English

Gavin Blackburn

Senegal

France withdraws from Senegal, ending military presence in West Africa

Senegal’s new government has taken a hard-line stance against the presence of French troops as part of a larger regional backlash against what many see as the legacy of an oppressive colonial empire.

Syria

Syrian forces withdraw from Sweida after ceasefire goes into effect

The fighting had threatened to unravel Syria's post-war political transition and brought further military intervention by neighbouring Israel.

Europe News

Teacher injured in stabbing at Dutch school, three suspects arrested

The 53-year-old was stabbed on Wednesday night as he tried to intervene in an argument between three men at a cultural centre in Alblasserdam, police said.

Europe News

France to release Lebanese militant Abdallah after 40 years in prison

Incarcerated for almost 40 years for complicity in the assassination of US and Israeli diplomats, the man who considers himself a political prisoner will be able to return to Lebanon.

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Europe News

Scottish man's body found in council toilet six days after death

48-year-old Julie Stephen said she believed her husband Sean's body had been lying in the toilet at Edinburgh City Chambers for almost a week.

Europe News

UK to lower voting age to 16 in England and Northern Ireland

If passed, the proposed changes would bring the voting age to 16 across the whole of the UK and in line with Scotland and Wales, where 16-year-olds can already vote.

Culture news

Fire completely destroys main stage at Belgium's Tomorrowland festival

Organisers say posts on social media from festival-goers claiming to have received emails saying Tomorrowland had been cancelled were "Fake news".

Nigeria

Gunmen kill at least 20 people in an attack in central Nigeria

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the killings, but such attacks are common in Nigeria’s north where local herders and farmers often clash over limited access to land and water.

Israel

Key coalition partner quits Israeli government over military draft

The political turmoil comes as Israel and Hamas are negotiating a US-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza.

Turkey

Turkish court convicts Istanbul mayor of insulting an official

Ekrem İmamoğlu is already in pre-trial detention on separate charges against him, but has now been given an extra prison sentence.

Gaza

At least 20 killed in stampede at aid site in Gaza, US group says

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation accused Hamas of fomenting panic and spreading misinformation that led to the violence, but provided no evidence.

Travel News

UK lifts ban on Pakistan Airlines after safety standards improve

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said that after "extensive engagement" between the UK's Air Safety Committee and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, restrictions on PIA have now been lifted.

Earth News

Men who felled iconic Sycamore Gap tree jailed for four years

Sarah Dodd, a lawyer specialising in tree law, said it was the first time in the UK that someone had been sentenced to prison for illegally felling a tree.

Economy

French PM proposes slashing two public holidays to reduce deficit

France’s public deficit hit 5.8% of GDP in 2024, totalling €168.6 billion, a figure well above the maximum allowed by EU rules.

Europe News

German court rejects Yemeni case over 2012 US drone strike deaths

In summer 2012, two members of the bin Ali Jaber family were killed in a US drone strike targeting alleged members of al-Qaeda in the Yemeni village of Khashamir.

India

India orders airlines to inspect Boeing models after Air India crash

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed on 12 June shortly after take-off, killing all but one of the 242 people on board, as well as 19 people on the ground.

Space

ISS visit for Polish, Hungarian astronauts ends in Pacific splashdown

The last time Poland, Hungary and India put anyone in space was during the late 1970s and 1980s, launching with the Soviets.

World News

Astronauts from Poland, Hungary and India head back to Earth from ISS

It was Axiom's fourth station trip since 2022. The Houston company's clientele includes the wealthy as well as countries seeking representation in space.

Cambodia

Cambodia to start military conscription next year, PM Hun Manet says

The conscription law was passed in 2006, but never activated. Cambodians of both sexes, aged 18 to 30, must serve but for women, service is voluntary.

World News

German customs officials find 1,500 tarantulas hidden in cake boxes

The tarantulas were discovered about three weeks ago, but the customs office only made the images public on Monday.

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