Chinese social media company TikTok plans to open two more data centres in Europe, according to a senior executive, a move that could mitigate concerns over the security of users’ data and ease regulatory pressure on the company. TikTok has been seeking to assure governments and regulators that users’ personal data cannot be accessed and … Read moreTikTok eyes European data centres amid regulatory pressure
Madrid has approved legislation expanding abortion and transgender rights for teenagers, while making Spain the first country in Europe that will entitle workers to paid menstrual leave. The driving force behind the two laws was equality minister Irene Montero, who belongs to the junior member in Spain’s left-wing coalition government, the “United We Can” Party. … Read moreSpain approves menstrual leave, teen abortion and trans laws
Russia bombarded Ukraine with missiles on Thursday and struck its largest oil refinery, Kyiv said, while the head of the Wagner mercenary group predicted the long-besieged city of Bakhmut would fall within a couple of months. Following a pattern of heavy bombardments after Ukrainian battlefield or diplomatic gains, Russia launched 36 missiles in the early … Read moreRussia rains missiles on Ukraine, eyes Bakhmut capture in April
Madrid has approved legislation expanding abortion and transgender rights for teenagers, while making Spain the first country in Europe that will entitle workers to paid menstrual leave. The driving force behind the two laws was equality minister Irene Montero, who belongs to the junior member in Spain’s left-wing coalition government, the “United We Can” Party. … Read moreSpain approves menstrual leave, teen abortion and trans laws
Shortly before being elected leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in late 2014, Nicola Sturgeon embarked on a rock star-style tour of Scotland, appearing in front of packed audiences around the country, usually illuminated on stage by a row of blazing lights. On Wednesday morning, in the more sedate Georgian surroundings of Bute House, … Read moreSturgeon leaves her party and movement in a state of uncertainty
Ukraine faced its toughest week so far this year on the eastern front, where its defenders lost more ground to Russian forces but committed enormous resources to holding Bakhmut, a coal-mining town that has acquired emblematic importance to both sides. Russian troops have been launching probing attacks on a wide front in Donetsk, half of … Read moreRussia surrounds Bakhmut as Ukraine sends in troops
NATO’s secretary-general has said it is more important that Finland and Sweden join the military alliance quickly rather than at the same time amid tensions between the pair and Turkey, which has refused to ratify the Nordic nations’ membership bids. Speaking before a meeting of NATO defence ministers at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels on … Read moreNATO chief hints Finland, Sweden could join alliance separately
Almost one year into the Russia-Ukraine war, hundreds of thousands have died and nearly 17.6 million have been left in dire need of humanitarian assistance. While the Ukrainian government remained steadfast in the fight against Russia, Kyiv has also been confronting another enemy that has been gnawing within the country for years: corruption. During the … Read moreUkraine confronts two enemies: Russia and corruption
Car manufacturing giant Ford has said it plans to cut thousands of jobs across Europe over the next three years as part of a global drive to reduce costs and be competitive in the electric vehicle market. Some 3,800 jobs will be axed in total, including 2,300 at the United States-based carmaker’s Cologne and Aachen … Read moreFord to slash thousands of Europe jobs as it eyes electric future
Valentine’s Day, named after a Christian saint, may now be marked in countries around the world but traditions are often very different – and sometimes have nothing at all to do with romance. While in Europe it is all about couples celebrating their relationship, in the United States it is as much about schoolchildren marking … Read moreValentine’s Day celebrations around the world