Israel intensifies strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen under Operation Black Flag
Israel’s Minister of Defense announced the launch of Operation Black Flag, with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carrying out strikes on multiple mi...
French President Emmanuel Macron denied any “agreement” or “collusion” with the Swiss company Nestlé over the bottled water scandal.
“I am not aware of these matters. There was no agreement with anyone and no collusion with anyone,” Macron told reporters on Tuesday.
Nestlé Waters, a subsidiary of the Swiss food giant, was accused of using illegal microfiltration methods on its bottled water brands to bypass health regulations.
The group is the owner in France of brands like Perrier, Vittel, Hépar and Contrex mineral waters.
On Tuesday, investigative journalists from Le Monde and Radio France revealed that the services of former prime minister, Elisabeth Borne, and the French presidency allowed Nestlé to market these waters, despite the health authorities' recommendations for a ban from 2023.
Citing "exchanges of emails and ministerial notes", the journalists accuse the French government of having "privileged the interests of Nestlé to the detriment of consumers" by granting exemptions for the company's practices.
At the beginning of 2024, Nestlé Waters, admitted to having used prohibited techniques such as ultraviolet light and active carbon filters "to guarantee food safety" of its mineral waters. In September, the subsidiary of the Swiss giant had agreed to pay a fine of 2 million euros to avoid a trial, following a complaint from the Foodwatch association.
French consumer rights group Foodwatch called on the French government to finally answer all open questions in the case.
Foodwatch sued Nestlé in February 2024. However, the court in Epinal, where Nestlé has factories in the Vosges, dropped the case – in return for a fine of two million euros. In foodwatch's view, such a fine has no deterrent effect for a company like Nestlé.
“To earn the fine that has now been imposed, Nestlé needs the equivalent of just 99 minutes. For comparison: in 2023, the food manufacturer made a profit of 11.2 billion Swiss francs. Over the years of the fraud, Nestlé sold more than 18 billion bottles of ‘natural’ mineral water, according to media reports. This earned the company 3 billion euros,” – Foodwatch reported.
After new complaints against Nestlé Waters in September 2024, an investigating judge was finally appointed in January 2025.
“Foodwatch is calling for an investigation into the French government’s handling of the case and insists that these fraudulent practices must be thoroughly investigated and stopped”, - the group stated.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
Following a deadly glacier collapse in Blatten, near the Swiss Alpine village of Kandersteg, the town is on high alert as melting permafrost and shifting rock threaten another potential disaster after it was buried a month ago.
China’s northern and western provinces are on high alert for flash floods and landslides as intense monsoon rains continue to overwhelm defences, killing at least seven and displacing communities across the country.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has urged Elon Musk to steer clear of politics and prioritise his companies, after the Tesla CEO announced the formation of a new political party in defiance of President Donald Trump.
TikTok is building a new version of its app for U.S. users ahead of a planned sale to American investors, The Information reported, as President Donald Trump prepares fresh talks with China over the platform’s future.
BRICS leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro have condemned attacks on Iran, Gaza and Kashmir, while presenting the expanded bloc as a rising force for multilateralism in a world dominated by U.S.-led policies.
Israel’s Minister of Defense announced the launch of Operation Black Flag, with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carrying out strikes on multiple military targets belonging to the Houthi movement in Yemen.
UN teams have deployed to Syria’s coastal Latakia province, where wildfires have been burning for four days, forcing hundreds of families to flee and destroying large areas of farmland and infrastructure.
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