Europe

Italy will not enter a war, Meloni tells Senate

Italy will not enter a war, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told the Senate on Wednesday, as tensions around Iran continue to escalate. Speaking amid growing international concern over unilateral military…

Read More Here

British Airways cancels Abu Dhabi service ‘until later this year’

British Airways said it had cancelled all flights to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv “until later this month”, while services to and from Abu Dhabi have…

Read More Here

Six killed in Swiss bus blaze, police probe reports of passenger starting fire

At least six people were killed and three others injured after a bus caught fire in western Switzerland in what police believe may have been a deliberate act. Reports suggest…

Read More Here

European and NATO forces reinforce Mediterranean and Gulf as Iran war escalates

European powers and NATO allies are expanding their military deployments across the Mediterranean, the Gulf and parts of the eastern flank as the conflict involving the United States, Israel and…

Read More Here

UK Parliament rejects proposal to ban social media use for under-16s

Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have rejected a proposal to ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, following a vote in the House of Commons…

Read More Here

SIPRI: Europe now world’s biggest arms importer

Europe became the world's biggest arms importer over the last five years as governments reacted to Russia's threat and waning confidence in U.S. security commitments, data from the Stockholm International…

Read More Here

Synagogue in Belgian city of Liege damaged in explosion

A synagogue in the Belgian city of Liege ‌was damaged by an explosion early on Monday, Belgian broadcasters VRT and RTBF reported, citing local police. No injuries were reported. ⁠The…

Read More Here

Hungary’s opposition leader Péter Magyar calls on Russia to refrain from election interference

Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar has urged Russia to refrain from interfering in Hungary’s parliamentary elections after reports alleged that the Kremlin had deployed a covert team in Budapest to…

Read More Here

Far-right eyes breakthrough in French municipal elections

France’s far-right National Rally is under pressure to secure a strong showing in municipal elections starting Sunday, widely seen as a key test of the party’s prospects ahead of next…

Read More Here

12 members of money laundering scheme exploiting Ukrainian women arrested in Spain

An international operation in Spain targeting a money laundering scheme resulted in the arrest of 12 suspects. The disrupted criminal network systematically exploited vulnerable Ukrainian women to open bank accounts,…

Read More Here

Kosovo president dissolves parliament, calls snap election after failed presidential vote

Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani on Friday dissolved parliament and called snap elections after lawmakers failed to elect a new head of state within a constitutional deadline. The parliament ‌had until…

Read More Here

Rome boosts air defence to maximum amid Iran crisis as Meloni rules out any current US request for base use

Italy has raised its air-defence protection to the highest level as tensions escalate across the Middle East, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Rome has so far received no request…

Read More Here

International crackdown dismantles sprawling drug network spanning Europe, Asia and Australia

An international law-enforcement operation has dismantled key parts of a sprawling drug trafficking and money-laundering network operating across Europe, Asia and Australia, after investigators unlocked crucial data from two mobile…

Read More Here

Macron asks Netanyahu to ‘refrain from a ground offensive’ in Lebanon

Emmanuel Macron said he asked Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from launching a ground offensive in Lebanon during a phone call between the two leaders. Macron said he also held talks…

Read More Here

Iranian drones strike airport terminal in Azerbaijan

At least two people were injured after three Iranian drones targeted the passenger terminal at Nakhchivan International Airport on Thursday, according to Azerbaijan authorities. Officials said one drone struck the…

Read More Here

Swedish fighter jets patrol Iceland in show of force over Arctic

For the first time, Swedish fighter jets are patrolling Iceland’s airspace as part of NATO’s “Arctic Sentry” mission, signalling the alliance’s commitment to protecting the Arctic amid rising tensions with…

Read More Here

Putin Says Ukrainian ‘Terrorist Attack’ Caused Tanker to Sink Off Malta

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of carrying out what he described as a “terrorist attack” after a Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier sank in the Mediterranean Sea near…

Read More Here

Turkey says NATO defences destroyed Iran missile, risking war expansion

Turkey said NATO air defence systems intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile headed towards its airspace on Wednesday, marking the first time the country has been directly drawn into the widening…

Read More Here

EU Rallies Around Spain After Trump Threatens Trade Embargo

European leaders have moved quickly to support Spain after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a trade embargo on the country, escalating tensions between Washington and the European Union.…

Read More Here

Al Fayed abuse should be investigated as human trafficking, says former senior Met officer

A former senior Metropolitan Police officer has urged investigators to widen their probe into allegations of rape and sexual abuse by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed to include human…

Read More Here

Spanish PM insists he won’t bow to U.S. commercial pressure

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats would not cow Madrid into supporting the American-Israeli war in Iran. “We are not going to take a position…

Read More Here

Britain to bar study visas for four nations, halt Afghan work visas

Britain said on Tuesday it would block study visas ‌for nationals from four countries and halt work visas for Afghans, using what it called an "emergency brake" to curb rising…

Read More Here

Ukraine to complete preparation in days to start EU accession talks, Zelenskiy says

Ukraine will complete the technical work needed to open negotiations on all topics for its European Union ‌accession process within days, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. Zelenskiy reiterated his call on…

Read More Here

Drones intercepted off Cyprus, EasyJet cancels all UK-Cyprus flights

Two unmanned drones which had been fired in the direction of the United Kingdom’s Akrotiri air force base in Cyprus were “dealt with in a timely manner”, government spokesman Konstantinos…

Read More Here

France is ready to help Gulf countries targeted by Iran

France is ready to help Gulf countries targeted by Iranian retaliatory strikes, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Monday, adding that the Israeli and U.S. initial strikes against Iran should…

Read More Here

Cyprus on alert after drone strike on UK’s Akrotiri base; Israeli air strikes in Lebanon

A suspected drone strike on the United Kingdom’s RAF Akrotiri has underscored Cyprus’ growing exposure to the escalating Middle East conflict, as military activity intensifies across the region. British authorities…

Read More Here

Rían, Lily most popular baby names in Ireland last year

Rían was the most popular name in Ireland for boys, while Lily was the most popular girls' name last year, according to statistics from the Irish CSO. The top five…

Read More Here

Embarrassing defeat for UK’s Starmer as Greens seize Labour stronghold

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour suffered an embarrassing election defeat to the left-wing Green Party on Friday in an area of Manchester it had dominated for almost a century, a…

Read More Here

Denmark to go to polls on 24 March

Denmark will hold a parliamentary election on March 24, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced on Thursday, seeking to capitalise on a surge in support for her defiant stance against U.S.…

Read More Here

More than 1,700 Africans fighting for Russia, Ukraine says

More than 1,700 Africans are fighting for Russia in its war in Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said, adding that Moscow was using deception to trick them into fighting.…

Read More Here

Iceland to hold EU referendum ‘in the coming months’

Iceland will hold a referendum "in the coming months" on restarting European Union accession talks, Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir said on Wednesday during a visit to Poland. Reykjavik abandoned EU…

Read More Here

What Brought Down the Turkish F-16? Mystery Deepens After Fatal Crash Near Bulgarian Border

NATO member Turkey is investigating the still unknown cause of an F-16 fighter jet crash that killed its pilot shortly after takeoff on a mission toward the Bulgarian border region,…

Read More Here

Montenegrin Kingpin Arrested in France as Financial Trail Exposes Europe-Wide Cocaine Trafficking Network

An international criminal network laundering cocaine profits for Italian organised crime has been dismantled after investigators followed the money trail across Europe. What began as suspicious financial movements uncovered a…

Read More Here

Gibraltar must follow EU rules

Gibraltar will remain British but must follow EU rules under its new Brexit deal, the full legal text of the agreement has revealed. Madrid deems the British Overseas Territory as…

Read More Here

UK and French Vessels to Support Ireland in Policing Its Waters

Ireland is to deepen naval co-operation with France and Britain, including allowing their vessels to patrol Irish-controlled waters and offer protection during the EU presidency. The move towards deeper co-operation…

Read More Here

Property deals by Russian nationals near RAF Akrotiri raise suspicions

British intelligence is increasingly apprehensive that Russian nationals linked to the Kremlin are acquiring properties near the RAF base at Akrotiri as part of a covert “hybrid warfare” strategy. According…

Read More Here

German drone deal faces scrutiny over Thiel stake

A multibillion euro German military drone contract is facing political scrutiny over billionaire investor Peter Thiel’s stake in a Berlin defence tech firm, according to a report by investigative portal…

Read More Here

UK Government to Release Papers on Prince Andrew’s Trade Envoy Role

The British government will publish confidential documents linked to Prince Andrew’s tenure as trade envoy following mounting parliamentary pressure. Britihs MPs on Tuesday approved a motion demanding the release of…

Read More Here

Mandelson’s lawyers say his arrest followed ‘baseless suggestion’ he planned to leave UK

Lawyers for Peter Mandelson said he was arrested at his London home on Monday because police considered him a potential flight risk, a claim they insist is “baseless”. The former…

Read More Here

Iceland may fast-track vote on joining EU

Iceland's government is considering holding a referendum on EU relations as early as August, according to two sources cited by news publication Politico. Reykjavik had pledged to hold the vote…

Read More Here

New Dutch PM Jetten faces uphill task as minority government installed

Rob Jetten became the youngest prime minister in Dutch history on Monday when his minority government was formally confirmed in power by King Willem-Alexander. Jetten, 38, propelled his progressive, pro-EU…

Read More Here

Zelenskiy marks war anniversary vowing to fight on, with Ukraine’s allies divided

Ukraine will not betray the sacrifices made by its people in four years of war just to make peace with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed on Tuesday, as divisions among…

Read More Here

Climber convicted of manslaughter after leaving girlfriend on Austria’s highest peak to seek help

An Austrian court has convicted amateur mountaineer Thomas P, 37, of gross negligence manslaughter for leaving his girlfriend behind on Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner, during a failed climb in…

Read More Here

Spain’s Sánchez defies Washington as domestic popularity surges

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is walking a fine line between rising popularity at home and growing tension abroad, as his refusal to align with key US positions cements his…

Read More Here

Putin Prepares New Call-Ups as Russia Struggles to Replace Battlefield Losses

New analysis suggests Russian President Vladimir Putin may be preparing further involuntary reserve call-ups as Moscow seeks to offset mounting battlefield losses in Ukraine. This has been revealed by a…

Read More Here

Police search at Royal Lodge continues as Andrew released under investigation

Police have released Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after arresting him earlier on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former prince was photographed returning to Sandringham Estate in Norfolk shortly after leaving…

Read More Here

Macron Urges Political Extremes to ‘Put Their Houses in Order’ After Activist’s Death

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on political extremes to “put their houses in order” following the death of a far-right activist during clashes in Lyon over the weekend. Speaking…

Read More Here

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the Duke of York and brother of King Charles III, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, according to Thames Valley Police. In a statement,…

Read More Here

Bulgaria to hold snap election in April as Radev enters race

Bulgaria will hold a snap general election on 19 April, in what could mark a turning point after years of political instability. President Iliana Yotova announced on Wednesday that she…

Read More Here

Denmark’s king visits Greenland, showing unity in the face of Trump threats

Denmark’s King Frederik X arrived in Greenland on Wednesday for a three-day visit widely viewed as a symbolic show of support for the autonomous Danish territory, according to Agence France-Presse.…

Read More Here

Germany plans to give spies vast new powers in rollback of postwar restraints

Germany is preparing to significantly strengthen its foreign intelligence service amid growing concern that the United States could scale back intelligence sharing with Europe, according to a report by Politico.…

Read More Here

‘Difficult’ Ukraine peace talks end after Zelenskiy says Russia stalling

The second day of peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials in Geneva ended abruptly on Wednesday morning after just two hours of discussions, according to Time. The shortened session…

Read More Here

High-flying Meloni bets big on a referendum

Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is taking a calculated political risk by putting judicial reform to a referendum on 22–23 March, a move that could either strengthen her dominance…

Read More Here

Vatican says no to Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’

The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will not join Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace”, dealing a blow to the US president’s efforts to assemble a new global…

Read More Here

EU, UK close on agreement on Gibraltar

The European Commission has adopted proposals for the signing, provisional application and conclusion of a new EU-UK agreement on Gibraltar, completing the legal framework governing relations over the territory. Gibraltar…

Read More Here

NATO will become more European-led, NATO Chief Rutte says

The NATO alliance will become more European-led, with a continuing strong presence of the United States, as European allies significantly increase military spending, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on…

Read More Here

The Netherlands is in the grip of a winter flu epidemic

The Netherlands is officially in the grip of a flu epidemic, as the number of people who visited their family doctor with flu-like symptoms rises for two weeks in a…

Read More Here