English

Gavin Blackburn

Economy

US Federal Reserve cuts interest rate for third time in a row

Lower rates from the Fed can bring down borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards over time, though market forces can also affect those rates.

Switzerland

UN human rights office in 'survival mode' with €77m budget shortfall

Many UN organisations, including the World Health Organisation and the International Organisation for Migration, have slashed spending this year because some donors have cut back foreign aid.

Culture news

Iceland to boycott 2026 Eurovision over Israel's participation

The announcement from RÚV comes a week after four other countries announced they were pulling out of next year's Eurovision in protest against Israel’s participation.

France

Louvre thieves escaped with 30 seconds to spare, Senate inquiry finds

All four suspected members of the motorbike-mounted crew have been arrested, but the missing jewels, valued at around €88 million, have not yet been recovered.

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Ukraine

Ukraine to give revised peace plans to US officials, Zelenskyy says

Zelenskyy is walking a tightrope between defending Ukrainian interests and showing Trump he is willing to make some compromises.

United Kingdom

Peace prize for Trump triggers complaint to FIFA ethics investigators

FIFA's ethics code calls for a ban from football of up to two years for violating the duty of neutrality, though it is unclear if the case will be taken up.

United Kingdom

UK sanctions Russian entities suspected of spreading disinformation

Officials pointed to fake websites and political ads during Moldova's recent election and fake news sites carrying videos with false claims about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy designed to undermine support.

Netherlands

ICC gives Sudanese militia leader 20 years jail for Darfur war crimes

Abd-Al-Rahman's crimes were committed more than two decades ago, but violence continues to plague Darfur as Sudan is torn apart by civil war.

USA

UN reports rise in violence against women journalists and activists

The study by UN Women follows a similar report by the UN cultural and educational agency UNESCO in 2021 that highlighted the same issue.

Czech Republic

Right-wing billionaire Babiš sworn in as Czech prime minister

The new coalition is set to follow Hungary and Slovakia and shift the Czech Republic away from supporting Ukraine in Russia's nearly four-year war.

USA

UN aid agency cuts appeal for 2026 to €28bn after support drops

This year, the UN system slashed thousands of jobs, notably at its migration and refugee agencies, and Secretary General António Guterres' office has launched a review of UN operations.

Turkey

Turkish police officer dies after being shot during drugs raid

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said in a social media post on Monday that 970 suspects had been detained in nationwide counter-narcotics operations over the previous week.

France

Louvre workers announce strike over work conditions after €88m heist

The robbers took less than eight minutes to force their way into the museum using a freight lift to reach one of the building’s windows and angle grinders to cut into jewellery display cases.

Greece

Protesting Greek farmers force their way onto Crete airport tarmac

The demonstrations on Monday are the latest escalation in protests over delays in the payment of EU-backed agricultural subsidies in the wake of a scandal which revealed fraudulent subsidy claims.

Japan

Magnitude 7.5 earthquake strikes off Japan's northern coast

Nuclear power plants in the region conducted safety checks, public broadcaster NHK said.

Ukraine

Chernobyl nuclear plant shield no longer blocks radiation, IAEA says

The Europe-built multilayered confinement building completed in 2019 was designed to contain the radiation coming from the melted-down nuclear fuel.

Norway

Norway police say suspect detained in shooting at shopping centre

In a statement, police determined that the Storo Storsenter centre was now safe after the perpetrator, who appeared to have acted alone, fired at least one shot inside.

USA

2026 World Cup groups announced by FIFA in ceremony in Washington

A record 48 teams will take part next year with Cape Verde, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Curaçao all appearing in football's premier event for the first time.

USA

Trump awarded new peace prize from FIFA during 2026 World Cup draw

Trump, who has openly campaigned for and long coveted the Nobel Peace Prize, had been heavily favoured to win the newly created FIFA prize.

Netherlands

Putin warrant won't disappear if Ukraine peace talks succeed, ICC says

The Kremlin has repeatedly said that it doesn't recognise the jurisdiction of the court and considers the warrant null and void.

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