English

Gavin Blackburn

Iran

Pro-Iran groups use AI to troll Trump and try to control war narrative

Analysts say the memes appear to be coming from groups linked to the government in Tehran and are part of a strategy of leveraging its limited resources to inflict damage on the US.

United Kingdom

UK and Norway foil Russian submarine plot to survey undersea cables

Britain and Norway announced new joint naval patrols aimed at protecting undersea cables from Russia in December, with a fleet of at least 13 warships protecting critical infrastructure in the North Atlantic.

Turkey

Turkey puts 11 leaders of LGBTQ+ association on trial for 'obscenity'

Homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey, but the LGBTQ+ community is frequently targeted by authorities who blame it for the country's declining birth rate.

Culture news

'Ketamine Queen' jailed for 15 years over Matthew Perry drugs death

Perry, 54, had openly struggled for decades with addictions, but had appeared to colleagues to be beating his demons when he died in 2023.

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Iran

Israel ready to 'return to battle' against Iran, Netanyahu says

In a televised speech, Netanyahu also hit back at opposition leaders who chastised him for agreeing to the truce before Israel achieved its objectives in the war.

Iran

Closing Strait of Hormuz 'completely unacceptable,' White House says

One of the major points in the two-week ceasefire agreement was that Iran would allow the resumption of shipping through Hormuz, easing a disruption in the flow of oil and gas which has sent prices soaring around the world.

Switzerland

Former fire safety chief remains silent in Swiss bar fire probe

Prosecutors believe the fire started when champagne bottles with sparklers attached were raised too close to the ceiling in the bar's basement level, igniting the sound insulation foam.

Spain

Track broke day before train crash that killed 46, Spain officials say

The accident happened when a Madrid-bound service run by private firm Iryo derailed and crossed onto the opposite track, smashing into an oncoming train operated by state company Renfe.

Indonesia

Indonesia deports UK fugitive wanted in Spain on drug charges

Bali police chief Daniel Adityajaya said Lyons was wanted in Spain as the alleged "leader of a large-scale transnational criminal organisation" engaged in drug trafficking and money laundering.

Lebanon

Lebanon not part of Iran ceasefire agreement, Trump tells US media

Israel has rarely struck central Beirut since the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war on 2 March but has regularly struck southern and eastern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs.

Netherlands

Syrian accused of torture for al-Assad denies charges in Dutch court

The trial is based on universal jurisdiction, a legal principle that allows suspects to be prosecuted for international offenses such as war crimes even if they are committed in another country.

France

Macron greets French pair in Paris after 'terrible ordeal' in Iran

Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, both teachers, were arrested in May 2022 at the end of a trip to Iran that their families say was for tourism and jailed on espionage charges.

Sport

Romanian football great Mircea Lucescu dies at age 80

Lucescu had a lengthy coaching career and was in his second spell with the Romanian national team until stepping down last Thursday after falling ill during training.

Sport

FIFA opens case against Spanish football federation over racist chants

Alongside the FIFA investigation, the Catalonia police force has opened its own probe, which is being handled by the Prosecutor's Office for Hate Crimes and Discrimination.

Cuba

Cuban women rally against US blockade as energy crisis deepens

Cuba produces only 40% of the fuel it consumes and the shortage has paralysed the country, affecting its health system, public transportation and the production of goods and services.

Iran

Russia and China veto UN resolution aimed at reopening Hormuz strait

One-fifth of the world's oil typically passes through the strait and Iran's chokehold during the war has sent energy prices soaring around the world.

Europe News

Iran allows two French former detainees to leave country, Macron says

Macron has distanced France from the war in Iran, saying his country wasn't consulted in advance about the US-Israel strikes and didn’t want the war.

Iraq

US journalist Shelly Kittleson released by Iraqi militant group

Like many freelancers, Shelly Kittleson often worked on a shoestring budget and without the protections afforded by large news organisations to staff.

Iran

'Only the president knows' what he will do on Iran, White House says

Trump had threatened to target Iranian infrastructure unless Tehran agreed a deal to end the war on Tuesday, saying he was "considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil."

France

France's Sarkozy maintains innocence at Libya election funding trial

Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in prison for his alleged part in a scheme to obtain funds from the government of Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi in exchange for political and diplomatic favours.

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