Europe

Venice’s €5 tourist fee returns – and will double for last-minute day-trippers

Venice’s entrance fee will resume from Friday, with the main novelty this year being that last-minute day-trippers will pay double. Last year, as part of an experiment aimed at dissuading…

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Politically inexperienced medical professor appointed as Serbia’s prime minister

Serbia's parliament on Wednesday approved politically inexperienced medical professor Djuro Macut as Prime Minister of the Balkan country, following months of anti-corruption protests that led his predecessor to resign. The…

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Scientists find strongest evidence yet of life on an alien planet

Scientists have found new but tentative evidence that a faraway world orbiting another star may be home to life. A Cambridge team studying the atmosphere of a planet called K2-18b…

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Finland to keep Russia border closed until further notice

Finland announced it had decided to keep its eastern border against neighbouring Russia closed until further notice. Finland shut its land borders with Russia in late 2023 amid a growing…

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German doctor charged with murder of 15 patients

A German palliative care doctor has been charged with murdering 15 of his patients using a cocktail of lethal drugs. Prosecutors in Berlin have accused the 40-year-old of setting fire…

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President Mattarella in Stable Condition Following Planned Pacemaker Surgery

Italian President Sergio Mattarella is in stable condition and recovering well following a scheduled surgical procedure to implant a pacemaker, sources confirmed on Wednesday. The operation was performed without complications…

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UK Supreme Court rules legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex

The United Kingdom's top court on Wednesday upheld an appeal by a campaign group on whether transgender women are legally women under equality legislation, ruling that the law referred to…

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Latvia to Upgrade 570 Public Bomb Shelters with EU Funding

Latvia will adapt approximately 570 public bomb shelters under a new initiative supported by over €22.2 million in European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) financing, Minister of the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis…

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NATO’s Rutte, in Odesa, declares ‘unwavering’ support for Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday and declared "unwavering" support for Ukraine in the aftermath of a deadly…

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Spring Drought Poses Growing Threat to European Agriculture and Waterways

From the front lines in Ukraine to ordinarily damp Belgium, a shortage of rainfall has left much of Europe parched halfway through spring. The early drought spells trouble for supply…

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WHO says member states reach agreement to tackle future pandemics

Members of the World Health Organization reached an agreement to prepare the world for future pandemics after more than three years of negotiations, the organisation said early on Wednesday. The…

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French prisons hit by wave of overnight attacks

Vehicles were set alight outside several French prisons, and one jail was hit by gunfire from an automatic weapon, in a wave of overnight attacks. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said…

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Russia’s spy chief says Russia, Belarus ready to act over European ‘escalation’ around Ukraine

Russia's foreign spy service chief, Sergei Naryshkin, said that the security services of Russia and Belarus were ready to act proactively, given what he said was increased escalation from Europe…

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Poll reveals voters want Keir Starmer to focus on rebuilding trade ties with EU

A clear majority of UK voters want the government to concentrate on rebuilding trade ties with the EU over forging a new economic deal with the US, according to research…

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Sagrada Familia architect Gaudi on path to sainthood

He’s long been nicknamed “God’s architect” by those who point to his piety and the religious imagery woven through his soaring spires, colourful ceramics and undulating lines. Now it seems…

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Europe had most widespread floods for more than a decade in 2024

Europe faced its most widespread flooding last year since 2013, with 30% of the continent's river network hit by significant floods, scientists said on Tuesday, as fossil fuel-driven climate change…

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Greece to repay first bailout loans by 2031, 10 years early

Greece will pay off loans granted under the first of three debt-crisis bailouts by 2031, two government officials told Reuters, as the country seeks to lose its label as the…

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Russian missile strike kills dozens in Ukrainian city of Sumy

At least 34 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in a Russian ballistic missile strike in the Ukrainian city of Sumy as people were going to church…

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44 per cent of Cypriot workers say ready to emigrate for better life

A staggering 44 per cent of workers would consider moving to another country for better pay, Sek trade union said this week. Presenting the findings of a survey it commissioned,…

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The Pope’s recent appearance has intensified concerns regarding his health

Pope Francis, who is taking two months' rest as he recovers from double pneumonia, made an unannounced visit to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Thursday dressed in black…

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UPDATED: EU’s Kallas: EU countries committed over 23 bln euros for Ukraine so far in 2025

European countries have so far committed over 23 billion euros ($26.13 billion) for Ukraine military aid this year, a higher amount than last year, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas…

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New German coalition to abolish 3-year citizenship path

The next German government consisting of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) alliance and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) will abolish a 3-year expedited path to citizenship…

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British troops could be deployed in Ukraine for five years

Britain is considering deploying troops to Ukraine for five years under plans being discussed by allies, The Telegraph reported on Friday, citing unnamed sources. Under the plan, one of a…

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France to tighten mobile phone ban in middle schools

France is to tighten its ban on the use of mobile phones in middle schools, making pupils at the ages of 11 to 15 shut away their devices in a…

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Switzerland leans closer to Europe after Trump tariff blow

U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to hit Switzerland with steeper tariffs than most of Europe was a major shock to the export-oriented country, pushing it towards the European Union as…

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Pope Francis may miss Holy Week celebrations due to health

The Catholic Church starts its busiest week of the year on Sunday (April 12) with the countdown to Easter, but Pope Francis remains out of public view after surviving double pneumonia…

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Germany is back, says Merz, after sealing government deal

Germany's conservatives under Friedrich Merz have reached a deal with the Social Democrats to govern Europe's biggest economy, five months after the previous government collapsed. Merz, 69, said their agreement…

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Ukraine says more than 150 Chinese mercenaries are fighting for Russia in Ukraine

Ukraine expanded on its claim that significant numbers of Chinese nationals are fighting for Russia’s invading army, saying it had gathered detailed intelligence on more than 150 mercenaries Moscow allegedly…

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Far-right Alternative for Germany leads opinion poll for first time

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on Wednesday finished top of a German opinion poll for the first time, hours before the next governing coalition in Berlin was set to…

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Cyprus flights cancelled due to strike in Greece

An air traffic control strike in Greece has affected 31 flights to and from Cyprus’ airports to and from those in Athens and Salonica, Hermes Airports said on Wednesday. Due…

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Russia’s Medvedev predicts more countries will acquire nuclear weapons

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday that more countries would get nuclear weapons in the coming years, blaming the West for pushing the world towards the brink of…

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Italian police disrupt migrant smuggling ring, 15 Egyptians arrested

Italian police said they had dismantled a migrant smuggling network, leading to the arrests in several countries of 15 Egyptians involved in using sailboats for dangerous illegal sea crossings from…

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Chinese nationals captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Ukrainian forces had captured two Chinese men fighting for Russia in eastern Ukraine, potentially threatening a fragile peace effort in the three-year-old war. Beijing is…

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Pope Francis Gradually Resumes Duties Amid Ongoing Recovery from Pneumonia

Pope Francis has begun a measured return to his official responsibilities following a period of hospitalization and recovery from bilateral pneumonia, the Vatican Press Office announced. The 88-year-old pontiff, who…

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GPS disruptions in Latvia rise, impacting navigation but not safety

For three years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the number of navigation system disruptions in Europe, including Latvian airspace, has been on the rise. However, those responsible stress that…

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UPDATED: Germany temporarily halts resettlement of UN refugees

Germany has temporarily suspended any further admission of refugees via a UN resettlement programme, the dpa news agency reported on Tuesday, citing the interior ministry and the UN refugee agency…

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Zelensky confirms Ukraine troops in Russia’s Belgorod region

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly acknowledged for the first time that his troops are active in Russia's Belgorod region. "We continue to carry out active operations in the border…

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King Charles to begin Italy tour with Queen Camilla

The King and Queen will fly into Rome later for their state visit to Italy, despite the recent concerns about his health. The trip comes just a week and a…

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Pope Francis makes surprise first appearance at Vatican after hospital stay

Pope Francis made his first public appearance since being discharged from hospital two weeks ago after treatment for double pneumonia, entering St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in a wheelchair…

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Italy Sees Massive Youth Emigration, With Significant Loss of Graduates

Over one million people emigrated from Italy between 2013 and 2022, with young professionals making up a significant portion of the exodus, according to Istat President Francesco Maria Chelli. Speaking…

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US will know within weeks if Russia is serious about peace, Rubio says

The United States will know in a matter of weeks if Russia is serious about peace with Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday, after European allies…

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Third-country citizens’ travel requirements tightened in Latvia

Third-country citizens who have not been issued a visa or residence permit in Latvia will be required to provide specific information about themselves, their relatives and the purpose of their…

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Russia open to security guarantees for Ukraine ‘in some form’

Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev said Thursday that some type of security guarantees for Ukraine “may be acceptable” following high-level talks at the White House in an attempt to revive stalled…

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Denmark rejects Trump’s control request over Greenland

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has firmly dismissed the repeated calls by President Donald Trump and his administration for the United States to take control of Greenland. "This is not…

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Trump offers support to French far-right leader Le Pen after her conviction

U.S. President Donald Trump offered support to French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Thursday after a Paris court earlier this week convicted her and two dozen figures from her…

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Under President Trump’s leadership, NATO will be stronger: New U.S. permanent representative to NATO

NATO chief Mark Rutte and the new U.S. ambassador sought to reassure European allies on Thursday that Washington will remain committed to the Western military alliance despite harsh words from…

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Hungary withdrawing from ICC as Israeli leader visits

Hungary's government has decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, it said on Thursday, shortly after Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, sought under an ICC arrest warrant, arrived in the…

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Mystery sound at Serbia protest sparks sonic weapon allegations

Tamara Bojanovski was in a crowd of anti-government protesters in Belgrade on March 15 when she heard a sound "like some powerful machine hurtling up from behind". Thousands of others…

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Macron weighs in on Le Pen verdict for first time: ‘The law is the same for everyone’

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday commented for the first time since far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzlement and barred from running in France’s next presidential…

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Russian forces unleash hour-long drone barrage on Ukraine’s Kharkiv

Russian forces unleashed an hour-long barrage of drones on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, late on Wednesday, triggering a number of fires but causing no casualties in the second such attack…

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Global crackdown on Kidflix, a major child sexual exploitation platform with almost two million users

Kidflix, one of the largest paedophile platforms in the world, has been shut down in an international operation against child sexual exploitation. The investigation was supported by Europol and led…

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Greece announces ‘drastic’ defense overhaul

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Wednesday that the government will spend some €25 billion euros ($27 billion) on its military through 2036. Mitsotakis called it the "most drastic"…

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Italy’s Meloni says U.S. tariffs would hit Italian producers hard

The introduction of new U.S. tariffs would hit Italian producers hard, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in Rome on Wednesday, adding that every effort should be made to avoid a…

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Bosnian Serb leader flees to Moscow as authorities step up pursuit

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik surfaced in Moscow, confirming his whereabouts in a video message as authorities in Sarajevo demand an international arrest warrant following his conviction for defying the…

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Belgium bans display of tobacco products in shops

A new law implemented in Belgium on Tuesday prevents cigarettes or any tobacco products from being put on display in shops. Supermarkets and other shops bigger than 400 square meters…

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2,300 troops from 12 NATO countries take part in annual military drill in the Black Sea

Military personnel from 12 NATO countries begun an annual naval exercise led by Romania in the Black Sea and Danube river delta this week. Over 2,300 troops are taking part…

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Britain imposes new travel permit requirement on Europeans

European visitors to Britain will have to purchase an electronic permit in advance for trips from Wednesday, as the UK government follows other countries in seeking to strengthen immigration security…

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