Author: staff

A new set of infrastructure commitments is set to accelerate development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, the route linking Europe with the South Caucasus and Central Asia. The corridor has become one of the fastest-growing alternatives to traditional East-West trade connections and is seen as a way to reduce exposure to vulnerable or politically constrained routes. A cross-regional investors meeting in Tashkent brought European institutions, South Caucasus partners, and Central Asian governments together to move the corridor from plans to financed projects. The gathering produced new investment packages, technical programmes, and early signs that private operators increasingly view the route…

Published on 01/12/2025 – 11:05 GMT+1 Ryanair has axed its Prime membership loyalty scheme after just eight months, as passengers took full advantage of the benefits. Launched in March for frequent flyers who didn’t want to “break the bank”, the scheme offered perks like free reserved seats and travel insurance. Despite being limited to 250,000 customers on a first-come, first-served basis, only 55,000 passengers joined the scheme since its debut. However, on 28 November, Ryanair confirmed that no new members will now be allowed to sign up. Ryanair’s Prime membership Priced at €79 for a 12-month subscription, the airline’s loyalty…

Pediatric respiratory diseases are among the most common and serious health challenges we face worldwide. From examples such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to pertussis (also known as whooping cough), these infections can cause significant illness, hospitalizations, and with some, possible long-term consequences.[1],[2] Worldwide, RSV causes approximately 3.6 million hospitalizations and 100,000 deaths each year in children under five years of age.[3] Yet, many of these infections may be prevented, if we continue to prioritize and strengthen immunization. Immunization is not just a scientific achievement; it’s a public health imperative. And in this new era, Sanofi is at the forefront,…

Greek farmers have blocked major national roads with tractors, effectively dividing the country’s main north-south highway in protest against the increased cost of production, low prices and delays in payments from the government. The blockade comes after several people were arrested last week in a spiralling farm fraud case that revealed millions of euros were paid in illegal subsidies by OPEKEPE, the organisation in charge of distributing EU farm funds, a scandal that has provoked farmers and brought extra scrutiny to subsidy payments in the country. During the preliminary investigation, some 324 people were found to be recipients of subsidies…

It seems like the ancient Silk Road is no longer just a cultural reference point. It is becoming one of the fastest-reviving travel corridors in Eurasia. Fresh data and industry signals presented at the 30th Tashkent International Tourism Fair (TITF-2025) show that tourism across Central Asia and the South Caucasus is accelerating far beyond pre-pandemic levels, driven by new flight routes, nature tourism development, craft industries, and the rapid rise of AI-based planning tools. Representatives of more than 40 countries gathered in Tashkent for three days of B2B negotiations, sector forums, youth programmes and digital travel showcases — producing a…

Shortly before taking office a year ago, the Council president said he wanted to organize periodic, informal meetings of EU leaders where they could discuss broad, strategic topics without the need to reach definitive conclusions. The objective was to create space for the kinds of debates that regularly derailed official summits chaired by Costa’s predecessor, Charles Michel. Although Costa wanted to hold the retreats outside the Belgian capital, security concerns obliged him to hold the first of these events in Brussels’ central Egmont Palace last February. During that session, EU leaders discussed issues related to the wider topic of European…

Dozens of pro-Russia and anti-EU accounts on X have been accused of misleading users after the platform rolled out a new transparency feature revealing where profiles are posting from, how they downloaded the app and when they joined. The “about this account” tab, now visible on every profile, shows a user’s reported location. X warns that the feature may not be accurate, and can be affected by VPNs, travel or temporary relocations. “This is an important first step to securing the integrity of the global town square. We plan to provide many more ways for users to verify the authenticity…

Published on 01/12/2025 – 10:16 GMT+1 •Updated 10:19 Officials in Hong Kong said on Monday that the protective netting that covered scaffolding around buildings that caught on fire last week did not meet codes for fire resistance. Chris Tang, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, said samples of the netting were taken from multiple locations from the seven buildings that burned. Seven samples were found to be not up to standards. Initial tests had suggested the netting was up to standard but investigators had not been able to check all of it due to the fire. “Because the fire is now…

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Sky News The budget fallout continues, but did the prime minister and the chancellor exaggerate the size of the black hole? Sam and Anne question whether Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves misled the cabinet and the country to justify the smorgasbord of tax rises, as pressure mounts across the political divide. Elsewhere, have reset talks with the European Union hit the buffers over defence? Plus, the spotlight is on the head of the Office for Budget Responsibility as the investigation into the budget leak is given to the Treasury.

The case is one of a number launched by prosecutors against Hasina and her family in Bangladesh. Hasina fled the country last year after more than a decade in charge. The ex-PM was sentenced to death in a separate trial a fortnight ago. Siddiq quit as a  Treasury minister in January following multiple media reports — heavily disputed by Siddiq — that she benefited from her family’s rule of Bangladesh. She said she did not want to be a “distraction” for the government. In a statement at the start of the trial, Siddiq said prosecutors had “peddled false and vexatious…