Europe

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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Kremlin expresses openness to restoring Finland-Russia relations

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that President Vladimir Putin was open to the idea of restoring relations between Finland and Russia, which it accused Helsinki of reducing to "nearly zero"…

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Italy tightens citizenship laws

Italy's government tightened its citizenship laws, preventing people from delving deep back into their family history to try to claim a much sought-after Italian passport. Under existing rules, anyone who…

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Vladimir Putin signs decree calling up 160,000 Russians for military service

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the conscription of 160,000 into military service. The decree, which was reported by news agency Interfax and also published on the government website for…

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France’s Le Pen convicted of graft, barred from running for president in 2027

A French court on Monday barred French far-right leader Marine Le Pen from running in the 2027 presidential election after she was convicted of embezzlement, in a seismic ruling that…

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Moldova broadens probe into pro-Russian group after detention of ethnic minority leader

Moldova broadened an investigation into the financing of a banned pro-Russian political grouping in the country, two days after the detention of the leader of a pro-Moscow ethnic minority. The…

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Why does Trump want Greenland

U.S. Vice President JD Vance will visit Greenland on Friday at a time when President Donald Trump is renewing his insistence that Washington should take control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory. In a…

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Putin says Greenland ‘nothing to do with Russia’ in nod to US

In Murmansk, the largest city north of the Arctic circle, President Vladimir Putin vowed to "strengthen Russia's global leadership in the Arctic", while warning that "geopolitical competition in the region"…

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King Charles experiences temporary side effects of cancer treatment

King Charles III spent a short period of time in hospital on Thursday after experiencing temporary side effects during cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace said. The King returned to Clarence House,…

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Putin suggests temporary administration for Ukraine to end war

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Ukraine be placed under a form of temporary administration to allow for new elections and the signature of key accords to reach a settlement in…

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France and Britain plan European troop deployment to Ukraine post-peace

France and Britain want to move ahead with an initiative to send European troops to Ukraine if a peace deal materializes. Currently troop numbers and participating countries are unclear but…

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Greece ready to participate in an international force in Ukraine under three conditions

Greece will participate in an international force in Ukraine only under three conditions: a ceasefire agreement, no deployment on Russian soil, and a clear exit strategy if hostilities resume. Prime…

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Moscow warns UK and France risking ‘direct confrontation’ between Russia and NATO

France and the UK are "hatching plans for military intervention in Ukraine" under the guise of a peacekeeping mission, Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman has warned. Maria Zakharova added such an…

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Mystery over 4 US soldiers missing in Lithuania

NATO chief Mark Rutte had said four US troops were killed during a training exercise. However, NATO later clarified that the soldiers are still missing and their fate remains unknown.…

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Latest study on Europe’s ecstasy market reveals new trends in production and trafficking

Criminal groups in Europe are adapting and expanding MDMA production, refining trafficking methods and extending their reach to new countries and regions. These are among the issues explored in a…

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Denmark condemns what it calls Trump’s escalated rhetoric on Greenland

Danish government ministers condemned what they called President Donald Trump's escalated rhetoric on Thursday and praised Greenland's inhabitants for their resilience in the face of U.S. pressure for control over…

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Three-quarters of Poles oppose adopting euro

Nearly three-quarters of Poles are against replacing the national currency, the zloty, with the euro, according to a new report. The report, compiled by the Warsaw Enterprise Institute (WEI) think…

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Macron says European troops in Ukraine would deter Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron has sketched out his vision for a potential deployment of European troops in Ukraine, emphasizing that their role would be to secure key cities and bases…

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Austria and Poland Take Tough Stance on Migration Amid Rising Pressure

Poland and Austria have introduced strict new measures on migration, signaling a hardening stance across parts of the European Union as governments face increasing domestic pressure over asylum policies. Polish…

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NATO warns Russia of ‘devastating’ response if Poland is attacked

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Wednesday that any attack on Poland or another alliance member would meet a forceful response, reaffirming the bloc's commitment to defending its eastern…

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What we know about Thursday’s ‘Coalition of the Willing’ summit for Ukraine in Paris

The meeting takes place as the United States announced that it had brokered a truce between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea. World leaders will gather in Paris on…

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King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Vatican visit postponed due to Pope’s health

King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla's state visit to the Vatican has been postponed because of medical advice that suggested Pope Francis would benefit from an extended period of…

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Russian Navy submarine launches missiles in Sea of Japan drills

A submarine of Russia's Pacific Fleet conducted drills in the Sea of Japan, launching cruise missiles at sea and coastal targets, the Russian state TASS news agency reported on Wednesday.…

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Russia and Ukraine agree naval ceasefire in Black Sea

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea in separate deals with the US, after three days of peace talks in Saudi Arabia. Washington said…

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UPDATED: Doctor reveals Pope Francis came close to dying

Pope Francis came so close to death at one point during his 38-day fight in hospital against pneumonia that his doctors considered ending treatment so he could die in peace,…

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Mysterious Luminous Spiral Stuns Observers Across Europe

People across the UK and most of Europe have taken to social media after spotting a mysterious large, glowing spiral in the night sky on Monday. Stargazers across the UK,…

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The Netherlands wants to double army personnel

All 18- to 27-year-olds in the Netherlands are to be asked to take part in a survey to assess their interest in working for the defence ministry, junior armed forces…

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NATO Mediterranean drill begins

A NATO exercise in the Mediterranean began Monday ahead of Türkiye taking command of the alliance's amphibious task force starting in July. NATO launched Exercise Dynamic Mariner / Flotex 25…

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Swedish Boycott Supermarkets in Protest Against Surging Food Prices

Thousands of people across Sweden decided to vote with their feet, boycotting the country’s biggest supermarkets for seven days from last Monday, after the biggest rise in food prices for…

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First case of bird flu in sheep found on UK farm

The first case of bird flu in sheep has been found in the UK, the nation's chief veterinary officer has confirmed. The exact location of the farm has not been…

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Austria says it has uncovered a Russian-steered campaign to spread disinformation about Ukraine

Austrian authorities said Monday that they uncovered a Russian-steered campaign aimed at spreading disinformation about Ukraine following the detention in December of a Bulgarian woman accused of spying for Russia.…

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Anger in Greenland over visits this week by Usha Vance and Mike Waltz

Usha Vance, the wife of US vice-president JD Vance, will travel to Greenland this week as President Donald Trump clings to the idea of a US annexation of the strategic,…

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Italy’s talks with Musk’s Starlink have stalled

Negotiations on a potential contract between Elon Musk's satellite internet operator Starlink and the Italian government have stalled, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions, Italy's defence minister said over the weekend. Prime…

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Zelenskyy urges pressure on Russia as US-Ukraine talks begin

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday called on Ukraine's allies to apply new pressure on Moscow to stop the war. The call came after nearly 150 Russian drones targeted Kyiv and…

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Pope Francis discharged from hospital after 38 days in care

Pope Francis made his first public appearance on Sunday following 38 days in care, waving from the window of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The 88-year-old pontiff was discharged after a severe…

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Istanbul rocked by protests as Turkey jails mayor before trial

A Turkish court on Sunday jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival, pending trial on corruption charges, in a move likely to inflame the country's biggest…

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US happiness ranking hits all-time low

The United States has fallen to its lowest happiness ranking ever, according to the annual World Happiness Report released Thursday to mark the International Day of Happiness. The United States'…

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Norway’s oil fund to invest in Covent Garden

In a strategic move reflecting strong confidence in the future of central London, Norges Bank Investment Management, which oversees Norway's sovereign wealth fund, has secured a £570 million deal to…

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How realistic is France’s offer to extend its nuclear umbrella?

President Emmanuel Macron has said he will launch a strategic dialogue on extending the protection offered by France's nuclear arsenal to its European partners. Europe's primary nuclear deterrence comes from…

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More than 1,000 flights disrupted at Heathrow airport after nearby fire

A fire at an electrical substation in London has triggered a power outage, forcing Heathrow Airport to shut down for an entire day. According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, at…

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Putin would breach Ukraine deal if it is not defended, says PM

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin would violate a peace deal with Ukraine if it is not properly enforced. His remarks came after…

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Madrid plans to limit computer and tablet use in primary schools to two hours a week

The regional government of Madrid has unveiled plans to limit the use of computers and tablets in primary schools to a maximum of two hours a week in an effort…

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Britain beefs up travel warnings over US border enforcement

Britain has in recent weeks revised its advice for citizens travelling to the United States to include a warning that anyone found breaking its entry rules could face arrest or…

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Istanbul mayor, a key Erdogan rival, arrested as government crackdown escalates

Turkish police on Wednesday arrested Istanbul’s mayor — a popular opposition leader and key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — and several other prominent figures as part of investigations…

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Zelenskiy says energy strike ceasefire with Russia could be established quickly

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that a halt on energy strikes in the war with Russia could be established quickly, and that Ukraine would respond in kind if Moscow violated…

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Why Russia’s armed forces have proven resilient in the war in Ukraine

Ukraine has agreed to a United States proposal of a 30-day ceasefire in its war with Russia following talks with United States officials in Saudi Arabia. The proposal comes with…

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Cyprus to face severe water crisis

Cyprus is bracing for a tough summer as dam levels continue to drop, marking the third consecutive year of drought. The situation has become even more critical after a fire…

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UN agency warns of ‘unprecedented’ bird flu threat as H5N1 virus jumps to mammals

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is raising the alarm over a rapidly escalating bird flu crisis as the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus spreads from poultry to mammals,…

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Pope ‘absolutely not’ quitting

Pope Francis is "absolutely not" quitting due to his health, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said.Speculation that the 88-year-old Argentine pontiff might be considering stepping down like his…

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