English

Gavin Blackburn

Myanmar

Myanmar opium cultivation hits highest level in a decade, UN says

There were signs that heroin from Myanmar is reaching markets in Europe previously supplied by Afghanistan, with several seizures over the past year that involved passengers travelling from Southeast Asia to Europe.

Syria

EU updates asylum guidance for Syrians a year after al-Assad's fall

The number of Syrians requesting asylum dropped significantly from 16,000 in October 2024, before the fall of al-Assad in December, to 3,500 in September 2025.

Germany

Germany activates Arrow 3 missile defence system bought from Israel

Israel has long relied on a multilayered missile defence system, including the Arrow, to protect communities around the country from rocket barrages from militants in Gaza and Lebanon.

Greece

Greek farmers block borders in dispute over delayed EU subsidies

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the government is open to dialogue with the farmers but cautioned against disruptive protest action.

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Netherlands

Indonesia to repatriate two convicted Dutch drug traffickers

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Indonesia is a major drug smuggling hub despite having some of the strictest drug laws in the world.

United Kingdom

UK to scrap some jury trials in an attempt to clear court backlog

The government says there are almost 80,000 cases waiting to be heard in criminal courts in England and Wales, more than double the pre-pandemic figure.

Belgium

Mark Rutte dismisses concerns about US commitment to NATO

Rutte's comments come after President Donald Trump’s 28-point proposal to end the almost four-year war in Ukraine dismayed European allies as being slanted in Russia's favour.

South Africa

South African radio host arrested over recruiting fighters for Russia

The South African government has warned people to be cautious of campaigns promoted by South African social media influencers promising jobs and study opportunities in Russia.

Italy

Italy's most accomplished tennis player Nicola Pietrangeli dies at 92

Pietrangeli was the first Italian player to win a Grand Slam trophy, triumphing at the French Open in 1959.

Netherlands

ICC president vows to resist US and Russian pressure despite sanctions

The court's weeklong meeting opened on Monday and business on the agenda includes approving its budget against a backdrop of mounting pressure and unfavourable headlines.

France

Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris for Ukraine peace talks with Macron

US President Donald Trump has since played down the 28-point peace framework as a "concept" to be "fine-tuned."

China

Hong Kong says netting on buildings that caught fire did not meet code

The fire, which broke out on Wednesday, burned through seven of eight apartment towers, home to some 4,600 people, and wasn't fully extinguished until Friday morning.

Bangladesh

Former UK MP sentenced to prison in Bangladesh corruption trial

In January, Siddiq resigned as a government minister following pressure because of her ties to her aunt.

Sudan

EU sanctions Sudan's RSF leader after atrocities committed in Darfur

The war began in 2023, when tensions erupted between the army and the RSF that were meant to oversee a democratic transition after a 2019 coup unseated former President Omar al-Bashir.

Hungary

Radio Free Europe's Hungarian service shuts down after US funding cuts

The shuttering of Szabad Európa came as the Trump administration has made major cuts to international broadcasters like Radio Free Europe and Voice of America.

Switzerland

Robbers steal dozens of ancient gold coins from museum in Switzerland

The monetary value of the coins stolen in the heist Tuesday was not immediately revealed, but police said they had "archaeological value."

United Kingdom

Former MEP given jail time for making pro-Russia statements for cash

Gill was elected to the European Parliament in 2014 for the anti-EU UK Independence Party and later represented the Brexit Party.

Ukraine

At least five killed in Russian glide bomb strike on southern Ukraine

A Russian glide bomb hit Zaporizhzhia, killing five and damaging apartments and a market. Another drone attack injured five in Odesa.

Austria

IAEA votes to urge Iran to provide information about nuclear material

Iran denounced Thursday's resolution and said that it was designed to propagate a "false and misleading narrative of the present situation."

United Kingdom

'Too little, too late': UK government slammed for COVID-19 response

The inquiry found that chaos at the heart of the Conservative government and a failure to take COVID-19 seriously potentially cost 23,000 lives in England alone.

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