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Gas Leak Triggers Explosion and Fire in Utrecht

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A large explosion followed by a fire in the Dutch city of Utrecht was caused by a gas leak, local officials have confirmed. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at a house near Visscherssteeg, a narrow alley in the city centre. Four people were injured, though Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma said none of the injuries were life-threatening.

The exact cause of the gas leak remains unknown, but authorities have said it is not believed to be deliberate. Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising above the area as emergency services secured the scene.

Eyewitnesses described hearing a “deafening bang” that left buildings damaged and streets littered with rubble and shattered glass. Several nearby shops and homes suffered structural damage, prompting evacuations. Residents were advised to avoid the area while safety checks continued.

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AI-Generated Song Barred from Sweden’s Official Music Charts

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An AI-created folk-pop song that topped Spotify’s Sweden Top 50 has been barred from the country’s official music charts, reigniting debate over artificial intelligence and creativity. The track, Jag vet, du är inte min (“I Know, You’re Not Mine”), performed by a digital artist named Jacub, amassed over five million streams within weeks, making it Sweden’s biggest song of 2026 so far. However, Sweden’s music industry body ruled that the song does not qualify for chart rankings because it was primarily generated using AI.

Investigations by journalists revealed that Jacub is not a conventional artist, with no public performances or social media presence. The song is linked to executives at Denmark-based Stellar Music, including members of its AI division. The producers, calling themselves Team Jacub, argued that AI was only a tool in a human-led creative process and said the song’s popularity proved its artistic value. They described Jacub as an “artistic project” driven by real human emotions and experiences.

The explanation failed to convince IFPI Sweden, which enforces a rule excluding mainly AI-generated music from its national charts. The decision comes as Sweden positions itself at the forefront of the AI economy, even as creators warn of revenue losses from AI-generated content. While organisations like Billboard allow AI-generated tracks if they meet performance criteria, Sweden’s tougher stance highlights growing global divisions over how AI-made music should be recognised and regulated.

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Bulgaria Heads for Snap Election After Parties Reject Government Mandate

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Bulgaria is heading for another snap election after the country’s main political parties refused to form a government, President Rumen Radev said on Friday. His announcement follows the rejection of a final mandate by the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms, clearing the way for the eighth election in just four years.

None of the parties in Bulgaria’s fragmented parliament hold enough seats to secure a stable majority. Earlier this week, both the GERB-SDS bloc and the reformist PP-DB alliance turned down Radev’s request to try to form a governing coalition after the previous administration resigned.

Former Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s coalition stepped down last month amid sustained street protests over corruption and proposed tax increases. With all mandates now declined, Radev is expected to appoint a caretaker government and call early elections, as Bulgaria seeks political stability to unlock EU funds, boost investment, and tackle long-standing corruption.

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Italy’s Data Privacy Watchdog Faces Corruption Probe

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Italian finance police have searched the headquarters of the country’s data protection authority as part of a probe into alleged corruption and embezzlement, according to judicial sources. Rome prosecutors are investigating the agency’s president, Pasquale Stanzione, along with three other board members, over claims of excessive spending and irregularities linked to regulatory decisions.

Stanzione said he was “absolutely serene” when questioned by reporters, but declined to say whether he would resign. The opposition 5-Star Movement said the investigation had damaged the credibility of the authority and called for Stanzione to step down, intensifying political pressure on the watchdog’s leadership.

The Italian data protection authority, known as the Garante, is one of the European Union’s most active enforcers of digital privacy rules and has frequently taken action against major technology companies. In recent years, it has fined and briefly banned OpenAI’s ChatGPT, blocked China’s DeepSeek chatbot over privacy concerns, and last week warned AI platforms, including Elon Musk’s Grok, about the risks of generating deepfake images without user consent.

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IMF Sees Global Economy Holding Firm Despite Trade and Geopolitical Shocks

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The International Monetary Fund’s upcoming growth forecasts are expected to show that the global economy remains resilient to trade disruptions, with overall performance still “fairly strong,” IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in an interview with Reuters. Speaking during a visit to Kyiv, Georgieva indicated the IMF could slightly raise its projections again, following a recent upgrade by the World Bank.

In its October outlook, the IMF lifted its 2025 global growth forecast to 3.2%, citing a smaller-than-expected drag from U.S. tariffs, while keeping its 2026 estimate at 3.1%. Georgieva said the January update, due on January 19, would likely reinforce the message that trade shocks have not derailed global growth, even though risks remain tilted to the downside.

She cautioned that geopolitical tensions, rapid technological shifts and heavy investment in artificial intelligence pose potential threats if productivity gains fail to materialise. Georgieva also warned that many countries have not built sufficient financial buffers to handle future shocks, noting that the IMF is already running 50 lending programmes and may see demand rise if global conditions worsen.

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Rome Cuts Historic Centre Speed Limit to 30 kph to Boost Safety

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Rome has implemented a new 30 kph (19 mph) speed limit throughout its historic centre, joining other European capitals like London, Paris, and Brussels in efforts to make city streets safer. The reduced limit, nearly half of the previous 50 kph cap, aims to lower accidents and reduce pollution in areas crowded with cars, residents, and tourists. Authorities plan a gradual enforcement period of 30 days to help drivers adjust.

City transport chief Eugenio Patane emphasized that lower speeds save lives, noting that speeding contributes to 7.5% of road accidents in Rome. Similar initiatives in Bologna have shown promising results, with road accidents dropping 13% and fatalities falling by nearly 50% after introducing a 30 kph limit. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri has also expanded the number of speed cameras and encouraged alternatives to private cars to further improve safety and air quality.

Reactions among residents and drivers are mixed. Some, like scooter rider Barbara Barattolo, welcomed the change as a measure to reduce risks on busy streets. Others, including taxi driver Cristiano, criticized the limit as excessively low in certain areas. Authorities estimate the new regulation will cut noise levels in the city centre by around 2 decibels, addressing long-standing complaints about congestion and pollution.

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Ukraine Declares Energy Emergency as Winter Cold and Russian Strikes Batter Kyiv

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Ukraine has declared a state of emergency in its energy sector, particularly targeting Kyiv, as ongoing Russian attacks continue to leave thousands of residents without power amid harsh winter conditions. Overnight temperatures in the capital recently dropped to around -20°C, exacerbating the humanitarian impact of missile and drone strikes that disrupted electricity, heating, and water supplies. President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of deliberately exploiting the severe cold as part of its war strategy.

Following a special cabinet meeting, Zelensky announced the creation of a 24/7 task force to repair energy infrastructure and procure essential equipment from abroad. Emergency help points are being expanded across Kyiv to provide heat and power to residents, with a possible easing of the midnight curfew. The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy has been tasked with overseeing these emergency operations.

Russian attacks on energy systems have also affected south-eastern Ukraine, leaving over one million people without heating and water at times. Ukraine’s largest private energy provider, DTEK, reports constant strain from repeated waves of drone, cruise, and ballistic missile attacks, struggling to maintain power for 5.6 million Ukrainians as the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches.

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Chiara Ferragni Acquitted in ‘Pandorogate’ Charity Cake Case

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Italian fashion influencer Chiara Ferragni has been acquitted of aggravated fraud charges, bringing to an end a two-year controversy over the promotion of charity-linked Christmas cakes and Easter eggs. A Milan court cleared Ferragni and two co-defendants after a fast-track trial, rejecting prosecutors’ claims that consumers had been deliberately misled. Conviction could have resulted in a prison sentence, but the judge ruled there was no aggravating fraud.

The case, dubbed “pandorogate,” stemmed from the 2022 sale of pink, special-edition pandoro cakes branded with Ferragni’s name and linked to a children’s hospital in Turin. While consumers believed proceeds would support the hospital, it later emerged the producer had made a one-off €50,000 donation before sales began. Ferragni, whose companies earned about €1 million from the promotion, later pledged to donate an equivalent amount to the hospital.

Although acquitted, Ferragni had previously faced a €1 million fine from Italy’s competition authority and agreed to further charity payments over similar claims involving Easter eggs. The scandal damaged her public image and personal life, including the breakdown of her marriage to rapper Fedez. It also prompted Italy to tighten transparency rules for influencers involved in fundraising initiatives.

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Italy Calls on Citizens to Leave Iran Amid Rising Security Risks

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Italy has renewed a strong appeal urging its citizens to leave Iran due to growing security concerns, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday. Around 600 Italians are currently in Iran, most of them based in Tehran, according to the ministry, which said the warning reflects the deteriorating situation in the country.

The appeal comes as Iran’s leadership struggles to contain its most serious domestic unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, amid rising international tensions. Tehran has sought to deter repeated threats of U.S. intervention voiced by President Donald Trump in support of anti-government protesters, adding to regional instability.

Italy’s foreign ministry also said precautionary measures were being taken to protect more than 900 Italian military personnel deployed across the region, including about 500 in Iraq and 400 in Kuwait. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani chaired a high-level meeting with diplomats, defence officials and intelligence representatives, reaffirming Italy’s condemnation of the violent repression of protests in Iran and what it described as serious human rights violations.

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Ukraine Accuses Former PM Tymoshenko in Alleged Vote-Bribery Scheme

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Ukrainian anti-corruption investigators have accused former prime minister and opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko of bribery, alleging her involvement in a vote-buying scheme, a source familiar with the case said on Wednesday. The accusation comes as part of a widening anti-graft crackdown that has shaken Ukraine’s political establishment. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said it had served bribery charges to an opposition party leader without naming Tymoshenko directly.

According to NABU, the investigation uncovered a “systemic” scheme in which lawmakers allegedly received payments in exchange for voting instructions or abstentions. The bureau said the plan was not a one-off arrangement but a long-term mechanism involving advance payments and coordinated parliamentary behavior. Tymoshenko, a prominent figure of the 2004 Orange Revolution, denied all allegations and said in a social media post that she would defend herself in court.

The probe forms part of a broader anti-corruption drive that has ensnared senior officials and lawmakers across the political spectrum, amid Ukraine’s push to meet European Union standards. Tackling corruption is central to Kyiv’s EU accession ambitions, though recent high-profile cases have underscored the scale of the challenge. Tymoshenko, who served as prime minister in 2005 and from 2007 to 2010, now leads a smaller parliamentary faction, with her political influence having waned in recent years.

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