2025-01-16

Vatican

Pope Francis hurts right arm after another fall

The ageing Catholic leader's health has been a matter of public concern for some time.

16/01/2025

Economy

ECB minutes show concerns over economic outlook and geopolitical risks

The European Central Bank cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 3% at its December meeting, aiming to support a weakening eurozone economy. However, minutes from the meeting reveal a sharp divide among policymakers on how aggressive the central bank should be in its approach.

16/01/2025

Serbia

Student hit by car at anti-government protest in Belgrade

The uprising of tens of thousands of young Serbs outraged at corruption and civil liberties violations is a growing challenge to Aleksandar Vučić's government.

16/01/2025

Business

Renault Group sales zoom ahead after 2024 European performance boost

A number of new model launches, including hybrid and all-electric vehicles, helped Renault Group deliver a rise in sales in Europe last year.

16/01/2025

Europe News

EU pledges €120 million in aid for Gaza as Israel truce appears near

Brussels has had a limited role in brokering a fragile Middle East peace deal – but hopes are high it can help improve Gaza’s grim humanitarian situation.

16/01/2025

Culture news

Timothée Chalamet fined for red carpet stunt in UK

Timothée Chalamet has revealed on a French TV show that he was given a fine for riding a Lime e-bike on the red carpet for the UK premiere of 'A Complete Unknown.'

16/01/2025

France

Man leaves €10m fortune to a tiny French town he had never visited

The shock windfall represents five times the town of Thiberville's annual budget, and will fund projects from a public garden to a bowling green.

16/01/2025

Italy

Cecilia Sala freed from Iran with Elon Musk's help, reports claim

Tesla and X owner is reported to have used a personal connection with Iran's ambassador to the UN after Sala was detained in Tehran in December.

16/01/2025

Business

BP to axe thousands of jobs after warning over oil and gas production

The energy giant announced earlier this week that weaker oil and gas production would hit its fourth-quarter results for last year.

16/01/2025

Mauritius

UK delays Chagos Island deal with Mauritius until Trump is consulted

Officials from the UK and Mauritius had reportedly been hurrying to finalise the deal before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on 20 January.

16/01/2025

Health news

Researchers identify new genetic risk factors for depression

The research was the largest and most diverse study into depression.

16/01/2025

Business

How much is social media platform TikTok worth and who could buy it?

The popular app TikTok could be banned on 19 January under a US federal law that would force the video sharing platform to divest itself from its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or shut down its US operations.

16/01/2025

Food and Drink

Can Donald Trump inauguration gift reignite Coca-Cola vs Pepsi war?

A welcoming gesture from Coca-Cola marks an apparent shift in relations between the soon-to-be 47th president and the company, which previously slammed Trump and the January 6 Capitol attack. Critics are already saying they will be switching to Pepsi...

16/01/2025

Mobility

What are the pros and cons of using EV car sharing schemes?

In the latest episode of our series The Switch, we weigh up whether electric car sharing schemes are a better bet than committing to buying an EV.

16/01/2025

Cuba

Cuba starts freeing prisoners as US to remove it from terrorism list

At the end of his one-term presidency, Joe Biden announced that Cuba will no longer be included on a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

16/01/2025

No Comment

Gaza celebrates as Israel and Hamas reportedly reach ceasefire deal

A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas brings hope to end 15 months of conflict, with phased release of hostages and humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza.

16/01/2025

World News

Israel delays Gaza ceasefire cabinet vote over 'last minute crisis'

Under the deal reached Wednesday, 33 hostages are set to be released over the next six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, according to reports.

16/01/2025

Top News Stories Today

Latest news bulletin | January 16th – Midday

Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.

16/01/2025

Culture news

From Gaza to the Moon: 25 endangered sites named in new watch list

The Moon has been added to the World Monuments Watch (WMW) list of 25 endangered sites for 2025, alongside Gaza’s cultural heritage and terracotta sculptures in a Portuguese monastery.

16/01/2025

Europe News

Greenland lawmaker touts stronger EU role in island's rare earths

Twenty-five of the 34 minerals found in Greenland were identified as "critical raw materials" in a European Commission study in 2023.

16/01/2025

Europe News

Don’t tax Erasmus student grants, EU’s top court says

Croatian tax laws breached the EU principle of free movement by effectively removing any financial benefit from the popular student-exchange programme, judges said.

16/01/2025

Europe News

Sweden seeks to remove citizenship from people who threaten the state

The government wants to change the constitution to remove Swedish citizenship from dual nationals who commit crimes against the state.

16/01/2025

Ukraine

We are forced to choose who we save, Ukrainian combat medic says

Rina Reznik, a teacher-turned-medic, has been saving lives on the Ukrainian frontline since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022.

16/01/2025

Economy

German inflation shows continued rise, still ahead of ECB's target

The increase was mainly led by rising services and food prices, leaving the inflation rate to remain above the European Central Bank's target of 2%.

16/01/2025

Moldova

Euroviews. Can Transnistria weather the loss of Russian gas?

Moldovan citizens will vote this year in parliamentary elections. There is a risk that their vote will derail Chisinau's European course. Only time will tell how Europe will react, Vitalie Cojocari writes.

16/01/2025

Culture news

Drake officially sues Universal Music over Kendrick Lamar diss track

When will it end? Just when you thought it was all over and that Drake would star focusing on music again, the derided Canadian rapper has doubled down – becoming less “Certified Lover Boy” and more “Certified Lawyer Boy”.

16/01/2025

Economy

UK economy returns to growth for first time in three months

The UK economy returned to growth in November following an unrevised contraction in October. It is news that will offer relief to Chancellor Rachel Reeves following the bond market turmoil that has seen her fiscal decisions called into question.

16/01/2025

Economy

Trump Treasury nominee to hail unleashing of US 'economic golden age'

Scott Bessent will appear before politicians on Capitol Hill to answer questions over his stance on taxes, tariffs, trade and other issues during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee.

16/01/2025

Space

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launches massive new rocket on test flight

Named after the first American to orbit Earth, the New Glenn rocket blasted off from Florida.

16/01/2025

Culture news

Brad Pitt responds to French woman scammed by his AI likeness

“It’s awful that scammers take advantage of the strong bond between fans and celebrities," says the statement from Brad Pitt’s representatives.

16/01/2025