World

Protests erupted in Georgia on Thursday after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the country would not pursue European Union accession until 2028, accusing Brussels of “blackmail.”The announcement came hours after the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution rejecting the results of Georgia’s October 26 parliamentary elections, alleging “significant irregularities”.The resolution called for new elections within …

Protests in Georgia after PM delays EU bid to 2028 Read More »

Barely known a year ago, far-right candidate Calin Georgescu successfully dominated social network TikTok to emerge the shock winner of Romania’s first-round presidential election — an online campaign that has raised suspicions.Georgescu, an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has surged to more than 450,000 followers on TikTok, racking up millions of views and five …

TikTok tactics shake up politics in Romania Read More »

Romania’s presidential election was thrown into chaos Thursday as a court ordered a recount of first-round results and security officials alleged that interference via TikTok had boosted a little-known far-right candidate.The moves came as the country braces for legislative polls plus a run-off vote between a far-right admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a …

Recount order, TikTok claims throw Romania election into chaos Read More »

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged an overhaul of Britain’s immigration system on Thursday after revised figures showed net migration hit a record high of 906,000 in 2023 compared with a year earlier.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showed, however, that estimated net migration numbers actually fell by 20 percent to 728,000 in the …

UK’s Starmer vows to slash net migration Read More »

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Thursday that while Tbilisi remains committed to its goal of European Union membership, it will not pursue accession until 2028, accusing Brussels of “blackmail”.The announcement came hours after the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution rejecting the results of Georgia’s October 26 parliamentary elections, alleging “significant irregularities”.The resolution called …

Georgia delays EU bid until 2028 amid post-election crisis Read More »

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Thursday announced a major concession in a bid to end a standoff with the opposition over the budget, which has caused jitters on financial markets and risks bringing down his minority government.In a U-turn, Barnier told the Le Figaro daily that a previously planned increase for an electricity tax …

French PM announces concession in bid to end budget standoff Read More »

It was lunchtime and residents of Paiporta, one of the places hit hardest by the deadly floods that ravaged eastern Spain last month, were lining up to get a hot meal.There are no longer piles of mud in the streets, but life has been at a standstill for many in this suburb of Valencia, Spain’s …

‘Nothing left’: Flood-hit Spanish town struggles one month on Read More »

Israel said it conducted an air strike on a Hezbollah weapons facility on Thursday, the first since a ceasefire in the war in Lebanon took effect.The truce, which came into force on Wednesday, seeks to end a war that has killed thousands in Lebanon and sparked mass displacements in both Lebanon and Israel.The war began …

Israel conducts first strike on Lebanon since ceasefire Read More »

Chart-topping K-pop group NewJeans announced Thursday their decision to leave their label ADOR, accusing the company of “mistreatment”.The news comes two weeks after the girl group sent an ultimatum to ADOR’s parent company HYBE — behind K-pop sensation BTS — telling the firm they would terminate their contract unless a set of demands was met.”From …

K-pop band NewJeans leaves label over ‘mistreatment’ Read More »

Two rival ride-hailing platforms announced on Thursday options allowing Parisian women to order a car driven by a female driver in a bid to ensure “greater safety” for its customers.The “Uber by Women” option, available from Thursday, comes at no extra cost but with potentially longer waiting times.Uber launched a similar scheme in other European countries …

Uber and Bolt unveil women-only service in Paris Read More »