Author: News Desk

My mother, my brother and I were gamblers: 24 scratch cards were our joint Advent calendar, 24 times a day we scratched coins across the cardboard, 24 times we hoped for the big money. Scratch cards as an Advent calendar: hope every time, but almost always be disappointed

Investigators probing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder uncovered key leads Thursday, including a suspect’s possible New York trip from Atlanta and ammunition marked “deny, defend, depose.” The phrase, linked to insurance critics, was written in marker, officials revealed anonymously. New clues emerge as hunt for US healthcare CEO killer continues

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov makes his first visit to the EU since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. His appearance at a meeting of the OSCE in Malta is a story of controversy. A war of words: Lavrov's visit to Malta

On 8 December, the day of Sant’Ambrogio, the largest ski area in the world turns 50. The Dolomiti Superski, around the Sella Group between Alto Adige, Veneto and Trentino, was born at the end of 1974 at the table of a hotel in Corvara, in Val Badia. Sandro Lazzari: “That pact born at the table, so 50 years ago we created the grand ski tour” https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2024/12/06/news/sci_alpi_sandro_lazzari_superski_dolomiti-423826518/?rss

  Asia-Pacific markets were mixed Friday after Wall Street saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average drop more than 200 points and S&P 500 retreat from a record high. Traders in Asia assessed household spending data out of Japan that fell 1.3% in October year-over-year, slower than the 2.6% decline expected by economists polled by Reuters. On a monthly basis, spending grew 2.9% in October compared to September, beating expectations of a 0.4%. Investors also await India’s interest rate decision on Friday. The Reserve Bank of India is expected to hold its key policy rate at 6.50% after the country’s retail inflation surged…

South Korea’s ruling party chief says it is necessary to suspend the constitutional powers of president Yoon Suk Yeol. The comments by People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hun on Friday suggest that his party would change its earlier opposition to the impeachment of president Yoon over his imposition of martial law this week. Opposition parties parties are pushing for a parliamentary vote on Mr Yoon’s impeachment on Saturday, calling his short-lived martial law declaration “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup”. But they need support from some ruling party members to get the two-thirds majority needed to pass the impeachment motion.…

Irish drug gangs were sending at least €2m per month over recent years into Russian money laundering networks targeted in a British-US operation. Security estimates suggest that in the region of €50m may have been laundered by Irish organised crime groups, including the Kinahan cartel, through the worldwide networks. It is believed that a major Irish drug trafficking outfit, based in north Dublin and Meath, was among the crime groups that used the Russian money laundering service. It is thought that Irish gangs using the networks were also involved in the British drugs trade. An Garda Síochána assisted the British…

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Paris this weekend for the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral, a spokesperson for the executive said on Thursday, December 5. About 50 heads of state and government are expected in the French capital for the ceremony on Saturday, including US President-elect Donald Trump. It will be the first time that von der Leyen will meet Trump since his election last month and before his inauguration in Washington on January 20. The European Union is trying to prepare for the return of the billionaire former real estate mogul, who has threatened…

  For the second time in the history of the French Fifth Republic, a prime minister has fallen victim to a vote of no confidence. For the first time, it happened in the absence of the main driving force of his debacle. When Yaël Braun-Pivet, the president of the Assemblée Nationale, announced Michel Barnier’s forced resignation on Wednesday, December 4, Marine Le Pen was nowhere to be seen. The troops of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party, without their boss, were modest in their triumph, some not even bothering to return to their seats for an announcement that they swore…

The explosion of lights that adorn the streets of Madrid, the Christmas markets that seem to come out of a story and the people running from one place to another trying to buy gifts now so as not to fall into last-minute trouble remind us that Christmas is almost here. Madrid is trying these days to emulate that magical place where you can make plans with family and friends to toast the year that is ending. However, in order to lower the revs and not go crazy when December has just started, Madrid Enreda Te Enreda brings this week Host…