Europe

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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Lithuania faces growing risk of drought and extreme weather

Once known for its excess rainfall, Lithuania is increasingly becoming a land of water shortages, raising concerns of potentially dangerous or even extreme droughts this summer, according to meteorologist Gytis…

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Kremlin sets conditions for a Putin-Trump summit

The Kremlin said on Friday that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump was essential but required considerable advance preparation and had to yield results…

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We want ‘more lethal’ NATO, says Lithuanian FM

Lithuania wants a stronger, better prepared and “more lethal” NATO, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys says, adding that the goal is to make decisions to achieve this during the upcoming NATO…

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Pope Leo tells diplomats the dignity of migrants must be respected

Pope Leo XIV, in his first address to world diplomats at the Vatican, said on Friday that the dignity of migrants had to be respected, while also calling on nations…

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Romania braces for heated presidential vote

Romania is heading towards its most polarised presidential election in the country’s democratic history, with voters braced for the battle between a right-wing populist and a centrist technocrat on Sunday.…

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Latvia warns public that ‘unkempt tourists’ might actually be Russian spies

Latvia's intelligence agency has issued a public warning about potential Russian saboteurs and spies operating within the country, disguised as tourists or hikers. The Defence Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD)…

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Estonia says Russia sent jet after attempt to stop sanction-breaking ship

Estonia said on Thursday that Moscow had briefly sent a military jet into NATO airspace over the Baltic Sea during an attempt to stop a Russian-bound oil tanker thought to…

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Finland Plans Major Military Buildup, Raising Reservist Age Limit

The government of NATO-member Finland wants to raise the upper age limit of its army reservists to 65, it said, which would add 125,000 troops to the its wartime strength…

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UPDATED: Putin’s no-show in Turkey throws Ukraine talks into disarray

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a second-tier team of negotiators to hold peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey on Thursday, spurning Kyiv's challenge to go there in person to meet…

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Europe on brink of endemic dengue and chikungunya as mosquitoes move north

The feverish diseases dengue and chikungunya could soon become endemic in Europe as the tiger mosquitoes that transmit these viruses spread farther north due to global warming, according to new…

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Switzerland Proposes Immigration Control Measures Within EU Framework

The Swiss government said it wants the right to restrict free movement of people from the European Union if factors such as net immigration, commuter numbers or welfare dependency exceed…

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Germany warns draft may return if troop numbers fall short

Germany may return to conscription if too few people volunteer for the military, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned Wednesday. Speaking in his first parliamentary address since the new government took…

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No sign of cyberattack on grid operator during Spain’s blackout

Spain has found no indication of a cyberattack on its grid operator REE during the massive power outage that hit the country and Portugal on April 28, Energy Minister Sara…

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Some 66 million people to holiday in Italy this summer

This summer, 65.8 million people are expected to holiday in Italy, generating an estimated 267.4 million overnight stays, according to a study by the Demoskopika Institute, obtained in advance by…

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Pope Leo says he will make ‘every effort’ for world peace

Pope Leo XIV, the first American to head the global Catholic Church, pledged on Wednesday to make "every effort" for peace and offered the Vatican as a mediator in global…

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EU lawmakers probe rule of law in Meloni’s Italy

Rule-of-law watchdogs in the European Parliament are taking a close look at how Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has affected democracy in Italy. Behind closed doors Wednesday, lawmakers will quiz…

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Ukraine’s Zelenskiy says only meeting Putin face-to-face can deliver peace

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday he wanted to negotiate an unconditional 30-day ceasefire face-to-face with Vladimir Putin at this week's talks in Istanbul because only the Russian leader…

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UPDATED: Greece issues tsunami warning after strong earthquake

Greece's emergency services have warned people to move away from the coast after an offshore earthquake struck near the island of Kasos. "A magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred 48km [south-east] of…

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Wrongfully Imprisoned for 38 Years: UK Man Cleared by DNA Breakthrough

A British man who spent 38 years in prison for a murder he always denied committing has been exonerated after new DNA evidence proved he was not the killer —…

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Serbia’s Vucic says he wants to join EU

Serbia remains committed to its plan to join the European Union and wants to speed up its membership bid, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday after his recent trip to…

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Earthquake Strikes Campi Flegrei: Strong Tremors Rattle Naples Region

A 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Campi Flegrei area at 12:07 p.m. today, according to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). The epicenter was located offshore, just west of…

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New Pope Leo tells Jews he wants to strengthen dialogue

Pope Leo XIV has told the world's Jewish communities he wants to strengthen the Roman Catholic Church’s dialogue with them, in a message coming after a souring of relations between…

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UPDATED: UK police arrest man for arson after fire at PM Starmer’s house

British police said on Tuesday they had arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of arson after counter-terrorism officers launched an investigation into three fires, including one at Prime Minister Keir…

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Rama to secure historic 4th term in Albania

Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama secured a comfortable majority in Albania’s election, riding a wave of pro-EU sentiment to become the country’s longest-serving democratic leader. “It is the most humbling…

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Pope Leo, in first known call with foreign leader, speaks to Ukraine’s Zelenskiy

Pope Leo XIV had a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday and spoke about ceasefire proposals, Zelenskiy said, in the first known conversation between the newly-elected pontiff…

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Kurdish PKK disbands and ends 40-year Turkey insurgency

Outlawed Kurdish group the PKK, which has waged a 40-year insurgency against Turkey, has announced it is laying down its arms and disbanding. The move followed a call in February…

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UK’s Starmer tightens migration rules

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a new salvo of measures to toughen up Britain's migration system on Sunday, saying many immigrants would have to wait longer before getting the status…

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Pope Leo XIV appeals for ‘no more war’ in first Sunday message

Pope Leo XIV appealed to the world's major powers for "no more war" in his first Sunday message to crowds in St. Peter's Square since his election as pontiff. The…

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Zelenskyy challenges Putin to meet in person for peace talks

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has challenged Vladimir Putin to meet in person for peace talks in Istanbul on Thursday, in a dramatic gambit after a weekend of diplomatic flurry. His comments came…

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The Albanian general election at a glance

A total of 26 political parties, including eight standalone and three coalitions, are competing for 140 seats in parliament under the proportional representation system. This will be Albania's tenth parliamentary…

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Albania’s Rama seeks fourth term in election dominated by graft, EU membership

Ilir Rranci moved to a hamlet outside the Albanian city of Elbasan for the view of snow-capped peaks and a garden big enough for fruit trees, chickens and turkeys. Today,…

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China’s Xi stands with Putin at Russia’s Victory Day parade

Vladimir Putin has led Russia's Victory Day commemorations with a parade in Red Square and heightened security after days of Ukrainian strikes targeting the capital. China's Xi Jinping joined Putin…

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Portugal police arrest crime ring over fraudulent permits for 10,000 foreigners

Portuguese police have arrested 13 people they believe provided an estimated more than 10,000 foreigners with residence permits and documents allowing them to stay in Portugal and the European Union…

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Pope Leo hopes to bring light to “dark nights of this world”

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Mass since being elected pontiff, as congratulations pour in for the new leader of the Catholic Church. In his address, speaking in Italian, the…

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Lithuania to deploy troops to Belarus border amid increase of migrants

Lithuania will deploy additional military personnel to its border with Belarus in response to a rise in the number of irregular migrants attempting to cross from the neighbouring country. “We’ve…

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Cyprus struggles to fill jobs

Cyprus is facing ongoing labor shortages across critical sectors, with acute gaps in professional drivers and nursing staff threatening service quality for both residents and tourists. According to Kathimerini's Dorita…

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The symbolic elements of Pope Leo XIV’s election, his vestments, and coat of arms

The election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, marked a significant milestone in the Catholic Church’s modern history, making him the first American-born pontiff and underscoring the…

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Ukraine says Russia violating its own 3-day ceasefire, calls it a ‘farce’

Ukraine's foreign minister said on Thursday Russia had repeatedly violated its own 3-day ceasefire hours after it began and called the initiative a "farce", while Moscow said Kyiv had continued…

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In his first appearance, Pope Leo offers three big clues about his papacy

From his first moments on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo XIV gave three important clues about what kind of leader of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church he will…

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World Leaders React To The Election Of The First American Pope

The world is reacting to the election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, with many mhighlighting both the symbolic and political implications of his appointment as the…

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UPDATED: The new pope is American Cardinal Prevost, Pope Leo XIV

A new pope has just been elected.The new pope is Cardinal Robert Prevost of the US, the first American pontiff in history. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.…

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Popes Named Leo: A Legacy of Leadership and Reform

The choice of a papal name is never accidental and in selecting Leo XIV, the new Pope has aligned himself with a weighty historical legacy. The last pontiff to bear…

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Who is the new pope, Leo XIV

Robert Prevost has become the 267th pope, the first time in 2,000 years that an American has been appointed to lead the Catholic church. Chicago-born Prevost has chosen to be…

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How does a pope get his name?

In his autobiography "Hope," published in January 2025, Pope Francis, who died on April 21, describes the moment during the 2013 papal election when he found his name. During the…

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‘Habemus papam’ and the white smoke that announces a new pope

When a new pope is elected, there are two signs that mark that historic moment: the white smoke (“fumata bianca” in Italian) erupting from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel…

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Nigerians, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans face UK student visa crackdown

Nigerians, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans applying to work or study in the UK face Home Office restrictions over suspicions that they are most likely to overstay and claim asylum, Whitehall…

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Europe marks 80 years since end of World War II

Ceremonies to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II are being held across the continent. The newly elected German Chancellor Freidrich Merz will join a wreath-laying…

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UPDATED: Black smoke emerges once again from chimney as cardinals fail to agree on new pope

Black smoke appeared from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on Thursday, signalling that cardinals meeting in a secret conclave did not elect a new pope during…

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Greece to Restrict Sea Sports During Peak Hours on Athens Riviera

Greece’s Port Authority will restrict the use of recreational sea vehicles during peak afternoon hours along the Athens Riviera this summer in an effort to improve safety and reduce disturbances…

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Ukraine’s cities quiet as Kremlin-sponsored ceasefire kicks in

A three-day ceasefire declared by Russia came into effect on Thursday morning with skies over Ukraine's major cities quiet, in a change from successive nights of heavy attacks by Russian…

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Conclave: the Vatican’s secret process for choosing a new pope

The next pope will be chosen by the College of Cardinals, the Catholic church’s most senior figures appointed by the pontiff, who will make their way to Rome in the…

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Russia, Ukraine launch air attacks on each other’s capitals

Russia and Ukraine launched more overnight air attacks on each other's capitals on Wednesday, with two people killed as a result of the strikes on Kyiv and swarms of drones…

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World waits for white smoke

Roman Catholic cardinals will begin the task on Wednesday of electing a new pope, locking themselves away from the world until they choose the man they hope can unite a…

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UPDATED: Germany’s Merz wins vote for chancellor after surviving historic defeat

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz has won a parliament vote to become Germany's next chancellor at the second attempt. Merz had initially fallen six votes short of the absolute majority…

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Major War Expected Within 10 Years, Say US and European Citizens

Eighty years after the second world war, polling shows many Americans and western Europeans believe an even more devastating third global conflict could break out within a decade, with tensions…

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Greece Bans Caravan Parking in Public Spaces

Greece has approved a law that will dramatically change the handling of motorhomes and caravans in the country, as it broadly bans parking of any type of caravan or trailer…

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