Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

European equities opened higher on Wednesday, extending the rebound triggered by renewed hopes of US monetary easing and signs of diplomatic progress in the Ukraine conflict. Softer US data yesterday has strengthened expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut in December, helping to ease pressure on global risk assets. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's endorsement of a US-backed peace framework added a layer of geopolitical relief.

A draft of the measure, released in October, urged "the establishment of a harmonised European digital age limit of 16 years old as the default threshold under which access to online social media platforms should not be allowed unless parents or guardians have authorised their children otherwise." They also recommended setting a harmonised EU digital age limit of 13, under which no minor would be permitted to access social media. The same minimum age would apply to video-sharing platforms and so-called "AI companions," whose popularity among adolescents has raised concerns in several EU states.

Director of Planning and Economic Development for DLR, Gerard O'Sullivan, said that council management was only proposing a "modest increase" in rent for subsidiary or secondary earners in a household. Rent for social housing tenants is calculated based on the differential rent system, which depends on the total income and size of a household - this takes into account the size of the family and the income of principle, secondary and other earners in a home.

Human pyramids, colour coding and throw-overs are all adding to a contraband problem at Wheatfield

The work is The Hours, created by the USA-born, but long-term UK resident, artist Edwin Austin Abbey, who first made his name in the USA as an illustrator before relocating to England. When Pennsylvania set about rebuilding its State Capitol, it called on its favourite son - even if he happened to be living in Gloucestershire - to decorate the interior of the main chamber.

The alleged victim in the trial of four men accused of producing a "branding stamp", an axe and a steel bar while assaulting and falsely imprisoning him in a Dublin house, failed to turn up in court for a second time this week.

"I am extremely saddened to learn of the passing of the late Donal Carey," the Tanaiste said.

Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien has said it is now "a stretch" to expect construction on the MetroLink to start in 2027, after a judicial review that was launched this week into the project.

A passenger was taken to hospital following a collision between a Luas tram and a motor vehicle on Old Belgard Road, Dublin 24, on Tuesday afternoon. Dublin Fire Brigade and other emergency services attended the scene at approximately 3:50pm. A spokesperson said the passenger was conveyed to Tallaght University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The Colosseum and Roman Forum are iconic for a reason: historic and stunning, they ignite imaginations with tales of gladiators brought alive by expert guides who use storytelling and games to engage little ones. Make sure to step inside the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, which is a treasure trove of art and architecture, and even has activity booklets for kids. The ancient city of Ostia Antica is a can't-miss site.

the Dutchman has gone from embodying frugality to urging allies to invest more in defense Spain included. Rutte believes that the prediction that Spain can meet its targets by spending 2.1% of its gross domestic product (GDP), as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has suggested, is not realistic. He will soon see that he also needs to spend between 3.4% and 3.6%, says Rutte in an interview held Monday with EL PAIS in one of the Alliance's gleaming offices at its vast headquarters

"It's funny: the money [that] they have is all in the ether," she says. "It's never really in their hands. They're always in debt or in credit, or they're owed, or they owe money - vast amounts of it. And of course, some of it does end up in their hands, and they'll spend it like mad on items that you wouldn't think of ever buying in your lifetime.

Europe stands at a pivotal moment. On one hand, demographic pressures, energy market volatility and sluggish productivity are squeezing growth. On the other hand, the continent has an opportunity to reassert its competitiveness with the United States and China, which are taking the lead in strategic technologies such as AI. This matters because AI is arguably the most transformative technology for productivity in history.

Russia has been adding rear-view cameras to some of its Shahed-type drones, allowing operators to see Ukrainian interceptors approaching from behind and take evasive action, a senior defense official told Business Insider. Lt. Col. Yurii Myronenko, Ukraine's deputy minister of defense for innovation, said Russia is "constantly testing" new deep-strike weapons, including modifying its Shahed-type drones and fielding new models. "Some Shaheds have already been equipped with rear-view cameras to detect and respond to our interceptors," said Myronenko, a former drone unit commander.

Lucia Istokova (36), Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (35) were all jailed for withholding information on Ashling Murphy murder

In February, the highest court in the country sentenced Dodik to a year in prison and barred him from all political activity for six years for disregarding decisions by the High Representative, Christian Schmidt, and for his separatist policies that sought to remove Republika Srpska from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He avoided a prison sentence by paying a fine. Yet despite the court's ruling and the fact that he was, until recently, under US sanctions, Milorad Dodik once again came out on top.

Europeans are seething over US President Donald Trump's suggestion that billions in Russian assets frozen in European countries may be used to the benefit of the US government and firms. After a Trump proposal on how to end Russia's war in Ukraine that called on Ukraine to give up territory and reduce the size of its armed forces, Europeans rushed to damage control and have now floated a counter offer.

Because of Covid we ended up with a bill that we hadn't expected, none of us predicted Covid, so we are where we are.

Speaking ahead of Ireland assuming the presidency of the Council of the European Union next year, the former Fine Gael leader warned that progress made by Ireland as a member of the EU since the depths of the recession "should not be taken for granted". "We live now at a time when we have unprecedented contact and communication worldwide. Yet we have unprecedented isolation and disillusionment in the same vein," Mr Kenny told an audience at Trinity College Dublin on Tuesday evening.

There was a time - not so long ago, though it already feels sepia-tinted - when London was the sort of place that tourists arrived in with stars in their eyes and left with shopping bags cutting off circulation at the fingers. Harrods bags, Selfridges bags, Mulberry bags, the bright yellow of Fortnum's peeking out of a suitcase being sat on in a hotel lobby. Europe's favourite grown-up playground; Manhattan's chic transatlantic sibling; Tokyo's idea of European swagger with better tailoring and more chaotic restaurants.

German and Romanian fighter jets scrambled on November 25 to track the latest in a series of drone incursions into Romania's airspace as Russia continues to attack targets just across the Danube River in neighboring Ukraine. Two drones entered the NATO-member's airspace and six were reported in Moldova, where one fell on the roof of a building but did not explode. This follows an incident last week when a Russian drone hit a Turkish LPG tanker moored on the Ukrainian side of the river.

The shape of the 2026 football inter-county season will become clearer in the coming days with the four provincial championship draws taking place in Croke Park on Thursday night, followed by the adoption of the national fixtures plan by Central Council at the weekend.

Image source, Getty Images Newcastle Red Bulls have signed Saracens hooker Samson Adejimi on loan for the rest of the season. Adejimi, 23, has scored eight tries in 14 games for Sarries, as well as 12 in 27 appearances for Championship side Ampthill. The English hooker will provide cover in that area for Newcastle after an injury to Italy international Hame Faiva in the Prem