Author: staff
Published on 09/07/2026 – 16:39 GMT+2 A fire that tore through a shoe factory in eastern China on Thursday killed at least 28 people, state media said, after dozens of fire and rescue personnel raced to extinguish the blaze. Hours after the fire broke out at the Huiteng Shoes factory around noon, there were fears people were still trapped inside the building in Jinjiang city, Fujian province. President Xi Jinping said the fire resulted in “heavy human losses,” with state news agency Xinhua later citing a preliminary toll of 28 dead. “The cause of the accident should be identified as…
The Science, Innovation and Technology committee last month also called on the government to ditch the company from the public sector amid concerns about vendor lock-in. A Palantir spokesperson said: “Palantir software is helping to deliver better patient care – including 110,000 additional operations to date, a 15% reduction in discharge delays and a 6.8% increase in patients finding out whether they need cancer treatment within 28 days. “The software is also helping to deliver a Government programme that is one of only 30 out of 213 that has a green delivery rating, forecast to deliver a £5 return for…
Italy ordered the expulsion of two Russian military attaches accused of spying on Thursday, with its foreign minister condemning “serious and unacceptable acts of interference” by Moscow. The expulsions came two days after police announced the arrest of two former Italian intelligence agents who media reports said gave Russia secrets on military aid to Ukraine. “The Italian government has decided to expel two military attaches from the embassy of the Russian Federation in Italy, involved in espionage activities uncovered by the Rome public prosecutor’s office,” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote in a post on X. The minister named the Russians…
Residents in Gantang town, in southern China’s Guangxi region, are clearing mud and debris after severe flooding damaged homes and streets. The footage shows people sweeping water from houses, removing flood remains and walking through roads covered with mud after the waters receded. The floods followed days of heavy rain across southern and central China, causing widespread damage in Guangxi. Local residents said some areas experienced flooding on a scale rarely seen before, with homes and belongings affected by rising water.
Published on 09/07/2026 – 15:30 GMT+2 Spain’s National Court has ordered BBVA, its former chairman Francisco González and another 14 people to stand trial over alleged illegal assignments awarded to former police commissioner José Manuel Villarejo between 2004 and 2016. Judge Antonio Piña is sending the bank to trial on one count of bribery and 52 counts of unlawful discovery and disclosure of secrets. He has also set a bond of 1.17 million euros to cover possible civil liabilities and given the defendants ten days to submit their defence briefs. Francisco González will be tried for alleged offences of bribery,…
Because of the unusual procedure, voting in Strasbourg was confused and chaotic. One member told Parliament Vice President Sophie Wilmès: “We don’t know what we are voting on.” The vote means member countries must now decide whether to accept the Parliament’s changes. If they do not, and propose a different version, the law will go to a dreaded “conciliation” procedure. That procedure was used earlier this year to pass a long-stalled law on air passengers’ rights but, other than that, has not been used since 2013. The continuation of negotiations means tech companies remain without a legal basis to voluntarily…
By Kirsten Ripper & Euronews Published on 09/07/2026 – 14:20 GMT+2 On Tuesday, the weather service WetterOnline was already reporting air in southern Germany that feels as if it has come from a hairdryer, with temperatures between 30 and 35 degrees. And while further south in Europe, for example in France, forest fires are already raging, the risk of wildfires is also increasing in southern Germany due to the dry gusty winds. Because it has not rained properly in many places for a long time and the brief thunderstorms have brought little relief, many forests and fields have dried out. An omega high…
The options paper was requested by the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, following a meeting with foreign ministers in Luxembourg last month. The Commission has already presented suggestions for possible trade restrictions and sanctions on “extremist” Israeli ministers, but these have so far not found the support required from member countries. Suspending a trade agreement with Israel in its entirety or sanctioning individual politicians would require unanimous support from all 27 EU countries, and Czechia has vowed to veto any such move. While goods from Israeli West Bank settlements are in theory excluded from preferential trade arrangements for export to…
Published on 09/07/2026 – 13:47 GMT+2 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will donate a pistol given by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to a military museum in the Belgian capital once it is brought to Brussels. European Commission Deputy Chief Spokesperson Olof Gill said that von der Leyen expressed her “thanks” to the Turkish leader for the present given at the end of the annual NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday. “The firearm will be securely transported and stored, and once decommissioned, it is the intention of the president to donate the firearm to a military museum,” he…
Known for dramatic silhouettes and theatrical designs, Robert Wun presented a collection titled ‘Childsplay’, inspired by the simplicity and imagination of childhood. The designer said he wanted to explore the beauty of uncomplicated ideas through couture. The show featured sculptural gowns, detailed tailoring and handcrafted pieces, reflecting Wun’s distinctive approach to fashion. After the presentation, the designer joined guests and celebrities including Cardi B to pose for photos in the French capital.