Author: Euronews

Hamas releases 3 Israeli hostages, with over 300 Palestinian prisoners to be freed in return. It is an indication that the fragile ceasefire is set to hold. ADVERTISEMENTThree Israeli men that have been held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip since October 2023 have been freed in exchange for more than 300 Palestinian prisoners.At the time of writing, the Israeli hostages were in Israeli care after being handed to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip.It is the latest indication that the fragile ceasefire that was signed between the two sides last month teetered on the brink of collapse…

The EU Commission will propose to activate the escape clause for defence investments, Ursula von der Leyen announced in Munich. “This will allow Member states to substantially increase their defence expenditure,” she said. ADVERTISEMENTEuropean Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced on Friday that she will propose to activate the escape clause in the bloc’s fiscal rules in a bid to “substantially” boost member states’ defence investment. The measure, von der Leyen told the Munich Security Conference, would be done in “a controlled and conditional way” and will be followed by “a wider package of tailor-made tools to address the specific…

Actors and filmmakers are presenting their latest works and meeting the press live at the Berlinale. Follow us here on Euronews Culture for each day’s top stories from the Berlin International Film Festival.

A minister told parliament that while the government does have a contract with Israeli cyber solutions firm Paragon, it has not overstepped the law in its use of spyware technology. ADVERTISEMENTThe Italian government has denied using military-grade surveillance technology to illegally spy on journalists and migrant activists but said it would cooperate with an investigation into digital “vulnerabilities” after at least seven Italian cellphones were apparently hacked with spyware.The story first broke on 31 January when Meta’s WhatsApp messaging service informed dozens of people across the EU that their devices had been targeted using software from Paragon Solutions, an Israeli…

All departing flights from Brussels Airport and Charleroi Airport in Belgium have been cancelled. ADVERTISEMENTFlights have been grounded in Belgium today, leaving thousands of Europeans stranded.Departing flights have been cancelled to guarantee “the safety of passengers and staff” after a a nationwide industrial strike was called for 13 February. Operations at Belgium’s largest air hub have been the most heavily affected, with some arrivals into Brussels Airport also cancelled. Likewise, only flights from the Schengen zone being permitted to land at Charleroi Airport.A statement by Brussels Airport says. “We regret the inconvenience caused by this union action.”How will I know…

The new US Secretary of Defence has categorically ruled out granting NATO membership to Ukraine as a security guarantee to end Russia’s war. ADVERTISEMENTUkraine’s desired return to its pre-2014 borders and membership in NATO are “unrealistic” goals that should be excluded from any future peace settlement, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth told allies on Wednesday as he stressed President Donald Trump’s intent to end Russia’s war “by diplomacy”.His remarks were made during a meeting in Brussels of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, consisting of 46 nations.”We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must start by…

NATO expects the real-time technology will help it to rapidly respond to emerging threats, such as sabotage attempts.

Istanbul officials, including deputy mayors from opposition-run districts, were detained by Turkish police over alleged ties to Kurdish militants, sparking criticism from Mayor İmamoğlu. ADVERTISEMENTTurkish police on Tuesday detained 10 senior officials from opposition-run district municipalities in Istanbul over their alleged links to Kurdish militants, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.Among those detained are the deputy mayors of Kartal and Ataşehir, along with eight district municipal council members, all of whom belong to the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Turkey’s main opposition party.The suspects are accused of appointing individuals with alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to municipal positions,…

ECB President Christine Lagarde told the European Parliament that inflation is easing and rate cuts are taking effect but warned of trade risks. She reaffirmed a cautious, data-driven approach and stressed the need for a digital euro to strengthen Europe’s financial autonomy. ADVERTISEMENTEuropean Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has told European policymakers that inflation is easing and recent rate cuts are starting to take effect but cautioned that uncertainty remains, particularly amid trade frictions and geopolitical tensions.”Most measures suggest that inflation is converging towards our target on a sustained basis”, Lagarde said during her plenary address before the European…

Trump’s comments on 25% tariffs are the latest example of his willingness to threaten, and in some cases to impose, import taxes. Tariffs are coming much earlier in his presidency than during his previous four years in the White House, when he prioritised tax cuts and deregulation. ADVERTISEMENTPresident Donald Trump said he will announce on Monday that the United States will impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports, including from Canada and Mexico, as well as other import duties later in the week.”Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25% tariff”, he told…