Author: staff
Published on 24/06/2026 – 14:22 GMT+2 The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) in London has removed a video installation by British artist Helen Cammock after a row erupted over its characterisation of Winston Churchill’s role in the 1943 Bengal famine. The NPG had commissioned the artwork, titled “Persistence,” as part of a project involving nine artists who offered a reflexive approach on portraiture. Cammock’s output was first exhibited in the London museum in September 2025 and was set to remain on display until August 2026. The museum said it challenges “the National Portrait Gallery’s position as an institution chiefly known for…
These now infamous soirées led to an underage prostitution case, which saw Berlusconi accused of corruption and abuse of office. He was ultimately acquitted, unlike former dental hygienist and television personality Nicole Minetti, whose conviction for her role in procuring women for these events wreaked havoc on current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s justice ministry in May. Villa Certosa’s buyer is reported to be acting through a Luxembourg-based investment vehicle linked to the Al Thani family, the dynasty that has ruled Qatar for more than 150 years. The purchase adds to the family’s growing footprint in Sardinia, where it already holds…
The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog has given his clearest signal yet that inspectors will gain access to Iran’s uranium enrichment sites, pushing back against contradictory statements from both Washington and Tehran that have muddied the terms of last week’s framework deal between the two sides. Speaking at a press conference at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Wednesday, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said the memorandum of understanding signed by both presidents leaves no room for ambiguity. “I can understand political statements, they are part of the reality, but the fundamental thing I…
By Pascale Davies with AP Published on 24/06/2026 – 12:09 GMT+2 A supercomputer in China now outranks its US counterparts as the world’s most powerful, which is the first time since 2017 that a Chinese computer has topped a list sometimes viewed as a measure of a nation’s technological prowess. The LineShine computer in Shenzhen, China, displaced top-ranked US computer El Capitan in the latest version of the TOP500 ranking announced Tuesday. It was the Chinese computer’s debut on the list. However, there were four European supercomputers in the top 10. Dropping to fifth place is the Jupiter supercomputer in Germany. Supercomputers are…
Although it may seem unbelievable, this week marks 10 years since the Brexit vote – and 10 years of confusion for many. In the decade since the UK voted to leave the EU, holidaymakers are still grappling with a maze of travel rules that continue to cause headaches at airports, borders and holiday destinations across Europe. Research suggests that Brexit-related travel anxiety remains firmly on the agenda, with millions of Brits unclear on everything from passport validity rules to new visa requirements and healthcare cover abroad. Here’s everything you might not know about travelling in the Brexit era, but really…
Published on 24/06/2026 – 13:08 GMT+2 The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool debacle has become an unwelcome distraction for Donald Trump, and his latest move has sparked online critism – with several reactions going viral. Trump’s $14 million project to resurface the 2,000-foot pool in Washington D.C., which was supposed to make the water appear an “American flag blue” for the US’ 250th birthday, has not gone to plan. Instead of turning a vibrant blue, the pool turned green with algae blooming in the water within a matter of days after work was completed. Workers began pumping materials into the pool…
Cyprus, which is in line with the EU’s position, will attend as an observer. “Cyprus is not a co-organizer of the event, and it is not taking place at a political level. Cyprus was chosen by the executive committee,” explained one of the officials. Trump set up the Washington-led Board of Peace to oversee the reconstruction and governance of the Gaza Strip. The group held its first meeting in February but has made little progress due to funding issues, logistical hurdles and questions regarding its international and legal legitimacy. Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza remains dire: In a recent strike,…
Munich’s Brewers’ Day brought processions, ceremony and traditional music to the city centre on 20 June, with crowds forming as brewers and maltsters were honoured in a civic ritual rooted in the city’s brewing heritage. Around 3,000 litres of beer are shared across the day, with an official tapping marking one of the key moments of the programme. The schedule begins in the morning with apprentices assembling before a procession to St Peter’s Church, followed by the main ceremony at Marienplatz. A stage programme of folk music and dance runs into the afternoon as visitors fill the old town. Brewers’…
Published on 24/06/2026 – 12:44 GMT+2•Updated 13:06 One of Europe’s largest military equipment producers, KNDS, rolled out long-awaited details of its initial public offering (IPO), aiming for a dual listing in Paris and Frankfurt in the coming weeks. The IPO could value KNDS, the maker of Leopard and Leclerc tanks, at between €12bn and €15bn, according to the Financial Times, potentially making it one of Europe’s largest defence listings in recent years. The listing comes at a time when European military budgets are surging, driven by the war in Ukraine and doubts over the reliability of the US as a…
Gulf banks are keen to embrace artificial intelligence, but many are still trying to answer a basic question: how can they use the technology without putting sensitive customer information at risk? The issue is becoming increasingly important as banks across the region explore new AI tools that can speed up routine tasks, analyse documents and improve productivity. For Najla Ibrahim Al-Mutawa, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at QNB, the debate goes beyond efficiency. “For banks, the question is not simply whether generative AI can improve efficiency or customer experience, but whether it can be deployed in a…