Author: staff
KYIV — Ukraine was roiled this week by the most damaging corruption scandal of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s presidency. Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies revealed Monday that some of Zelenskyy’s close associates were allegedly involved in a plot to skim around $100 million from Ukraine’s energy sector. The scandal erupted as Ukrainians suffer blackouts caused by Russian bombing. The state said it had spent tens of millions of euros to protect energy infrastructure from drones and missiles. “Any effective action against corruption is very necessary,” Zelenskyy warned Monday night. “The inevitability of punishment is necessary.” We explain below what’s at stake as the corruption…
From Tuesday night into early Wednesday, a powerful G4 geomagnetic storm made the Aurora Borealis visible far beyond its usual range. Skywatchers across Europe, from Ireland and the UK to Poland and Austria, caught rare glimpses of the northern lights. In Austria, shades of red and pink coloured the skies over Salzburg, Filzmoos, Kaprun, Rauris, and Kolsassberg in Tyrol. The sight was exceptional at these southern latitudes. Forecasters said the display could return on Wednesday and Thursday nights as the storm continues to affect Earth’s magnetic field. The Space Weather Prediction Center issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch, the second-highest…
Ticked off the register: To be fair, Labour whips turned out their flock, with the government benches packed to the rafters despite reports some Labour MPs would boycott the Commons. Starmer entered the chamber with a grin (or grimace) on his face and to a somewhat over-the-top cheer from his colleagues. Caveat alert: There was no sign of Streeting in the chamber because he was in Manchester to address the NHS Providers Conference — and possibly grab some tips from Labour leadership wannabe and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham? Grab the hazmat suit: Badenoch quoted Streeting’s comments today, asking if…
The event called “The Great Melbourne Bagpipe Bash,” took place on the same street where the band filmed its 1976 video, playing on a truck rolling through city traffic. Thousands of spectators packed the square cheering on 374 pipers who broke the previous record of 333 set in Bulgaria in 2012. Among them was 98-year-old piper Gavin Davey, who called it a joyful finale to his long musical life. After their record was confirmed, the massed pipers played Happy Birthday and Amazing Grace to the delighted crowd. The celebration came hours before AC/DC’s first Australian concert in ten years at…
Published on 12/11/2025 – 12:50 GMT+1 On Wednesday, the Eurogroup — the meeting of finance ministers from eurozone countries — will discuss whether the Italian government’s use of discretionary or “golden” powers to block UniCredit’s acquisition of a competitor was justified. Italy’s golden power is a national security filter for deals in strategic assets such as defence or energy and functions like a veto. The government is allowed to intervene directly in the market and stop deals that it believes are not beneficial to the country. Italy’s Minister of Economy, Giancarlo Giorgetti, will be defending Rome’s position. The following day,…
Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Sky News Sam and Anne share notes on the late night WhatsApp chats following a day of briefings about Sir Keir Starmer’s future (and the WhatsApps keep coming as we record). The message from the PM’s team was if there’s a leadership challenge – from the someone in his own cabinet or elsewhere – he’d stand and fight. Allies of Team Starmer have pointed a finger at Wes Streeting. He’s denied any plot and has got an opportunity on the morning round to bolster that. As one government figure said to Sam –…
In Tehran, 38-year-old café owner Merat Behnam rides her yellow motorbike through the capital’s gridlocked streets — something once unthinkable for women in Iran. Despite facing legal restrictions, Merat and others are embracing two-wheel freedom in defiance of social norms. Iranian law allows only men to obtain motorcycle licenses, yet more women are taking to the roads as traffic worsens and attitudes slowly change. Reformists have called for the rule to be overturned, describing women’s riding as a symbol of independence and equality.
By AP with Euronews Published on 12/11/2025 – 9:55 GMT+1 The tech industry is moving fast and breaking things again – and this time it is humanity’s shared reality and control of our likeness before and after death, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) image-generation platforms like OpenAI’s Sora 2. The typical Sora video, made on OpenAI’s app and spread onto TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook, is designed to be amusing enough for you to click and share. It could be Queen Elizabeth II rapping or something more ordinary and believable. One popular Sora genre is fake doorbell camera footage capturing something slightly uncanny…
Streeting, widely regarded as a future leadership contender and seen as one of the government’s best communicators, was reported by the Guardian Tuesday evening as having 50 members of the government frontbench ready to stand down if Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget lands badly on Nov. 26. “It’s totally self-defeating briefing, not least because it’s not true, and I don’t understand how anyone thinks it’s helpful to the prime minister,” Streeting shot back on Sky News Wednesday, stressing briefings from unnamed allies “distract from our ability to get across the message of the change we’re making.” Streeting, who had been due…
A cable car gliding above towers and concrete may seem unusual, but Île-de-France will soon see its first one in action. From December 13, cabins will begin carrying passengers across Limeil-Brévannes in Val-de-Marne, a suburb long served only by buses. The 4.5-kilometre route, with five stations, will take just 18 minutes end to end. Residents say they are eager to try the quiet, comfortable cabins. For the local authorities, the cable car offered a cheaper, more practical option than building a tramway or metro through this densely populated area. The idea is not new: more than 80 cities worldwide already…