Europe

Ukraine launches explosive underwater attack on Crimean bridge

Ukrainian spies launched an underwater assault against the pillars of the Kerch Bridge connecting Russia’s mainland with Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow has illegally occupied since 2014. “The underwater supports…

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Britain unveils radical defence overhaul to meet new threats

A “new era” for UK defence is needed, Defence Secretary John Healey has said, as he outlined plans to boost our military capabilities and pledged to make the British Army…

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UPDATED: Dutch far-right leader Wilders quits coalition, toppling government

Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders' PVV party left the governing coalition on Tuesday, in a move that is set to topple the right wing government and will likely lead to…

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Police launch new search for Madeleine McCann in the Algarve

German police are to carry out new searches in Lagos, in the Algarve, as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007, according to information provided…

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Russia and Ukraine fail again to agree ceasefire but commit to prisoner swap

A second round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have ended without a major breakthrough, and only a deal to swap more prisoners of war. Ukrainian negotiators said…

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UPDATED: Mount Etna Erupts; No Immediate Threat to Population

Italian authorities have issued a statement after Mount Etna erupted. Etna is located in Sicily and is the highest active volcano in Europe. Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology…

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Russia may attack Nato in next four years, German defence chief warns

Members of the Western alliance Nato need to prepare for a possible attack from Russia within the next four years, according to Germany's chief of defence. General Carsten Breuer told…

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Ukraine claims drone attack hit 40 Russian bombers as talks set to resume in Turkey

Ukraine launched a "large-scale" drone attack deep into Russian territory that security officials claim destroyed 40 military bombers as it gears up for another round of talks in Istanbul to…

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UPDATED: Polish eurosceptic Nawrocki wins presidential vote

Polish nationalist opposition candidate Karol Nawrocki won the second round of the country's presidential election with 50.89% of the votes, the electoral commission said early on Monday on its website.…

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Poland’s pro-European course is at stake in presidential election run-off

Poland holds a presidential election run-off on Sunday, with the ruling party's candidate, liberal Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, facing nationalist Karol Nawrocki, in a vote crucial for the country's pro-European…

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Germany steps up to replace ‘unreliable’ US as guarantor of European security

By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham Two statements from world leaders this week bear closer examination. On May 27, the US president Donald Trump took to…

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Trump spurs questions about safety of Germany’s gold in New York

The safety of Germany's gold reserves held overseas and in New York in particular, until recently mainly a talking point for the country's far-right party and gold bugs, is becoming…

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Europe and Canada Gripped by Unseasonal Heatwave

Southern and central Europe are facing record-breaking heat this week, with temperatures in parts of Portugal and Spain nearing 40 degrees Celsius, raising concerns about crop damage and water shortages…

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Macron says Europe must ‘harden’ stance on Israel unless Gaza crisis eases

French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Europe’s “collective position” on Israel must “harden” unless the humanitarian crisis in Gaza improves. “It’s very clear today that we can not let…

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Italy Passes Landmark Animal Welfare Law: Harsh Penalties for Abuse, Puppy Trafficking, and Animal Violence

In a sweeping reform of animal protection legislation, Italy has enacted a new law introducing stringent penalties for violence against animals, including significant prison terms and fines for crimes such…

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France to ban smoking in all outdoor places frequented by children

France will ban smoking in all outdoor places that can be frequented by children, health and family minister Catherine Vautrin has said. The ban will come into force on 1…

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Italian activists face trial for migrant sea rescue in legal first

A Sicilian judge has ordered six members of an Italian charity ship to stand trial on accusations of aiding illegal immigration, the first time crew members of a rescue vessel…

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Ukrainian drones damage hospital, homes in Russia’s Kursk

Ukrainian drones launched a night-time attack on Russia's western Kursk region, damaging a hospital and apartment buildings and injuring at least one person, the regional governor said early on Friday.…

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Greece drafts tougher law for rejected asylum seekers

Greece has prepared legislation that will introduce tougher penalties for rejected asylum seekers and speed up returns to their home countries, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said. The Mediterranean nation was…

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Germany and Ukraine reach deal for long-range weapons production

Ukraine and Germany have agreed to future military cooperation in which Berlin will help finance long-range weapons production on Ukrainian soil. The deal came as Zelenskyy warned that Russia had…

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German government restricts migrant family reunification, path to citizenship

Germany's government approved measures to restrict family reunification for migrants and delay citizenship access on Wednesday, forging ahead with a major shift in migration policy under conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz.…

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Putin, for Ukraine peace, wants a pledge to halt NATO enlargement

President Vladimir Putin's conditions for ending the war in Ukraine include a demand that Western leaders pledge in writing to stop enlarging NATO eastwards and lift a chunk of sanctions…

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Prague accuses China of hacking Czech foreign ministry

The Czech government on Wednesday condemned China for carrying out a cyberattack against its foreign ministry exposing thousands of unclassified emails. Czechia said that the Chinese state-sponsored group Advanced Persistent…

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U.S. Elevates Travel Advisory for Italy Amid Terrorism Concerns

The U.S. Department of State has elevated its travel advisory for Italy to Level 2, urging American travelers to "exercise increased caution" due to potential terrorist threats. This adjustment, issued…

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Pope Leo appeals for Gaza ceasefire, laments deaths of children

Pope Leo appealed on Wednesday for a ceasefire in Gaza and called on Israel and Hamas militants to completely respect international humanitarian law. "In the Gaza Strip, the intense cries…

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Trump says Putin is ‘playing with fire’ as Russia makes gains in Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Vladimir Putin was "playing with fire" by refusing to engage in ceasefire talks with Kyiv as Russian forces made gains in Ukraine's northeast.…

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Germany shifts tone on Israel over ‘incomprehensible’ Gaza carnage

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered his strongest criticism yet of Israel’s massive airstrikes on Gaza, calling them "no longer justified" or "comprehensible" in the fight against Hamas. Speaking at a…

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’Ndrangheta eyes major public contracts, anti-Mafia body warns

The ’Ndrangheta mafia has shown growing interest in controlling major public works and managing local government funds, particularly in sectors such as hospital administrations and waste collection services, according to…

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Russia does not see Vatican as a serious arena for peace talks, sources say

Russia does not view the Vatican as a credible venue for peace negotiations with Ukraine, according to three senior Russian sources who spoke to Reuters. They cited the Holy See’s…

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Ukraine can now use Western long-range weapons against targets in Russia, says German Chancellor

Western allies are no longer placing limits on how Ukraine can use long-range weapons provided to them, including strikes on Russian military targets, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday. Speaking…

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British man arrested after car drives into Liverpool fans at trophy parade, injuring dozens

A 53-year-old man has been arrested after a car struck multiple people in Liverpool city centre on Monday evening, shortly after celebrations for Liverpool Football Club’s Premier League title win.…

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Tens of thousands gather in Warsaw for rival presidential marches ahead of decisive runoff

Tens of thousands of people flooded the streets of Warsaw on Sunday for dueling political rallies led by the two contenders in Poland’s high-stakes presidential runoff on 1 June —…

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Italy Sees Sharp Rise in Graduate Emigration Amid Demographic Decline

Italy has experienced a significant exodus of young, educated professionals over the past decade, with approximately 97,000 graduates leaving the country, according to the national statistics agency ISTAT. In 2024…

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The prospect of a US pope was once viewed with suspicion – but Leo XIV could prove an important counter to Trump

By Massimo D'Angelo, Research Associate in the Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs, Loughborough University Pope Leo XIV has been elected as the 267th pontiff, leader of the Catholic church…

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France grapples with surging tropical diseases

French regions are waging war against tiger mosquitoes as the country records rising cases of tropical diseases such as dengue, zika and chikungunya. Since Jan. 1, France has already seen…

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Poland intercepts Russian military aircraft

Poland said it had intercepted a Russian SU-24 aircraft performing dangerous manoeuvres over the Polish airspace on Thursday night. Defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the order to intercept the aircraft…

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Moscow sceptical of Vatican peace talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow would not allow Russian-speakers in Ukraine to remain under the rule of what he called a "junta" led by President…

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UK to roll out chemical castration for sex offenders

The British government will roll out the use of medication to suppress the sex drive of sex offenders, as part of a package of measures to reduce the risk of…

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Citizens in the Netherlands Advised to Keep Cash Handy Amid Cyber Threat Concerns

The Netherlands' Central Bank (DNB) has advised citizens to keep enough cash on hand to last them three days in case of disaster or emergency, citing rising geopolitical tensions and…

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UPDATED: Earthquake of magnitude 6 strikes Crete

A very strong earthquake, measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale, occurred at 06:19 (Greek time) 56 kilometers north-northeast of Heraklion, Crete, according to data from the Geodynamic Institute of the…

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German Chancellor Merz sees no sign war in Ukraine will end soon

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday dampened expectations of a quick end to the war in Ukraine. "There are currently no signs that this war will end quickly," Merz said…

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Pope Leo appeals for Israel to allow humanitarian aid in Gaza

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday appealed for Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, calling the situation in the Palestinian enclave "yet more worrying and saddening". "I renew my…

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Italy PM says pope confirmed willingness to host Ukraine peace talks

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement that Pope Leo had confirmed during a phone call with her his willingness to host in the Vatican the next round…

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People smuggler jailed in UK for arranging boats from Libya to Italy

An Egyptian national who helped smuggle thousands of migrants into Europe from north Africa was on Tuesday jailed for 25 years in a London court. Ahmed Ramadan Mohamad Ebid, 42,…

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Countries adopt WHO pandemic agreement

Countries have adopted a new agreement Tuesday to protect the world from future pandemics at the World Health Organization’s annual assembly in Geneva. WHO member countries adopted the agreement by…

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Germans narrowly back weekly working hours limit over daily cap

A narrow majority of German residents support replacing the current daily working hours limit with a weekly cap, according to a new YouGov survey. The poll, conducted for dpa, found…

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Italy Plans to Begin Work on Messina Bridge by End of Summer, Pending Government Approval

Construction of the long-debated bridge over the Strait of Messina, designed to connect Sicily to mainland Italy, could begin by the end of summer, Transport Minister and Deputy Premier Matteo…

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Trump says Russia, Ukraine agree to immediate ceasefire talks

Donald Trump said after his call on Monday with President Vladimir Putin that Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations for a ceasefire, but the Kremlin said the process would…

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Spain blocks more than 65,000 Airbnb holiday rental listings

Spain has ordered Airbnb to withdraw more than 65,000 listings for holiday rentals that violated existing rules from its platform as part of a general crackdown on a business blamed…

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Centrist Warsaw mayor narrowly wins Polish presidential vote

Liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski narrowly won the first round of Poland’s presidential election on Sunday against his right-wing rival Karol Nawrocki, setting the two up for a nail-biting campaign…

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Pope Leo urges unity for divided Church, vows not to be ‘autocrat’

Pope Leo XIV formally began his reign on Sunday by reaching out to conservatives who felt orphaned under his predecessor, calling for unity, vowing to preserve the Catholic Church's heritage…

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Portugal PM’s party wins snap election but falls short of majority

Portugal's governing right-of-centre Democratic Alliance has won snap parliamentary elections - the third in as many years - again falling short of a majority. Its leader Luís Montenegro promised supporters…

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Centrist Dan wins Romanian presidency

Romania's centrist Bucharest mayor, Nicusor Dan, won the country's presidential election on Sunday in a shock upset over a hard-right, nationalist rival who had pledged to put Romania on a…

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What to Know About the Papal Inauguration: Rituals, Symbols, and Attendees

Tens of thousands gathered at St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sunday for Pope Leo XIV's inauguration mass. The service marks the official start of the new pontiff's papacy,…

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Cyprus Launches Campaign to Lure Skilled Nationals Back Home

Cyprus is making a concerted push to bring its diaspora home with a new initiative aimed at reversing brain drain and injecting fresh talent into the island nation’s economy. The…

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Portugal’s election: what are the parties running on Sunday

Following are the main parties running in Portugal's general election on Sunday, its third in just over three years. Opinion polls are pointing to another fragile minority government and a…

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Poland election: what you need to know

Poland will hold the first round of a presidential election on May 18, setting the scene for a vote that will be crucial for the pro-European government's hopes of implementing…

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