Fraudsters are out to cash in on interest in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lamakers-propose-barring-big-tech-companies-from-offering-financial-services-digital-currencies-236125">Facebook-backed digital currency Libra</a>, hawking bogus buying opportunities at online venues including the social network itself.

Libra is to launch next year, overseen by an association based in Europe, but as with other hot topics it has been seized on by nefarious characters intent on tricking people with false accounts, pages, and information.

Fake Libra opportunities or offerings have popped up on Facebook's main social network and its image-centric online community Instagram, &nbsp;according to a report Monday in the Washington Post.

Several Libra-themed deceptive accounts were removed from the Facebook platform after the California-based company was alerted by the Post, according to the publication.

Some of the fake accounts used the official Facebook logo and photos of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-facebooks-libra-wants-to-become-a-bank-it-must-must-seek-new-banking-charter-trump-235162">chief executive Mark Zuckerberg</a>.&nbsp;

"<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-needs-very-high-standard-for-libra-coin-us-treasury-steven-mnuchin-236268">Facebook</a> removes ads and Pages that violate our policies when we become aware of them, and we are constantly working to improve detection of scams on our platforms," the internet titan said in response to an AFP inquiry.

The Libra Association was reported to be working with Facebook to get deceptive pages about the currency deleted.

Criminals routinely seize on hot topics to try to dupe people online, from natural disasters and major tragedies to celebrity news.

A buylibracoins.com website accessible Monday offered a fake chance to buy the digital currency, encouraging potential victims to share contact details of friends in a referral program.

Fraudsters were said to be set also hunting for victims at other online venues such as Twitter and YouTube.

Financial upheaval

The rise of fake Libra offerings comes as Facebook tries to dispel worries and build trust in what it hopes will be a global currency that gives life-changing financial tools to people around the world.

G7 finance ministers and central bankers last week dealt a blow to Facebook's planned new cryptocurrency Libra, issuing a barrage of warnings about its dangers for the global economy at a two-day meeting outside Paris.

Facebook in June unveiled its plans for Libra in an announcement greeted with concern by governments and critics of the social network behemoth, whose reputation has already been tarnished by its role in spreading fake information and extremist videos.

Ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major global economies "agreed that projects such as Libra may affect monetary sovereignty and the functioning of the international monetary system," France, the current G7 chair, said in a statement.

It said projects like Libra with a "global and potentially systemic footprint... raise serious regulatory and systemic concerns, as well as wider policy issues, which both need to be addressed before such projects can be implemented."

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said his concerns about Libra and other cryptocurrencies which he had made clear in White House news conference this month were shared by G7 counterparts.

Libra is widely regarded as a challenger to dominant global player bitcoin. Expected to launch in the first half of 2020, Libra is designed to be backed by a basket of currency assets to avoid the wild swings of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Fraudsters are out to cash in on interest in Facebook-backed digital currency Libra, hawking bogus buying opportunities at online venues including the social network itself.

Fraudsters are out to cash in on interest in Facebook-backed digital currency Libra, hawking bogus buying opportunities at online venues including the social network itself. Libra is to launch next year, overseen by an association based in Europe, but as with other hot topics it has been seized on by nefarious characters intent on tricking people with false accounts, pages, and information. Fake Libra opportunities or offerings have popped up on Facebook's main social network and its image-centric online community Instagram, according to a report Monday in the Washington Post. Several Libra-themed deceptive accounts were removed from the Facebook platform after the California-based company was alerted by the Post, according to the publication. Some of the fake accounts used the official Facebook logo and photos of chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. "Facebook removes ads and Pages that violate our policies when we become aware of them, and we are constantly working to improve detection of scams on our platforms," the internet titan said in response to an AFP inquiry. The Libra Association was reported to be working with Facebook to get deceptive pages about the currency deleted. Criminals routinely seize on hot topics to try to dupe people online, from natural disasters and major tragedies to celebrity news. A buylibracoins.com website accessible Monday offered a fake chance to buy the digital currency, encouraging potential victims to share contact details of friends in a referral program. Fraudsters were said to be set also hunting for victims at other online venues such as Twitter and YouTube. Financial upheaval The rise of fake Libra offerings comes as Facebook tries to dispel worries and build trust in what it hopes will be a global currency that gives life-changing financial tools to people around the world. G7 finance ministers and central bankers last week dealt a blow to Facebook's planned new cryptocurrency Libra, issuing a barrage of warnings about its dangers for the global economy at a two-day meeting outside Paris. Facebook in June unveiled its plans for Libra in an announcement greeted with concern by governments and critics of the social network behemoth, whose reputation has already been tarnished by its role in spreading fake information and extremist videos. Ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major global economies "agreed that projects such as Libra may affect monetary sovereignty and the functioning of the international monetary system," France, the current G7 chair, said in a statement. It said projects like Libra with a "global and potentially systemic footprint... raise serious regulatory and systemic concerns, as well as wider policy issues, which both need to be addressed before such projects can be implemented." US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said his concerns about Libra and other cryptocurrencies which he had made clear in White House news conference this month were shared by G7 counterparts. Libra is widely regarded as a challenger to dominant global player bitcoin. Expected to launch in the first half of 2020, Libra is designed to be backed by a basket of currency assets to avoid the wild swings of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Fraudsters exploit interest in Libra digital currency

Conservative and far-right French lawmakers said they would boycott a meeting with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/teen-climate-activist-greta-thunberg-gets-amnesty-prize-225552">Swedish activist Greta Thunberg</a> and hurled insults at the 16-year-old who has inspired a global network of young climate protesters.

Thunberg has been invited by a cross-party group of politicians to attend a French parliament committee meeting and will watch a plenary session from the public gallery on Tuesday.

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Today we’re speaking at the National Assembly in Paris. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FridaysForFuture?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FridaysForFuture</a> <a href="https://t.co/St62PqAD7H">pic.twitter.com/St62PqAD7H</a>
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/GretaThunberg/status/1153607753396629505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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But after mocking Thunberg on social media in recent days, lawmakers from the conservative Les Republicains (LR) and far-right Rassemblement National (RN) parties said they would not attend the meeting.

"I call on my colleagues to boycott Greta Thunberg. We do not need gurus of the apocalypse," Guillaume Larrive, who is running to be the leader of Les Republicains, said on Twitter.

Recent months have seen millions of young people worldwide walk out of school on Fridays to back Thunberg's demands for urgent action from governments to curb carbon emissions.

Julien Aubert, another candidate to lead the party, which turned in its worst-ever performance in European elections in May and finished behind the Greens, tweeted: "Do not count on me to go and applaud a prophetess in shorts, Nobel prize of fear."

Thunberg began a climate protest outside the Swedish parliament last August. The Fridays for Future school strike movement has since spread to more than 100 countries.

"Using children to hawk a fatalist message about the world going up in flames, and skipping school and going on strike, that is a deeply defeatist approach," Jordan Bardella, an RN member of the European Parliament, told France 2 television.

"You cannot bring in the Joan of Arc of climate change while parliament is voting on the EU-Canada trade deal."

The French parliament is expected to approve on Tuesday the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which has been criticised by environmentalists.

But any abstentions or no-votes among President Emmanuel Macron's centrist LREM party, which has a comfortable majority, would be damaging for Macron, who has been criticised for taking little action against climate change.

Green MPs, as well as government ministers, defended Thunberg and the fight against global warming, which the government has said will be a priority of the second part of Macron's mandate.

"Boycotting the speech of a 16-year old girl, what are they afraid of?" junior environment minister Brune Poirson told Le Parisien newspaper.

"We need whistleblowers like her."

Conservative and far-right French lawmakers said they would boycott a meeting with Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and hurled insults at the 16-year-old who has inspired a global network of young climate protesters.

Conservative and far-right French lawmakers said they would boycott a meeting with Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and hurled insults at the 16-year-old who has inspired a global network of young climate protesters. Thunberg has been invited by a cross-party group of politicians to attend a French parliament committee meeting and will watch a plenary session from the public gallery on Tuesday. Today we’re speaking at the National Assembly in Paris. #FridaysForFuture pic.twitter.com/St62PqAD7H — Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) July 23, 2019 × But after mocking Thunberg on social media in recent days, lawmakers from the conservative Les Republicains (LR) and far-right Rassemblement National (RN) parties said they would not attend the meeting. "I call on my colleagues to boycott Greta Thunberg. We do not need gurus of the apocalypse," Guillaume Larrive, who is running to be the leader of Les Republicains, said on Twitter. Recent months have seen millions of young people worldwide walk out of school on Fridays to back Thunberg's demands for urgent action from governments to curb carbon emissions. Julien Aubert, another candidate to lead the party, which turned in its worst-ever performance in European elections in May and finished behind the Greens, tweeted: "Do not count on me to go and applaud a prophetess in shorts, Nobel prize of fear." Thunberg began a climate protest outside the Swedish parliament last August. The Fridays for Future school strike movement has since spread to more than 100 countries. "Using children to hawk a fatalist message about the world going up in flames, and skipping school and going on strike, that is a deeply defeatist approach," Jordan Bardella, an RN member of the European Parliament, told France 2 television. "You cannot bring in the Joan of Arc of climate change while parliament is voting on the EU-Canada trade deal." The French parliament is expected to approve on Tuesday the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which has been criticised by environmentalists. But any abstentions or no-votes among President Emmanuel Macron's centrist LREM party, which has a comfortable majority, would be damaging for Macron, who has been criticised for taking little action against climate change. Green MPs, as well as government ministers, defended Thunberg and the fight against global warming, which the government has said will be a priority of the second part of Macron's mandate. "Boycotting the speech of a 16-year old girl, what are they afraid of?" junior environment minister Brune Poirson told Le Parisien newspaper. "We need whistleblowers like her."

French right-wingers to shun 16-year-old Greta Thunberg in Parliament

European law enforcement agencies set to lose the ability to tap criminals' mobile devices with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-soon-to-issue-5g-license-as-it-enters-crucial-period-223979">launch of 5G technology</a> must be brought into discussions earlier when communications networks are modernised, the new head of Europol told Reuters.

Appealing to EU leaders for greater powers to fight tech-savvy criminals, Catherine De Bolle said its member states do not yet have the domestic regulations or technology to fill the policing gap that will open up when 4G networks become obsolete.

"It is one of the most important investigative tools that police officers and services have, so we need this in the future," she said in an interview, giving the example of locating a child who has been kidnapped.

European police authorities are now able to listen to and track wanted criminals using mobile communication devices on the 4G network, but "we cannot use them in the 5G network," De Bolle said.

She said European law enforcement agencies were brought into talks on the 5G transition among tech companies and policymakers too late. That meant that officials were now being forced to seek ways to limit the damage when police are stripped of critical surveillance capabilities under 5G.

The comments came as Europol released a report on crime-fighting in the digital era, called "Do Criminals Dream of Electric Sheep," which described the adoption by criminals of new encrypted communication tools, 3-D printing technology and hacking capabilities that target potential victims online.

It highlighted the ability of terrorists to use self-driving cars or drones as weapons, artificial intelligence that can spread fake news and high-speed quantum computing that may help crack encryption codes.

'Web-based criminality'

Police agencies "were not vocal enough" when policy makers and commercial businesses were discussing 5G technology, and De Bolle is sounding the alarm to avoid a repeat.

"The biggest risk is that we are not enough aware of the developments on a technological level and we have to be ahead on this. We have to understand what is going on and we have to try to provide answers to it," she said.

"So we need to be at the table where they discuss the technological development, where they discuss standardisation."

Europol opened in 1999 as Europe's collective policing agency and combats cross-border organised crime, terrorism, and cybercrime in the bloc. It has 900 staff based in The Hague.

The agency is in discussions in Brussels to double its budget from this year's 138 million euros ($155 million) by 2027, largely to revamp its cybercrime capabilities, De Bolle said, detailing the new report.

"The area we are working in and the technological evolution we are dealing with - the innovation used by criminals, the web-based criminality - it is huge," said De Bolle, who joined Europol in May 2018 from the Belgian police force.

She made the case for Europol to become a platform for modernising EU police forces by developing digital tools and technology.

To do that, Europol would need greater political and financial support from European institutions. In the next seven-year EU budget period from 2021 to 2027 "we need a doubling of the money we have today," she said.

($1 = 0.8909 euros)

European law enforcement agencies set to lose the ability to tap criminals' mobile devices with the launch of 5G technology must be brought into discussions earlier when communications networks are modernised, the new head of Europol told Reuters.

European law enforcement agencies set to lose the ability to tap criminals' mobile devices with the launch of 5G technology must be brought into discussions earlier when communications networks are modernised, the new head of Europol told Reuters. Appealing to EU leaders for greater powers to fight tech-savvy criminals, Catherine De Bolle said its member states do not yet have the domestic regulations or technology to fill the policing gap that will open up when 4G networks become obsolete. "It is one of the most important investigative tools that police officers and services have, so we need this in the future," she said in an interview, giving the example of locating a child who has been kidnapped. European police authorities are now able to listen to and track wanted criminals using mobile communication devices on the 4G network, but "we cannot use them in the 5G network," De Bolle said. She said European law enforcement agencies were brought into talks on the 5G transition among tech companies and policymakers too late. That meant that officials were now being forced to seek ways to limit the damage when police are stripped of critical surveillance capabilities under 5G. The comments came as Europol released a report on crime-fighting in the digital era, called "Do Criminals Dream of Electric Sheep," which described the adoption by criminals of new encrypted communication tools, 3-D printing technology and hacking capabilities that target potential victims online. It highlighted the ability of terrorists to use self-driving cars or drones as weapons, artificial intelligence that can spread fake news and high-speed quantum computing that may help crack encryption codes. 'Web-based criminality' Police agencies "were not vocal enough" when policy makers and commercial businesses were discussing 5G technology, and De Bolle is sounding the alarm to avoid a repeat. "The biggest risk is that we are not enough aware of the developments on a technological level and we have to be ahead on this. We have to understand what is going on and we have to try to provide answers to it," she said. "So we need to be at the table where they discuss the technological development, where they discuss standardisation." Europol opened in 1999 as Europe's collective policing agency and combats cross-border organised crime, terrorism, and cybercrime in the bloc. It has 900 staff based in The Hague. The agency is in discussions in Brussels to double its budget from this year's 138 million euros ($155 million) by 2027, largely to revamp its cybercrime capabilities, De Bolle said, detailing the new report. "The area we are working in and the technological evolution we are dealing with - the innovation used by criminals, the web-based criminality - it is huge," said De Bolle, who joined Europol in May 2018 from the Belgian police force. She made the case for Europol to become a platform for modernising EU police forces by developing digital tools and technology. To do that, Europol would need greater political and financial support from European institutions. In the next seven-year EU budget period from 2021 to 2027 "we need a doubling of the money we have today," she said. ($1 = 0.8909 euros)

Police need intercept tools as mobile networks develop: Europol

While Indian flights will save time and fuel, the expenses will reduce drastically after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/will-take-2-3-days-for-scheduling-flights-over-pakistan-air-space-air-india-official-236398">Pakistan announced the opening of its airspace</a> for civil traffic, according to Air India, Director (Operations) Captain Amitabh Singh.

On being asked to respond to Pakistan`s decision to open its airspace for civil traffic, Singh on Tuesday told ANI, "With this opening, we will be saving 1.5-2 hours of flying time between India-Europe and India-USA.&nbsp;

We will save on fuel consumption too. The expenses will reduce drastically.

"He added that the decision will be beneficial for both <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-to-not-open-its-airspace-until-india-removes-fighter-jets-from-forward-bases-235332">Indian and foreign carriers</a> as the closure had generated inconvenience for the traveling public."It is going to be beneficial for Indian carriers as well as for foreign carriers. The closure generated a lot of inconvenience for the traveling public," he opined.&nbsp;

This response came after neighbouring country Pakistan on Tuesday morning announced the opening of its airspace for civil traffic, which was closed over four months back after the Balakot strikes.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, the Centre had informed Rajya Sabha that Indian airlines suffered losses worth over Rs 548 crore due to airspace closure by Pakistan after the Balakot airstrike in February.

In a written response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation (Independent Charge) Hardeep Singh Puri had said the national carrier Air India lost Rs 491 crore till July 2, while IndiGo suffered a loss of Rs 25.1 crore till May 31.

SpiceJet and GoAir lost Rs 30.73 crore and Rs 2.1 crore, respectively till June 20.&nbsp;

"The airspace closure by Pakistan is a unilateral measure that followed the non-military counter-terrorism airstrike by the Indian Air Force against terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan in February 2019," Puri had said in the upper House of Parliament.&nbsp;

Earlier, an Air India official had told ANI that the national carrier was losing 6 crore a day due to airspace closure by Pakistan.

&nbsp;Pakistan had earlier claimed that it would not open its airspace for commercial flights until India removed its fighter jets from forwarding Indian airbases.&nbsp;

Pakistan had fully shut its airspace on the eastern border with India after the Indian Air Force (IAF) had carried out airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot on February 26.

&nbsp;The strikes on the terror camp were in response to the JeM-perpetrated terror attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14 in which 40 CRPF personnel had lost their lives.&nbsp;

In mid-April, Pakistan opened one of its 11 air routes for westbound flights from India airlines like Air India and Turkish Airlines have started using it.

&nbsp;In March, the neighbouring country partially opened its airspace but did not allow Indian flights to fly over its airspace.

While Indian flights will save time and fuel, the expenses will reduce drastically after Pakistan announced the opening of its airspace for civil traffic, according to Air India, Director (Operations) Captain Amitabh Singh.

While Indian flights will save time and fuel, the expenses will reduce drastically after Pakistan announced the opening of its airspace for civil traffic, according to Air India, Director (Operations) Captain Amitabh Singh. On being asked to respond to Pakistan`s decision to open its airspace for civil traffic, Singh on Tuesday told ANI, "With this opening, we will be saving 1.5-2 hours of flying time between India-Europe and India-USA. We will save on fuel consumption too. The expenses will reduce drastically. "He added that the decision will be beneficial for both Indian and foreign carriers as the closure had generated inconvenience for the traveling public."It is going to be beneficial for Indian carriers as well as for foreign carriers. The closure generated a lot of inconvenience for the traveling public," he opined. This response came after neighbouring country Pakistan on Tuesday morning announced the opening of its airspace for civil traffic, which was closed over four months back after the Balakot strikes. Earlier this month, the Centre had informed Rajya Sabha that Indian airlines suffered losses worth over Rs 548 crore due to airspace closure by Pakistan after the Balakot airstrike in February. In a written response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation (Independent Charge) Hardeep Singh Puri had said the national carrier Air India lost Rs 491 crore till July 2, while IndiGo suffered a loss of Rs 25.1 crore till May 31. SpiceJet and GoAir lost Rs 30.73 crore and Rs 2.1 crore, respectively till June 20. "The airspace closure by Pakistan is a unilateral measure that followed the non-military counter-terrorism airstrike by the Indian Air Force against terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan in February 2019," Puri had said in the upper House of Parliament. Earlier, an Air India official had told ANI that the national carrier was losing 6 crore a day due to airspace closure by Pakistan. Pakistan had earlier claimed that it would not open its airspace for commercial flights until India removed its fighter jets from forwarding Indian airbases. Pakistan had fully shut its airspace on the eastern border with India after the Indian Air Force (IAF) had carried out airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot on February 26. The strikes on the terror camp were in response to the JeM-perpetrated terror attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14 in which 40 CRPF personnel had lost their lives. In mid-April, Pakistan opened one of its 11 air routes for westbound flights from India airlines like Air India and Turkish Airlines have started using it. In March, the neighbouring country partially opened its airspace but did not allow Indian flights to fly over its airspace.

Indian flights will save fuel: Air India on Pakistan opening airspace for civil traffic

Three men will face trial in Malta for their alleged involvement in the murder of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia after the island's attorney general issued a bill of indictment against them, court officials said on Tuesday.

The indictment comes days before a deadline that requires suspects who have not been formally committed for trial within 20 months of arrest to be granted bail.

Vincent Muscat and brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio are accused of having planted and set off a bomb that exploded in Caruana Galizia's car near the Maltese capital Valletta on Oct. 16, 2017. All three suspects have pleaded not guilty during pre-trial proceedings known as the compilation of evidence, held before a magistrate.

It is not known when the trial will start.

The murder of Caruana Galizia, who penned an anti-corruption blog, appalled Europe and raised questions about the rule of law on the Mediterranean island.

Muscat and the Degiorgios were arrested and charged in December 2017 and have been in detention ever since. The courts have turned down repeated requests for bail citing the continuing police investigation and public order.

Maltese police have said their investigations are continuing as the three are not thought to have been the masterminds behind the killing, the motive for which is unknown.

The three suspects have not said a word to the police, according to usually well-informed Maltese media.

Evidence presented in court by prosecutors over the last two years has suggested that Caruana Galizia, 53, was blown up by a bomb activated by a mobile phone.

Muscat was allegedly the spotter who watched the journalist drive out of her house in Bidnija, seven miles from Valletta, while one of the Degiorgio brothers is alleged to have set off the bomb by phone while on a yacht in Valletta harbour.

Officers from the US&nbsp;Federal Bureau of Investigations and Europol have helped Malta police investigate the case.

Caruana Galizia's family has repeatedly called on Malta's government to hold an independent public inquiry into the murder and into whether the government could have acted to prevent it.

The Council of Europe backed their call in a report last June and said an inquiry should be held within three months.

The government has said that a public inquiry could hinder the continuing police investigations, although the foreign minister has indicated that an inquiry might be held.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, a frequent target of Caruana Galizia's writings, has offered a million euro ($1.2 million) reward for information leading to the arrest of the culprits.

Three men will face trial in Malta for their alleged involvement in the murder of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia after the island's attorney general issued a bill of indictment against them, court officials said on Tuesday.

Three men will face trial in Malta for their alleged involvement in the murder of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia after the island's attorney general issued a bill of indictment against them, court officials said on Tuesday. The indictment comes days before a deadline that requires suspects who have not been formally committed for trial within 20 months of arrest to be granted bail. Vincent Muscat and brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio are accused of having planted and set off a bomb that exploded in Caruana Galizia's car near the Maltese capital Valletta on Oct. 16, 2017. All three suspects have pleaded not guilty during pre-trial proceedings known as the compilation of evidence, held before a magistrate. It is not known when the trial will start. The murder of Caruana Galizia, who penned an anti-corruption blog, appalled Europe and raised questions about the rule of law on the Mediterranean island. Muscat and the Degiorgios were arrested and charged in December 2017 and have been in detention ever since. The courts have turned down repeated requests for bail citing the continuing police investigation and public order. Maltese police have said their investigations are continuing as the three are not thought to have been the masterminds behind the killing, the motive for which is unknown. The three suspects have not said a word to the police, according to usually well-informed Maltese media. Evidence presented in court by prosecutors over the last two years has suggested that Caruana Galizia, 53, was blown up by a bomb activated by a mobile phone. Muscat was allegedly the spotter who watched the journalist drive out of her house in Bidnija, seven miles from Valletta, while one of the Degiorgio brothers is alleged to have set off the bomb by phone while on a yacht in Valletta harbour. Officers from the US Federal Bureau of Investigations and Europol have helped Malta police investigate the case. Caruana Galizia's family has repeatedly called on Malta's government to hold an independent public inquiry into the murder and into whether the government could have acted to prevent it. The Council of Europe backed their call in a report last June and said an inquiry should be held within three months. The government has said that a public inquiry could hinder the continuing police investigations, although the foreign minister has indicated that an inquiry might be held. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, a frequent target of Caruana Galizia's writings, has offered a million euro ($1.2 million) reward for information leading to the arrest of the culprits.

Malta sends three suspects for trial on charges of killing anti-corruption journalist

US payments company PayPal &lt;PYPL.O&gt; is expanding further in Europe by launching its international money transfers service Xoom in Britain and 31 other countries across the continent.

Xoom allows customers to transfer money abroad to more than 130 markets internationally, including India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya, Poland, and China.

The company said the roll-out would help it grab market share in the $689 billion global remittances market, building on previous launches of the service in the United States and Canada.

Britons alone transfer over $26 billion in remittances overseas annually, many sending money to help family members pay bills.

Xoom partners with major banks and other finance firms to facilitate the money transfers, with customers able to transfer up to 8,800 pounds ($11,029) per transaction.

US payments company PayPal <PYPL.O> is expanding further in Europe by launching its international money transfers service Xoom in Britain and 31 other countries across the continent.

US payments company PayPal <PYPL.O> is expanding further in Europe by launching its international money transfers service Xoom in Britain and 31 other countries across the continent. Xoom allows customers to transfer money abroad to more than 130 markets internationally, including India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya, Poland, and China. The company said the roll-out would help it grab market share in the $689 billion global remittances market, building on previous launches of the service in the United States and Canada. Britons alone transfer over $26 billion in remittances overseas annually, many sending money to help family members pay bills. Xoom partners with major banks and other finance firms to facilitate the money transfers, with customers able to transfer up to 8,800 pounds ($11,029) per transaction.

PayPal launches international money transfer service Xoom across Europe

Iran on Monday urged the European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal "to take practical, effective and responsible decisions" to save the landmark agreement.

"We stress that the continued voluntary and goodwill based actions by the Islamic Republic of Iran are rooted in the principle of reciprocity of rights and duties" in the nuclear deal, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Any expectation for Iran to return to the conditions prior to May 8, 2019 without proof of any political will and practical ability of the European parties" to ensure sanctions relief "is an unrealistic expectation".

The statement comes a day after three key <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-powers-urge-dialogue-end-to-escalation-in-iran-nuclear-crisis-235919">European powers</a>- Britain, France and Germany- called for an end to the escalating tensions between US and Iran.

As tensions further intensified between the two countries, Britain, France and Germany expressed concern on Sunday that the 2015 deal over Iran's nuclear programme risked further unravelling but said it was up to Tehran to ensure the deal survived.

The statement was published after President Emmanuel Macron hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel and senior British cabinet minister David Lidington at the annual Bastille Day parade in Paris.

The three European powers were among the key players in the 2015 deal (known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear programme.

But US President Donald Trump in 2018 announced Washington was pulling out of the deal, to the dismay of its European allies.

Meanwhile, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-european-union-talks-uk-calls-for-reduced-tensions-with-iran-236083">European Union foreign ministers are also meeting</a> to discuss the 2015 deal over Iran's nuclear programme.

(With inputs from AFP)

&nbsp;

Iran on Monday urged the European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal "to take practical, effective and responsible decisions" to save the landmark agreement. "We stress that the continued voluntary and goodwill based actions by the Islamic Republic of Iran are rooted in the principle of reciprocity of rights and duties" in the nuclear deal, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Iran on Monday urged the European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal "to take practical, effective and responsible decisions" to save the landmark agreement. "We stress that the continued voluntary and goodwill based actions by the Islamic Republic of Iran are rooted in the principle of reciprocity of rights and duties" in the nuclear deal, the foreign ministry said in a statement. "Any expectation for Iran to return to the conditions prior to May 8, 2019 without proof of any political will and practical ability of the European parties" to ensure sanctions relief "is an unrealistic expectation". The statement comes a day after three key European powers- Britain, France and Germany- called for an end to the escalating tensions between US and Iran. As tensions further intensified between the two countries, Britain, France and Germany expressed concern on Sunday that the 2015 deal over Iran's nuclear programme risked further unravelling but said it was up to Tehran to ensure the deal survived. The statement was published after President Emmanuel Macron hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel and senior British cabinet minister David Lidington at the annual Bastille Day parade in Paris. The three European powers were among the key players in the 2015 deal (known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear programme. But US President Donald Trump in 2018 announced Washington was pulling out of the deal, to the dismay of its European allies. Meanwhile, the European Union foreign ministers are also meeting to discuss the 2015 deal over Iran's nuclear programme. (With inputs from AFP)

Take practical, effective and responsible decisions: Iran to EU on nuclear deal

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/switzerland-steps-up-process-to-share-banking-information-11-indians-get-notices-in-a-day-221821">Reinsurance group Swiss Re</a> has suspended plans for a &nbsp;4.1 billion dollar initial public offering (IPO) of British life insurer ReAssure, which was set to start trading in London on Thursday, citing weak demand from institutional investors.

The cancellation comes as global share listings hit their lowest level in three years in the first six months, with a prolonged slowdown in Europe.

Listings that did go ahead, such as Volkswagen's truckmaker Traton, were cut in volume and priced at the low end of expectations.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that Swiss Re was considering postponing or restructuring the London listing due to limited investor appetite.

A Swiss Re spokeswoman said the Zurich-based group was not at present considering re-starting the IPO process for ReAssure this year but long-term options remained open.

Chief Financial Officer John Dacey said the group still intended to reduce its ownership in ReAssure.

"There has been no pressing need for Swiss Re to divest shares at a price that we consider to be unrepresentative of ReAssure's value and prospects," he added.

Swiss Re shares were indicated at 0.4 per cent lower in pre-market activity.

Under the flotation plans, Swiss Re would have cut its stake in ReAssure to below 50 per cent from 75 per cent now. Japan's MS&amp;AD Insurance Group Holdings intended to keep its holding at 25 per cent.

Swiss Re had set a price range of 2.80 to 3.30 pounds per share for ReAssure, Britain's sixth-largest life insurer, valuing it at up to 3.3 billion pounds ($4.14 billion).

Swiss Re wanted to spin off ReAssure to put the business under a more favourable regulatory regime and give it easier access to capital to fund its expansion.

It hired Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, and UBS to work as joint global coordinators, while BNP Paribas and HSBC acted as joint book runners.

($1 = 0.7980 pounds)

Reinsurance group Swiss Re has suspended plans for a 4.1 billion dollar initial public offering (IPO) of British life insurer ReAssure, which was set to start trading in London on Thursday, citing weak demand from institutional investors.

Reinsurance group Swiss Re has suspended plans for a 4.1 billion dollar initial public offering (IPO) of British life insurer ReAssure, which was set to start trading in London on Thursday, citing weak demand from institutional investors. The cancellation comes as global share listings hit their lowest level in three years in the first six months, with a prolonged slowdown in Europe. Listings that did go ahead, such as Volkswagen's truckmaker Traton, were cut in volume and priced at the low end of expectations. Reuters reported on Wednesday that Swiss Re was considering postponing or restructuring the London listing due to limited investor appetite. A Swiss Re spokeswoman said the Zurich-based group was not at present considering re-starting the IPO process for ReAssure this year but long-term options remained open. Chief Financial Officer John Dacey said the group still intended to reduce its ownership in ReAssure. "There has been no pressing need for Swiss Re to divest shares at a price that we consider to be unrepresentative of ReAssure's value and prospects," he added. Swiss Re shares were indicated at 0.4 per cent lower in pre-market activity. Under the flotation plans, Swiss Re would have cut its stake in ReAssure to below 50 per cent from 75 per cent now. Japan's MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings intended to keep its holding at 25 per cent. Swiss Re had set a price range of 2.80 to 3.30 pounds per share for ReAssure, Britain's sixth-largest life insurer, valuing it at up to 3.3 billion pounds ($4.14 billion). Swiss Re wanted to spin off ReAssure to put the business under a more favourable regulatory regime and give it easier access to capital to fund its expansion. It hired Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, and UBS to work as joint global coordinators, while BNP Paribas and HSBC acted as joint book runners. ($1 = 0.7980 pounds)

Swiss Re puts off $4 billion ReAssure IPO amid weak demand

London witnesses its first Microsoft physical retail store and that will be the first Microsoft physical store in all of Europe. Watch this video to know more.

WION Wallet: Microsoft opens first physical store in Europe

A French man at the centre of a bitter row over right-to-die legislation passed away in hospital on Thursday more than a week after doctors removed his hydration and nutrition tubes, his family told AFP.&nbsp;

"Vincent died at 8:24 am (0624 GMT) this morning," his nephew Francois Lambert told AFP.&nbsp;

Lambert, 42, was involved in a near-fatal car crash in 2008 that left him a quadriplegic with severe <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/frances-six-year-battle-over-a-mans-life-support-220150">brain damage which doctors had long said was irreversible</a>. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Left in a vegetative state, the question of whether to continue keeping him alive artificially divided his family and the nation.

Doctors at a hospital in the northern city of Reims began removing the tubes on July 2 while keeping him heavily sedated following a years-long legal battle that has raged in the highest courts in France and Europe.

The case rekindled a charged debate over <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/parents-appeal-to-french-president-in-right-to-die-case-219660">France's right-to-die laws</a>, which allow so-called "passive" euthanasia for severely ill or injured patients who are being kept alive artificially with no chance of recovery.&nbsp;

In May, even Pope Francis got involved, tweeting that it was necessary to "always safeguard life, God's gift, from its beginning until its natural end".

Lambert's wife Rachel, who is his legal guardian under French law, had said her husband made clear even before his accident that he would not want to be kept alive artificially, though this was never put in writing.

Multiple medical assessments ordered by the courts over the years found that the former psychiatric nurse, who was poised to become a father shortly before his accident, had no chance of recovering.

'Not a vegetable'&nbsp;

But his parents, devout Catholics who between them have nine children, had over the years successfully challenged five different attempts by doctors to halt his life-support.

The last time they tried to do so was in May, but it was quickly overturned by a Paris appeals court.

That ruling was then taken to France's top appeals court, the Cour de Cassation, which on June 28 said doctors could legally end his life support in what was hailed as a definitive final judgment by lawyers for his wife.&nbsp;

With their efforts spurned by the highest courts in France as well as by the European Court of Human Rights, Lambert's parents have threatened to file charges of "murder" when their son dies.&nbsp;

On July 1, his mother Viviane turned to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in a last-ditch plea for help.&nbsp;

"Without your intervention, my son, Vincent Lambert, will be euthanised because of his mental handicap," she said.&nbsp;

"He is in a state of minimal consciousness but he is not a vegetable."

But by Monday, the couple had accepted that the death of their son was now "unavoidable".

"We have nowhere else to turn and now it's too late. Vincent is dying," they said in a statement through their lawyers sent to AFP, saying that his condition was now "medically irreversible".&nbsp;

In early May, the UN committee on disabled rights also asked France to keep Lambert alive while it conducted its investigation into his fate, but the government said it was not legally bound to abide by its request.&nbsp;

A French man at the centre of a bitter row over right-to-die legislation passed away in hospital on Thursday more than a week after doctors removed his hydration and nutrition tubes, his family told AFP.

A French man at the centre of a bitter row over right-to-die legislation passed away in hospital on Thursday more than a week after doctors removed his hydration and nutrition tubes, his family told AFP. "Vincent died at 8:24 am (0624 GMT) this morning," his nephew Francois Lambert told AFP. Lambert, 42, was involved in a near-fatal car crash in 2008 that left him a quadriplegic with severe brain damage which doctors had long said was irreversible. Left in a vegetative state, the question of whether to continue keeping him alive artificially divided his family and the nation. Doctors at a hospital in the northern city of Reims began removing the tubes on July 2 while keeping him heavily sedated following a years-long legal battle that has raged in the highest courts in France and Europe. The case rekindled a charged debate over France's right-to-die laws, which allow so-called "passive" euthanasia for severely ill or injured patients who are being kept alive artificially with no chance of recovery. In May, even Pope Francis got involved, tweeting that it was necessary to "always safeguard life, God's gift, from its beginning until its natural end". Lambert's wife Rachel, who is his legal guardian under French law, had said her husband made clear even before his accident that he would not want to be kept alive artificially, though this was never put in writing. Multiple medical assessments ordered by the courts over the years found that the former psychiatric nurse, who was poised to become a father shortly before his accident, had no chance of recovering. 'Not a vegetable' But his parents, devout Catholics who between them have nine children, had over the years successfully challenged five different attempts by doctors to halt his life-support. The last time they tried to do so was in May, but it was quickly overturned by a Paris appeals court. That ruling was then taken to France's top appeals court, the Cour de Cassation, which on June 28 said doctors could legally end his life support in what was hailed as a definitive final judgment by lawyers for his wife. With their efforts spurned by the highest courts in France as well as by the European Court of Human Rights, Lambert's parents have threatened to file charges of "murder" when their son dies. On July 1, his mother Viviane turned to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in a last-ditch plea for help. "Without your intervention, my son, Vincent Lambert, will be euthanised because of his mental handicap," she said. "He is in a state of minimal consciousness but he is not a vegetable." But by Monday, the couple had accepted that the death of their son was now "unavoidable". "We have nowhere else to turn and now it's too late. Vincent is dying," they said in a statement through their lawyers sent to AFP, saying that his condition was now "medically irreversible". In early May, the UN committee on disabled rights also asked France to keep Lambert alive while it conducted its investigation into his fate, but the government said it was not legally bound to abide by its request.

Brain-damaged French patient dies after doctors remove life support: Family

Monaco on Tuesday became the first country in Europe to inaugurate a next-generation <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-us-driving-west-to-shun-it-huawei-seeks-to-strengthen-grip-on-africa-225593">5G mobile phone network</a> based on technology from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/huawei-lawyer-tells-us-jury-spelling-errors-video-shows-rival-stole-trade-secrets-224361">Chinese firm Huawei</a>, which is seen by the US as a major security risk.&nbsp;

As mobile operators shift away from slower 3G and 4G networks, Europe has been torn over its approach to the Chinese giant, which is a pioneer in 5G technology.

Offering super-fast wireless access, 5G mobile networks offer much greater data transfer speeds.

In September, Monaco Telecom, which is owned by French billionaire Xavier Niel, signed an agreement with Huawei to make the tiny principality the first country in Europe fully covered by 5G.

"We are the first state to be entirely covered by a 5G network," said Monaco Telecom president Etienne Franzi at the inauguration ceremony.

"In Monaco, the 5G is the promise of a better quality of life for all and exceptional opportunities," added the principality's head of digital transition Frederic Genta.

For <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-us-china-row-huawei-signs-deal-with-russian-telecom-company-mts-to-develop-5g-network-224867">Huawei vice president Guo Ping</a>, the rollout in Monaco is a major opportunity despite the small size of territory covered.

"It allows us to make a shop window in a number of areas, notably linking 5G development to this intelligent state.

"It can serve as a model for other operators and states," he added.&nbsp;

Controversial partner&nbsp;

Speaking to AFP in May, Monaco Telecom's director general Martin Peronnet defended the decision to work with the Chinese supplier.&nbsp;

"There are many countries and operators that are in the process of finalising a 5G rollout with Huawei or who have already done so," he said.

Ahead of the deployment, the operator worked to update its network equipment and deploy 5G-compatible antennae, stressing that it had put in place the necessary security measures to protect its systems.&nbsp;

Huawei's involvement in the roll-out of 5G networks has become an increasingly political issue after Washington raised concerns over potential security risks and pushed its closest allies to reject the Chinese firm.&nbsp;

US intelligence agencies believe Huawei is backed by the Chinese military and that its equipment could provide Beijing's intelligence services with a backdoor into the communications networks of rival countries.

Huawei has denied the claims, and so far, Washington has offered no evidence for its concerns.&nbsp;

The company says it has signed 50 contracts worldwide, including 28 with European operators, for 5G.

South Korea has already announced complete nationwide 5G coverage while in Europe smaller nations like Switzerland, Finland and Estonia have only just started deploying the technology.

Germany is only now handing out frequencies to operators and France should follow in the final quarter of the year.

In May, Washington moved to block Huawei from the US market and banned the export of US technology and materials to the firm in the latest salvo in a monumental economic showdown between the two superpowers.

Last month, an internal report by the GSM Association, which represents mobile network operators around the world, found that banning Huawei and fellow Chinese equipment maker ZTE from Europe's 5G roll-out would cost European operators up to 55 billion euros ($62 billion).

It would also slow down the roll-out of 5G networks in Europe and lead to reduced take-up, which would further increase the productivity gap between the EU and the US, the report said.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Monaco on Tuesday became the first country in Europe to inaugurate a next-generation 5G mobile phone network based on technology from Chinese firm Huawei, which is seen by the US as a major security risk.

Monaco on Tuesday became the first country in Europe to inaugurate a next-generation 5G mobile phone network based on technology from Chinese firm Huawei, which is seen by the US as a major security risk. As mobile operators shift away from slower 3G and 4G networks, Europe has been torn over its approach to the Chinese giant, which is a pioneer in 5G technology. Offering super-fast wireless access, 5G mobile networks offer much greater data transfer speeds. In September, Monaco Telecom, which is owned by French billionaire Xavier Niel, signed an agreement with Huawei to make the tiny principality the first country in Europe fully covered by 5G. "We are the first state to be entirely covered by a 5G network," said Monaco Telecom president Etienne Franzi at the inauguration ceremony. "In Monaco, the 5G is the promise of a better quality of life for all and exceptional opportunities," added the principality's head of digital transition Frederic Genta. For Huawei vice president Guo Ping, the rollout in Monaco is a major opportunity despite the small size of territory covered. "It allows us to make a shop window in a number of areas, notably linking 5G development to this intelligent state. "It can serve as a model for other operators and states," he added. Controversial partner Speaking to AFP in May, Monaco Telecom's director general Martin Peronnet defended the decision to work with the Chinese supplier. "There are many countries and operators that are in the process of finalising a 5G rollout with Huawei or who have already done so," he said. Ahead of the deployment, the operator worked to update its network equipment and deploy 5G-compatible antennae, stressing that it had put in place the necessary security measures to protect its systems. Huawei's involvement in the roll-out of 5G networks has become an increasingly political issue after Washington raised concerns over potential security risks and pushed its closest allies to reject the Chinese firm. US intelligence agencies believe Huawei is backed by the Chinese military and that its equipment could provide Beijing's intelligence services with a backdoor into the communications networks of rival countries. Huawei has denied the claims, and so far, Washington has offered no evidence for its concerns. The company says it has signed 50 contracts worldwide, including 28 with European operators, for 5G. South Korea has already announced complete nationwide 5G coverage while in Europe smaller nations like Switzerland, Finland and Estonia have only just started deploying the technology. Germany is only now handing out frequencies to operators and France should follow in the final quarter of the year. In May, Washington moved to block Huawei from the US market and banned the export of US technology and materials to the firm in the latest salvo in a monumental economic showdown between the two superpowers. Last month, an internal report by the GSM Association, which represents mobile network operators around the world, found that banning Huawei and fellow Chinese equipment maker ZTE from Europe's 5G roll-out would cost European operators up to 55 billion euros ($62 billion). It would also slow down the roll-out of 5G networks in Europe and lead to reduced take-up, which would further increase the productivity gap between the EU and the US, the report said.

Monaco rolls out Huawei-built 5G network in European first

What was once Europe's biggest <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-40-killed-in-air-strike-on-libya-migrant-centre-232617">migrant reception centre</a>, in Mineo in Sicily, is to officially close on Tuesday in the presence of its biggest critic, far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini.&nbsp;

"Promise kept," Salvini said last week when the centre's final inhabitants were removed, to be sent to another centre in Calabria.

This reception centre, a former housing complex for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-claims-shooting-down-american-drone-us-military-declines-to-comment-228857">US military</a> that resembles an American suburb, is now guarded by Italian troops who block access under a roasting Sicilian sun.

At its peak in 2014, Mineo housed more than 4,100 people.

Its population then steadily dropped. When anti-migrant Salvini and the populist Five Star Movement came to power in June last year, it housed 2,500.&nbsp;

Since then Salvini, who is also deputy prime minister, has declared war on charity rescue vessels, barring their entry to Italian ports in recent weeks. Thousands of migrants nevertheless continue to arrive by their means or are rescued by the Italian authorities.

Psychologist Massimiliano Terrasi stood amid the arid countryside outside the centre where he worked since 2011, disappointed at what he said could have been.

"Hopes were high when the centre first opened and we grew professionally," he told AFP-TV.

"Well managed, it could have been an asset for the area and people's mutual understanding," he lamented, voicing anger at the abrupt end to his years of work, final wages still unpaid.

In the beginning, care and hygiene conditions were decent, he said. But things started to deteriorate when the population went over 3,000.

"If you look at how the centre was in the end, it's a good thing that it closed. But if you think what it could have been, it's a pity," he said.

Built 'on numbers'&nbsp;

Resident Sergio Mastrilli was more critical, as he drank a beer on a Mineo bar terrace.

"When the centre first opened, I immediately thought it wasn't a good thing," he said.

"It wasn't a reception centre built on integration but numbers."

Mastrilli, a 25-year-old law student, is a supporter of Luigi di Maio's anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which is in a ruling coalition with Salvini's Lega for the last 13 months.

"There were more than 4,000 people from 85 different ethnicity, while Mineo has around 5,000 inhabitants," he said.

He called for a Europe-wide solution to migration and suggested "many migrants would like to stay in their own countries" if they could.

The centre's 400 small yellow and pink houses lie in tidy rows, a reminder of the time when US families from the neighbouring base at Sigonella called it home.

But the US military gave up its lease in 2010, and the arrival of the reception centre and migrants made Sicilians in the area both worried and jealous.

The migrants were notably prepared to work for 10 or 20 euros (11-22 dollars) a day during the orange harvest, angering locals who could not work for so little.

'A big illusion'&nbsp;

But the centre also employed 400 people in the area, and Mineo's current mayor, Giuseppe Mistretta, has threatened to resign if the state does not help with the post-migrant transition.

"Mineo's closure is the inexorable epilogue of a big illusion, in a region starved of jobs," said Sicily's conservative regional president Nello Musumeci.

Several judicial probes are currently underway, implicating notably Mineo's former mayor and the centre's former director.&nbsp;

Allegations include preferential awarding of contracts, and the exaggeration of migrant numbers to attract state subsidies that accompanied each new arrival.

In January, police broke up a Nigerian organised crime drug dealing group based within the centre, and a prostitution ring.

What was once Europe's biggest migrant reception centre, in Mineo in Sicily, is to officially close on Tuesday in the presence of its biggest critic, far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini.

What was once Europe's biggest migrant reception centre, in Mineo in Sicily, is to officially close on Tuesday in the presence of its biggest critic, far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini. "Promise kept," Salvini said last week when the centre's final inhabitants were removed, to be sent to another centre in Calabria. This reception centre, a former housing complex for the US military that resembles an American suburb, is now guarded by Italian troops who block access under a roasting Sicilian sun. At its peak in 2014, Mineo housed more than 4,100 people. Its population then steadily dropped. When anti-migrant Salvini and the populist Five Star Movement came to power in June last year, it housed 2,500. Since then Salvini, who is also deputy prime minister, has declared war on charity rescue vessels, barring their entry to Italian ports in recent weeks. Thousands of migrants nevertheless continue to arrive by their means or are rescued by the Italian authorities. Psychologist Massimiliano Terrasi stood amid the arid countryside outside the centre where he worked since 2011, disappointed at what he said could have been. "Hopes were high when the centre first opened and we grew professionally," he told AFP-TV. "Well managed, it could have been an asset for the area and people's mutual understanding," he lamented, voicing anger at the abrupt end to his years of work, final wages still unpaid. In the beginning, care and hygiene conditions were decent, he said. But things started to deteriorate when the population went over 3,000. "If you look at how the centre was in the end, it's a good thing that it closed. But if you think what it could have been, it's a pity," he said. Built 'on numbers' Resident Sergio Mastrilli was more critical, as he drank a beer on a Mineo bar terrace. "When the centre first opened, I immediately thought it wasn't a good thing," he said. "It wasn't a reception centre built on integration but numbers." Mastrilli, a 25-year-old law student, is a supporter of Luigi di Maio's anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which is in a ruling coalition with Salvini's Lega for the last 13 months. "There were more than 4,000 people from 85 different ethnicity, while Mineo has around 5,000 inhabitants," he said. He called for a Europe-wide solution to migration and suggested "many migrants would like to stay in their own countries" if they could. The centre's 400 small yellow and pink houses lie in tidy rows, a reminder of the time when US families from the neighbouring base at Sigonella called it home. But the US military gave up its lease in 2010, and the arrival of the reception centre and migrants made Sicilians in the area both worried and jealous. The migrants were notably prepared to work for 10 or 20 euros (11-22 dollars) a day during the orange harvest, angering locals who could not work for so little. 'A big illusion' But the centre also employed 400 people in the area, and Mineo's current mayor, Giuseppe Mistretta, has threatened to resign if the state does not help with the post-migrant transition. "Mineo's closure is the inexorable epilogue of a big illusion, in a region starved of jobs," said Sicily's conservative regional president Nello Musumeci. Several judicial probes are currently underway, implicating notably Mineo's former mayor and the centre's former director. Allegations include preferential awarding of contracts, and the exaggeration of migrant numbers to attract state subsidies that accompanied each new arrival. In January, police broke up a Nigerian organised crime drug dealing group based within the centre, and a prostitution ring.

Europe's once biggest migrant centre to close in Italy

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/uk-brexit-minister-urges-european-union-to-reopen-withdrawal-deal-talks-234121">European</a> regulators have ordered inspections on some older Airbus A380 superjumbo aeroplanes after some cracks were detected in wings on the world's largest passenger aircraft.

The European Aviation Safety Agency directive, which formalises an instruction from the manufacturer itself, covers part of the outer wing on the 25 oldest aircraft, which first went into service in 2007 with <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/singapore-high-court-orders-freezing-of-accounts-of-nirav-modis-sister-brother-in-law-232328">Singapore</a> Airlines.

The company confirmed that small cracks have been found on the outer rear wing spars of early production A380 aircraft.

"We have identified the issue and designed an inspection and repair scheme," Airbus said in a statement, adding that the ongoing airworthiness of the A380 fleet was not affected.

In 2012, Airbus was forced to carry out A380 inspections and devise a costly repair program after cracks were found on part of the wings, the world's largest for a passenger plane.

European regulators have ordered inspections on some older Airbus A380 superjumbo aeroplanes after some cracks were detected in wings on the world's largest passenger aircraft.

European regulators have ordered inspections on some older Airbus A380 superjumbo aeroplanes after some cracks were detected in wings on the world's largest passenger aircraft. The European Aviation Safety Agency directive, which formalises an instruction from the manufacturer itself, covers part of the outer wing on the 25 oldest aircraft, which first went into service in 2007 with Singapore Airlines. The company confirmed that small cracks have been found on the outer rear wing spars of early production A380 aircraft. "We have identified the issue and designed an inspection and repair scheme," Airbus said in a statement, adding that the ongoing airworthiness of the A380 fleet was not affected. In 2012, Airbus was forced to carry out A380 inspections and devise a costly repair program after cracks were found on part of the wings, the world's largest for a passenger plane.

Inspections ordered on some Airbus A380 airplanes after wing cracks found

The French government is to impose a tax of up to 18 euros ($20) on plane tickets for all flights from airports in <a href="http://wionews.com/world/france-president-emmanuel-macrons-advisor-heads-to-iran-to-calm-nuclear-tensions-234122">France</a> to fund less-polluting transportation projects, a minister said Tuesday.

The move, which will take effect from 2020, will see a tax of 1.5 euros imposed on economy-class tickets on internal flights and those within <a href="http://wionews.com/world/europe-needs-to-find-candidate-to-head-imf-france-233585">Europe</a>, with the highest tariff applied to business-class travellers flying outside the bloc, Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne said.

The new measure is expected to bring in some 182 million euros a year which will be invested in greener transport infrastructures, notably rail, she said.&nbsp;

It will only be applied on outgoing flights and not those flying into the country, Borne added.&nbsp;

A similar tax was introduced in <a href="http://wionews.com/entertainment/us-rapper-aap-rockys-europe-tour-in-jeopardy-after-sweden-arrest-233121">Sweden</a> in April 2018, which imposed an added charge of up to 40 euros on every ticket in a bid to lessen the impact of air travel on the climate.

The French government is to impose a tax of up to 18 euros ($20) on plane tickets for all flights from airports in France to fund less-polluting transportation projects, a minister said Tuesday.

The French government is to impose a tax of up to 18 euros ($20) on plane tickets for all flights from airports in France to fund less-polluting transportation projects, a minister said Tuesday. The move, which will take effect from 2020, will see a tax of 1.5 euros imposed on economy-class tickets on internal flights and those within Europe, with the highest tariff applied to business-class travellers flying outside the bloc, Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne said. The new measure is expected to bring in some 182 million euros a year which will be invested in greener transport infrastructures, notably rail, she said. It will only be applied on outgoing flights and not those flying into the country, Borne added. A similar tax was introduced in Sweden in April 2018, which imposed an added charge of up to 40 euros on every ticket in a bid to lessen the impact of air travel on the climate.

France to impose green tax on plane tickets

Four hundred thousand people turned out on the streets of Madrid Saturday for a Gay Pride parade dedicated this year to pioneers of the LGBT+ cause, amid growing fears of fresh repression with the rise of the far-right in Europe.

The marchers converged on the Spanish capital's main Atocha train station for the start of the festivities. The 400,000 figure was later given by police.

The slogan for this year's march was "History, struggle and memory" and participants marked 50 years since the Stonewall riots in New York in 1969 which were the foundation of the gay rights movement worldwide.

Catholic Spain at the time was controlled by dictator General Francisco Franco and homosexual acts were illegal. Thousands of gay people were shipped off to rehabilitation centres or even jailed.

Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1978, three year's after Franco's death, since when Spain has become one of the most LGBT-tolerant countries in the world, authorising gay marriage and adoptions by gay couples in 2005.

"I'm 53 years old and I have suffered," said Manuel Carmona, carrying a large rainbow flag for Saturday's march.

"But those who are 63-years-old suffered more and those who are 73-years-old even more and I want us to recognise these people who have helped us," added Carmona, who has been attending the pride march for 30 years.

Resurgent homophobia

Madrid's city hall swung to the right in June after a conservative candidate was elected mayor with the support of newly-emerged far-right party Vox, in a move that has caused concern in Spain.

Vox has said that the Madrid Gay Pride Parade should be moved to a park in the suburbs and opposes public subsidies for the event.

"They do not want to understand that when we talk about LGBT rights, we are talking about human rights," said Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who is himself gay and took part in the march.

Activists say organised opposition against LGBT rights is growing across the continent, with populist politicians in Poland, Hungary and other European countries presenting gay rights as a threat to family values.

Resurgent homophobia made the headlines in Britain recently after a lesbian couple became the high-profile victims of a homophobic attack after refusing to kiss for a gang of youths on a London night bus.

The couple joined the annual Pride march through the heart of the British capital Saturday, which organisers said drew hundreds of thousands.

In the Hungarian capital Budapest, marchers carried rainbow banners and flew balloons at a rally that passed from parliament through the city centre.

Meanwhile, bishops in conservative, Catholic-majority Poland on Saturday denounced Swedish furniture giant Ikea for what they called "LGBT indoctrination" after an employee was sacked for refusing to take down a homophobic comment he had posted on the firm's internal website.

The bishops congratulated the man -- who had quoted passages from the Old Testament in the post -- on his "courage" in defending his faith in everyday life in an "exemplary" way.

Four hundred thousand people turned out on the streets of Madrid Saturday for a Gay Pride parade dedicated this year to pioneers of the LGBT+ cause, amid growing fears of fresh repression with the rise of the far-right in Europe.

Four hundred thousand people turned out on the streets of Madrid Saturday for a Gay Pride parade dedicated this year to pioneers of the LGBT+ cause, amid growing fears of fresh repression with the rise of the far-right in Europe. The marchers converged on the Spanish capital's main Atocha train station for the start of the festivities. The 400,000 figure was later given by police. The slogan for this year's march was "History, struggle and memory" and participants marked 50 years since the Stonewall riots in New York in 1969 which were the foundation of the gay rights movement worldwide. Catholic Spain at the time was controlled by dictator General Francisco Franco and homosexual acts were illegal. Thousands of gay people were shipped off to rehabilitation centres or even jailed. Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1978, three year's after Franco's death, since when Spain has become one of the most LGBT-tolerant countries in the world, authorising gay marriage and adoptions by gay couples in 2005. "I'm 53 years old and I have suffered," said Manuel Carmona, carrying a large rainbow flag for Saturday's march. "But those who are 63-years-old suffered more and those who are 73-years-old even more and I want us to recognise these people who have helped us," added Carmona, who has been attending the pride march for 30 years. Resurgent homophobia Madrid's city hall swung to the right in June after a conservative candidate was elected mayor with the support of newly-emerged far-right party Vox, in a move that has caused concern in Spain. Vox has said that the Madrid Gay Pride Parade should be moved to a park in the suburbs and opposes public subsidies for the event. "They do not want to understand that when we talk about LGBT rights, we are talking about human rights," said Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who is himself gay and took part in the march. Activists say organised opposition against LGBT rights is growing across the continent, with populist politicians in Poland, Hungary and other European countries presenting gay rights as a threat to family values. Resurgent homophobia made the headlines in Britain recently after a lesbian couple became the high-profile victims of a homophobic attack after refusing to kiss for a gang of youths on a London night bus. The couple joined the annual Pride march through the heart of the British capital Saturday, which organisers said drew hundreds of thousands. In the Hungarian capital Budapest, marchers carried rainbow banners and flew balloons at a rally that passed from parliament through the city centre. Meanwhile, bishops in conservative, Catholic-majority Poland on Saturday denounced Swedish furniture giant Ikea for what they called "LGBT indoctrination" after an employee was sacked for refusing to take down a homophobic comment he had posted on the firm's internal website. The bishops congratulated the man -- who had quoted passages from the Old Testament in the post -- on his "courage" in defending his faith in everyday life in an "exemplary" way.

Hundreds of thousands march across Europe for Gay Pride

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-says-some-users-facing-outage-on-its-platforms-232843">Facebook</a> said it was "back at 100 per cent" Wednesday evening after an outage on all of its services affected users in various parts of the world.

Online monitoring service DownDetector reported earlier the outage began around 1200 GMT and affected Facebook as well as its Instagram and WhatsApp services.

"The issue has since been resolved and we should be back at 100% for everyone," the company tweeted at 0006 GMT Thursday, adding they were sorry for "any inconvenience."

A Facebook spokesperson, also speaking on behalf of Instagram and WhatsApp, explained that a "routine maintenance operation" accidentally triggered a bug that made it difficult for users to upload or send photos and videos, US media reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-inc-chief-executive-mark-zuckerberg-says-delay-in-flagging-fake-pelosi-video-was-execution-mistake-230784">#Facebookdown and #instagramdown</a> were trending on Twitter as users around the world reported these apps were not functioning.

According to DownDetector, thousands of users around the world were reporting outages, with Europe and North America most impacted. Both individual users, as well as businesses and organizations, were affected.

"Yes, we are affected by #instagramdown, too," the CIA tweeted during the outage.

"No, we didn't cause it. No, we can't fix yours. Did you try turning it off and back on again?"

Earlier this year, an outage lasting as long as 24 hours that hit Facebook services was blamed on a "server configuration change."

The March 13 outage was believed to be the worst ever for the internet giant, which reaches an estimated 2.7 billion people with its core social network, Instagram and messaging applications.

The company did not immediately respond to an AFP query on Wednesday's outage. 
&nbsp;

Facebook said it was "back at 100 per cent" Wednesday evening after an outage on all of its services affected users in various parts of the world. Online monitoring service DownDetector reported earlier the outage began around 1200 GMT and affected Facebook as well as its Instagram and WhatsApp services.

Facebook said it was "back at 100 per cent" Wednesday evening after an outage on all of its services affected users in various parts of the world. Online monitoring service DownDetector reported earlier the outage began around 1200 GMT and affected Facebook as well as its Instagram and WhatsApp services. "The issue has since been resolved and we should be back at 100% for everyone," the company tweeted at 0006 GMT Thursday, adding they were sorry for "any inconvenience." A Facebook spokesperson, also speaking on behalf of Instagram and WhatsApp, explained that a "routine maintenance operation" accidentally triggered a bug that made it difficult for users to upload or send photos and videos, US media reported. #Facebookdown and #instagramdown were trending on Twitter as users around the world reported these apps were not functioning. According to DownDetector, thousands of users around the world were reporting outages, with Europe and North America most impacted. Both individual users, as well as businesses and organizations, were affected. "Yes, we are affected by #instagramdown, too," the CIA tweeted during the outage. "No, we didn't cause it. No, we can't fix yours. Did you try turning it off and back on again?" Earlier this year, an outage lasting as long as 24 hours that hit Facebook services was blamed on a "server configuration change." The March 13 outage was believed to be the worst ever for the internet giant, which reaches an estimated 2.7 billion people with its core social network, Instagram and messaging applications. The company did not immediately respond to an AFP query on Wednesday's outage.

Facebook services back online after worldwide outage

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused China and Europe of deliberately weakening their currencies and stimulating their economies to gain competitive advantages over the United States.

"China and Europe playing big currency manipulation game and pumping money into their system in order to compete with USA," he said on Twitter.

Trump also implied that the Federal Reserve should likewise ease monetary policy, something he has called for in the past.

"We should MATCH, or continue being the dummies who sit back and politely watch as other countries continue to play their games -- as they have for many years!" the president said.&nbsp;

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China and Europe playing big currency manipulation game and pumping money into their system in order to compete with USA. We should MATCH, or continue being the dummies who sit back and politely watch as other countries continue to play their games - as they have for many years!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1146423819906748416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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US President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused China and Europe of deliberately weakening their currencies and stimulating their economies to gain competitive advantages over the United States.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused China and Europe of deliberately weakening their currencies and stimulating their economies to gain competitive advantages over the United States. "China and Europe playing big currency manipulation game and pumping money into their system in order to compete with USA," he said on Twitter. Trump also implied that the Federal Reserve should likewise ease monetary policy, something he has called for in the past. "We should MATCH, or continue being the dummies who sit back and politely watch as other countries continue to play their games -- as they have for many years!" the president said. China and Europe playing big currency manipulation game and pumping money into their system in order to compete with USA. We should MATCH, or continue being the dummies who sit back and politely watch as other countries continue to play their games - as they have for many years! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2019 ×

Trump accuses China, Europe of currency manipulation, stimulus

This past June was recorded as the hottest in the history of Europe, with regional heat records in France and Spain surpassing 40 degree Celsius in the past week. The heatwave and near-record temperatures across Europe are the face of climate change

European heatwave sets new records

The Venezuelan foreign ministry said on Monday it had agreed to the return of the German ambassador whom President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-former-spy-chief-says-nicolas-maduro-could-yet-fall-230214">Nicolas Maduro</a>'s government expelled in March after he had gone to Caracas airport to greet opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said in a statement that ambassador Daniel Kriener would return to Venezuela with the German government's permission, in the context of a process "to normalise the diplomatic relations between both states."

The German embassy did not respond to a request for comment.

Kriener went to the airport with other European ambassadors to welcome Guaido upon his return to Venezuela from a tour of Latin America to muster support for his campaign to oust Maduro.

In February, the German government publicly said it recognized Guaido as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/venezuelas-power-struggle-reaches-a-tense-stalemate-as-human-suffering-deepens-208171">Venezuela</a>'s legitimate head of state.

Guaido, a member of the National Assembly, invoked the Venezuelan constitution in January to declare himself interim president, denouncing Maduro as a usurper who had secured re-election last year in a vote that was widely viewed as fraudulent.

Maduro, who retains control of the state and the military, calls Guaido a US-controlled puppet trying to foment a coup.

The Venezuelan foreign ministry said on Monday it had agreed to the return of the German ambassador whom President Nicolas Maduro's government expelled in March after he had gone to Caracas airport to greet opposition leader Juan Guaido.

The Venezuelan foreign ministry said on Monday it had agreed to the return of the German ambassador whom President Nicolas Maduro's government expelled in March after he had gone to Caracas airport to greet opposition leader Juan Guaido. Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said in a statement that ambassador Daniel Kriener would return to Venezuela with the German government's permission, in the context of a process "to normalise the diplomatic relations between both states." The German embassy did not respond to a request for comment. Kriener went to the airport with other European ambassadors to welcome Guaido upon his return to Venezuela from a tour of Latin America to muster support for his campaign to oust Maduro. In February, the German government publicly said it recognized Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate head of state. Guaido, a member of the National Assembly, invoked the Venezuelan constitution in January to declare himself interim president, denouncing Maduro as a usurper who had secured re-election last year in a vote that was widely viewed as fraudulent. Maduro, who retains control of the state and the military, calls Guaido a US-controlled puppet trying to foment a coup.

Ambassador Daniel Kriener to return with German government's permission: Venezuela

Rising heat due to climate change could lead to the loss of 80 million jobs by 2030, with poor countries worst hit, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-chief-antonio-guterres-urges-iran-to-stick-to-nuclear-deal-after-breaching-cap-232148">United Nations</a> said on Monday, as Europe sweltered in record temperatures.

A temperature rise of 1.5C by the end of the century could lead to a 2.2 per cent drop in working hours — equal to 80 million full-time jobs — costing the global economy $2.4 trillion, according to projections by the UN International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The ILO said people would be unable to work due to the health risks posed by higher temperatures.

“The impact of heat stress on labour productivity is a serious consequence of climate change, which adds to other adverse impacts such as changing rain patterns, rising sea levels and loss of biodiversity,” said ILO’s Catherine Saget.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-health-organisation-officially-recognises-gaming-addiction-as-mental-disorder-221949">World Health Organisation</a> has said heat stress linked to climate change is likely to cause 38,000 extra deaths a year worldwide between 2030 and 2050.

Heat stress occurs when the body absorbs more heat than is tolerable. Extreme heat can cause heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke and exhaustion, increase mortality, and exacerbate existing health conditions.

Agricultural workers — especially women, who make up the bulk of the 940 million labourers in the sector — will be most affected, the ILO said, accounting for about 60 per cent of all working hours lost due to heat stress by 2030.

If global temperatures rise as predicted, the construction industry will account for about 19pc of lost working hours, with the poorest countries in Southeast Asia and West Africa worst hit, the ILO added.

Transport, tourism, sport and industrial sectors are among those that will also be affected by rising heat, the ILO said.

“In addition to the massive economic costs of heat stress, we can expect to see more inequality between low and high-income countries and worsening working conditions for the most vulnerable, as well as displacement of people,” said Saget.

In 2015, countries signing the Paris Agreement set a goal of limiting a rise in average world surface temperatures to “well below” 2C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times, while “pursuing efforts” to limit rising temperatures to 1.5C (2.7F).

Temperatures have already risen about one degree Celsius since pre-industrial times. Scientists say further increases risk triggering tipping points that could make parts of the world uninhabitable, devastate farming and drown coastal cities.

The World Meteorological Organisation said last week that 2019 was on track to be among the world’s hottest years on record, which would make 2015-2019 the hottest five-year period.

Europe has been in the grip of record-breaking heatwaves, with wildfires burning tracts of land in France and Spain at the weekend, and scorching temperatures across the continent killing at least seven people.

Rising heat due to climate change could lead to the loss of 80 million jobs by 2030, with poor countries worst hit, the United Nations said on Monday, as Europe sweltered in record temperatures.

Rising heat due to climate change could lead to the loss of 80 million jobs by 2030, with poor countries worst hit, the United Nations said on Monday, as Europe sweltered in record temperatures. A temperature rise of 1.5C by the end of the century could lead to a 2.2 per cent drop in working hours — equal to 80 million full-time jobs — costing the global economy $2.4 trillion, according to projections by the UN International Labour Organisation (ILO). The ILO said people would be unable to work due to the health risks posed by higher temperatures. “The impact of heat stress on labour productivity is a serious consequence of climate change, which adds to other adverse impacts such as changing rain patterns, rising sea levels and loss of biodiversity,” said ILO’s Catherine Saget. The World Health Organisation has said heat stress linked to climate change is likely to cause 38,000 extra deaths a year worldwide between 2030 and 2050. Heat stress occurs when the body absorbs more heat than is tolerable. Extreme heat can cause heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke and exhaustion, increase mortality, and exacerbate existing health conditions. Agricultural workers — especially women, who make up the bulk of the 940 million labourers in the sector — will be most affected, the ILO said, accounting for about 60 per cent of all working hours lost due to heat stress by 2030. If global temperatures rise as predicted, the construction industry will account for about 19pc of lost working hours, with the poorest countries in Southeast Asia and West Africa worst hit, the ILO added. Transport, tourism, sport and industrial sectors are among those that will also be affected by rising heat, the ILO said. “In addition to the massive economic costs of heat stress, we can expect to see more inequality between low and high-income countries and worsening working conditions for the most vulnerable, as well as displacement of people,” said Saget. In 2015, countries signing the Paris Agreement set a goal of limiting a rise in average world surface temperatures to “well below” 2C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times, while “pursuing efforts” to limit rising temperatures to 1.5C (2.7F). Temperatures have already risen about one degree Celsius since pre-industrial times. Scientists say further increases risk triggering tipping points that could make parts of the world uninhabitable, devastate farming and drown coastal cities. The World Meteorological Organisation said last week that 2019 was on track to be among the world’s hottest years on record, which would make 2015-2019 the hottest five-year period. Europe has been in the grip of record-breaking heatwaves, with wildfires burning tracts of land in France and Spain at the weekend, and scorching temperatures across the continent killing at least seven people.

Rising heat stress could cost 80 million jobs by 2030: United Nations

Opera is a form of theatre in which music has a leading role and the parts are taken by singers, but is distinct from musical theater. Such a "work" (the literal translation of Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librettist and incorporates a number of the performing arts, such as acting, scenery, costume, and sometimes dance or ballet. The performance is typically given in an opera house, accompanied by an orchestra or smaller musical ensemble, which since the early 19th century has been led by a conductor. Sparsh Bajpai making heads turn with her performance. Sparsh is one of the few Opera singers from India. Sparsh's performance has been lauded across Europe. Sparsh was 7 when she performed her first song. Now she is winning heart through her performance. Watch this video to know more.

Sparsh Bajpai's Journey To Opera, This Indian Opera Singer Wins Heart

European is facing a severe heat wave with temperatures in France breaching the 45 degree celsius mark. So what explains the heat wave in Europe? Find out in this.

Gravitas: Massive heatwave hits Europe

A four-day <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europes-heatwave-consistent-with-climate-change-more-to-come-un-231226">heatwave across western Europe</a> that killed seven people began to ease slightly on Sunday, as temperature alerts were cut back and wildfires slowly brought under control.

Most of the fires that had broken out Spain in recent days were stabilised, but firefighters were struggling to control a blaze in the central provinces of Toledo and Madrid that had burned more than 20 square&nbsp;kilometres since Friday.

In the northeastern town of La Almunia de Dona Godina, the temperature hit a scorching 42.4 Celsius. But five of Spain's 50 provinces were downgraded from "extreme" weather risk, leaving just two at the highest level, with 31 on weather alert.

In France, which experienced a national record of 45.9 Celsius in the south on Friday, temperatures were set to fall gradually.

In Paris, a ban imposed on older cars to counter heat-related pollution was likely to be lifted on Monday, authorities said.

Nevertheless, some 25 out of around 90 French administrative departments have restricted water use, not least for farmers.

Jerome Despey, a wine producer in France's southwestern Herault region, tweeted photos of shrivelled grapes, and complained of "widespread damage".

Meteorologists say a weakening of the high-level jet stream is increasingly causing weather systems to stall and leading summer temperatures to soar. Five of Europe's hottest summers in the last 500 years have happened in this century.

"A race against global warming"

The World Meteorological Organization said this week that the European heatwave was "absolutely consistent" with extremes linked to the impact of greenhouse gas emissions.

In Frankfurt, 3,000 athletes took part in an Iron Man endurance race despite the heat.

"It felt like a race against global warming - you could have fried an egg on my head," said Sebastian Kienle, who finished second in the men's race.

In the women's event, race leader Sarah True of the United States collapsed within a kilometre of the finish line of the closing marathon stage.

True, who had already completed a 3.8 kilometres swim and 185 kilometres bike ride, was carried off the course and had to be restrained by first-aid workers concerned for her wellbeing.

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At a post-race news conference, she said she was feeling better, but did not remember the final kilometres of the race.

Addressing thousands of people in St Peter's Square, Pope Francis said he was praying for those suffering most from the heat wave - the sick, the old, construction workers and those who had to labour outdoors.

"May no-one be abandoned or exploited," he said.

On Saturday, one 53-year-old crashed after feeling unwell while competing in a cycling race in France's Ariege region, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, and died, local public prosecutor Laurent Dumaine said on Sunday.

The race was called off after several participants were taken sick due to the heat, organisers said.

Another cyclist died on Saturday from the effects of heat in the southern region of Vaucluse, authorities said, and at least three people died the same day in central and northern Italy.

Spain had two heat-related deaths on Thursday and Friday.

A four-day heatwave across western Europe that killed seven people began to ease slightly on Sunday, as temperature alerts were cut back and wildfires slowly brought under control.

A four-day heatwave across western Europe that killed seven people began to ease slightly on Sunday, as temperature alerts were cut back and wildfires slowly brought under control. Most of the fires that had broken out Spain in recent days were stabilised, but firefighters were struggling to control a blaze in the central provinces of Toledo and Madrid that had burned more than 20 square kilometres since Friday. In the northeastern town of La Almunia de Dona Godina, the temperature hit a scorching 42.4 Celsius. But five of Spain's 50 provinces were downgraded from "extreme" weather risk, leaving just two at the highest level, with 31 on weather alert. In France, which experienced a national record of 45.9 Celsius in the south on Friday, temperatures were set to fall gradually. In Paris, a ban imposed on older cars to counter heat-related pollution was likely to be lifted on Monday, authorities said. Nevertheless, some 25 out of around 90 French administrative departments have restricted water use, not least for farmers. Jerome Despey, a wine producer in France's southwestern Herault region, tweeted photos of shrivelled grapes, and complained of "widespread damage". Meteorologists say a weakening of the high-level jet stream is increasingly causing weather systems to stall and leading summer temperatures to soar. Five of Europe's hottest summers in the last 500 years have happened in this century. "A race against global warming" The World Meteorological Organization said this week that the European heatwave was "absolutely consistent" with extremes linked to the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. In Frankfurt, 3,000 athletes took part in an Iron Man endurance race despite the heat. "It felt like a race against global warming - you could have fried an egg on my head," said Sebastian Kienle, who finished second in the men's race. In the women's event, race leader Sarah True of the United States collapsed within a kilometre of the finish line of the closing marathon stage. True, who had already completed a 3.8 kilometres swim and 185 kilometres bike ride, was carried off the course and had to be restrained by first-aid workers concerned for her wellbeing. At a post-race news conference, she said she was feeling better, but did not remember the final kilometres of the race. Addressing thousands of people in St Peter's Square, Pope Francis said he was praying for those suffering most from the heat wave - the sick, the old, construction workers and those who had to labour outdoors. "May no-one be abandoned or exploited," he said. On Saturday, one 53-year-old crashed after feeling unwell while competing in a cycling race in France's Ariege region, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, and died, local public prosecutor Laurent Dumaine said on Sunday. The race was called off after several participants were taken sick due to the heat, organisers said. Another cyclist died on Saturday from the effects of heat in the southern region of Vaucluse, authorities said, and at least three people died the same day in central and northern Italy. Spain had two heat-related deaths on Thursday and Friday.

Europe's heatwave burns on, but eases from record highs

The US is underestimating the scope of "hybrid warfare" being waged by Russia to undermine democracies in Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America, a Pentagon white paper has said.

According to the Hill, the over 150-page white paper was prepared by Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Pentagon and independent strategists. The study points to Russia's use of propaganda and disinformation to sway public opinion across Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

"Overall, Russia's influence abroad is growing, and the Kremlin has mastered the use of hybrid warfare in driving Russia's foreign policy (Lamoreaux)," reads the document entitled 'The Future of Global Competition and Conflict' prepared as part of the Strategic Multilayer Assessment.

"Russia utilizes a variety of grey zone tactics around the globe. These include the use of paramilitary forces and other proxies, interference in political processes, economic and energy exploitation (particularly in Africa), espionage, and media and propaganda manipulation," it said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin "is also adept at blending military and civilian elements for maximum impact", it added.

The white paper also highlights the danger of alignment between Russia and China, both of which fear the United States' international alliances and share an affinity for "authoritarian stability".

"Russia has turned to China as a growing and necessary key strategic partner. Russia and China share a fear of, and common hostility toward the US and its system of alliances," according to it.

Beijing and Moscow share an affinity for "authoritarian stability and aligned views on opposing international norms regarding human rights, cyber and space", the paper contended.

The study recommends the State Department should spearhead "influence operations," including "sowing divisions" between Moscow and Beijing.

"The US should bilaterally engage Russia to peel them away from China's orbit. The US can work with Russia in ways that improve the US-Russia relationship without detracting from European efforts to balance and deter," it said.

Though the study does not offer any direct criticism of President Donald Trump, it has come days after Trump's meeting with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The study also said that Russia has launched "several cyber and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks".

It felt that the US should work with European allies to strengthen telecommunications and electrical infrastructure to preclude "Russian preemptive attacks".

The US is underestimating the scope of "hybrid warfare" being waged by Russia to undermine democracies in Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America, a Pentagon white paper has said.

The US is underestimating the scope of "hybrid warfare" being waged by Russia to undermine democracies in Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America, a Pentagon white paper has said. According to the Hill, the over 150-page white paper was prepared by Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Pentagon and independent strategists. The study points to Russia's use of propaganda and disinformation to sway public opinion across Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America. "Overall, Russia's influence abroad is growing, and the Kremlin has mastered the use of hybrid warfare in driving Russia's foreign policy (Lamoreaux)," reads the document entitled 'The Future of Global Competition and Conflict' prepared as part of the Strategic Multilayer Assessment. "Russia utilizes a variety of grey zone tactics around the globe. These include the use of paramilitary forces and other proxies, interference in political processes, economic and energy exploitation (particularly in Africa), espionage, and media and propaganda manipulation," it said. Russian President Vladimir Putin "is also adept at blending military and civilian elements for maximum impact", it added. The white paper also highlights the danger of alignment between Russia and China, both of which fear the United States' international alliances and share an affinity for "authoritarian stability". "Russia has turned to China as a growing and necessary key strategic partner. Russia and China share a fear of, and common hostility toward the US and its system of alliances," according to it. Beijing and Moscow share an affinity for "authoritarian stability and aligned views on opposing international norms regarding human rights, cyber and space", the paper contended. The study recommends the State Department should spearhead "influence operations," including "sowing divisions" between Moscow and Beijing. "The US should bilaterally engage Russia to peel them away from China's orbit. The US can work with Russia in ways that improve the US-Russia relationship without detracting from European efforts to balance and deter," it said. Though the study does not offer any direct criticism of President Donald Trump, it has come days after Trump's meeting with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The study also said that Russia has launched "several cyber and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks". It felt that the US should work with European allies to strengthen telecommunications and electrical infrastructure to preclude "Russian preemptive attacks".

United States underestimating Russia's 'hybrid warfare': Pentagon white paper

Paris authorities on Sunday announced that they have removed the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europes-heatwave-burns-on-but-eases-from-record-highs-231887">heatwave alert across the city</a> as the temperature began to ease slightly.

The French capital was under heatwave alert since June 23.

The World Meteorological Organisation said last&nbsp;week that the European heatwave was "absolutely consistent" with extremes linked to the impact of greenhouse gas emissions.

This year is on track to be among the hottest ever and that would make 2015-2019 the world's hottest five-year period on record,&nbsp;World Meteorological Organisation further added.

It is too soon to definitely attribute Europe's current blistering heatwave to climate change but it is "absolutely consistent" with extremes linked to the impact of greenhouse gas emissions, the United Nations agency said.

Around seven people have died across Europe due to hot temperature.

Although temperatures have eased mostly in the north of the country, Meteo France says average temperatures remain high in the south, with several administrative regions still on the 'level three amber' heatwave alert.

Paris authorities on Sunday announced that they have removed the heatwave alert across the city as the temperature began to ease slightly. The French capital was under heatwave alert since June 23.

Paris authorities on Sunday announced that they have removed the heatwave alert across the city as the temperature began to ease slightly. The French capital was under heatwave alert since June 23. The World Meteorological Organisation said last week that the European heatwave was "absolutely consistent" with extremes linked to the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. This year is on track to be among the hottest ever and that would make 2015-2019 the world's hottest five-year period on record, World Meteorological Organisation further added. It is too soon to definitely attribute Europe's current blistering heatwave to climate change but it is "absolutely consistent" with extremes linked to the impact of greenhouse gas emissions, the United Nations agency said. Around seven people have died across Europe due to hot temperature. Although temperatures have eased mostly in the north of the country, Meteo France says average temperatures remain high in the south, with several administrative regions still on the 'level three amber' heatwave alert.

Paris no more under heatwave alert: French authorities

Thousands <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-chinese-protest-against-bbva-in-madrid-saying-bank-blocked-their-accounts-197687">protested in Madrid</a> on Saturday against the suspension of curbs on polluting cars by the new conservative city hall, raising fears that environmental rollbacks seen in the United States may be spreading to Europe.

The first reversal of environmental policies by a major European city comes despite soaring global environmental concerns and is a fresh sign of growing divisions in Spain after a series of inconclusive elections in April and May.

Last November Madrid's then far-left government banned most petrol and diesel cars from its centre to tackle high levels of nitrogen dioxide. The policy was known as "Madrid central" and it was intended to bring Madrid into line with EU clean air rules which it had been violating since 2010.

"Yes we can, I do want Madrid central," chanted the protesters. Some were holding banners that read "I want to breathe free" and "We aspire to have a Madrid without smoke".

"We have to save (the planet) starting at the local and small level, the first thing is Madrid's centre," said Laura Martin, a 39-year-old actress.

She added that she was concerned that the new Madrid government might have some similar ideas to US President Donald Trump's rollback of environmental policies, such as weakening rules limiting carbon emissions from power plants and standards on harmful gas emissions from cars and trucks.

People of all ages rallied despite a scorching heatwave in Spain and most of Europe, which had already forced the city of Paris to ban more than half of all registered cars from its roads earlier this week because the heat worsens pollution.

Various European cities including Paris, Hamburg, Amsterdam, London and Oslo have started to penalise or ban older polluting cars as they seek to phase out all fossil fuel cars in the coming decade.

Environmental groups including Greenpeace say the "Madrid central" measure slashed air pollution levels from car emissions in the centre to record lows.

The new city hall run by the conservative People's Party suspended fines on cars entering the currently restricted area of around five sq km (two sq miles) from July 1, while it reviews the plan to make it "compatible with citizens' mobility needs".

"As far as I know at the European level there's no precedent in ending a car traffic restriction," said Lara Lazaro, researcher of the Real Instituto Elcano.

The European Commission has warned Spain that it would face sanctions and a possible lawsuit if it fails to meet air quality standards in its largest cities of Madrid and Barcelona.

Thousands protested in Madrid on Saturday against the suspension of curbs on polluting cars by the new conservative city hall, raising fears that environmental rollbacks seen in the United States may be spreading to Europe.

Thousands protested in Madrid on Saturday against the suspension of curbs on polluting cars by the new conservative city hall, raising fears that environmental rollbacks seen in the United States may be spreading to Europe. The first reversal of environmental policies by a major European city comes despite soaring global environmental concerns and is a fresh sign of growing divisions in Spain after a series of inconclusive elections in April and May. Last November Madrid's then far-left government banned most petrol and diesel cars from its centre to tackle high levels of nitrogen dioxide. The policy was known as "Madrid central" and it was intended to bring Madrid into line with EU clean air rules which it had been violating since 2010. "Yes we can, I do want Madrid central," chanted the protesters. Some were holding banners that read "I want to breathe free" and "We aspire to have a Madrid without smoke". "We have to save (the planet) starting at the local and small level, the first thing is Madrid's centre," said Laura Martin, a 39-year-old actress. She added that she was concerned that the new Madrid government might have some similar ideas to US President Donald Trump's rollback of environmental policies, such as weakening rules limiting carbon emissions from power plants and standards on harmful gas emissions from cars and trucks. People of all ages rallied despite a scorching heatwave in Spain and most of Europe, which had already forced the city of Paris to ban more than half of all registered cars from its roads earlier this week because the heat worsens pollution. Various European cities including Paris, Hamburg, Amsterdam, London and Oslo have started to penalise or ban older polluting cars as they seek to phase out all fossil fuel cars in the coming decade. Environmental groups including Greenpeace say the "Madrid central" measure slashed air pollution levels from car emissions in the centre to record lows. The new city hall run by the conservative People's Party suspended fines on cars entering the currently restricted area of around five sq km (two sq miles) from July 1, while it reviews the plan to make it "compatible with citizens' mobility needs". "As far as I know at the European level there's no precedent in ending a car traffic restriction," said Lara Lazaro, researcher of the Real Instituto Elcano. The European Commission has warned Spain that it would face sanctions and a possible lawsuit if it fails to meet air quality standards in its largest cities of Madrid and Barcelona.

Protest in Madrid as conservatives suspend ban on most polluting cars

Wildfires and power cuts plague Europe as heatwave breaks records

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-protests-chinas-army-to-be-handed-prime-harbour-in-hong-kong-231230">Amid protests, China's Army to be handed prime harbour in Hong Kong</a>

The Chinese military will be handed prime Hong Kong waterfront land on Saturday, even as the city is&nbsp;rocked by anti-Beijing protests&nbsp;and just days before the anniversary of its return to China.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/all-time-hottest-temperature-in-france-recorded-at-443c-weather-service-231244">All-time hottest temperature in France recorded at 44.3C: Weather service</a>

France recorded its all-time hottest temperature of 44.3 degrees Celsius (111.7 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday as the country and much of Europe basked in an&nbsp;early summer heatwave, state weather forecaster Meteo-France said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-will-target-root-of-terrorism-inside-pakistan-balakot-strikes-not-a-fluke-home-minister-amit-shah-in-lok-sabha-231174">We will target root of terrorism inside Pakistan, Balakot strikes not a fluke: Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha</a>

After PM Modi lashed out at&nbsp;Congress in Parliament, Home minister Amit Shah today hit out at Congress over the Jammu and Kashmir(J&amp;K) issue in Lok Sabha. "Congress weakened democracy in J&amp;K," India's home minister said, adding, "separatists have hurt democracy".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-talks-with-world-leaders-at-g20-pm-modi-discusses-indo-pacific-terrorism-situation-in-gulf-231173">In talks with world leaders at G20, PM Modi discusses Indo-Pacific, terrorism, situation in Gulf</a>

Even by diplomatic standards,&nbsp;the first day of the G20 Summit&nbsp;was not only hectic but showed how India was a sought after country at the event in Osaka. The two trilaterals - JAI - between Japan, America, India and RIC - between Russia, India, China showed how India was the common factor in the two groupings.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europes-heatwave-consistent-with-climate-change-more-to-come-un-231226">Europe's heatwave consistent with climate change, more to come: UN</a>

This year is on track to be among the hottest ever and that would make 2015-2019 the world's hottest five-year period on record, the World Meteorological Organization said on Friday.

Amid protests, China's Army to be handed prime harbour in Hong Kong The Chinese military will be handed prime Hong Kong waterfront land on Saturday, even as the city is rocked by anti-Beijing protests and just days before the anniversary of its return to China.

Amid protests, China's Army to be handed prime harbour in Hong Kong The Chinese military will be handed prime Hong Kong waterfront land on Saturday, even as the city is rocked by anti-Beijing protests and just days before the anniversary of its return to China. All-time hottest temperature in France recorded at 44.3C: Weather service France recorded its all-time hottest temperature of 44.3 degrees Celsius (111.7 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday as the country and much of Europe basked in an early summer heatwave, state weather forecaster Meteo-France said. We will target root of terrorism inside Pakistan, Balakot strikes not a fluke: Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha After PM Modi lashed out at Congress in Parliament, Home minister Amit Shah today hit out at Congress over the Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) issue in Lok Sabha. "Congress weakened democracy in J&K," India's home minister said, adding, "separatists have hurt democracy". In talks with world leaders at G20, PM Modi discusses Indo-Pacific, terrorism, situation in Gulf Even by diplomatic standards, the first day of the G20 Summit was not only hectic but showed how India was a sought after country at the event in Osaka. The two trilaterals - JAI - between Japan, America, India and RIC - between Russia, India, China showed how India was the common factor in the two groupings. Europe's heatwave consistent with climate change, more to come: UN This year is on track to be among the hottest ever and that would make 2015-2019 the world's hottest five-year period on record, the World Meteorological Organization said on Friday.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Countries including France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Portugal are experiencing a massive heat wave that began on Wednesday.

Spain on high alert as heatwave sweeps across the country

Germany recorded its highest-ever June temperature on Wednesday, as much of continental Europe contends with a major heatwave. The German Weather Service said the mercury hit 38.6 degrees Celsius in Coschen, on the country's border with Poland.

Germany's temperature record smashed as Europe's heatwave intensifies

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/iran-nuclear-deal-is-hanging-by-a-thread-224862">Iran</a> is still short of the maximum amount of enriched uranium it is allowed to have under its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/iran-nuclear-deal-is-hanging-by-a-thread-224862">deal with major powers</a> but it is on course to reach that limit at the weekend, the latest data from UN nuclear inspectors shows, diplomats, say.

On Wednesday, the UN nuclear watchdog verified that Iran had roughly 200 kg of low-enriched uranium, below the deal's 202.8 kg limit, three diplomats who follow the agency's work said.

Two of the diplomats said Iran was producing at a rate of around 1 kg a day, suggesting it will not make good on its announcement that it would reach the limit on Thursday. It could, however, go over the line soon after a meeting with other signatories of the deal in Vienna on Friday that is aimed at saving the accord.

"They haven't reached the limit... It's more likely to be at the weekend if they do it," one diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

The 2015 deal, which lifted international sanctions against Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear activities, is aimed at extending the time Iran would need to produce a nuclear bomb, if it chose to, to a year from roughly 2-3 months.

Washington pulled out of the deal last year and has imposed punishing economic sanctions against Tehran. Iran has threatened to respond by setting aside some of the deal's restrictions, which could cause the deal to unravel, but it has called on European powers to do more to shield it from US sanctions.

Iran is still short of the maximum amount of enriched uranium it is allowed to have under its deal with major powers but it is on course to reach that limit at the weekend, the latest data from UN nuclear inspectors shows, diplomats, say.

Iran is still short of the maximum amount of enriched uranium it is allowed to have under its deal with major powers but it is on course to reach that limit at the weekend, the latest data from UN nuclear inspectors shows, diplomats, say. On Wednesday, the UN nuclear watchdog verified that Iran had roughly 200 kg of low-enriched uranium, below the deal's 202.8 kg limit, three diplomats who follow the agency's work said. Two of the diplomats said Iran was producing at a rate of around 1 kg a day, suggesting it will not make good on its announcement that it would reach the limit on Thursday. It could, however, go over the line soon after a meeting with other signatories of the deal in Vienna on Friday that is aimed at saving the accord. "They haven't reached the limit... It's more likely to be at the weekend if they do it," one diplomat said on condition of anonymity. The 2015 deal, which lifted international sanctions against Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear activities, is aimed at extending the time Iran would need to produce a nuclear bomb, if it chose to, to a year from roughly 2-3 months. Washington pulled out of the deal last year and has imposed punishing economic sanctions against Tehran. Iran has threatened to respond by setting aside some of the deal's restrictions, which could cause the deal to unravel, but it has called on European powers to do more to shield it from US sanctions.

Iran still short of nuclear deal's enriched uranium cap: Diplomats

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