Author: staff
By Laila Humairah Published on 21/05/2026 – 17:02 GMT+2 The United Kingdom has signed a landmark trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), expected to inject more than €4 billion a year into the British economy. The deal is the first of its kind between the GCC, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and a major G7 country. Under the agreement, up to 93% of GCC tariffs on British goods will eventually be eliminated, wiping out around €670 million in annual duties on UK exports. Around two-thirds of those reductions will take effect as soon…
Published on 21/05/2026 – 16:10 GMT+2 Elon Musk’s SpaceX is gearing up for what could be the most consequential stock market debut in history. The rocket and satellite company is eyeing a Wall Street listing as early as next month, with reports suggesting it could raise as much as $75 billion (€68bn) — a figure that would eclipse every IPO ever recorded. To put that in perspective, here is every record-holder it would be leapfrogging. The current champion: Saudi Aramco The world’s most profitable oil company holds the crown with a $25.6bn (€23.2bn) listing on the Riyadh Stock Exchange in…
A new laser ground station is beginning operations in Greece as Europe accelerates efforts to build a continent-wide network for faster and more secure satellite communications. The Holomondas Optical Ground Station, built through a partnership between the European Space Agency (ESA), the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, will support a new generation of Greek satellite missions using high-speed optical communications, according to an announcement made by the partners. Developers of the new station say the facility is faster and cheaper to operate than traditional systems. Astrolight, the Lithuanian company that supplied the optical communications equipment,…
During his second presidency, the American leader has repeatedly floated the idea of annexing Greenland, without excluding the use of military force. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded in January that taking Greenland would end NATO. In December last year, Trump appointed U.S. Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland, sparking strong condemnations from both Denmark and the European Commission after Landry suggested his role was “to make Greenland a part of the U.S.” Although Trump has since walked back claims of annexing the island, his administration is trying to increase its influence. Former NATO chief Anders Rasmussen told…
The main center-right family in the European parliament does not want its members to appear publicly alongside far-right lawmakers, even if they align with them in voting within the European Parliament. According to officials from the European People’s Party, the group led by German Manfred Weber is considering sanctions against Slovenian MEP Branko Grims, after he took part in an event involving members of the far right Patriots for Europe (PfE) and Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) groups, as well as the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR). EPP officials say Weber has asked the group’s presidency to draw up…
Authorities in the capital opened temporary cooling shelters equipped with fans, air coolers, drinking water and oral rehydration salts to help residents and tourists cope with the heat. Health officials advised people to remain indoors during the hottest part of the day and seek medical attention if symptoms such as dizziness or high fever appear. The India Meteorological Department warned that extreme temperatures are expected to persist in the coming days, particularly across the northern plains. The extreme weather has disrupted daily life across states including Uttar Pradesh, where some roads and markets closed during afternoon hours as temperatures became…
British low-cost airline EasyJet said on Thursday that its losses widened in the six months to the end of March, as the Iran war pushed up jet fuel costs and weakened booking visibility. The conflict continues to disrupt global aviation, with European jet fuel prices rising by more than 80% since late February amid disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for around one-fifth of global oil supplies. Airlines across Europe have responded by raising fares, trimming costs, and warning of pressure on margins. EasyJet reported a total loss after tax of £377 million ($506mn) for…
“It was not flagged during our G7 finance ministerial meeting earlier this week, so came as a surprise,” Dombrovskis said. “What we were discussing in G7 [is] actually that now is not the time to roll back sanctions against Russia because Russia is actually the country that is benefiting from the war in Iran and having substantial windfall profits due to the higher energy prices,” he added. “It is important to sustain and, if anything, strengthen sanctions against Russia in [the] current situation and that’s the point we’ll continue to insist on with our international partners including the U.K.” British…
Published on 21/05/2026 – 15:01 GMT+2 Five Italian nationals who died while scuba diving in the Maldives may have become lost while exploring an underwater cave, the CEO of the company that recovered their bodies said on Thursday. The four remaining bodies were reportedly found earlier this week by a team of Finnish divers working for Dan Europe. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously said that the divers had gone missing while “attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 metres.” An early reconstruction of events showed the cave the divers entered was divided into “three large chambers…
The attack entirely destroyed the building and left heavy structural rubble scattered across nearby narrow streets. By Thursday morning, personal household belongings, clothing, and children’s toys were visible mixed among the debris. While no fatalities were immediately confirmed, emergency and rescue teams extracted multiple injured civilians from the wreckage. The victims, including at least one individual reported to be in critical condition, were transferred to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah for emergency treatment. Residents gathered around the destroyed structure as families searched through broken concrete and damaged furniture. “There is no ceasefire,” said homeowner Ibrahim Ismail after the…