English

Gavin Blackburn

Syria

Lifting of US sanctions on Syria could spur refugee returns, UN says

The UN refugee agency reports that altogether more than 1 million refugees and nearly 2 million internally displaced Syrians have returned to their homes since Bashar al-Assad's fall.

Poland

Top EU court rules Polish Constitutional Tribunal is not independent

The Constitutional Tribunal is the highest judicial body in Poland, responsible for checking the compatibility of laws and international agreements with the country's constitution.

Myanmar

Trafficked, exploited: Rohingya children's lives crushed by aid cuts

Though the US spent just 1% of its budget on foreign aid, Trump dubbed USAID wasteful and shut it down, a move that has proven catastrophic for the world's most vulnerable.

Germany

Germany charges teen members of extremist group with attempted murder

Most of the youths were arrested in May, when they were accused of involvement with a group calling itself "Last Defence Wave."

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Estonia

Russian border guards briefly cross into Estonia, Tallinn says

A meeting between the border representatives of Estonia and Russia was planned for Thursday, at which Estonia was expected to make a statement on the incursion.

Greece

Greece receives navy frigate from France as military upgrade continues

Athens has the option for a fourth frigate, which was approved by parliament in summer and formally agreed with Paris in November.

Europe News

Von der Leyen slams antisemitism as 'old evil' at Hanukkah event

The European Commission president's comments come days after 15 people were killed at a Hannukah event on Sydney's Bondi Beach, one of Australia's worst mass shootings in years.

Spain

Spanish police evict 400 migrants from squat deemed safety hazard

The Badalona town hall had argued that the squat was a public safety hazard. In 2020, an old factory occupied by around 100 migrants in the Catalan city near Barcelona caught fire, killing four people.

Lithuania

Lithuania arrests 21 alleged smugglers using balloons from Belarus

Tuesday's operation involved more than 140 officers from the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, Vilnius police and special anti-terrorism units.

Afghanistan

Millions face food insecurity in Afghanistan as winter looms, UN says

Food assistance in Afghanistan is reaching only 2.7% of the population, the IPC said, exacerbated by a weak economy, high unemployment and lower inflows of remittances from abroad.

Sport

French court rules PSG to pay over €60m to Mbappé in wage dispute

The relationship between the 2018 World Cup winner and the reigning European champion turned bitter when Mbappé decided in 2023 not to extend his contract, which was set to expire in summer 2024.

Australia

Dashcam shows couple tackling Bondi Beach gunman before being killed

Australia’s federal police commissioner Krissy Barrett said on Tuesday that the mass shooting was "a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State".

United Kingdom

MI6 chief says UK faces threat from Russia's desire to export chaos

The speech is the latest in a series of warnings by Western defence and security authorities about the growing hybrid threat from states such as Russia, Iran and China.

Culture news

Louvre shuttered as staff go on strike over working conditions

Labour leaders said the strike vote was unanimous and it was not immediately clear whether the work stoppage will last longer than one day.

Netherlands

Utrecht lifts forest warning after DNA confirms wolf shot was 'Bram'

According to the European Commission, there are around 23,000 wild wolves in Europe and the population increased by 35% between 2016 and 2023.

Germany

Germany summons Russian ambassador over alleged election interference

The foreign ministry said that Germany "would take a series of countermeasures to make Russia pay a price for its hybrid actions in close coordination with our European partners."

Sport

FIFA accused of 'monumental betrayal' over World Cup ticket prices

FIFA said in September that tickets released through its website would initially range from €51 for group-stage matches to €5,727 for the final, but those prices are subject to change as it adopts dynamic pricing.

Culture news

Eurovision champion Nemo returns trophy to protest Israel's inclusion

The contest, which turns 70 in 2026, strives to put pop before politics, but has repeatedly been embroiled in world events.

United Kingdom

More than 600 items stolen from UK museum in 'high value' raid

The Bristol robbery came just three weeks before a daring daylight heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris which saw a gang make off with crown jewels worth an estimated €88 million.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria rejects extradition of Russian linked to Beirut port blast

The supervising prosecutor, Angel Kanev, said that the key issue is whether sufficient guarantees have been provided that a death sentence will not be imposed.

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