Author: Euronews

House prices and rents in the EU show significant trends that vary across the country, according to new official data. ADVERTISEMENTHouse prices and rents in Europe increased by 0.8% in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the second quarter of the same year, according to new data released by Eurostat. For rents, this reflects a 3.0% increase compared to the third quarter of 2022. However, for house prices, there has been a decrease of -1.0% during the same period.House prices more than doubled in some EU countriesFrom 2010 to the third quarter of 2023, there was a 48% increase in…

The European Commission announced on Tuesday that it would check whether Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI falls under the bloc’s merger laws. ADVERTISEMENTThe Big Tech giant has reportedly pledged to invest $13 billion (€11.8 billion) into the thriving start-up behind ChatGPT, the chatbot that has revolutionised the industry and unleashed a global furore over artificial intelligence (AI).But OpenAI’s pioneering product has also fuelled fears over the unchecked development of AI-powered systems and the lack of appropriate legislation to crack down on their most damaging side effects, such as impersonation, deep fakes, privacy violations, copyright infringement and the spread of propaganda and…

As we face an increasingly fractured and polarised world, this year’s World Economic Forum summit will look at ways of rebuilding and strengthening trust amongst global stakeholders. ADVERTISEMENTThe 54th World Economic Forum (WEF) is being held in Davos, Switzerland next week from 15-19 January. The summit will host governments from more than 100 countries, as well as all major international organisations. It will also have a varied mix of industry exports, news outlets, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs and civil society leaders.This year’s theme is Rebuilding Trust, which seems to be a continuation of 2022’s “Working Together, Restoring Trust” theme, back…

Brussels has sounded the alarm over celebrations planned in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s post-war Serb region, the Republika Srpska, to mark its breakaway anniversary. ADVERTISEMENTThe so-called ‘Republika Srpska Day’ celebrates the region’s 1992 claim of independence from Bosnia during the breakup of Yugoslavia, which led to a bloody interethnic war that claimed 100,000 lives.The commemoration, which coincides with a religious Orthodox holiday, has been deemed unconstitutional by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Constitutional Court because it discriminates against non-Serbs.Tuesday’s events come amid increasing tensions as Republika Srpska’s President Milorad Dodik, widely seen as a Kremlin ally, ratchets up secessionist threats, prompting international concern. Dodik has vowed…

European luxury sector stocks had a negative start to the new year. Bank of America recently provided insights into the sector’s outlook for 2024. Analysts emphasise the significance of Chinese consumer behaviour but also raise concerns about challenges faced by ‘turnaround’ brands. ADVERTISEMENTThe start of 2024 has been challenging for the European luxury sector, with 18 out of 20 largest luxury stocks recording a year-to-date decline by 12 January 12. Notably, only Danish jewellery manufacturer Pandora A/S and footwear brand CCC S.A. have managed to maintain a positive trajectory in these early stages of the year.In the second semester of…

The European Union and the United States have denounced North Korea “in the strongest possible terms” for providing Russia with ballistic missiles and propping up the war of aggression against Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENT”The transfer of these weapons increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people, supports Russia’s war of aggression and undermines the global non-proliferation regime,” the two Western allies said in a statement released on Wednesday morning.The communiqué was co-signed by almost 50 nations, including Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.The provisions of lethal equipment “flagrantly” violate multiple resolutions of the United Nations Security Council “that Russia…

Across the 38 members of the OECD, year-on-year inflation was at a two-year low in November 2023. ADVERTISEMENTInflation declined further in November across the 38 member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), according to new data released by the Paris-based organisation. Prices increased by 5.4% compared to the same period of 2022 and remained unchanged compared to the previous month. Both the yearly and monthly comparisons of the prices show a steady decline in the four months leading to the end of November. The year-on-year headline inflation (including food and energy prices) declined from 6.4 to 5.4% between August…

Look what they made her do: Brussels has asked American star Taylor Swift to mobilise young voters ahead of the elections to the European Parliament. ADVERTISEMENTThe unexpected plea was voiced on Wednesday morning as Margaritis Schinas, one of the European Commission’s vice-presidents, presented a communication about the European Year of Youth, which took place in 2022.Schinas spoke about “the importance for young Europeans to participate in this year’s European election,” scheduled to take place between 6 and 9 June. Experts anticipate a cruel summer for the EU as the far-right makes inroads in opinion polls.”Now it’s the moment for them (youth) to…

As we enter 2024, Europe’s largest economy is expected to continue to deal with the fallout of its recent economic crisis. Euronews Business highlights five key challenges for the German economy in 2024. ADVERTISEMENTGermany is facing an uphill economic battle in 2024.Its GDP growth is expected to decline by 0.6% this year, with stagflationary pressures weighing heavy and the threat of a “slowcession” looming large, as indicated by falling manufacturing activity. The automobile industry, one of the jewels in the German industrial crown, is also poised to struggle, while budgetary constraints are expected to create further problems for households and consumers.Bad…

Some pro-Israeli social media accounts have been claiming the former official Palestinian flag used to contain the Star of David back in 1939. The Cube fact-checked these allegations. ADVERTISEMENTSince Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, multiple pro-Israeli accounts have been claiming the old official Palestinian flag used to harbour a Star of David – a symbol of Judaism. The image of the flag is half white and half blue with the Star of David in its centre. Euronews found other poststhat claim this flag was supposedly from 1939 and was found in an edition of the French Larousse encyclopedia…