Overcome market fragmentation or miss the AI train, Lagarde warns the EU
An overly fragmented single market cannot support Europe’s top priority of competing globally in the AI race, European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde warns.
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Quote of the day by Queen Victoria: "Since it has pleased Providence to place …"
Israel opens up bids for highly sensitive West Bank settlement project
The UK's foreign secretary condemned the move as "an unacceptable and destructive act".
For over 50 years, Elizabeth Dickens recorded Block Island's birds, creating a historic record
For more than five decades, Elizabeth Dickens kept a detailed account of bird sightings on Block Island. Her comprehensive journals offered insights into local bird populations and their migratory habits while she inspired students through educational efforts about avian life. Dickens' commitment to her craft resulted in invaluable contributions to ornithology, emphasizing how crucial careful obse...
Banderol, Russia’s new low-cost weapon testing Ukraine’s air defences
Russia is stepping up its use of the Banderol, a relatively cheap new weapon that carries a smaller warhead than conventional cruise missiles but can force Ukraine to use the same scarce and costly air defences to intercept it.
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Haeco, China Aircraft Leasing Group sign MOU to build maintenance hub in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (Haeco) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the country’s largest independent aircraft lessor to set up a maintenance centre in the city, forging what authorities described as a “powerful alliance” between industry giants. The Transport and Logistics Bureau on Thursday revealed that Haeco, a sister company of flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways, had...
North Korea fires 10 missiles day after Trump curtails South Korea joint drills
Launches, detected by South Korea and Japan, came after US scaled back exercises with South Korea in apparent overture to Kim Jong-unNorth Korea launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles towards the sea on Thursday, South Korea’s military said, a day after North Korea shrugged off Trump’s order to scale back military drills with South Korea in an apparent bid to resume diplomacy.The joint c...
Quevedo overtakes Rosalía and becomes Spain's most streamed artist on Spotify
The artist tops the Swedish platform's summer ranking, which estimates each artist's monthly streams, overtaking his Catalan colleague and Rels B.
Quevedo overtakes Rosalía to become Spain's most-streamed artist on Spotify
This summer the singer tops the chart on the Swedish platform, which estimates monthly plays per artist, ahead of his Catalan collaborator and Rels B.
Quevedo overtakes Rosalía as most-streamed Spanish artist on Spotify
This summer, the artist tops the ranking on the Swedish platform, which estimates each artist's monthly plays, overtaking his Catalan peer and Rels B.
GCSE results: girls still ahead but gender gap narrows as hundreds of thousands of pupils receive grades – latest updates
Nearly a quarter of girls’ entries received one of the higher grades against around a fifth of those from boysAlmost one in four boys in England get top grades in mathsMyles McGinley, managing director of the Cambridge OCR exam board, said more pupils are taking GCSE business studies than in previous years, describing this generation of young people as “increasingly entrepreneurial”.He said busine...
Germany opened a solar-walled city hall in 2017 that produced surplus energy
The newly constructed city hall in Freiburg exemplifies sustainability, generating excess energy through high-performance solar panels embedded in its roof and walls. Equipped with top-tier insulation and a heat recovery ventilation system, the facility efficiently optimises energy use. It also leverages groundwater for temperature control. Serving as a model for public sector energy initiatives, ...
Quote of the day by Carl Linnaeus: "Human beings, having, above..."
Human reasoning provides us with a special lens through which we can observe and understand nature. This ability to study and reflect upon natural processes imposes an ethical responsibility on us to avoid exploiting the environment. By grasping the intricate connections within ecosystems, we appreciate our place in the natural world. The wisdom of Linnaeus serves as a guiding light for today's pr...
Syrian official says ‘no plans’ to establish Turkish military presence
The foreign minister says in an interview that Turkish military officials had visited the airbase as part of training.
Belgian car salesman becomes prince after royal parentage confirmed
Clément Vandenkerckhove was quietly brought into Prince Laurent's family at a town hall ceremony.
Taliban secures pragmatic global alliances without formal recognition
The Taliban navigates a complex web of global trade and security alliances without gaining full political recognition.
“I wanna try it so bad”: How TikTok shapes what teenagers eat — and the role parents can play
TikTok trends are influencing what teenagers eat, from viral restaurant dishes and fast food to recipes and influencer diets. But new research suggests parents may also have a role in limiting the platform’s influence.
Former Liberian vice-president charged in drug-trafficking probe
Jewel Howard-Taylor was arrested at Liberia's international airport and has not commented on the allegations.
Romania destroys explosive drone near major Black Sea gas project
A separate drone crashed in eastern Romania as the country and neighbouring Poland stepped up air defences during a major Russian attack on Ukraine.
NATO jets scrambled as drone enters Romanian airspace
A drone crashed in eastern Romania as the country and neighbouring Poland stepped up air defences during a major Russian attack on Ukraine.
Ex-Zambian minister killed in security raid on opposition
Police confirm Mutotwe Kafwaya's death after growing demands for information about his whereabouts.
Archaeologists uncover human offering at ancient ceremonial site in Lima
Archaeologists in Lima have uncovered the skeletal remains of an adult believed to have been placed as a ritual offering at Huaca Pucllana. The body was found inside a ceremonial canal dating to around 650 AD, when the Lima culture flourished on Peru's central coast.
Champagne harvest: why picking begins as early as mid-August
In Champagne, the grape harvest began as early as mid-August, unprecedented for some growers, after heat and drought sped up ripening and forced them to change their methods.
North Korea launches missiles as Trump seeks to rekindle nuclear talks
Hours after Trump said he expects to hold new talks with Kim Jong Un, South Korea and Japan said several short-range missiles were launched by the North.
Latest news bulletin | August 20th, 2026 – Midday
Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this August 20th, 2026 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.
USS Nimitz soldiers on but ‘glory days are over’: CCTV report
The “glory days” of the world’s longest-serving aircraft carrier are over, reflecting fatigue in the broader US fleet amid a decline in the country’s shipbuilding capacity, according to official Chinese military analysts. In a report on Wednesday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the US Navy’s reliance on extended carrier deployments was a cause for concern, particularly in the case of the USS ...
Chinese ‘hardship camps’ see children chop wood, feed pigs to learn family appreciation
Chinese parents are sending their children to “hardship summer camps” to engage in farm work, often to the point of tears, in an effort to teach them the realities of life and foster appreciation for their families. This summer, a programme known as “hardship camp” is gaining popularity across China. Many parents are investing thousands of yuan (hundreds of US dollars) to send their children to th...
Israel admits its soldiers opened fire at car carrying five-year-old Hind Rajab | First Thing
Israeli military orders criminal investigation into deaths of Hind and six family members. Plus, FCC chair Brendan Carr’s close coordination with White House revealedGood morning.The Israeli military admitted on Wednesday its troops had opened fire on a car carrying five-year-old Hind Rajab and six family members in Gaza in 2024, saying it had ordered a criminal investigation into the killing.What...