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Spanish Train Drivers Call Nationwide Strike After Deadly Derailments

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Spain’s largest train drivers’ union, SEMAF, has called for a nationwide strike, demanding stronger safety assurances following a series of deadly rail accidents that have shaken the country. The move comes after one of Europe’s worst recent train crashes near Adamuz in southern Spain killed at least 42 people, along with two additional derailments this week that claimed the life of a commuter train driver near Barcelona and disrupted regional services.

SEMAF said it would seek criminal accountability from those responsible for rail safety, revealing it had warned infrastructure operator Adif months earlier about severe track wear on the Adamuz stretch. According to the union, potholes, uneven tracks, and damaged overhead power lines had caused frequent breakdowns and raised safety risks on several high-speed routes. Authorities are continuing recovery efforts at the Adamuz site, where rescuers are still searching for possible remaining victims.

Transport Minister Oscar Puente acknowledged the emotional toll on train drivers but urged the union to reconsider the strike, noting that two of the recent derailments were caused by extreme weather rather than track conditions. Adif has since imposed additional speed limits and ordered inspections after drivers reported poor track conditions, while storms and safety checks have triggered widespread service suspensions, leaving commuters across regions like Catalonia scrambling for alternatives.

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NATO Faces Strain, But Russia Remains Core Threat: Norway Defence Minister

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Norway’s defence minister Tore O. Sandvik said NATO is going through a challenging period due to tensions sparked by the crisis over Greenland, but stressed that the alliance must stay focused on its primary security concern — Russia. Speaking to foreign correspondents in Oslo on Wednesday, Sandvik said the current situation within NATO is difficult, yet unity against common threats remains essential.

His remarks come as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to press for the acquisition of Greenland from Denmark, a fellow NATO member, a move that has strained relations within the alliance. Despite these internal pressures, Sandvik emphasised that Russia continues to pose the most significant strategic threat to NATO, particularly as it expands its military footprint in the Arctic region.

Norway, which shares an Arctic border with Russia, closely monitors Russian military activity on the Kola Peninsula, home to key nuclear assets and the headquarters of Russia’s Northern Fleet. The fleet’s access route to the North Atlantic via the Barents Sea makes the region strategically critical, reinforcing NATO’s need to maintain focus on Russian military movements in the High North.

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EU Lawmakers Consider Legal Challenge to Mercosur Deal

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EU lawmakers are set to vote on Wednesday whether to refer the European Union’s free trade agreement with Mercosur—comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—to the EU Court of Justice. A legal challenge by 144 lawmakers could delay the deal by up to two years and potentially block its implementation. The agreement, the EU’s largest-ever trade pact, still requires approval from member states before taking effect.

Opponents, led by France, argue the deal will increase imports of cheap beef, sugar, and poultry, threatening domestic farmers. The legal challenge seeks a court ruling on whether the pact can be provisionally applied before full ratification and whether it limits the EU’s ability to enforce environmental and consumer health standards. Court opinions typically take around two years to be delivered.

Supporters, including Germany and Spain, stress the pact’s importance in offsetting trade disruptions caused by U.S. tariffs and reducing dependency on China by securing access to critical minerals. They also note that Mercosur governments are growing impatient after decades of negotiations, making timely EU approval crucial.

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Courmayeur Bans Indoor Sparklers After Swiss Fire Tragedy

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The Italian ski resort of Courmayeur has prohibited sparklers and other open flames in enclosed spaces following a deadly New Year’s Eve fire in Switzerland’s Crans-Montana that killed 40 people, including six Italians. Authorities believe the blaze was caused by “fountain candle” sparklers coming too close to the ceiling.

Courmayeur’s town hall announced that the ban applies to all enclosed public venues, while local authorities have stepped up inspections of nightclubs and other public spaces for safety compliance, including fire exits and capacity limits. Several clubs in Rome have already been shut down this month following similar checks.

Mayor Roberto Rota described the ban as “necessary and urgent” given the frequent use of open flames during celebrations, and some officials, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, are considering a nationwide indoor sparkler ban. Ski enthusiasts and residents have largely supported the measure as a proactive safety step.

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EU Pushes for Greater Independence, von der Leyen Says

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament on Wednesday that the EU must accelerate its drive for independence to protect itself in a rapidly changing world. She emphasized that while Europe prefers dialogue, it is ready to act with unity, urgency, and determination if necessary.

Von der Leyen highlighted that Europe needs its own tools of power, including a strong economy, a robust single market, technological innovation, and the capacity to defend itself. She stressed that these elements are crucial for the EU to navigate global challenges effectively.

She also reaffirmed the EU’s focus on Ukraine, while noting plans to strengthen security partnerships with the US and other allies in the Arctic region, underlining the importance of collaboration in a complex geopolitical landscape.

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France PM Pushes 2026 Budget Through Without Vote

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French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced that he will use Article 49.3 of the Constitution to pass the 2026 budget without a parliamentary vote, after securing enough support to survive an expected no-confidence motion. Lecornu expressed regret for going back on his previous promise to avoid this procedure but said it was necessary to finalize the centrist government’s deficit-cutting budget. The lower house is expected to approve the income side of the legislation before it moves to the Senate.

To gain Socialist backing while keeping conservatives from opposing, the government has increased support for low-income households, extended affordable university meals, and promised more affordable housing. Measures to fund these initiatives include extending a corporate surtax on large companies, projected to raise €8 billion. Socialist leader Boris Vallaud indicated that these concessions might prevent the need for a no-confidence vote.

France has faced political instability over the budget, losing two governments and risking a snap election. While neither major party is fully satisfied with the proposals, they are reluctant to trigger early elections ahead of the presidential vote. Hard-left France Unbowed has promised to file a no-confidence motion, though analysts say the final budget, with higher taxes and increased spending, may weigh on investment and economic growth in 2026.

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Russian Strikes Cut Heating to Thousands in Kyiv Amid Freezing Cold

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Russian drone and missile attacks early Tuesday knocked out power and heating to thousands of apartment buildings in Kyiv, leaving residents exposed to freezing temperatures as low as –15°C, Ukrainian officials said. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that 5,635 multi-storey residential buildings lost heating, while water supplies were disrupted on the city’s left bank, and one person was wounded as debris damaged a school.

The strikes represent the second major attack on Kyiv’s energy infrastructure this month, with repair crews working continuously to restore services. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for urgent support from allies, including energy aid and air defence systems, describing the attacks as a “wake-up call” to world leaders. Many of the buildings affected in the latest strike had already suffered damage during previous attacks.

Beyond Kyiv, Russian attacks damaged critical energy and infrastructure across multiple regions, including Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava and Sumy, and wounded two people in Dnipropetrovsk. With the war nearing its fourth year, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have yielded little progress, leaving Ukrainians facing repeated power and heating disruptions during harsh winter conditions.

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German Investor Confidence Hits Nearly Five-Year High on Growth Hopes: ZEW

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German investor confidence jumped sharply in January to its highest level since August 2021, according to the ZEW economic research institute, signalling rising optimism about Europe’s largest economy. The ZEW expectations index climbed to 59.6 points, far exceeding market forecasts of 50.0 and up from 45.8 in December, as investors grew more hopeful that 2026 could mark a turning point for Germany.

Economists attributed the improved sentiment partly to the government’s expansive fiscal package, which includes higher public spending on defence and infrastructure aimed at reversing the economic slowdown. While expectations improved, ZEW President Achim Wambach cautioned that reforms are still needed to enhance Germany’s attractiveness as a business location and ensure sustainable long-term growth.

Despite the upbeat mood, risks remain. Trade tensions, particularly concerns over potential U.S. tariffs on German and other European exports, could weigh on the outlook. The ZEW’s assessment of the current economic situation improved but stayed deeply negative, highlighting that while confidence is recovering, Germany’s economy is not yet out of the woods.

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Valentino Garavani, Legendary Italian Couturier Who Defined “Valentino Red,” Dies at 93

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Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani, the founder of one of the world’s most celebrated luxury houses and creator of the iconic “Valentino red,” has died at the age of 93, his foundation said on Monday. Known across the industry as the “emperor” of haute couture, Valentino passed away at his home in Rome. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Rising to prominence in the late 1950s, Valentino became the first Italian designer to show on Paris’ elite haute couture runways and helped cement Italy’s global fashion reputation. His romantic yet meticulously detailed designs dressed generations of leading women, from Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor to Oscar winners Sharon Stone and Penelope Cruz. A signature red gown featured in every collection, reflecting his belief that red symbolised strength, beauty and timeless elegance.

Valentino built a global fashion empire under his own name before retiring in 2008, following a farewell couture show in Paris. Alongside his lifelong partner Giancarlo Giammetti, he remained active in supporting the arts, most recently through the PM23 gallery in Rome. Revered as one of the last great couturiers of a pre-commercial fashion era, Valentino leaves behind a legacy defined by craftsmanship, glamour and an enduring devotion to beauty.

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Record Snowfall Paralyzes Russia’s Far East, Bringing Fun and Frustration

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Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula has been hit by its heaviest snowfall in six decades, leaving cities buried under massive snowdrifts several metres high. In the port city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, extreme winter storms have blocked building entrances, submerged cars and disrupted daily life, according to visuals and data from weather monitoring stations.

Officials said more than two metres of snow has fallen in the first half of January alone, following 3.7 metres recorded in December. Reuters images showed vehicles almost completely buried, with four-wheel drives struggling to move through thick drifts, while residents were forced to dig narrow paths to access apartment buildings and roads.

Despite the disruption, locals have tried to find moments of humour amid the chaos. Videos on Russian media showed people walking along towering snowbanks beside traffic lights, while some jumped off the drifts for fun. “The car has been parked in a snowdrift for a month,” said local photographer Lydmila Moskvicheva, capturing both the frustration and surreal beauty of the historic snowfall.

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