European Central bank cuts benchmark rate by a quarter percentage point to boost stagnant economy

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank cut its key interest rate on Thursday to boost an economy that’s struggling to grow as consumers burned by inflation warily eye price tags and businesses try to navigate political turmoil in leading economies France and Germany. ...

Merkel criticizes German front-runner Merz over migration vote with far-right support

BERLIN (AP) — Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday issued rare public criticism of her successor as the country's center-right leader, the front-runner in Germany's election next month, for putting to parliament proposals for tough new migration rules that only passed with the help...

Europe's economy stagnated with zero growth in last quarter of 2024 as eurozone's biggest economy Germany struggled

Anastasiia Gubanova takes a narrow lead at European figure skating championships

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Anastasiia Gubanova took a narrow lead in the short program as she aims to regain her title at the European figure skating championships on Wednesday. With defending champion Loena Hendrickx ruled out by an ankle injury, the competition was wide open, and...

German parliament backs election front-runner's call for tough border rules with far-right support

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's parliament on Wednesday narrowly approved a call by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's main challenger to turn back many more migrants at the country's borders, with the help of a far-right party — a move that drew strong criticism of the front-runner in the campaign for next...

Germany's government slashes its economic growth forecast for this year to 0.3%

BERLIN (AP) — The German government on Wednesday slashed its 2025 growth forecast for the country's economy, Europe's biggest, to just 0.3% after it shrank for two consecutive years. The new projection is much lower than the government's previous forecast of 1.1% growth, issued in...

Who funds the World Health Organization? A list of its biggest donors

President Donald Trump's decision to exit the World Health Organization means the U.N. agency is losing its biggest funder. For the two-year budget ending in 2025, the U.S. is projected to be WHO’s largest single contributor by far. It is expected to donate $958 million, or nearly 15%, of the...

Today in History: February 3, ‘the day the music died’

Today is Monday, Feb. 3, the 34th day of 2025. There are 331 days left in the year. Today in history: On Feb. 3, 1959, which would become known as “the day the music died,” rock-and-roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson...

Anti-extremism center opens in former house of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss

OSWIECIM, Poland (AP) — A U.S.-based organization is transforming the house of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss into a research center devoted to fighting extremism, and is introducing it to the public on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on Monday. The house,...

Langenhan moves into World Cup luge points lead, bobsled races in St. Moritz are called off

OBERHOF, Germany (AP) — Max Langenhan of Germany moved back into the World Cup men's singles points lead Sunday, after getting his season-best third win of the season. Felix Loch of Germany was second and Nico Gleirscher of Austria was third. Langenhan and Gleirscher were tied atop...