Europe

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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.…

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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.…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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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.…

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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.…

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‘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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Storm Fronts Lash Italy, Spain and Portugal With Snow, Floods and High Winds

Severe weather conditions are continuing to affect several parts of southern Europe, triggering transport disruption, infrastructure damage and safety warnings as authorities brace for further deterioration in conditions. In Italy,…

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UK Finance Minister Urges EU to Admit Britain to ‘Made in Europe’ Framework

Britain should be part of any “Made in Europe” club giving preference to European goods, the U.K.’s finance chief has said. Rachel Reeves said she was in favor of the…

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Sweden to send fighter jets to patrol around Greenland as part of NATO’s Arctic Sentry

Sweden will patrol around Iceland and Greenland with Gripen fighter jets as part of NATO's Arctic Sentry mission, it said on Thursday. NATO said on Wednesday it had launched the…

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Train and airport strikes in Italy to disrupt thousands of travellers this month

Travellers to Italy should prepare for disruption to flights and rail services this month. Nationwide strikes will hit air transport on 16 February, while trains across the country will be…

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German government pushes Syrians to return to their homeland

Last year, 5,976 Syrians applied for voluntary repatriation to Syria, which was funded by the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), submitting all the necessary documents. Of these,…

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Europol Operation Blocks €1.2 Billion in Fake Banknotes, With China-Linked Shipments Under Scrutiny

Law enforcement authorities from 18 countries have stopped an estimated EUR 1.2 billion in counterfeit banknotes and coins from entering circulation during Operation DECOY III, a Europol-coordinated action led by…

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UK Labour veteran tells MPs removing Starmer would be a bad idea

Veteran Labour minister Jacqui Smith backed Keir Starmer on Monday, warning MPs and Cabinet colleagues against plotting to remove him as prime minister. Smith, who served under Tony Blair and…

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Prince Andrew’s Epstein Fallout: Latest Revelations Explained

The 65-year-old second son of the late Queen Elizabeth, Prince Andrew, is once again under the spotlight following new revelations from the recently released Epstein files. Despite consistently denying any…

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William and Catherine say they are ‘deeply concerned’ in first statement on Epstein revelations

The Prince and Princess of Wales have said they are “deeply concerned” by the latest revelations surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, marking their first public statement on the ongoing scandal. A Kensington…

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Seguro Clinches Portuguese Presidency with Landslide Victory

António José Seguro, representing Portugal’s centre-left Socialist Party, has decisively won the presidential election, securing 66.7% of the vote compared to André Ventura of the far-right Chega party, who garnered…

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Starmer’s Chief of Staff Resigns Amid Mandelson Controversy

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is facing turmoil after the resignation of Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington.…

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Portugal’s Pivotal Presidential Election: Socialist vs. Far-Right

Portugal is voting in a decisive second round of its presidential election, as centre-left Socialist candidate António José Seguro faces off against far-right populist André Ventura. The election, overshadowed by…

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Italian police to get new arrest powers

Italian police will be able to detain suspected troublemakers temporarily before street rallies to prevent them from spreading unrest under a new law-and-order decree adopted on Thursday by Prime Minister…

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Spain’s youth minister floats countrywide ban on X

Spain’s youth minister has intensified Madrid's clash with Big Tech after suggesting the country may need to curb — or even ban — access to Elon Musk’s social media platform…

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55,000 Ukrainians killed in war against Russia, Zelensky says

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky told French broadcaster France 2 last night that the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed on the battlefield as a result of the country’s war with Russia…

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Rules of War Under Severe Strain, New Study Warns

An authoritative survey of 23 armed conflicts over the last 18 months has concluded that international law seeking to limit the effects of war is at breaking point, with more…

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Police Inquiry into Lord Mandelson: Details on Confidential Information

The Metropolitan Police has begun a criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson. He is a former Labour minister and ex-UK ambassador to the US. This follows allegations of misconduct in public…

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Italy Set to Approve Tougher Security Measures After Violent Turin Protests

The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is preparing to introduce a new package of security measures following violent clashes during a protest in Turin last Saturday. The…

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Russia Launches Record Missile Barrage on Ukraine’s Energy Sector Amid Deep Freeze

KYIV, Ukraine – Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has suffered its most devastating assault of the year, as Russia unleashed a record number of ballistic missiles and drones in a coordinated overnight attack.…

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