Europe News At least two killed after car ploughs into Christmas market in Germany The two people confirmed dead are an adult and a toddler, but officials said additional deaths couldn't be ruled out because 15 people were seriously injured. 21/12/2024
Europe News Vatican unveils solar panel roof as part of green energy transition Pope Francis outlined his green vision for the Vatican in his 'Brother Sun' letter in June. In it he said solar panels would be installed on a Vatican-owned property outside Rome and the power generated from that could supply all of Vatican City's energy needs. 21/12/2024
Tech News Italy hands OpenAI €15 million fine after ChatGPT data privacy probe The Italian Data Protection Authority found OpenAI used personal data to train their AI without "an adequate legal basis" for doing so. 20/12/2024
Netherlands Dutch cabinet agrees strict new asylum rules The Dutch government wants to introduce some of the toughest asylum rules in Europe, but it may not be so straightforward. 20/12/2024
Germany Multiple casualties after car drives into German Christmas market A car has driven into a crowd at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg. At least two people have died and more than 50 are injured. 20/12/2024
Europe News Italy's Deputy PM Salvini found not guilty in Open Arms migrants case The leader of Italy's right-wing Lega Party and Giorgia Meloni's ally, Matteo Salvini, had been accused of kidnapping and dereliction of duty over his refusal to let a migrant rescue boat dock in Italy in 2019. 20/12/2024
Business Union reaches agreement with Volkswagen to avoid plant closures After days of negotiations which looked like they had reached a stalemate, German workers union IG Metall has reached a deal to avoid Volkswagen plant closures as well as redundancies and wage cuts. 20/12/2024
Europe News EU-Swiss single market trade deal faces challenging referendum The EU and Switzerland reached a bilateral agreement on Friday worth an estimated €550 billion in trade. But ratification of the deal is far from a foregone conclusion, as the Swiss have yet to vote on it. 20/12/2024
Russia Russian central bank holds interest rate at 21% The decision has brought criticism from influential business figures, who say high rates are hindering business activity and preventing growth. 20/12/2024
Europe News Poland recalls ambassador to Hungary over fugitive asylum case Poland's ambassador to Budapest has been recalled to Warsaw indefinitely after Hungary granted asylum to former Polish deputy justice minister, Marcin Romanowski. 20/12/2024
Lifestyle League of Legends: French eSport enters a new stadium-sized era A series of friendly matches during the Red Bull League of Its Own brought together the best eSports teams in the world to Paris for one night only. 20/12/2024
Healthcare Italy unveils plans for €4.2 million fund to target obesity The creation of the fund is viewed as a small but meaningful step to address Italy’s looming obesity problem but critics remain unconvinced of its impact. 20/12/2024
Health news Survey finds half of people in the UK self-diagnose conditions online Minor ailments and mental health conditions were among the most diagnosed, according to the survey. 20/12/2024
Europe News 'Absurd': Fico escalates dispute with Zelenskyy over Russian gas Russian gas has pitted Slovakia's Robert Fico against Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with the European Commission caught in between. 20/12/2024
Lifestyle UK choir with average age of 94 breaks Guinness World Record A UK choir called the Prime Timers, with members aged 87 to 99, set a new Guinness World Record for the "world's oldest choir". 20/12/2024
France Macron enters into furious expletive-laden exchange in Mayotte The French overseas department is reeling from a devastating cyclone, and residents’ anger boiled over during a visit from French President Emmanuel Macron. 20/12/2024
Europe in Motion Second-hand Christmas presents: Who buys the most in Europe? Second-hand gifts might overtake traditional presents this Christmas, as most people in Europe's largest economies plan to shop for "pre-loved" items this holiday season. Which nations and generations are leading this revolution and which ones are holding back? 20/12/2024
Europe News Portuguese manufacturers warn of automotive industry crisis impact The Portuguese automotive manufacturing industry's exports are predicted to fall in November and December, as demand for new cars slows across Europe. 20/12/2024
Europe News Sarajevo ranks third most-polluted city worldwide with AQI of 225 Sarajevo faced severe smog on Thursday, with flights cancelled as the city's air quality index reached 225, the third highest in the world on the day. 20/12/2024
No Comment Images of destruction in Kyiv after Russian missile strikes Several explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital on Friday morning as Russia fired several ballistic missiles at the city, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. 20/12/2024
Economy ECB interest rate cuts in 2025: How low could they go? The ECB is expected to cut rates further in 2025 as weak growth and cooling inflation persist. While markets predict a drop to 2%, some analysts suggest deeper cuts could follow if trade risks and global uncertainties escalate. 20/12/2024
Art Claire Tabouret chosen to design Notre-Dame's stained-glass windows Notre-Dame Cathedral is set to install new stained glass windows by artist Claire Tabouret as part of its €846 million renovation, sparking debate over the removal of historical pieces. 20/12/2024
Germany German woman convicted of murdering her doppelganger A woman in Germany killed her lookalike in a crime that’s been dubbed the ‘doppelganger murder’. 20/12/2024
Croatia Knife attack at Zagreb school leaves 7-year-old dead, several injured A knife attack at Prečko Elementary School in Zagreb left a 7-year-old girl dead and injured six others. The attacker, said to be a 19-year-old male, has been detained. 20/12/2024
Europe News China pitches for EU friendship amid tariff spat as Trump looms China's head of mission to the EU, Cai Run, has called for friendship between EU and China against a turbulent geopolitical backdrop, trade disputes and with Donald Trump poised to begin his second term as US president. 20/12/2024
Europe News Brussels moves to suspend visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats The Commission's proposal will only apply to Georgian holders of diplomatic and service passports, exempting the general population. 20/12/2024