Europe News Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding crash in Italy Felix Baumgartner, the first person to break the sound barrier during a freefall jump in 2012, died in a paragliding crash in Italy. He was 56. 17/07/2025
Europe News Iceland to launch talks on security, defence partnership with EU The agreement with the EU is independent of Iceland's NATO membership and existing defence pacts with the United States, public broadcaster RÚV said. 17/07/2025
Pakistan Heavy monsoon rains in east Pakistan kill 54 people in 24 hours Since 26 June, Pakistan has reported 178 deaths from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the northwest, Sindh in the south and Balochistan in the southwest, officials said. 17/07/2025
Football Now The rise of Uzbekistan football: the White Wolves’ Golden Generation In partnership with Media City Following impressive results at the youth level, including a maiden appearance at last year's Paris Olympic Games, Uzbekistan is enjoying success on a global scale. 17/07/2025
Europe News Ukraine to boost domestic weapons production, Zelenskyy says Ukraine is keen to increase its domestic production as uncertainty grows about how many more weapons shipments Western countries can provide, and how quickly. 17/07/2025
Tech News The Netherlands trials first self-driving bus on public roads Starting on 1 August, a self-driving bus will be driving autonomously on public roads in Rotterdam for the first time. 17/07/2025
Europe News Brussels boosts external action budget to tackle global issues The EU proposed €200 billion for the 2028–2034 period to fight climate instability, migration and competition over resources, with a focus on reforms in Ukraine and the Mediterranean region. 17/07/2025
Europe in Motion Poll: Do EU citizens back more defence spending? European leaders seem to be failing to get the message across, as EU citizens rank defence only seventh out of 10 investment priorities. 17/07/2025
World News Climate researcher: Hungary's extreme weather due to global heating Hungary and the Balkans are experiencing the effects of global warming faster than other locations in Europe, with higher temperatures causing significant damage to agriculture. 17/07/2025
Tech News Foreign defense companies can now test weapons in Ukraine Ukrainian defense technology incubator Brave1 announced the ‘Test in Ukraine programme’ which would take prototypes from allied countries, test them in real time on the battlefield and supply detailed reports for improvements. 17/07/2025
Art Robot Ai-Da unveils portrait of King Charles III at the United Nations Ai-Da, the world’s first ultra-realistic robot artist, used high-tech cameras in her eyes and a robotic arm to create a first-of-its-kind portrait of the British monarch. 17/07/2025
Senegal France withdraws from Senegal, ending military presence in West Africa Senegal’s new government has taken a hard-line stance against the presence of French troops as part of a larger regional backlash against what many see as the legacy of an oppressive colonial empire. 17/07/2025
Syria Syrian forces withdraw from Sweida after ceasefire goes into effect The fighting had threatened to unravel Syria's post-war political transition and brought further military intervention by neighbouring Israel. 17/07/2025
Europe News Varna mayor's arrest sparks widespread protests in Bulgaria The arrest of Varna's Mayor Blagomir Kotsev on embezzlement charges has sparked a series of protests in Bulgaria and across Europe, escalating into a diplomatic dispute with Germany. 17/07/2025
Green News Ombudsman takes up complaint over polluting Italian steel mill It follows a complaint from local campaigners, accusing the Commission of indifference to the plight of Taranto residents and the environment. 17/07/2025
Europe News Germany and UK sign 'first of its kind' defence and migration treaty UK and Germany signed a historic defence treaty on Thursday, ensuring mutual aid in attacks and targeting migrant smuggling. The pact also strengthens military and economic cooperation. 17/07/2025
Culture news Connie Francis, singer of viral TikTok hit 'Pretty Little Baby', dies Celebrated American singer Connie Francis, whose 1961 hit song ‘Pretty Little Baby’ gained new admirers this year with the track going viral on TikTok, has died aged 87. 17/07/2025
Europe News Teacher injured in stabbing at Dutch school, three suspects arrested The 53-year-old was stabbed on Wednesday night as he tried to intervene in an argument between three men at a cultural centre in Alblasserdam, police said. 17/07/2025
Gaza Israeli strike on Gaza Catholic church kills two and injures several The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a formal apology for the strike, while the Israeli army said it has launched an investigation into the strike on Gaza's only Catholic church. 17/07/2025
Europe News France to release Lebanese militant Abdallah after 40 years in prison Incarcerated for almost 40 years for complicity in the assassination of US and Israeli diplomats, the man who considers himself a political prisoner will be able to return to Lebanon. 17/07/2025
Europe News Ursula von der Leyen's new €2 trillion EU budget: Six key takeaways From support to Ukraine to the merger of agriculture and cohesion funds, here are the six takeaways from von der Leyen's €2 trillion EU budget. 17/07/2025
Culture news Why is Disney suing a Hong Kong jewellery company? The earliest version of Mickey Mouse may be in the public domain as of last year, but Disney continues its efforts to protect its intellectual property from unauthorized appropriation... Here's everything you need to know about their lawsuit against Red Earth. 17/07/2025
Green News Seawater temperatures in Portugal's Algarve reach record highs Temperatures in the Algarve between June and July were on average 25.1°C, according to the Portuguese Maritime Authority. 17/07/2025
Ukraine Russia strikes shopping centre in eastern Ukraine with 500-kg bomb At least four people were killed and 27 were injured in the Russian attack on the town of Dobropillia in Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, after Moscow forces struck a shopping centre here with a half-a-tonne aerial bomb. 17/07/2025
Green News 'Dirty fuel': Greenpeace protests fossil gas investment in Greece Greenpeace said it wanted to highlight the country's unnecessary and wasteful investments in fossil gas. 17/07/2025
Tech News An AI anime girlfriend is the latest feature on Elon Musk’s Grok Elon Musk’s controversial artificial intelligence chatbot Grok has launched two new companions, including Ani, a Japanese girlfriend that responds to explicit user commands. 17/07/2025
No Comment Newly opened mall in Iraq destroyed by fire, killing dozens A massive fire at a newly opened shopping mall in Kut, Iraq, has killed dozens, with many suffocating inside, as authorities launch an investigation and declare three days of mourning. 17/07/2025
Europe News Scottish man's body found in council toilet six days after death 48-year-old Julie Stephen said she believed her husband Sean's body had been lying in the toilet at Edinburgh City Chambers for almost a week. 17/07/2025
Europe News Poland expects to get biggest cut of EU's proposed €2 trillion budget Poland is set to benefit most from the EU's €2 trillion budget for 2028-2034, according to its finance minister, despite protests from farmers against reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy. 17/07/2025
Europe News UK to lower voting age to 16 in England and Northern Ireland If passed, the proposed changes would bring the voting age to 16 across the whole of the UK and in line with Scotland and Wales, where 16-year-olds can already vote. 17/07/2025