English

Gavin Blackburn

USA

Trump mulls Hungary's request for relief from Russian energy sanctions

In comments on Friday, Orbán said he would present Trump with several "suggestions" for implementing an exemption.

Climate

Germany pledges support for Brazil's tropical forest protection scheme

The Tropical Forest Forever Facility seeks seeks to leverage investments into €108 billion that can be used to pay 74 developing countries for every hectare of forest they conserve.

Belgium

Taiwan's VP calls for closer EU ties in rare address in Brussels

EU member states, like most countries, have no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan and follow the "One China" policy.

Somalia

EU vessel reaches ship raided by Somali pirates, all 24 crew safe

Piracy off the Somali coast peaked in 2011, when 237 attacks were reported. Somali piracy in the region in 2011 cost the world’s economy €6 billion, with €138 million paid out in ransoms.

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Bulgaria

Van chased by police in Bulgaria crashes, killing six migrants

Bulgaria, a Balkan country of 6.5 million, is located on what was once a major route for migrants from the Middle East and Afghanistan to Europe, passing through Iran and Turkey.

United Kingdom

UK court jails James Bond fantasist for attempting to spy for Russia

Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division, said the conviction sends "a clear message to anyone considering spying for or assisting Russia."

Latvia

Mass protest against Latvia's potential exit from Istanbul Convention

Signed by 45 countries and the European Union as of 2019, the Council of Europe treaty is meant to standardise support for women who are victims of violence, including domestic abuse.

United Kingdom

Mistakenly released UK prisoner turns himself to London prison staff

According to government figures, 262 prisoners were released in error in the year ending March 2025, a 128% increase on the previous 12-month period.

United Kingdom

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor officially no longer a prince

The monarch announced on 31 October that he was removing his brother’s titles and evicting him from his royal residence over his relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Austria

Austria's intelligence uncovers weapons cache linked to Hamas

The weapons cache, which is thought to be part of unspecified foreign operations linked to Hamas, was discovered in a suitcase in a rented storage room in Vienna and contained five handguns and 10 magazines.

Germany

German police detain man over painting swastikas on cars in own blood

The swastika is illegal in Germany and is considered a symbol of hate that evokes the horrors of Nazi Germany and the trauma of the Holocaust.

United Kingdom

UK police hunt for two more men wrongly released from prison

The inadvertent releases heap further embarrassment on the Prison Service, which has been starved of resources for many years.

Switzerland

Swiss court upholds sentence of four over 'Kill Erdoğan' rally banner

The banner featured an image of the Turkish leader with a gun pointed at his temple. A regional court convicted the defendants in 2020, handing down fines and suspended prison sentences.

Germany

Germany cracks down on Muslim groups viewed as threats to public order

The Interior Ministry said Muslim Interaktiv represented a threat to the country's constitutional order by promoting antisemitism and discrimination against women and sexual minorities.

Belgium

Latest drone sightings force flight cancellations at Brussels airport

The airport operator said that about 400-500 travellers spent the night there after 41 flights were cancelled and 24 diverted to other airports.

France

Driver rams car into people on French island of Île d’Oléron

The arrested man is not on France’s database of radicalised individuals (FSPRT) but was known to police for a string of minor offences, including damage to property.

Belgium

Airspace over Brussels Airport closed following drone sighting

Both NATO and the European Union have been on high alert following a string of airspace violations, thought to be from Russia, in recent weeks.

USA

Former US Vice President Dick Cheney dies aged 84

Dick Cheney, a forceful and controversial figure in US politics who championed the Iraq invasion, passed away at age 84.

Latvia

Latvia's president asks parliament to rethink Istanbul Conventon exit

The country's parliament, or Saeima, voted on 31 October to withdraw from the human rights treaty which opposes violence against women and domestic violence.

Belgium

Belgian defence minister: Drone flights at airbase could be spying op

Both NATO and the European Union have been on high alert following a string of airspace violations, thought to be from Russia, in recent weeks.

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