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Gavin Blackburn

Europe

Church of Sweden launches ethics inquiry into PM's ordained wife

The Lutheran Church of Sweden, which has some 5.4 million members in a country of 10.6 million, formally separated from the Swedish state in 2000.

USA

Trump ballroom cost soars to €516m with half coming from taxpayers

The project began last year when Trump, with little warning and without consulting Congress, tore down the entire historic East Wing of the White House.

Europe

Russia says yacht on 'dangerous approach' in Channel prompted shots

The incident comes two days after armed British forces boarded and detained a sanctioned tanker in the Channel that is suspected of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet.

Europe

Norway's crown prince cuts workload to be with gravely ill wife

Mette-Marit, 52, was diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis, or scarring of the lungs, that causes breathing difficulties.

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Europe

Swedish court jails man for pressuring wife into mass prostitution

Prosecutor Ida Annerstedt told the AFP news agency at the start of the trial in April that the woman had "a serious fear" of her husband.

Europe

Russian artist critical of Putin shot dead in Poland, officials say

Skrepetsky was known for his sometimes provocative caricatures, which targeted prominent Russian political figures ranging from Putin and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

Switzerland

UN says 2.4 million refugees will need resettling in 2027

Afghan refugees are the largest group in need of resettlement, followed by people from South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, living in vast camps in Bangladesh.

Europe

Delays to UK Parliament renovation could add £420m to final bill

Plans to restore the Victorian neo-Gothic edifice, which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring Westminster Abbey, stretch back more than a decade.

Europe

Swedish army consultant on trial for attempted spying for Russia

The trial, scheduled to last three days, is being held largely behind closed doors, given the sensitive nature of the information involved.

Haiti

At least 2,300 killed this year in Haiti gang violence, UN says

Haiti has been plagued by worsening gang violence since the 2021 assassination of its then-President Jovenel Moïse.

South Korea

Starbucks to close Korea stores for history lesson after ad fiasco

The day of the reusable cup promotion coincided with the anniversary of the Gwangju uprising in which 165 civilians were killed, though many believe the real figure to be much higher.

Europe

EU leaders welcome US-Iran deal to end 'costly war'

The US and Iran said they had reached a deal to end the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, though they offered few details about Tehran's nuclear programme.

Europe

Norway crown princess' son sentenced to four years in prison for rape

Marius Borg Høiby, 29, is the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and the stepson of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon.

Pakistan

Police mistakenly shoot and kill Australian child in Pakistan

Australian media reported the family, from the western city of Perth, were visiting relatives in Pakistan when the incident took place.

Europe

Russian strikes on Kyiv kill at least 11 and leave cathedral in flames

The wave of attacks came as news of a US-Iran deal started to open a path to peace in the Middle East war, highlighting the lack of progress toward an end to over four years of fighting in Ukraine.

Cuba

Ship from Colombia carrying aid docks in Cuba to help ease crises

Regular power outages have intensified since US President Donald Trump threatened tariffs in late January on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba.

USA

Judge rejects bid to halt removal of Trump name from Kennedy Center

Since returning to the White House, Trump has taken repeated measures to put his name and image in official spaces, an abrupt break with American political tradition.

Europe

Pope leaves Spain on plane offered by king after technical glitch

It was the first time in decades that a papal flight had experienced a problem so serious that it required the pope to change planes.

Iran

Trump says Iran peace deal to be signed Sunday

Earlier, Pakistan says US-Iran peace deal likely to be finalised 'in the next 24 hours'

Europe

Belgian driver convicted of murder over carnival car crash

The trial was heard in a special hall to accommodate nearly 200 civil parties taking part. The civil claimants include some who are disabled for life and the relatives of those who died.

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