Ryanair Holdings Plc on Monday warned fares would fall by 6 per cent&nbsp;in its key summer season this year, in part due to overcapacity in Germany and Brexit fears in the United Kingdom, but kept its profit target for the year.

Shares of Europe's largest low-cost carrier have almost halved in value in two years as the company grappled with overcapacity in Europe, Britain's plans to leave the European Union and, most recently, delays in delivery of the Boeing 737 MAX.

Ryanair earlier this month halved its growth targets for next year due to delays in deliveries of the 737 MAX. On Monday, it said it expected the first deliveries in January at the earliest.

The airline reported a profit after tax of 243 million euros for the three months to June 30, down from 309 million a year earlier. A poll of analysts published by Ryanair ahead of the results had forecast a profit of 232 million euros.

It retained its profit forecast for the year to March 31, 2020 of between 750 million euros and 950 million euros, compared to a forecast of 832 million euros in the analyst poll.

Ryanair said its fares in the three months to the end of June declined 6% from a year earlier and said it expected a similar fall for the remainder of the summer. Average fares for the year to end-March 2020 will be towards the lower end of its guidance range of -2% to +1%, it added.

Ryanair's shares closed on Friday at 10.02 euros, almost half their peak of 19.39 euros hit two years ago.

Ryanair is one of Boeing's biggest customers and was due to have 58 737 MAX jets in time for its 2020 summer season. But it now expects to receive just 30 by then in that period.

Ryanair's chief financial officer, Niall Sorohan, said the timing of plans by its pilots in the United Kingdom and Ireland to ballot for possible industrial action in August was "unusual", given concerns around the MAX and Brexit, but said the airline was open to talks.

Ryanair Holdings Plc on Monday warned fares would fall by 6 per cent in its key summer season this year, in part due to overcapacity in Germany and Brexit fears in the United Kingdom, but kept its profit target for the year.

Ryanair Holdings Plc on Monday warned fares would fall by 6 per cent in its key summer season this year, in part due to overcapacity in Germany and Brexit fears in the United Kingdom, but kept its profit target for the year. Shares of Europe's largest low-cost carrier have almost halved in value in two years as the company grappled with overcapacity in Europe, Britain's plans to leave the European Union and, most recently, delays in delivery of the Boeing 737 MAX. Ryanair earlier this month halved its growth targets for next year due to delays in deliveries of the 737 MAX. On Monday, it said it expected the first deliveries in January at the earliest. The airline reported a profit after tax of 243 million euros for the three months to June 30, down from 309 million a year earlier. A poll of analysts published by Ryanair ahead of the results had forecast a profit of 232 million euros. It retained its profit forecast for the year to March 31, 2020 of between 750 million euros and 950 million euros, compared to a forecast of 832 million euros in the analyst poll. Ryanair said its fares in the three months to the end of June declined 6% from a year earlier and said it expected a similar fall for the remainder of the summer. Average fares for the year to end-March 2020 will be towards the lower end of its guidance range of -2% to +1%, it added. Ryanair's shares closed on Friday at 10.02 euros, almost half their peak of 19.39 euros hit two years ago. Ryanair is one of Boeing's biggest customers and was due to have 58 737 MAX jets in time for its 2020 summer season. But it now expects to receive just 30 by then in that period. Ryanair's chief financial officer, Niall Sorohan, said the timing of plans by its pilots in the United Kingdom and Ireland to ballot for possible industrial action in August was "unusual", given concerns around the MAX and Brexit, but said the airline was open to talks.

Ryanair expects average fares to fall 6% in key summer season

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - July 29th, 2019

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - July 28th, 2019

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-intends-to-restart-activities-at-arak-heavy-water-nuclear-reactor-report-238974">Iran</a> on Sunday slammed as "provocative" a British proposal for a European-led naval mission to escort tankers in the Gulf, amid <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-ships-stranded-in-brazil-are-set-to-depart-officials-238954">soaring tensions over the seizure of ships</a>.

"We heard that they intend to send a European fleet to the Persian Gulf which naturally carries a hostile message, is provocative and will increase tensions," government spokesman Ali Rabiei said, quoted by ISNA news agency.

Britain said on Monday it was planning a European-led force to escort tankers through the world's busiest oil shipping lane in response to Iran's seizure of a UK-flagged vessel on July 19.

The seizure of the Stena Impero came two weeks after British authorities detained an Iranian tanker the Grace 1 off its overseas territory Gibraltar on allegations it was breaching EU sanctions on Syria.

In his comments on Sunday, the government spokesman said Iran believed the security of the oil-rich Gulf had to be maintained by countries in the region.

"We are the biggest agent of maritime security in the Persian Gulf," said Rabiei.

Britain on Thursday ordered its navy to escort <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-zarif-calls-for-prudence-and-foresight-as-tensions-mount-with-uk-237486">UK-flagged ships </a>through the Strait of Hormuz, where the Stena Impero was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

But it has so far only received a cool response from the continent to its proposal for a multi-national escort fleet that would exclude the United States.

France said on Thursday it was not willing to send extra military assets to the Gulf, but would share information and coordinate its currently deployed assets.

The US military has said it is already monitoring the strait, and that it is developing a "multinational maritime effort" dubbed Operation Sentinel to increase surveillance and security in key Middle East waterways.

The 33-kilometre (22-mile) wide Strait of Hormuz provides the eastern entrance and exit point into the Gulf and runs between the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

Iran's high-seas standoff with Britain comes amid rising hostilities between the Islamic republic and the UK ally the United States.

The arch-enemies have been locked in a battle of nerves since President Donald Trump withdrew the US from a landmark 2015 deal aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear programme and began reimposing sanctions.

The situation has worsened since the Trump administration began a campaign of "maximum pressure" against Iran this year, with drones downed and tankers mysteriously attacked in Gulf waters.

Iran on Sunday slammed as "provocative" a British proposal for a European-led naval mission to escort tankers in the Gulf, amid soaring tensions over the seizure of ships.

Iran on Sunday slammed as "provocative" a British proposal for a European-led naval mission to escort tankers in the Gulf, amid soaring tensions over the seizure of ships. "We heard that they intend to send a European fleet to the Persian Gulf which naturally carries a hostile message, is provocative and will increase tensions," government spokesman Ali Rabiei said, quoted by ISNA news agency. Britain said on Monday it was planning a European-led force to escort tankers through the world's busiest oil shipping lane in response to Iran's seizure of a UK-flagged vessel on July 19. The seizure of the Stena Impero came two weeks after British authorities detained an Iranian tanker the Grace 1 off its overseas territory Gibraltar on allegations it was breaching EU sanctions on Syria. In his comments on Sunday, the government spokesman said Iran believed the security of the oil-rich Gulf had to be maintained by countries in the region. "We are the biggest agent of maritime security in the Persian Gulf," said Rabiei. Britain on Thursday ordered its navy to escort UK-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where the Stena Impero was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. But it has so far only received a cool response from the continent to its proposal for a multi-national escort fleet that would exclude the United States. France said on Thursday it was not willing to send extra military assets to the Gulf, but would share information and coordinate its currently deployed assets. The US military has said it is already monitoring the strait, and that it is developing a "multinational maritime effort" dubbed Operation Sentinel to increase surveillance and security in key Middle East waterways. The 33-kilometre (22-mile) wide Strait of Hormuz provides the eastern entrance and exit point into the Gulf and runs between the United Arab Emirates and Iran. Iran's high-seas standoff with Britain comes amid rising hostilities between the Islamic republic and the UK ally the United States. The arch-enemies have been locked in a battle of nerves since President Donald Trump withdrew the US from a landmark 2015 deal aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear programme and began reimposing sanctions. The situation has worsened since the Trump administration began a campaign of "maximum pressure" against Iran this year, with drones downed and tankers mysteriously attacked in Gulf waters.

Iran says European naval mission in Gulf would be 'provocative'

An Italian coastguard vessel stranded in the Mediterranean with more than 130 migrants aboard has been allowed to dock in the eastern Sicilian port of Augusta but Rome on Sunday refused to let them disembark until a deal is struck with the EU.

"The Gregoretti berthed in the port of Augusta overnight, as is normal procedure for a military vessel. Now the EU has to act because the migration question concerns the whole continent," Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said in a statement.

Some 140 migrants, who had set off from Libya in two rickety boats, were picked up by Italian patrols on Thursday night and transferred to the Gregoretti ship.

The operation took place on the same day that at least 115 other migrants were believed to have drowned in a shipwreck off Libya -- the Mediterranean's deadliest tragedy this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Several migrants aboard the Gregoretti have already been evacuated for medical attention, including a seven-month pregnant woman, her two children and her partner.

However, Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has reiterated that the remaining migrants would not be able to leave the vessel until other European countries agree to take them in.

Salvini, also deputy prime minister, has taken a hard line against migrants rescued at sea being brought to Italy, which he says bears an unfair burden in the crisis.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced last Monday that 14 EU members had approved a plan to redistribute refugees rescued in the Mediterranean, and eight said they would actively take part.

The proposal drew Salvini's because it still involved allowing migrants to disembark on his country's territory.&nbsp;

He said the agreement underscored a demand that Italy "continues to be the refugee camp of Europe".

Pope Francis on Sunday called on the international community to "act swiftly" to help avoid further deaths.

"I have learned with sorrow the news of the dramatic shipwreck that happened in recent days in the Mediterranean where dozens of migrants including women and children have lost their lives," he said Sunday during his weekly Angelus address in St Peter's Square.

"I am renewing my call that the international community act swiftly and decisively to avoid that such tragedies repeat themselves and guarantee the safety and dignity of all."

An Italian coastguard vessel stranded in the Mediterranean with more than 130 migrants aboard has been allowed to dock in the eastern Sicilian port of Augusta but Rome on Sunday refused to let them disembark until a deal is struck with the EU.

An Italian coastguard vessel stranded in the Mediterranean with more than 130 migrants aboard has been allowed to dock in the eastern Sicilian port of Augusta but Rome on Sunday refused to let them disembark until a deal is struck with the EU. "The Gregoretti berthed in the port of Augusta overnight, as is normal procedure for a military vessel. Now the EU has to act because the migration question concerns the whole continent," Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said in a statement. Some 140 migrants, who had set off from Libya in two rickety boats, were picked up by Italian patrols on Thursday night and transferred to the Gregoretti ship. The operation took place on the same day that at least 115 other migrants were believed to have drowned in a shipwreck off Libya -- the Mediterranean's deadliest tragedy this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Several migrants aboard the Gregoretti have already been evacuated for medical attention, including a seven-month pregnant woman, her two children and her partner. However, Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has reiterated that the remaining migrants would not be able to leave the vessel until other European countries agree to take them in. Salvini, also deputy prime minister, has taken a hard line against migrants rescued at sea being brought to Italy, which he says bears an unfair burden in the crisis. French President Emmanuel Macron announced last Monday that 14 EU members had approved a plan to redistribute refugees rescued in the Mediterranean, and eight said they would actively take part. The proposal drew Salvini's because it still involved allowing migrants to disembark on his country's territory. He said the agreement underscored a demand that Italy "continues to be the refugee camp of Europe". Pope Francis on Sunday called on the international community to "act swiftly" to help avoid further deaths. "I have learned with sorrow the news of the dramatic shipwreck that happened in recent days in the Mediterranean where dozens of migrants including women and children have lost their lives," he said Sunday during his weekly Angelus address in St Peter's Square. "I am renewing my call that the international community act swiftly and decisively to avoid that such tragedies repeat themselves and guarantee the safety and dignity of all."

Dozens of migrants still stuck on vessel in Italy port

Flames engulfed trees beside a motorway in France on Friday (July 26), as a heatwave continues to grip Europe. Soaring temperatures broke records in France, Britain and the Netherlands on Thursday (July 25), in what scientists said were becoming more frequent events as the planet heats up. Earlier on Friday farmers were ordered to stop harvesting in France's second-largest grain-producing department Oise after hundreds of hectares of fields caught fire during an intense heatwave. Local authorities put an indefinite suspension on threshing in the whole of the Oise department on Thursday, citing the risk of fires and risk to the local population. More than 500 hectares of land caught fire on Tuesday alone in the department. Several firemen were hurt while trying to put out the fires.

Flames visible from motorway in France, as heatwave grips Europe

The hot air that smashed European weather records this week, moves towards Greenland and could take the world's second largest ice sheet close to or below the record low seen in 2012, the United Nations said on July 26.

Heatwave threatens Greenland ice sheet

Australia said it would establish the world's first dedicated office to police <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-to-create-privacy-panel-pay-5-billion-to-us-to-settle-data-breach-allegations-238141&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj36anBpdLjAhXJrY8KHYA-CLwQFjAHegQIAxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1s3tXY3k3_9nycsyvVh1Tr">Facebook Inc</a> and <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/big-tech-faces-broad-us-justice-department-antitrust-probe-238042&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj36anBpdLjAhXJrY8KHYA-CLwQFjAGegQIBRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1uT8BUjqeLr30Z5u6gK1Kq">Google</a>&nbsp;as part of reforms designed to rein in the US technology giants, potentially setting a precedent for global lawmakers.

The move tightens the regulatory screws on the online platforms, which have governments from the United States to Europe scrambling to address concerns ranging from anti-trust issues to the spread of "fake news" and hate speech.

Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the $5 billion fine slapped on Facebook in the United States this month for privacy breaches showed regulators were now taking such issues extremely seriously.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-facebook-fined-but-does-it-make-a-dent-238501/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"These companies are among the most powerful and valuable in the world," Frydenberg told reporters in Sydney after the release of a much-anticipated report on future regulation of the dominant digital platforms.

"They need to be held to account and their activities need to be more transparent."

Canberra would form a special branch of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the antitrust watchdog, to scrutinise how the companies used algorithms to match advertisements with viewers, giving them a stronghold on the main income generator of media operators.

The new office was one of 23 recommendations in the ACCC's report, including strengthening privacy laws, protections for the news media and a code of conduct requiring regulatory approval to govern how internet giants profit from users' content.

Frydenberg said the government intended to "lift the veil" on the closely guarded algorithms the firms use to collect and monetise users' data, and accepted the ACCC's "overriding conclusion that there is a need for reform".

The proposals would be subject to a 12-week public consultation process before the government acts on the report, he added.

Google and Facebook have opposed tighter regulation while traditional media owners, including Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, have backed reform.

News Corp's local executive chairman, Michael Miller, welcomed the "strength of the language and the identification of the problems", and said the publisher would work with the government to ensure "real change".

Facebook and Google said they would engage with the government during the consultation process, but had no comment on the specific recommendations.

The firms have previously rejected the need for tighter regulation and said the ACCC had underestimated the level of competition for online advertising.

ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said the regulator had five investigations of the two companies underway, and "I believe more will follow".

He said he was shocked at the amount of personal data the firms collected, often without users' knowledge.

"There needs to be a lot more transparency and oversight of Google and Facebook and their operations and practices," he said.

Among other recommendations in the report, the ACCC said it wanted privacy law updated to give people the right to erase personal data stored online, aligning Australia with some elements of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation.

"We cannot leave these issues to be dealt with by commercial entities with substantial reach and market power. It's really up to government and regulators to get up to date and stay up to date in relation to all these issues," Sims said.

While the regulator did not recommend breaking up the tech giants, Sims also did not rule it out.

"If it turns out that ... divestiture is a better approach, then that can always be recommended down the track," he said.

Australia said it would establish the world's first dedicated office to police Facebook Inc and Google as part of reforms designed to rein in the US technology giants, potentially setting a precedent for global lawmakers.

Australia said it would establish the world's first dedicated office to police Facebook Inc and Google as part of reforms designed to rein in the US technology giants, potentially setting a precedent for global lawmakers. The move tightens the regulatory screws on the online platforms, which have governments from the United States to Europe scrambling to address concerns ranging from anti-trust issues to the spread of "fake news" and hate speech. Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the $5 billion fine slapped on Facebook in the United States this month for privacy breaches showed regulators were now taking such issues extremely seriously. Watch Video: "These companies are among the most powerful and valuable in the world," Frydenberg told reporters in Sydney after the release of a much-anticipated report on future regulation of the dominant digital platforms. "They need to be held to account and their activities need to be more transparent." Canberra would form a special branch of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the antitrust watchdog, to scrutinise how the companies used algorithms to match advertisements with viewers, giving them a stronghold on the main income generator of media operators. The new office was one of 23 recommendations in the ACCC's report, including strengthening privacy laws, protections for the news media and a code of conduct requiring regulatory approval to govern how internet giants profit from users' content. Frydenberg said the government intended to "lift the veil" on the closely guarded algorithms the firms use to collect and monetise users' data, and accepted the ACCC's "overriding conclusion that there is a need for reform". The proposals would be subject to a 12-week public consultation process before the government acts on the report, he added. Google and Facebook have opposed tighter regulation while traditional media owners, including Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, have backed reform. News Corp's local executive chairman, Michael Miller, welcomed the "strength of the language and the identification of the problems", and said the publisher would work with the government to ensure "real change". Facebook and Google said they would engage with the government during the consultation process, but had no comment on the specific recommendations. The firms have previously rejected the need for tighter regulation and said the ACCC had underestimated the level of competition for online advertising. ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said the regulator had five investigations of the two companies underway, and "I believe more will follow". He said he was shocked at the amount of personal data the firms collected, often without users' knowledge. "There needs to be a lot more transparency and oversight of Google and Facebook and their operations and practices," he said. Among other recommendations in the report, the ACCC said it wanted privacy law updated to give people the right to erase personal data stored online, aligning Australia with some elements of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation. "We cannot leave these issues to be dealt with by commercial entities with substantial reach and market power. It's really up to government and regulators to get up to date and stay up to date in relation to all these issues," Sims said. While the regulator did not recommend breaking up the tech giants, Sims also did not rule it out. "If it turns out that ... divestiture is a better approach, then that can always be recommended down the track," he said.

Now, Australia to 'lift veil' on Facebook, Google algorithms to protect privacy

Nissan said Wednesday that a reported 90 per cent plunge in its first-quarter operating profit was "broadly accurate".

The auto giant confirmed the Nikkei business daily story amid separate reports that it was also planning to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nissan-to-cut-10000-jobs-worldwide-report-238084">slash more than 10,000 jobs worldwide</a>.

"While the financial results are still being reviewed, the operating profit reported in the Nikkei Shimbun article was broadly accurate," Nissan said in a press release.

The Nikkei reported that the plunge was due to declines in US sales, and costs for developing electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies weighed on profits.

But Nissan added no official confirmation can be made before the announcement of results on Thursday.

In May, it reported net profit fell to a near-decade low and warned of "a difficult business environment" for the next 12 months.

The company has struggled in the US and Europe as it works to turn its fortunes around after former chief Carlos Ghosn was arrested for alleged financial misconduct.&nbsp;

Nissan said Wednesday that a reported 90 per cent plunge in its first-quarter operating profit was "broadly accurate". The auto giant confirmed the Nikkei business daily story amid separate reports that it was also planning to slash more than 10,000 jobs worldwide.

Nissan said Wednesday that a reported 90 per cent plunge in its first-quarter operating profit was "broadly accurate". The auto giant confirmed the Nikkei business daily story amid separate reports that it was also planning to slash more than 10,000 jobs worldwide. "While the financial results are still being reviewed, the operating profit reported in the Nikkei Shimbun article was broadly accurate," Nissan said in a press release. The Nikkei reported that the plunge was due to declines in US sales, and costs for developing electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies weighed on profits. But Nissan added no official confirmation can be made before the announcement of results on Thursday. In May, it reported net profit fell to a near-decade low and warned of "a difficult business environment" for the next 12 months. The company has struggled in the US and Europe as it works to turn its fortunes around after former chief Carlos Ghosn was arrested for alleged financial misconduct.

Nissan confirms Q1 operating profit plunge

US ride-hailing company <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/opinion-ubers-latest-ai-bid-could-lead-to-some-serious-consequences---144040">Uber</a> is launching a freight platform in Germany, taking on local technology startups in a race to grab a share of Europe's $500 billion trucking market.

Germany will be Uber Freight's second market to go live on the continent after the Netherlands, an executive told Reuters, with further expansion in prospect once operations are running smoothly in Europe's largest economy.

In the United States, Uber Freight already connects 48 states and generates more than $125 million in quarterly revenues.

Under maverick founder Travis Kalanick, Uber's earlier bid to establish its ride-hailing services in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-must-stick-to-nuclear-commitments-warn-germany-uk-over-enriched-uranium-row-228119">Germany</a> met intractable opposition from taxi companies, politicians and the courts.

This time, led by Kalanick's successor Dara Khosrowshawi, Uber has consulted German officials and industry to win support for its freight business, said Daniel Buczkowski, Uber Freight's head of European expansion.

"After the change in leadership, we engaged in doing the right thing," Buczkowski, who is German, told Reuters.

Uber will compete with local players, including Berlin-based startup sender, which has raised $70 million from private equity house Lakestar and other investors at a $300 million valuation, and which already has a wider presence in Europe.

Other technology players in the freight forwarding sector include Flexport, a full-service platform based in San Francisco that raised $1 billion earlier this year from investors led by Japan's Softbank Group.

UK-based Zencargo and FreightHub, which like the sender is headquartered in Berlin, have also taken in investments of late.

Buczkowski sees Uber Freight's edge in its worldwide reach and proven technology. "As a global company we have the bandwidth to constantly innovate and create new products and features that support the entire marketplace," he said.

The freight platforms aim to digitalise an industry still dominated by firms running 10 or fewer trucks and to improve efficiency trucks are empty for 21 per cent of the distance they travel.

Other gains can come from real-time tracking of consignments, and the automation of payments in an industry where trucking firms often waste weeks chasing up invoices.

"The key to getting a lot of value out of this industry is understanding how to use those empty kilometres," said Nicolaus Schefenacker, a co-founder of the sender, which was set up in 2016.

He told Reuters that, as its network expanded, it was easier to model and forecast traffic flows to ensure consignments found the right truck at the right price. Although the freight tech sector is crowded, the market is segmented and the sender sees a clear opportunity in the so-called full-truckload market.

"The market is so huge that I think a lot of players are able to coexist. That's also the way we think about Uber Freight," Schefenacker told Reuters.

Unlike Uber's ride-hailing app or its food-delivery service, Uber Freight will operate as a middle-man in a market with an established pricing structure.

It will make money from the margin between the price paid by the shipper and the amount it pays on to the trucker, insulating it from the type of complaints made by many ride-hailing drivers who say they struggle to earn a decent income.

Uber, with a stock market capitalisation of $74 billion, aims to adapt its model used in the United States, where many truck drivers are sole operators, to Europe, where family-run firms predominate.

The apps still face challenges, ranging from environmental issues confronting an industry that runs on diesel to ensuring drivers are not overworked with long hours on the road.

The industry also needs new recruits, with the World Bank estimating two-thirds of German drivers will retire over the next decade, threatening a shortage in capacity for an industry that handles more than 70 per cent of freight.

US ride-hailing company Uber is launching a freight platform in Germany, taking on local technology startups in a race to grab a share of Europe's $500 billion trucking market.

US ride-hailing company Uber is launching a freight platform in Germany, taking on local technology startups in a race to grab a share of Europe's $500 billion trucking market. Germany will be Uber Freight's second market to go live on the continent after the Netherlands, an executive told Reuters, with further expansion in prospect once operations are running smoothly in Europe's largest economy. In the United States, Uber Freight already connects 48 states and generates more than $125 million in quarterly revenues. Under maverick founder Travis Kalanick, Uber's earlier bid to establish its ride-hailing services in Germany met intractable opposition from taxi companies, politicians and the courts. This time, led by Kalanick's successor Dara Khosrowshawi, Uber has consulted German officials and industry to win support for its freight business, said Daniel Buczkowski, Uber Freight's head of European expansion. "After the change in leadership, we engaged in doing the right thing," Buczkowski, who is German, told Reuters. Uber will compete with local players, including Berlin-based startup sender, which has raised $70 million from private equity house Lakestar and other investors at a $300 million valuation, and which already has a wider presence in Europe. Other technology players in the freight forwarding sector include Flexport, a full-service platform based in San Francisco that raised $1 billion earlier this year from investors led by Japan's Softbank Group. UK-based Zencargo and FreightHub, which like the sender is headquartered in Berlin, have also taken in investments of late. Buczkowski sees Uber Freight's edge in its worldwide reach and proven technology. "As a global company we have the bandwidth to constantly innovate and create new products and features that support the entire marketplace," he said. The freight platforms aim to digitalise an industry still dominated by firms running 10 or fewer trucks and to improve efficiency trucks are empty for 21 per cent of the distance they travel. Other gains can come from real-time tracking of consignments, and the automation of payments in an industry where trucking firms often waste weeks chasing up invoices. "The key to getting a lot of value out of this industry is understanding how to use those empty kilometres," said Nicolaus Schefenacker, a co-founder of the sender, which was set up in 2016. He told Reuters that, as its network expanded, it was easier to model and forecast traffic flows to ensure consignments found the right truck at the right price. Although the freight tech sector is crowded, the market is segmented and the sender sees a clear opportunity in the so-called full-truckload market. "The market is so huge that I think a lot of players are able to coexist. That's also the way we think about Uber Freight," Schefenacker told Reuters. Unlike Uber's ride-hailing app or its food-delivery service, Uber Freight will operate as a middle-man in a market with an established pricing structure. It will make money from the margin between the price paid by the shipper and the amount it pays on to the trucker, insulating it from the type of complaints made by many ride-hailing drivers who say they struggle to earn a decent income. Uber, with a stock market capitalisation of $74 billion, aims to adapt its model used in the United States, where many truck drivers are sole operators, to Europe, where family-run firms predominate. The apps still face challenges, ranging from environmental issues confronting an industry that runs on diesel to ensuring drivers are not overworked with long hours on the road. The industry also needs new recruits, with the World Bank estimating two-thirds of German drivers will retire over the next decade, threatening a shortage in capacity for an industry that handles more than 70 per cent of freight.

Uber freight launches in Germany, takes on local competition

Global trade tensions, continued uncertainty and rising prospects for a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-lawmakers-vote-in-bid-to-frustrate-no-deal-brexit-236976">no-deal Brexit</a> are sapping the strength of the world economy, which faces a "precarious" 2020, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/christine-lagarde-resigns-as-international-monetary-fund-chief-starting-race-for-her-successor-236536">International Monetary Fund</a> warned on Tuesday.

Trade conflicts are undercutting investment and weakening manufacturing, and the IMF urged countries to avoid using tariffs to resolve their differences.

In the quarterly update of its World Economic Outlook, the IMF trimmed the global forecast issued in April by 0.1 percentage point this year and next, with growth expected to hit 3.2 per cent in 2019 and 3.5 per cent in 2020.

But the report sounded the alarm, saying things could easily go wrong.

"Global growth is sluggish and precarious, but it does not have to be this way, because some of this is self-inflicted," IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath told reporters.

"Dynamism in the global economy is being weighed down by prolonged policy uncertainty as trade tensions remain heightened despite the recent US-China trade truce... and the prospects of a no-deal Brexit have increased," she said at a briefing in Santiago, Chile.

Gopinath warned that the recovery is seen next year "is precarious" because "close to 70 per cent of the increase relies on an improvement in the growth performance in stressed emerging market and developing economies and is therefore subject to high uncertainty."

However, the United States, which is at the centre of most of the trade tensions, saw one of the rare upgrades in the report, as it got a short-term boost from strong economic growth in the early part of the year.&nbsp;

The IMF raised the US GDP forecast by three-tenths of a percentage point to 2.6 per cent for 2019, but weakening demand, in part due to the trade conflicts and tariffs, points to "slowing momentum over the rest of the year."&nbsp;

US economic growth is expected to slow to 1.9 per cent in 2020.

China, which is the main target of US trade actions, was already experiencing a slowdown. But "the negative effects of escalating tariffs and weakening external demand have added pressure," the report said. A sudden slowdown in China is a key risk to the world economy.

The report downgraded Chinese growth by a tenth of a point this year and next, to 6.2 per cent and 6.0 per cent.

Avoid policy missteps

The IMF cautioned that there is an abundance of "potential triggers" for the situation to turn negative quickly, including the possibility of more US tariffs on China or on European autos, as well as a no-deal Brexit and high debt levels in many countries.

"While the tensions abated in June, durable agreements to resolve differences remain subject to possibly protracted and difficult negotiations," the report said.

Gopinath repeated the IMF calculation showing that the combined effect of tariffs imposed last year and potential tariffs threatened in May between the United States and China could reduce global GDP in 2020 by 0.5 per cent.

The latest forecast was once again full of downgrades, with small downward revisions for Germany and Japan, but much larger cuts for Brazil, Mexico, Russia, India and South Africa countries that were the engine for global growth in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.

The IMF again stressed that resolving uncertainty remains the most pressing issue for the global economy and said governments should avoid "policy missteps" that could have "a severely debilitating effect on sentiment, growth and job creation."

And "countries should not use tariffs to target bilateral trade balances," the report said while recognizing that "trade disputes may be symptoms of deeper frustration with gaps in the rules-based multilateral trading system."

President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in June agreed to a truce in their trade hostilities.&nbsp;

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is set to lead a delegation to China on Monday for the first face-to-face meeting since talks collapsed in May, according to media reports.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the "overriding objective" is to get a good deal, which "is much more important than exact timing."

Global trade tensions, continued uncertainty and rising prospects for a no-deal Brexit are sapping the strength of the world economy, which faces a "precarious" 2020, the International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday.

Global trade tensions, continued uncertainty and rising prospects for a no-deal Brexit are sapping the strength of the world economy, which faces a "precarious" 2020, the International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday. Trade conflicts are undercutting investment and weakening manufacturing, and the IMF urged countries to avoid using tariffs to resolve their differences. In the quarterly update of its World Economic Outlook, the IMF trimmed the global forecast issued in April by 0.1 percentage point this year and next, with growth expected to hit 3.2 per cent in 2019 and 3.5 per cent in 2020. But the report sounded the alarm, saying things could easily go wrong. "Global growth is sluggish and precarious, but it does not have to be this way, because some of this is self-inflicted," IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath told reporters. "Dynamism in the global economy is being weighed down by prolonged policy uncertainty as trade tensions remain heightened despite the recent US-China trade truce... and the prospects of a no-deal Brexit have increased," she said at a briefing in Santiago, Chile. Gopinath warned that the recovery is seen next year "is precarious" because "close to 70 per cent of the increase relies on an improvement in the growth performance in stressed emerging market and developing economies and is therefore subject to high uncertainty." However, the United States, which is at the centre of most of the trade tensions, saw one of the rare upgrades in the report, as it got a short-term boost from strong economic growth in the early part of the year. The IMF raised the US GDP forecast by three-tenths of a percentage point to 2.6 per cent for 2019, but weakening demand, in part due to the trade conflicts and tariffs, points to "slowing momentum over the rest of the year." US economic growth is expected to slow to 1.9 per cent in 2020. China, which is the main target of US trade actions, was already experiencing a slowdown. But "the negative effects of escalating tariffs and weakening external demand have added pressure," the report said. A sudden slowdown in China is a key risk to the world economy. The report downgraded Chinese growth by a tenth of a point this year and next, to 6.2 per cent and 6.0 per cent. Avoid policy missteps The IMF cautioned that there is an abundance of "potential triggers" for the situation to turn negative quickly, including the possibility of more US tariffs on China or on European autos, as well as a no-deal Brexit and high debt levels in many countries. "While the tensions abated in June, durable agreements to resolve differences remain subject to possibly protracted and difficult negotiations," the report said. Gopinath repeated the IMF calculation showing that the combined effect of tariffs imposed last year and potential tariffs threatened in May between the United States and China could reduce global GDP in 2020 by 0.5 per cent. The latest forecast was once again full of downgrades, with small downward revisions for Germany and Japan, but much larger cuts for Brazil, Mexico, Russia, India and South Africa countries that were the engine for global growth in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. The IMF again stressed that resolving uncertainty remains the most pressing issue for the global economy and said governments should avoid "policy missteps" that could have "a severely debilitating effect on sentiment, growth and job creation." And "countries should not use tariffs to target bilateral trade balances," the report said while recognizing that "trade disputes may be symptoms of deeper frustration with gaps in the rules-based multilateral trading system." President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in June agreed to a truce in their trade hostilities. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is set to lead a delegation to China on Monday for the first face-to-face meeting since talks collapsed in May, according to media reports. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the "overriding objective" is to get a good deal, which "is much more important than exact timing."

International Monetary Fund downgrades world growth, warns of 'precarious' 2020

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

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

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

PayPal launches international money transfer service Xoom across Europe

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

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

WION Wallet: Microsoft opens first physical store in Europe

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

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

Europe's once biggest migrant centre to close in Italy