Europe

An adult content company fined £1m by Ofcom for failing to meet age-verification requirements has begun introducing more robust checks on some of its websites, the regulator said, as scrutiny…

McDonald’s Netherlands has taken down a 45-second Christmas advert created with generative AI following widespread criticism online, telling BBC News the incident served as “an important learning” as the company…

UK adults spent an average of four hours and 30 minutes online daily in 2025, according to Ofcom’s annual Online Nation report, exceeding the levels recorded during the pandemic by…

Survivors of Typhoon Rai in the Philippines have filed a legal claim against Shell in the UK, seeking compensation for what they argue was the company’s contribution to the storm’s…

Ford and Renault Group have announced a partnership to develop two affordable Ford-branded electric vehicles for the European market, as Ford’s chief executive warned the company is in “a fight…

Frasers Group, the retail company owned by Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley, has bought Swindon’s Designer Outlet from LaSalle Investment Management, adding another major retail property to its growing UK…

Italian luxury fashion house Valentino is facing criticism after publishing artificial intelligence-generated adverts for its DeVain handbag, with social media users describing the campaign visuals and use of AI as…

European cities are tightening controls on large vehicles as the growing size and weight of modern cars, a trend some critics describe as “carspreading,” draws pushback from authorities and residents,…

The Bank of England has warned that the rapid rise in artificial intelligence-focused company valuations could face a sharp market correction, as it described stock prices in both the UK…

Research Highlights Frequency and Financial Impact of DelaysCancelling knee replacement surgeries is “unforgivable”, according to academics whose new research shows the scale of disruption and financial loss caused by last-minute…

Electrolyser Production Outpaces Market DemandIn a quiet factory near Hamburg, industrial robots stand ready to assemble electrolysers at a pace that exceeds current demand. Quest One, which manufactures proton exchange…

Unilever Moves to Sell Under-Performing Food BrandsCandy Kittens, the vegan sweets brand founded by British TV personality Jamie Laing, is set to acquire the UK snack company Graze through a…

Farm Describes Major Loss Before Peak DemandA farm in northern France that supplies gourmet restaurants has reported the theft of €90,000 (£79,000; $104,000) worth of snails, describing the incident as…

Organisation Announces Death of Its FounderLudwig Minelli, founder of the Swiss right-to-die organisation Dignitas, has died by assisted suicide at the age of 92, the group announced. Minelli died on…

Rising Costs Despite Government PledgesA pub owner in the south east of England says his business will face an additional £62,000 per year in costs following changes to business rates…

Growing Reports of Chargeback AbuseBusinesses across the UK are reporting an increase in “friendly fraud,” a type of chargeback scam in which customers claim they did not make a purchase…

Evidence of High Earnings and Lavish SpendingAn evidence room filled with designer shoes and handbags illustrates how profitable text-based fraud has become for criminals who send large volumes of scam…

Suspension of Flights and Missed DeadlineVenezuela has barred six major international airlines from landing in the country after they did not meet a 48-hour deadline to resume operations. The carriers…

Museum announces higher entry fees to fund security and infrastructure upgrades The Louvre museum in Paris will raise ticket prices by 45% for visitors from outside the European Economic Area…

Three local authorities shut down systems and activate emergency plans At least three London councils are responding to a cyberattack that has forced network shutdowns, disabled phone lines, and triggered…