Europe

Unveiling Eurovision: Secrets Behind the Rules You Didn't Know

The Eurovision Song Contest evokes a world of intrigue with its song rules, and system of semi-finals, juries and votes that draw out the drama until a winner is crowned. Here is a look at how the competition is put together, how artists are chosen and how the voting system works: Organizers The competition is organized by the European ...

1945 Revisited: Memory Still at War, 80 Years On

This Thursday, May 8, marks a day of remembrance. Across the globe, heads of state, veterans and institutions will honor the heroes and victims of the Second World War. But behind the wreaths, anthems and solemn speeches lies a deeper truth: memory is not just remembered, it is contested and increasingly weaponized. Eighty years later, the war is ...

Basel: a City at the Heart of European Culture

With a population of 180,000, Switzerland's third-biggest city after Zurich and Geneva straddles the River Rhine and sits right on the northern border with both France and Germany. Basel's location played a major role in its growth and continental importance through the ages. From May 11 to 17, it will be a center-stage in Europe again as it ...

Syrian Leader to Meet Macron in First European Visit

The Syrian president, Ahmad al-Chareh, arrived in Paris this Wednesday and was received by French president Emmanuel Macron for a first and controversial visit to the West. On this occasion, he is expected to call on Macron to punish those responsible for the "abuses" that have tarnished the image of the Islamist coalition in power since ...

'Bombshell' OPEC+ Output Hike Hits Oil Price

Oil prices slumped on Monday after eight OPEC+ members announced a sharp increase in production, while Asian stocks treaded water in thin trade with major markets closed. The output increase of 411,000 barrels a day announced by Saudi Arabia, Russia and six other members of the oil cartel on Saturday added to concerns about over-supply. The ...

Leverkusen Draw Hands Kane’s Bayern Bundesliga Title

Bayern Munich were crowned German champions for the 34th time on Sunday, giving striker Harry Kane his first major trophy, after second-placed Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 at Freiburg. Bayern's 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday, when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equaliser, meant defending ...

AfD Designated as "Far-Right Extremist": Is a Ban on the Party Coming ?

Germany's domestic intelligence service on Friday designated the rising far-right party AfD as an extremist group, handing authorities greater powers to monitor it and fuelling calls for it to be banned. The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) swiftly slammed the move as a "heavy blow" to democracy, just months after they won second ...

Africa's Cardinal Turkson is Continent's Papal Frontrunner

Ghana's Cardinal Peter Turkson is seen as one of the Church's most influential men from Africa, where Christianity is quickly growing -- and which some believe could be the birthplace of the next pope. The 76-year-old born into a humble family of 10 children is the first clergyman from the west African country to receive a red hat, having been ...

Power Progressively Comes Back in Spain and Portugal After Massive Outage

Lights flickered back to life in Spain and Portugal early Tuesday after a massive blackout hit the Iberian peninsula stranding passengers in trains and hundreds of elevators while millions saw phone and internet coverage die. More than 60 percent of Spain's national electricity supply had been restored by the end of Monday, the REE power ...

Conflicts spur 'unprecedented' rise in military spending

Worldwide military expenditure saw its steepest rise in 2024 since the end of the Cold War, reaching $2.7 trillion as wars and rising tensions drove up spending, researchers said Monday. Military spending rose worldwide with particularly large increases in Europe and the Middle East, according to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace ...

Trump, Zelensky Meet on Sidelines of Pope's Funeral

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky met briefly in St. Peter's basilica on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral in the Vatican on Saturday in their first encounter since a White House clash as the US president pushes the Ukrainian leader to make a peace deal with Russia. The two agreed to further talks after the funeral, the Ukraine ...