Author: staff

Option 4: Deploy the nuclear option The most powerful constitutional instrument would be Bundeszwang, or federal coercion. Under Article 37 of Germany’s Basic Law, the federal government, with the consent of the Bundesrat — the chamber representing the states — may take “necessary measures” to compel a state to fulfill its legal obligations. In plain English: Berlin could force a state government to obey federal law. The provision has never been used. In the reporting for this story, no one interviewed brought it up on their own — perhaps out of conviction, perhaps out of fear that merely mentioning it…

A 41-year-old French tourist died on Sunday near Balos, in the Chania region of Crete, after collapsing while hiking in high temperatures and intense sunshine. The woman had gone to the area in the afternoon with her partner. According to information from the Coordination Centre of the Hellenic Fire Service, passed on to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), the couple left their car in a car park at Falasarna and continued on foot towards Balos beach, following the path of a difficult trail. Despite warning signs in the area prohibiting access, the two tourists took a route which involves a…

Published on 24/08/2026 – 8:24 GMT+2 Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, already facing a flood crisis in the country’s north, held an urgent meeting on Sunday with high-level security officials in response to coordinated violence overnight in three southern provinces where a small-scale Muslim insurgency is active. The meeting, held shortly before Anutin flew north to inspect the badly flooded province of Nan, followed 51 incidents on Saturday night in the southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala. The attackers did not engage with military or police forces. Only three civilians were known to have been wounded and they were…

Football is increasingly becoming an industry for international investors while technology has already become a significant part of the sport. Global hiring platform Indeed announced that football club recruitment in the UK has tripled since 2018. Data and analytics roles now account for a record 3.2% of professional football club hiring. Their share has more than doubled over this period as clubs invest in professionals who help shape recruitment, performance and tactical decisions. The data focuses on the UK, but European football is highly interconnected. Data and analytics are also playing a significant role in the top European leagues such…

Social media and the digital sphere has taken over much of our lives in the last few years. This has especially impacted younger generations such as Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who have practically grown up in the digital era. Endless screen time, constant notifications and rising fear of missing out (FOMO) have led to more chronically online users and more mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and low self-worth. A rising number of ads and tracking features, along with more data privacy and security concerns have also contributed to growing unease around popular social media platforms like Instagram,…

After a summer of setting out his stall, Andy Burnham now faces the hard task: turning ambition into action. In the last of the summer boxset, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy take a deep dive into five big challenges facing the government in the coming months. From defining the 10-year plan to unresolved pressure at home and abroad, the duo give their take and analysis on a critical parliamentary term ahead. With party conferences and a key budget on the horizon, can Burnham’s government deliver on the change it has promised?

Published on 24/08/2026 – 9:04 GMT+2•Updated 9:30 Russian e-commerce giant Ozon said four of its logistics hubs in southern Russia were targeted by Ukrainian drones on Monday, as Kyiv expanded a campaign aimed at disrupting Moscow’s commercial supply networks. Drone debris also struck apartment buildings and set warehouses on fire. A fire broke out at an Ozon centre in Makhachkala, the capital of Russia’s Dagestan region, after a drone attack at around 05:00 local time, the company said. Several people were wounded but their lives were not in danger, according to Ozon, which said the facility had suspended operations. A…

More than 2,000 robots are taking part in the Beijing Robot Games, where humanoid machines race, play football and perform tai chi. At the National Speed Skating Oval on Sunday, Tiangong Omni-04 won the 400-metre race for smaller robots in 45.66 seconds, while others fell or stopped before reaching the finish. The five-day competition is designed to test skills that robots may eventually need in real-world settings. Engineers cool the machines after races and watch closely as they walk, run and take on physical challenges. At the tai chi event, robots attempt kicks and aerial turns. Engineers say such trials…

DiCarlo also expressed concerns about Ukraine’s drone attacks. “Any attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur, are a clear violation of international humanitarian law,” she said.  It is an argument that infuriates Ukrainian officials, who bristle when asked about the risks to Russian civilians with the tactical switch. Even asking the question triggers accusations of echoing Moscow propagandists. “You are helping Russia by pushing this civilian stuff,” a presidential aide said. He declined to answer when asked whether Ukrainian commanders adhere to any pre-strike procedures to assess risks to civilians. The change in tactics has alarmed some European…

The owner of the Swiss bar ravaged by a deadly New Year fire is in pre-trial detention, accused of domestic abuse against his wife and co-owner of the establishment, media reported on Sunday. French couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti have been the focus of intense scrutiny since the fire ripped though their bar Le Constellation, in the Crans-Montana ski resort in the early hours of 1 January. The blaze killed 41 people, most of them teenagers, injuring 115 other people. The Morettis are among 16 people facing criminal investigation in the case. They face charges including manslaughter by negligence and…