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Lufthansa Strike Grounds Nearly 800 Flights, Disrupts 100,000 Passengers

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Nearly 800 Lufthansa flights were cancelled on Thursday after pilots and cabin crew staged a strike, disrupting travel plans for around 100,000 passengers. The walkout, organised by the pilots’ union VC and flight attendants’ union UFO, affected major hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, with departure boards showing widespread cancellations, including long-haul services. Lufthansa said it expects to resume normal operations on Friday and is working to rebook passengers on partner airlines.

The strike comes amid long-running disputes over pensions and cost-cutting measures at the airline’s core brand. Pilots are demanding improved retirement benefits, while Lufthansa argues it has no financial flexibility to meet those demands. Negotiations have resumed intermittently but have yet to yield an agreement, prompting unions to escalate pressure through industrial action.

Separately, cabin crew at Lufthansa’s CityLine subsidiary are protesting the planned shutdown of its flight operations and the company’s refusal to negotiate a collective social plan. Union representatives said the coordinated action aims to pressure management, even as major events such as the Berlinale film festival and the Munich Security Conference begin in Germany.

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Russia Orders WhatsApp Block Amid Messaging App Crackdown

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Russia has ordered a nationwide block on WhatsApp, escalating its tightening grip on foreign messaging platforms. The Kremlin said the decision was due to Meta’s alleged failure to comply with Russian laws, including data storage requirements. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Meta could resume operations if it enters into dialogue and follows local regulations, while promoting the state-developed “Max” app as a domestic alternative.

Regulator Roskomnadzor has also moved to further restrict access to Telegram, citing security concerns. The crackdown comes as Russia accelerates efforts to build a sovereign digital ecosystem, a push that intensified after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Critics argue that the Max platform could enable state surveillance, though authorities deny such claims and have widely promoted the app through official channels and media campaigns.

WhatsApp, which has more than 100 million users in Russia, said isolating users from secure communication would undermine safety. Russia previously designated Meta as an extremist organisation, leading to bans on Facebook and Instagram, though Russians can still access them via VPNs. Digital rights groups report that several major platforms, including YouTube and the BBC, have also been removed from Russia’s national domain system, making them inaccessible without VPN services.

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Spain, Portugal on High Alert as Storms Lash Iberian Peninsula

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Spain and Portugal remained on high alert as heavy rain and powerful winds swept across the Iberian Peninsula, causing widespread disruption. Trees were uprooted, transport services were interrupted and schools were closed in several regions. In northeastern Spain’s Catalonia region, one person was left in serious condition after being struck by a falling tree, with at least four others reported injured.

Spain issued its highest red weather alert in Galicia, Cantabria and the Basque Country following the arrival of Storm Nils — the eighth storm to hit the country this year. Authorities in Catalonia suspended classes, sporting events and some non-essential healthcare services as wind gusts exceeded 105 km/h, disrupting road and rail networks. Around 40 flights at Barcelona’s El Prat airport were cancelled, while warnings were issued about waves reaching up to nine metres along parts of the coast.

In Portugal, an “atmospheric river” brought intense rainfall, particularly in northern areas, prompting the evacuation of about 3,000 residents. A section of the A1 motorway near Coimbra collapsed after flooding weakened its foundations, and officials said repairs could take weeks. While Storm Oriana is not expected to directly strike mainland Portugal, authorities warned of continued heavy rain and strong winds in the coming days.

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Russian Drone Strike Kills 3 Toddlers and Father in Kharkiv Region

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A Russian drone attack in Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv region, killed three young children and their father, while injuring the pregnant mother, local officials reported. The victims were twin boys Ivan and Vladyslav, aged two, and their one-year-old sister Myroslava, along with their 34-year-old father, Hryhoriy. The mother, Olha, 35, sustained minor burns but survived. The family had recently relocated from a town near the Russian border, seeking refuge from ongoing shelling.

The attack marks a renewed wave of Russian strikes following a short pause, with the Kharkiv region under near-daily assaults. Regional authorities described the incident as “brutal,” noting that tens of thousands of residents face severe power outages and lack of heating, worsened by Moscow targeting energy and transport infrastructure.

In parallel, Russian forces hit other areas including Slovyansk, causing further casualties, while Ukraine launched retaliatory drone attacks on Volzhsky in Russia’s Volgograd region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the continued strain on civilians and noted ongoing international efforts, including upcoming U.S.-hosted talks, to end the war that began in February 2022.

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Italy Approves Naval Blockades to Curb Migrant Arrivals

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Italy’s cabinet has approved a bill allowing naval blockades to stop migrant boats during periods of “exceptional pressure” at its borders. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in office since 2022, has already introduced measures to accelerate repatriation of failed asylum seekers and impose stricter penalties on human smugglers, aiming to reduce sea crossings.

Under the draft legislation, the government could ban vessels from entering Italian waters for up to six months in cases of serious threats to public order or national security. Fines of up to €50,000 and potential confiscation of boats would target repeated violations, including charity-operated rescue ships. Meloni’s coalition argues that such rescue operations encourage migrants to attempt perilous sea journeys.

The bill has faced criticism from the center-left opposition, who call the approach repressive and ineffective. The move aligns with recent EU asylum rule changes allowing member states to reject applications from migrants who could have sought protection in a “safe” EU country, reflecting broader European efforts to tighten immigration controls.

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Russia Turns to Indian Workers to Tackle Labour Shortage

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Russia is increasingly recruiting workers from India to address a severe labour shortage worsened by the war in Ukraine. Officials estimate the country needs at least 2.3 million additional workers, particularly in manufacturing, construction and services. With fewer migrants arriving from Central Asia — traditionally Russia’s main source of foreign labour — Moscow has sharply increased work permits for Indians, approving nearly 72,000 last year compared with about 5,000 in 2021.

The shift reflects both economic necessity and strengthening ties between Moscow and New Delhi. President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed an agreement in December to simplify employment procedures for Indians in Russia. Russian officials say the country could accept an “unlimited number” of Indian workers, with hundreds of thousands needed across key sectors. A weaker rouble, stricter migration rules and rising anti-immigrant rhetoric have also reduced inflows from Central Asia, prompting the pivot toward South Asia.

Indian migrants are now working in textile factories, farms and service industries around Moscow and beyond. Employers say the workers are motivated and quickly adapt to new skills, while migrants cite higher wages compared to opportunities back home. Though U.S. pressure on India over its purchases of discounted Russian oil could affect broader ties, Moscow has downplayed tensions, and the inflow of Indian labour continues for now.

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Roberto De Zerbi Departs Marseille by Mutual Consent

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Roberto De Zerbi has left his position as Marseille manager by mutual agreement, the French club confirmed on Wednesday. The decision comes after a heavy 5-0 defeat to Paris St-Germain and Marseille’s recent Champions League exit following a 3-0 loss to Club Brugge. Club officials said the move followed discussions between the owner, president, sporting director and the coach.

De Zerbi joined Marseille in the summer of 2024 after leaving Brighton, where he spent nearly two seasons in charge. In his first campaign, he guided the club to a second-place finish in Ligue 1. However, this season has proved more challenging, with Marseille currently sitting fourth in the table, 12 points behind league leaders PSG.

In a statement, Marseille described the departure as a “difficult collective decision” made after careful consideration and in the best interests of the club. The change in leadership, the club added, is aimed at addressing the sporting challenges that lie ahead for the remainder of the season.

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China Signals Possible Tariffs on French Wine Amid EU Trade Tensions

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China could investigate French wine imports or impose reciprocal tariffs on European Union products if France pushes for tougher trade measures against Chinese goods, a social media account linked to state broadcaster CCTV said on Wednesday. The warning followed a French strategy report urging the EU to consider a 30% blanket tariff on Chinese imports or a 30% depreciation of the euro against the renminbi to counter rising low-cost imports. The account said such measures would breach World Trade Organization rules and amount to a “declaration of trade war.”

The comments unsettled markets, with shares of French spirits makers Remy Cointreau and Pernod Ricard falling before trimming losses. French government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said the proposal had not been adopted by the government, though she did not dismiss its rationale. France’s trade and finance ministries have yet to issue formal responses.

The latest tensions echo last year’s dispute when China launched an anti-dumping probe into EU brandy, widely seen as retaliation for EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles — tariffs France supported. While Beijing has reiterated its willingness to engage in dialogue with France and the EU, it also stressed it is prepared to respond firmly to any trade challenges.

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Violent Protests Erupt in Tirana Over Corruption Allegations

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Thousands of anti-government protesters clashed with police in Albania’s capital Tirana on Tuesday evening, demanding the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku over alleged corruption. Demonstrators threw petrol bombs at a government building, while police responded with water cannon and riot units to disperse the crowds gathered near the prime minister’s office.

The unrest follows a December indictment by Albania’s Special Prosecution Office, which accused Balluku of interfering in public tenders for major infrastructure projects and favouring certain companies. Balluku has denied the allegations. The protests mark the latest escalation in political tensions that challenge Prime Minister Edi Rama’s administration, which has been in power since 2013.

Protesters in the capital’s main square waved flags and chanted slogans calling for the government’s resignation, as heavily armed police guarded key buildings. Prosecutors have asked parliament to lift Balluku’s immunity to allow her arrest, though it remains unclear when or whether lawmakers—where Rama’s party holds a majority—will vote on the request.

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Tesla Files Complaint Over Secret Recording at Berlin Plant

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Tesla has filed a criminal complaint against a member of Germany’s IG Metall union for allegedly recording a non-public works council meeting at its Gruenheide plant near Berlin. According to an internal memo confirmed by the company, the external union representative attended the meeting as a guest but began recording proceedings on a computer, prompting legal action.

Plant manager Andre Thierig said in the memo that works council meetings are confidential and that recording them constitutes a criminal offence under German law. The move marks another escalation in tensions between the U.S. electric vehicle maker and IG Metall, whose relationship has been strained in recent years.

IG Metall rejected Tesla’s claims, calling the accusation a “calculated lie” ahead of works council elections scheduled for March. The union has previously accused plant management of resisting union influence, while in the last election two years ago, most Tesla employees opted for non-union representatives instead of IG Metall-backed candidates.

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