Author: staff

The flood of nonconsensual images on X, created using the platform’s generative AI chatbot feature Grok, attracted the attention of the U.K.’s media regulator Ofcom, which said it made “urgent contact” with X on Monday to determine whether an investigation under the U.K.’s Online Safety Act is warranted. On Friday an Ofcom spokesperson said: “We urgently made contact on Monday and set a firm deadline of today to explain themselves, to which we have received a response. We’re now undertaking an expedited assessment as a matter of urgency and will provide further updates shortly.” The U.S. administration has previously criticized…

Published on 09/01/2026 – 18:12 GMT+1 Berlin’s ruling mayor Kai Wegner faces mounting pressure to resign after playing tennis during a major power blackout caused by left-wing extremists, with opposition parties and former mayors demanding his removal. Wegner told reporters Sunday he had “been on the phone all day” during Saturday’s terrorist attack that left more than 40,000 Berlin households without power. However, the Senate Chancellery confirmed to state public broadcaster rbb that he played tennis with his partner, Education Senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch, between 1 pm and 2 pm on Saturday. Günther-Wünsch is also facing criticism. As education senator, she…

A new report has revealed which of the world’s airlines and airports had the fewest delays in 2025. The review by Cirium found that Aeromexico was the most reliable carrier, while Santiago Airport in Chile had the highest on-time departure rate. Which is the world’s most reliable airline? For the second consecutive year, Aeromexico has claimed the top spot in Cirium’s global ranking of on-time performance, which compares the top 10 per cent of passenger airlines by capacity. The airline had 90.02 per cent of its nearly 189,000 flights depart or arrive within 15 minutes of schedule, with each month…

Meloni warned that Europe needs a coordinated approach or “risks doing Putin a favor.” Since the beginning of negotiations over a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, “many voices have been speaking out, and that’s why I’ve always been in favor of appointing a European special envoy on the Ukrainian issue,” Meloni said. Peace talks aimed at ending the all-out conflict, which Russia launched in February 2022, have accelerated with U.S. President Donald Trump back in the White House, but Moscow has not indicated that it is willing to make concessions. The U.S. in November proposed that Russia be readmitted to the Group…

As Bulgaria begins the new year by bidding farewell to the Lev, a new Eurobarometer study found that almost 80% of respondents across the euro area believe the euro is a good thing for the EU. Support for the currency is the highest in Finland (91%), Lithuania (85%), Slovenia (85%) and Slovakia (85%). On the other hand, only 38% in Croatia claim the euro is good for their country, a figure that has dropped six percentage points since 2024. Support has also decreased significantly in Estonia and Belgium, a fall of 6 and 5 percentage points, respectively. Most respondents in…

Social media platform TikTok has reportedly removed six videos from the far-right Polish leader Grzegorz Braun, including one related to an attack on a Jewish celebration. Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita reported that one of the six removed videos shows a lit seven-branched candlestick that was doused with a stream of water from a fire extinguisher by someone who resembled Braun’s figure. The video also had the slogan, “if you’re afraid, you’re already a slave.” Another video removed from the platform showed Braun denying the existence of gas chambers at Auschwitz, one of the largest German concentration camps during World War II,…

Europe’s biggest ever trade deal finally got the nod Friday after 25 years of negotiating. It took blood, sweat, tears and tortured discussions to get there, but EU countries at last backed the deal with the Mercosur bloc — paving the way to create a free trade area that covers more than 700 million people across Europe and Latin America. The agreement, which awaits approval from the European Parliament, will eliminate more than 90 percent of tariffs on EU exports. European shoppers will be able to dine on grass-fed beef from the Argentinian pampas. Brazilian drivers will see import duties…

A nationwide minute of silence at 14:00 CET saw normal life briefly stop, as bells rang in churches and flags were lowered to honour the 40 victims. In Crans-Montana, residents and visitors gathered in the snow outside the Centre de Congrès Le Régent, which quickly filled to capacity. Others followed the ceremony on large screens set up at Place du Scandia. Flowers and candles were placed near the ruined Le Constellation bar, now a makeshift memorial. Authorities said 116 people were injured in the blaze. Investigators are still examining the cause, while local services focus on supporting families and survivors…

From today, Friday 9 January, the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is operational at dozens more of the bloc’s airports and ports. The new border controls launched in October 2025. Initially, the threshold for EU countries to register third-country arrivals was set at only 10 per cent. This has now increased to 35 per cent. The new system has already been causing significant delays for air passengers. Travel trade association ABTA is now urging greater use of contingency measures by EU border officials as the EES rollout expands. EES results in waiting times of up to three hours at airports At…

Once filed, the Parliament’s legal team will check the motion, and if approved, Parliament President Roberta Metsola will contact all MEPs with the details. If the choreography of previous censure motions is followed, a debate is likely to be held on Monday, Jan. 19, with a vote on Thursday, Jan. 22. Scheduling a motion of censure requires the backing of 72 lawmakers. As the Patriots have 82 MEPs, they do not need the support of other political groups. The motion — which, if successful, would see von der Leyen and all 26 of her commissioners dismissed — is almost certain to…