives such as voluntary commitments,” said Weimer, who is a member of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right party. “At the same time, we are preparing a draft law.” The bill would be drafted along the lines of a similar levy already in place in Austria, Weimer said. Earlier this month, the Commission floated a similar proposal to raise the funds needed to repay its €350 billion post-Covid debt, which Germany had opposed back then. The shift appears to…

She identified four central tasks to bring about independence: Securing peace by increasing defense spending; strengthening innovation and competitiveness to stimulate growth; expanding the bloc in what she referred to as “a historic reunification”; and renewing and strengthening democracy to protect member countries from internal and external threats. “That we are now enabling funding of up to €800 billion for defense would have been impossible just a few years ago,” von der Leyen said. “We are doing this because we want to defend peace with all our might … A new international order will emerge before the end of this…

By Euronews Published on 29/05/2025 – 14:30 GMT+2More than half of Europeans – 52% – tend to trust the European Commission and EU, the highest result since 2007, according Eurostat’s most recent barometer, but the survey also recorded rising fears for the economic outlook in Europe.The survey showed 43% of EU citizens continue to have a positive image of the EU, while 38% have a neutral image and 18% have a negative image of the EU.Eurobarometer surveys are conducted regularly on the basis of face to face research across the member states, providing a snapshot of public opinion.Nearly nine in ten…

By Euronews Published on 29/05/2025 – 14:34 GMT+2The landmark visit of Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Slovenia was marked by high-level discussions and a joint business forum, as the Alpine EU member state remains a key partner to the Central Asian country. Uzbekistan is Slovenia’s second-largest foreign trade partner in Central Asia, and the two plan to increase trade turnover to €500 million by further expanding the exchange of goods and services and investment opportunities.During the visit, Mirziyoyev and his Slovenian counterpart Nataša Pirc Musar participated in a business forum attended by over 100 industrial and trade enterprises from both countries.…

Blunt, a former justice minister, was arrested on suspicion of rape in October 2023 while still serving as an MP for Reigate in Surrey. At the time, Blunt said he was interviewed twice and arrested the second time: “The arrest was unnecessary as I remain ready to cooperate fully with the investigation that I am confident will end without charge.”  The-then Tory MP also said he would not comment on the matter until the police had concluded their inquiries. The Conservative whip was removed and he did not stand at the 2024 election. Surrey Police said: “An investigation was launched…