English

Gavin Blackburn

Europe News

Lithuania's defence chief praises campaign about Chinese aggression

A 2016 international arbitration decision invalidated China’s claims based on the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, but Beijing has rejected the ruling and continues to defy it.

Pakistan

Five killed in roadside bombing in former Pakistan Taliban stronghold

The Pakistan Taliban, known officially as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, often targets security forces and civilians in the north and elsewhere in the country.

Somalia

Three killed after African Union helicopter crashes in Somalia

The African Union peacekeeping mission is helping Somali authorities fight al-Shabab militants, who oppose the presence of foreign troops in the Horn of Africa nation.

Europe News

Tech fault known about for years caused fire that shut Heathrow

Europe's busiest air hub was shut down for around 18 hours on 21 March after a fire at the North Hyde substation in west London knocked out power to the airport.

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Europe News

Emmanuel Macron has first phone call with Vladimir Putin since 2022

Macron and Putin held regular discussions around the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Macron visiting Putin in Russia in February 2022, but dialogue eventually stalled.

USA

US Senate passes Trump's tax bill after turbulent all-night session

The package now goes back to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson had warned senators not to overhaul what his chamber had already approved.

Europe News

Belarus continues crackdown on political dissent, rights group says

Mass arrests and convictions of government critics in Belarus have continued since 2020, when Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was handed a sixth term in office in an election that the opposition and the West denounced as rigged.

Europe News

EU and Greece to press Libya on migrant crossings as numbers surge

The UN refugee agency said that in 2021, 32,400 refugees and migrants had made the crossing from Libya to Europe, more than twice as many as in 2020.

Thailand

Thailand’s PM suspended over probe into leaked 'uncle' phone call

Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s suspension raises the possibility of renewed instability in Thailand, a still fragile democracy that has suffered several similar bouts of uncertainty.

Europe News

Denmark arrests man for spying on Berlin's Jewish community for Iran

Federal prosecutors said in a statement that the Danish national, identified only as Ali S in line with German privacy rules, was arrested on Thursday in the city of Aarhus.

Europe News

Spanish PM’s former aide detained without bail in corruption probe

The case involving Santos Cerdán is the latest and arguably the most serious in a series of scandals that forced Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to issue public apologies and deflect calls from his political opponents for a snap election.

Pakistan

Pakistan considers extending deadline for Afghan refugees to leave

Officials said the proposed extension was to allow the refugees more time to settle their personal affairs in Pakistan, such as selling property or wrapping up business activities, before returning to Afghanistan in an orderly and dignified way.

Europe News

US skips global UN meeting aimed at raising billions to combat poverty

Many countries face escalating debt burdens, declining investments, decreasing international aid and growing trade barriers.

Europe News

Lithuania and the Philippines sign security alliance agreement

The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have been involved in prolonged territorial standoffs but confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces have spiked in recent years.

Europe News

Germany's FM Johann Wadephul makes unannounced visit to Ukraine

Germany has been Ukraine’s second-largest military backer after the United States, whose continuing support under President Donald Trump is in doubt.

USA

Trump terminates trade talks with Canada over tax on tech firms

The digital services tax applies to Canadian and foreign businesses that engage with online users in Canada and applies to companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber and Airbnb with a 3% levy on revenue from Canadian users.

Europe News

Danish government seeks to make spread of deepfake images illegal

Deepfakes usually come in the form of pictures or video but can also be audio. They can make it appear that someone said or did something that they didn't actually say or do.

Greece

Greek government officials resign over EU farming subsidy fraud claims

Replacements for all five will be named "in the coming days," government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said in a statement.

Europe News

UK counter-terrorism police arrest four over RAF base jet vandalism

The arrests come in the same week as the British government said it would ban the pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws after the Brize Norton break-in.

Europe News

Iran's uranium stocks said to be intact, UK media says

The initial European intelligence assessment is unlikely to go down well with US President Donald Trump who is currently engaged with a fight with his own spy agencies about the impact of the US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.

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