Author: staff

Published on 21/05/2025 – 13:06 GMT+2Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has defended Bruce Springsteen during a concert amid attacks by Donald Trump on the legendary singer.  Vedder spoke out in support of Springsteen during the band’s show at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, saying: “(Trump’s) response had nothing to do with the issues. They didn’t talk about one of those issues, they didn’t have a conversation about one of those issues. They didn’t debate about any one of those issues. All that we heard were personal attacks and threats that nobody else should try to use their microphones or…

The arrests come a day after German authorities warned that extreme-right crimes in Germany surged by nearly 50 percent last year as “politically motivated” offenses reached a record high. In particular, German officials warn of increasing radicalization of young people. “We have to realize that in society as a whole, and among a share of young people, we see a shift to the right and an increase in the acceptance of violence,” said Holger Münch, the head of Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office, on Tuesday. The five suspects arrested Wednesday are juveniles, according to prosecutors. Two of the suspects are…

Emergency services started receiving reports early in the day as the animal eventually entered the Neris River, captivating a growing crowd of onlookers who watched it calmly drink and glance around. By evening, wildlife experts and emergency teams managed to guide the moose downstream, where it safely left the river and vanished into the nearby forest. Specialists say the young animal appeared healthy. Vilnius, surrounded by extensive woodland, occasionally experiences similar wildlife encounters.

Japan’s exports to the United States, its largest single trading partner, fell nearly 2% in April as tariff hikes imposed by President Donald Trump hit home.Globally, exports rose just 2% year-on-year, down from 4% in March, leaving a trade deficit for the first time in three months.Imports from the United States fell more than 11% in April, while total imports slipped 2.2%.Weakening exports could drag on growth after the economy contracted 0.7% in the last quarter.Japan is asking the Trump administration to scrap its tariffs on imports from Japan, but so far, the US has not agreed to do so.Trump’s…

The Republican leader’s “first mistake was right at the beginning, when he essentially conceded Ukraine’s NATO membership and some of Russia’s territorial demands before even entering into talks,” Pistorius said. Trump — who has long touted his deal-making prowess and while campaigning claimed he could easily end the conflict — publicly ruled out Ukraine joining the transatlantic military alliance and said it was unlikely Kyiv would reclaim all of its territory occupied by Russia, to the consternation of Ukraine’s Western backers. “That’s not how you start negotiations. And it’s a very weak position from which to pursue peace or ceasefire…

By AP with Indrabati Lahiri Published on 21/05/2025 – 11:32 GMT+2Oil prices surged on Wednesday after a report by CNN suggested that Israel could launch an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to new US intelligence. US crude oil jumped 1.1% on Wednesday morning to $62.7 per barrel, whereas Brent crude oil advanced 1% to $66 per barrel. However, CNN emphasised that it wasn’t clear as yet whether a confirmed decision about the possible attack had been made.Oil markets have been volatile for the last few days, mainly because of anticipation around the next round of Iran-US nuclear talks, due to be held…

Even though Trump has suspended the worst of his tariff increases on EU exports until the start of July, “a further escalation represents a significant risk for the German economy,” the panel warned. The new government in Berlin, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has announced plans to spend heavily on domestic infrastructure and defense, both of which should support what the panel called “a slow recovery in private consumption,” leading to anemic growth of 1 percent in 2026. The forecast is in line with the European Commission’s prognosis and, if borne out, would mean Germany…

Ambassadors from EU countries on Wednesday approved the €150 billion loan instrument to boost defence production across the bloc, enshrining a 65%-35% European preference.SAFE, which the Commission proposed through a legislative instrument that allows it to bypass a vote by European lawmakers, still requires formal adoption by member states, which is expected to take place on 27 May.Here are the main things to remember:European preferenceAmbassadors from member states stuck with the proposal of the Commission that in order to qualify for EU funds, a minimum of 65% of the value of the weapon system being acquired has to be made…

Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves will have their strategy tested today as Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner sets out her plan for higher taxes, and questions are raised about their approach to Reform. Is becoming Reform-lite the way to go? And, as the prime minister joins global efforts to put pressure on Israel over Gaza, could more sanctions be next?

The lobby’s latest Economic Impact Research showed a 6.9 percent decline in international visitor spending, from $181 billion in 2024 to $168.7 billion this year, sounding the alarm for U.S. tourism. The document — first reported by the New York Times — doesn’t spell out which countries are seeing the largest declines in tourists to the U.S. By contrast, domestic visitor spending is expected to remain stable at about $1.5 trillion — a figure that shows the U.S. tourism industry is nearly 90 percent dependent on domestic travel. “We absolutely have seen a decline in popularity of foreign travelers coming…