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Windfall Tax Push: EU Ministers Call for New Energy Rule

April 6, 2026

The group of finance ministers from Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Austria have joined forces to ask the European Union to introduce a windfall tax on energy firms. Their main worry is that the recent surge in oil and gas prices—linked to conflicts in Iran—could push inflation higher and hurt o

politics

Germany Tightens Rules on Men Traveling Abroad

April 6, 2026

The German army is working to make a new rule clearer. The rule says men who could fight in the military must ask permission if they plan to stay outside Germany for longer than three months. The law started in January but was not noticed until a local newspaper highlighted it last week. The army s

crime

Why museums keep getting robbed—and why the art is nearly impossible to sell

April 6, 2026

Museums worldwide have faced a string of bold thefts recently, including a brazen robbery in Italy where thieves took works by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse in a single night. Experts say these crimes aren’t as clever as movies make them seem—they’re often just quick break-ins with little planning.

politics

EU Countries Push for Fair Energy Profit Rules

April 5, 2026

Five European countries want energy giants to share extra profits from high fuel costs. Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Austria signed a letter asking the EU to tax sudden gains made by energy firms. The push comes as rising oil prices from Middle East tensions squeeze household budgets. The mi

politics

Europe’s energy crisis: why some leaders want oil bosses to share the pain

April 5, 2026

Five European finance chiefs have fired off a letter demanding EU-wide curbs on energy profits. The move comes as Middle East tensions make oil tankers rare, pushing petrol and heating bills higher. Spain’s economy minister joined colleagues from Germany, Italy, Portugal and Austria to argue that wh

crime

Italian police catch a crime boss hiding in plain sight

April 5, 2026

A high-profile arrest took place on the Amalfi Coast when Italian police raided a luxury villa and seized Roberto Mazzarella, a man long at the top of Italy’s most wanted list. Mazzarella, 48, had rented the coastal property with fake papers, showing how easy it can be to slip through official check

environment

Blue crabs taking over the Mediterranean: a problem turned into an opportunity?

April 4, 2026

The Atlantic blue crab didn't always live in the Mediterranean. It first arrived quietly in the 20th century. Then, warmer waters from climate change helped it spread fast. By 2019-2020, its numbers exploded. The Northern Adriatic Sea became one of the worst-hit areas. Scientists call this tropicali

politics

Sculptor’s Mockery of Putin and Kirill Lands International Spotlight

April 3, 2026

A German artist’s carnival float mocking Russia’s top leader and its top clergyman has triggered a rare legal reaction beyond Germany’s borders. The Moscow court handed down a prison sentence to Jacques Tilly, a sculptor known for pushing boundaries with his floats, even though he never set foot in

crime

Bali’s Crime Boss Delay: What’s Really Going On?

April 3, 2026

A Scottish man accused of running a major international drug ring got a surprise second delay in his deportation from Bali this week. Authorities had planned to send him to Spain last Thursday, but suddenly pulled him off the flight—again—without giving a clear reason. While officials won’t explain,

politics

China steps up global calls to calm Middle East tensions

April 3, 2026

Diplomatic moves from Beijing this week show China pushing for a quick halt to the fighting in the Middle East, while also asking for safe shipping routes through a key waterway. Recent phone talks with leaders from the European Union and Germany underline China’s effort to be seen as a voice for st