World

The Ukrainian leader had insisted that the West “must close” the Baltic Sea for Moscow-linked ships Polish President Karol Nawrocki has dismissed a call by Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky for Western countries to try to close the Baltic Sea to Russian vessels over concerns that they could be used for launching drones. Officials in several EU countries in recent weeks have …

Europe’s attempt to reduce its dependence on China through trade agreements in Asia may not achieve the intended outcome. Instead of breaking ties, Brussels is being drawn deeper into supply chains where Chinese companies remain central. EU deals in recent years with Vietnam, Indonesia and India broaden market access and diversify suppliers, yet also channel European demand into production networks …

Spain has announced new travel rules for British holidaymakers over the age of 70. Every year millions of sun loving Brits flock to Spain to soak up the sun, the way of life and its historic sights, however Brits travelling here will soon have to pay a fee to enter the country. Brits and other non-EU travellers will soon have …

The Gaza based militant group has up to four days to respond to the US president’s 20-point peace proposal The Hamas militant group has four days to accept US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan. Unveiled by the White House during Trump’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, the plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, a …

OPINION — In 1943, a body washed up on a beach in Huelva, Spain. It was the body of a Royal Marine officer, Major William Martin. Martin was carrying papers, cuffed to his wrist in a briefcase, suggesting that the Allies would invade Greece and Sardinia, not Sicily. Spain was officially neutral, but a few Spanish officials sympathetic to the …

The Chinese state-owned construction giant that built the Mao Zedong-era Tanzania-Zambia railway is returning to the project with a US$1.4 billion commitment to overhaul and run the line as it increasingly becomes geoeconomically important for China. In a deal struck on Monday, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) agreed to an initial US$1.1 billion investment plus a further US$238 million …

Donald Trump should take an Alzheimer’s test after exhibiting “odd” behaviour, an expert has suggested. Dr Narinder Kapur, a consultant neuropsychologist and visiting professor of neuropsychology at University College London, said: “Obviously Trump’s behaviour in the last six months, some of his behaviour, has been quite odd and strange.” He highlighted the president’s desire for Canada to become the 51st …

The EU is not at war with Russia over Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a rebuke to his Polish counterpart. Orban made the comments on X after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk delivered a staunchly pro-Ukraine speech at a security forum in Warsaw on Tuesday. “Dear Donald Tusk, you may think that you are at war with …

A man in Japan who earns 30 million yen (US$203,000) a year from rent and investments insists on continuing to work as a janitor to stay healthy and active. Koichi Matsubara, 56, cleans public areas and carries out basic maintenance in a block of flats in Tokyo, according to the Japanese media outlet The Gold Online. Matsubara reportedly works a …

The US Senate failed to pass a stopgap spending bill on Tuesday, just hours before the midnight deadline to avert a government shutdown. Although Republicans hold a majority in the chamber, they needed Democratic support to clear the bill under current rules. Democrats refused to back the measure and instead proposed an alternative that would permanently extend healthcare subsidies set …