February 2026 – Page 268

Storm Leonardo slams Spain and Portugal, leaving 1 dead and a girl missing

February 5, 2026admin

On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch A man died from rising floodwaters in Portugal, while a girl remained missing after she was swept away by a swollen river in Spain as Storm Leonardo brought more […]

ECB keeps rates on hold, flags high uncertainty – POLITICO

February 5, 2026admin

Since the ECB last met in December, global risks have intensified. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs — or worse — to secure control over Greenland and launched his most aggressive attack yet of the U.S. Federal Reserve, triggering a broad sell-off in the dollar. That pushed the euro briefly to its highest level […]

ECB leaves key interest rates unchanged

February 5, 2026admin

The European Central Bank (ECB) will initially not touch the key interest rates in the new year. The deposit interest rate, which is important for banks and savers, remains at 2.0 percent, as the central bank in Frankfurt announced. February 5, 2026, 2:20 p.mFeb 5, 2026, 2:35 p.m The ECB Governing Council has left key […]

Jeffrey Epstein’s links to the Belgian capital – POLITICO

February 5, 2026admin

A 2010 email chain sent to Epstein includes a description of a woman identified as “Kelly C.” provided by a Brussels-based “models agency” called Casting Factory. Kelly’s body measurements are provided along with an attestation she had a “very nice temper.” POLITICO was unable to reach Casting Factory, which no longer has a functioning website. […]

Japanese city cancels cherry blossom festival over badly behaved tourists

February 5, 2026admin

“Overtourism” during Japan’s iconic blossom season makes life for locals in Fujiyoshida town unmanageable, authorities say.

Aid workers missing after airstrikes hit South Sudan hospital

February 5, 2026admin

MSF says a government air strike hit its hospital after another of its health facilities was looted.

Russia expels German diplomats: This is how Germany reacts

February 5, 2026admin

Feb 5, 2026, 1:36 p.mFeb 5, 2026, 1:36 p.m Russia has declared an employee of the German embassy in Moscow persona non grata after expelling one of its own diplomats from Berlin. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced in Moscow that the ambassador’s representative had been summoned and informed about it. Accordingly, an employee of the […]

Bank of England keeps interest rates unchanged, but flags more cuts this year – POLITICO

February 5, 2026admin

Bank of England keeps interest rates unchanged, but flags more cuts this year – POLITICO Skip to main content

55,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed in war with Russia, Zelensky says

February 5, 2026admin

Special US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, held talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, for a second day on Thursday in an effort to try and thrash out the details of the US-proposed peace deal.

EU top court annuls Parliament’s decision to strip Catalan separatist MEPs’ immunity – POLITICO

February 5, 2026admin

Spain then petitioned the Parliament to lift the separatists’ immunity, and in 2021 a majority of lawmakers voted in favor of doing so. Although Puigdemont, Comín and Ponsatí challenged that waiver, the EU’s General Court upheld it in 2023, weakening their ability to evade Madrid’s extradition requests. But Thursday’s appeals ruling by the top court […]