International News
EU Cracks Down On Big Tech, Fines Elon Musk’s X €120m Under DSA
The European Union has slammed Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, with a €120 million fine for violating the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), marking a major escalation in Europe’s regulatory crackdown on Big Tech and raising fresh political tensions with the administration of US President Donald Trump.
The penalty, announced on Friday, follows a high-profile investigation into X’s compliance with EU transparency standards.
According to the European Commission, the platform breached multiple DSA rules, particularly in the way it redesigned and marketed its blue checkmark for paid “verified” accounts.
ALSO READS: Elon Musk Introduces New Twitter Logo
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen emphasised that the sanction was strictly about ensuring transparency, countering claims from US Vice President JD Vance, who had earlier accused the bloc of targeting American companies under the guise of “censorship.”
“This decision is about the transparency of X and nothing to do with censorship,” Virkkunen stated.
The commission found that under Musk’s revamped system, “anyone can pay” to obtain a checkmark without any meaningful verification — exposing millions of users to impersonation and fraud.
The EU said the “deceptive design” of the verification badge misled users into believing accounts were authentic, making them vulnerable to scams and manipulation by malicious actors. X was also cited for inadequate transparency around advertising and for restricting researcher access to public data.
The fine risks further straining relations between Brussels and Washington. Before the penalty was even announced, Vice President Vance warned the EU against “attacking American companies over garbage”, a post Musk personally thanked him for.
The political undertone is unmistakable. With Trump returning to the White House earlier this year and Musk regaining influence after a temporary fallout US pressure on Europe’s regulatory efforts has intensified.
Washington has repeatedly criticised the DSA, and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently urged Brussels to reconsider the law if it hopes to ease steel tariffs.
A newly released US national security strategy went even further, urging Europe to “abandon its failed focus on regulatory suffocation.”
Despite possessing the legal power to fine up to six percent of global revenue — potentially including Musk’s wider empire like Tesla — the EU opted for a relatively moderate penalty.
Virkkunen said the amount was “proportionate” and aimed at enforcing compliance rather than punishing companies to the extreme.
Digital advocacy groups praised the decision. The Center for Countering Digital Hate said the fine sends a clear message that “no tech platform is above the laws all corporations must obey.”
France’s digital affairs minister Anne Le Henanff called it a “historic” moment, signalling Europe’s readiness to back its digital policies with firm action
International News
Panic in Europe as France Records First-Ever Ebola Case
France has confirmed its first-ever case of Ebola virus disease, triggering concern across Europe as health authorities move swiftly to contain the deadly infection.
The French Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that a doctor returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is currently battling a major Ebola outbreak, tested positive for the virus after arriving in France.
SEE ALSO: Fresh Ebola Alert: Lagos Tightens Airport Surveillance as Virus Threat Looms
According to officials, the patient was immediately isolated upon arrival, even before laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis, helping to reduce the risk of transmission.
In a statement, the ministry confirmed the identification of “a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory,” marking the first time the virus has been detected in France.
The development also represents the first confirmed Ebola case recorded outside Africa during the current outbreak, which has affected both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
French authorities disclosed that the case was detected in mainland France, while Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is closely monitoring the situation as health agencies intensify surveillance and response measures.
The current outbreak in the DRC was officially declared on May 15 following a series of unexplained deaths in the eastern Ituri Province.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Despite growing concerns, public health experts have stressed that the risk of widespread global transmission remains low because Ebola is less contagious than many airborne infectious diseases.
The virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and contaminated materials.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal haemorrhagic fever that can cause symptoms including high fever, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.
French health authorities have assured the public that all necessary precautions are being taken to contain the case and prevent any further spread of the disease.
The announcement has nevertheless sparked anxiety across Europe, given the deadly nature of the virus and its emergence outside the African continent during the ongoing outbreak.
International News
“He Failed Badly” — Trump Says Starmer Will Step Down as UK PM
U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will step down from office, accusing the Labour leader of failing on two critical issues — immigration and energy policy.
Trump made the remarks on Sunday in a post on his Truth Social platform, where he claimed Starmer’s leadership had fallen short in addressing challenges facing the United Kingdom.
SEE MORE:New US Strike on Iran Sends Oil Prices Soaring as Middle East Tensions Escalate
“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom,” Trump wrote. “He failed badly on two very important subjects — IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!”
The U.S. president did not provide any evidence to support his claim, nor did he reveal the basis for his prediction that Starmer would leave office.
Starmer, who leads the Labour Party, became Prime Minister after securing victory in the UK’s general election.
Since taking office, his government has faced criticism over a range of issues, including migration policies, energy security, and the cost-of-living challenges confronting many Britons.
Trump’s comments come as debates over immigration and energy continue to dominate political discussions in the UK.
However, there has been no official statement from Starmer, his office, or the British government suggesting that he plans to resign.
As of the time of filing this report, Starmer remains in office and continues to lead the government despite the claims made by the American president.
International News
Putin Faces New Blow as UK Unleashes 70 Sanctions, Targets Russia’s Shadow Fleet
The United Kingdom has announced 70 new sanctions against Russia, escalating efforts to pressure Moscow into ending its prolonged war against Ukraine.
The measures were unveiled on Tuesday by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a special session of the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, where leaders of the world’s leading economies gathered to discuss support for Ukraine and ways to increase pressure on the Kremlin.
The latest sanctions target Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, military procurement networks, and financial channels allegedly used to bypass existing international restrictions.
ALSO READ: JUST IN: Putin Pushes New Nuclear Doctrine
Announcing the move, Starmer reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to working with its allies to weaken Russia’s war capabilities.
“Working with our G7 allies, we will continue to increase the pressure on Putin and his circle of collaborators until Russia’s war machine is brought to a halt and peace returns to our continent,” Starmer said.
According to a joint statement issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Prime Minister’s Office, the sanctions are aimed at Russia’s “decrepit shadow fleet, military procurement supply chains and illicit finance networks used to circumvent sanctions.”
The statement added that the measures “will choke Russia’s war effort across multiple fronts” by targeting key sectors supporting Moscow’s military operations.
Among those affected are more than 20 oil tankers linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, a network of vessels reportedly used to transport energy products and other assets under different national flags in an attempt to evade sanctions.
The UK government also revealed that Britain has become the first G7 member nation to sanction several Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vessels recently acquired by Russia to support its already-sanctioned Arctic LNG project.
The announcement comes shortly after fresh Russian missile and drone attacks struck several locations across Ukraine on Monday, killing at least 11 people and triggering a fire at one of Kyiv’s most significant Orthodox monasteries.
Starmer is expected to urge fellow G7 leaders to take stronger collective action in support of Ukraine.
According to his office, the British leader will tell the summit that “the G7 should collectively go further to ensure Ukraine secures the just and lasting peace it deserves.”
In addition to the sanctions package, the UK government announced a new agreement to provide enriched uranium for Ukraine’s nuclear power stations.
The deal, backed by £210 million ($282 million) in export finance, will allow UK-based nuclear fuel supplier Urenco to deliver enriched uranium to Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy company, Energoatom.
British officials said the arrangement is expected to help power Ukraine’s nuclear facilities for the next two years as the country continues to grapple with the impact of the ongoing conflict.





