2025-05-02

Cinema

Film of the Week: 'Thunderbolts*' - Florence Pugh to the MCU's rescue

The 36th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a step up from recent MCU offerings. But is it enough to renew faith in an ongoing saga that’s been on a downward trajectory? (And yes, that confounding asterisk in the title is explained.)

02/05/2025

Europe News

Press freedom in Europe deteriorating, Reporters Without Borders says

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) published its annual report on global press freedom on Friday. Europe remains the safest region for journalists, but the situation is deteriorating.

02/05/2025

Europe News

Reform UK wins by-election by just six votes to gain fifth MP

Nigel Farage's right-wing populist party campaigned on an anti-immigration platform in Runcorn and Helsby, a constituency in northwest England.

02/05/2025

Syria

Israel conducts airstrike near Syrian presidential palace

The strike came amid escalating clashes between pro-government forces and Druze fighters near Damascus, which have left dozens dead.

02/05/2025

Tech News

US robot makers fear Trump tariffs may impact humanoid race with China

Elon Musk warned investors last week that China's countermeasures restricting shipments of rare earth magnets will delay Tesla's development of its Optimus humanoid robots.

02/05/2025

Tech News

TikTok fined €530 million for unsecure data transfers to China

The Irish watchdog launched the probe in 2021: TikTok was already fined €345 million in 2023 for failing to protect children's privacy.

02/05/2025

Top News Stories Today

Latest news bulletin | May 2nd – Midday

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

02/05/2025

France

Is Emmanuel Macron playing pope-maker ahead of next week's conclave?

The French president held a series of meetings with cardinals and other Church officials while in the Italian capital last weekend, leading the press in Italy to speculate whether he is attempting to push the conclave into picking a French candidate to be the next pontiff.

02/05/2025

Economy

Eurozone inflation tops expectations: ECB rate cuts in jeopardy?

Eurozone inflation surged more than expected in April, as the impact of trade tariffs began to reverberate through the consumer basket, posing a fresh challenge for the ECB.

02/05/2025

Europe News

Germany designates AfD as right-wing extremist organisation

Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has designated AfD as a right-wing extremist organisation, citing xenophobic stances as the reason.

02/05/2025

Europe News

Fine Gael defends refusal to back Hamas hostage release resolution

Resolution calling for release of hostages snatched during Hamas' October 2023 attacks on Israel was among several emergency motions passed at Valencia congress, but Irish Fine Gael delegates declined to support it.

02/05/2025

No Comment

Ukrainian trio Ziferblat to share message of hope at Eurovision 2025

Ukrainian band Ziferblat have left Kyiv for Basel to represent their country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.

02/05/2025

Art

Nigerian autistic teen sets world painting record

A young autistic boy in Nigeria has broken the record for the world's largest art canvas - officially recognised by Guinness World Records. His canvas aims to highlight the challenges that people like him face amid stigma and grim depictions of autism.

02/05/2025

Europe News

Italy plays Fantapapa, fantasy football-like game to pick the new pope

Like a football team, users must choose 11 cardinals whom they believe have the best chance of becoming the next pontiff, as well as a "captain" — or their top favourite.

02/05/2025

Business

Shell launches multi-billion share buyback after beating expectations

Shell announced a $3.5bn (€3.1bn) share repurchase for the next three months, marking the fourteenth quarter in a row that the company has bought back shares worth a minimum of $3bn (€2.7bn).

02/05/2025

No Comment

Serbia marks six months since deadly collapse at Novi Sad station

Six months have passed since the collapse of a concrete awning at the Novi Sad railway station in Serbia, which left 16 people dead and one seriously injured.

02/05/2025

Culture news

Jill Sobule, known for LGBTQ+ anthem 'I Kissed a Girl,' dies in fire

Jill Sobule, the singer-songwriter whose witty writing first attracted widespread attention with the gay-themed song 'I Kissed a Girl', has died in a house fire. Her 1995 hit is widely regarded as the first song with an openly gay-theme to break into the Billboard top 20 charts.

02/05/2025

Europe News

Romania votes again, but where is TikTok 'sensation' Călin Georgescu?

Romanians head to the polls again on Sunday to elect a new president. What's at stake? And what happened to TikTok 'star' Călin Georgescu, who won last year's annulled election?

02/05/2025

EuroVerify

No, Africans were not denied access to visit Pope Francis' body

The video allegedly showing a man being escorted away from the late pontiff's body appeared online before the lying in state even began.

02/05/2025

Top News Stories Today

Latest news bulletin | May 2nd – Morning

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

02/05/2025

Economy

China evaluating US offers for trade talks but tariff obstacle remains

China’s Commerce Ministry said on Friday that Beijing is evaluating multiple approaches by the Trump administration for trade talks.

02/05/2025

Business

Amazon posts robust sales and profit beat but outlook clouded

Amazon posted higher first-quarter profit and sales that beat analysts' projections, underscoring the online behemoth's hold on shoppers looking for low prices and a wide selection in an uncertain economy.

02/05/2025

Markets

Apple shares drop as China sales slide following Trump tariff fallout

Apple’s shares slumped in after-hours trading despite stronger-than-expected earnings. Tariff uncertainties and regulatory challenges overshadowed robust quarterly results, with CEO Tim Cook calling the outlook for tariffs “very difficult” to predict.

02/05/2025

Europe News

Zelenskyy: Minerals deal with the US a 'truly equal agreement'

Kyiv residents reacted to the agreement with mixed emotions, with some hoping that it would prove beneficial to Ukraine, while others viewed it as a form of imperialism, where Washington was capitalising on Ukraine’s dire need for continued US support.

02/05/2025

Europe News

Tens of thousands of people took part in May Day rallies across Europe

Rallies and demonstrations were organised across multiple major European cities on Thursday to commemorate Labour Day, calling for higher pay, greater equality and the protection of workers' rights.

02/05/2025