Inflation in the eurozone is continuing to soar at record highs, hitting 8.9 per cent in July. That’s up from 8.6 per cent in June, 8.1 per cent in May, and 7.4 per cent in April, as Europeans continue to see soaring energy and food prices fuelled in p…
Pink diamond found in Angola believed to be largest in 300 years
A rare pink diamond discovered in Angola is thought to be the largest of its kind to be found in 300 years. The 170-carat stone, which weighs just 34 grams, has been named the ‘Lulo Rose’, after the alluvial mine where it was discovered. Alluvial means…
France braces for another heatwave next week – its third this year
France will experience another heatwave from Monday, with temperatures predicted to edge close to 40°C, according to weather forecaster Météo-France. Barely out of the last one, this will be France’s third heat wave this year. “After a brief breather t…
New AR glasses allow deaf people to ‘see’ conversations by turning audio into subtitles
Dan Scarfe, the founder of a new company that has found a way to unlock conversation for the deaf and hard of hearing, says the idea dawned on him over Christmas with his family last year. Scarfe witnessed his 97-year old hearing impaired grandfather s…
‘Number one priority’: New Spanish law aims to tackle food waste
Spain is fighting food waste. In a new law drafted in June, the Spanish government is promoting taking home leftovers, making jams and discounting soon-to-expire stock to reduce how much food is chucked away each year. Under the proposals, supermarkets…
What is the EU doing to cut energy consumption and avoid blackouts this winter?
Germany has made headlines this week after switching off lights at public monuments and turning off heating at city run buildings like leisure centres. Energy saving measures across the country are in line with the EU’s plan to gradually reduce the dem…
Feeling the heat: the cost of Italy’s worst drought in decades
I arrived at Milan’s Garibaldi Train Station on a torrid July evening. It was 20.00 CET and the temperature was still a suffocating 34ºC. The city’s taxi drivers were on strike, so it took me much longer than I had expected to arrive at my hotel. When …
Barcelona prosecutors seek 8-year prison term for Shakira
Prosecutors in Spain will ask a court to sentence Colombian pop star Shakira to eight years and two months in prison, if she is convicted in her expected trial for alleged tax fraud. Shakira, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, is charged…
Is climate change causing the heatwave? Here’s the simple science behind Europe’s scorching weather
For hundreds of millions of people in Europe, unbearably hot weather has been driving the reality of climate change home over the last month. Temperatures in the UK hit 40C for the first time in recorded history, while France, Portugal, Spain, Greece a…
Light relief for Bitcoin as it bounces back up to 6-week high amid US interest rate hike
Bitcoin bounced back up to reach a six-week high of around $24,000 (€23,400) on Friday, signalling slight relief for digital currencies as they try to brush off “crypto winter’” amid the troublesome economic period. The world’s largest digital currency…