France Freemason lodge ‘mafia’ on trial in France over murders and hit squads Twenty-two people, including intelligence and police officers, are on trial in France over an alleged Masonic lodge assassin squad and mafia-style crimes. 30/03/2026
Europe News Catholic Church to pay €1.6 million to sexual abuse victims Portugal's bishops and religious orders have announced that they will pay 1.6 million euros in financial compensation to victims of sexual abuse. 26/03/2026
Europe News Greece train tragedy trial adjourned amid courtroom chaos Hundreds of people turned up for the trial into the 2023 train collision that left 57 dead, leading to complaints from lawyers that the venue was "insultingly" unsuitable. 23/03/2026
France French court to rule on 7 July in Marine Le Pen graft appeal trial In March 2025, a Paris court ruled that Le Pen was at the heart of "a fraudulent system" that her party used to siphon off European Parliament funds worth €2.9 million. 11/02/2026
Tech News What to know about Meta trial over child sexual exploitation claims Built on undercover accounts posing as children, the case is the first stand-alone state trial in a widening legal fight over social media’s impact on minors. 09/02/2026
Norway Son of Norway's crown princess denies rape charges as trial begins Marius Borg Høiby, 29, is on trial in Oslo on 38 charges of crimes including rape, domestic violence, assault and drug possession. 03/02/2026
USA Man impersonating FBI agent tries to break Luigi Mangione out of jail Mangione is being held at the Brooklyn jail while awaiting state and federal murder trials in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. 30/01/2026
France French ex-senator jailed for drugging lawmaker with ecstasy Former French senator Joël Guerriau has been sentenced to four years in prison for drugging MP Sandrine Josso with ecstasy, intending to sexually assault her. 28/01/2026
France French MP shares trauma in trial of ex-senator accused of drugging her Former senator Joël Guerriau, 68, has admitted serving lawmaker Sandrine Josso a drink spiked with MDMA but says it was an accident. 27/01/2026
France Appeal trial for men convicted of beheading teacher opens in France In December 2024, seven men and one woman were found guilty of contributing to the climate of hatred that led to the beheading of the history and geography teacher in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine. 26/01/2026
France French far-right leader Marine Le Pen walks fine line in appeal trial Back on the stand after a first day of hearings on Tuesday, Marine Le Pen continues to deny having run a coordinated scheme to misuse European Parliament funds. 22/01/2026
Germany German court begins trial of 'White Tiger' online predator A trial for a 21-year-old German-Iranian known as "White Tiger" started in Hamburg on Friday and will last until December. Accused of 204 offences, including murder and attempted murder, he allegedly manipulated minors online, leading them to self-harm and suicide. 09/01/2026
China Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai convicted in national security trial Jimmy Lai, 78, was found guilty of colluding with foreign forces and publishing seditious articles. The former Apple Daily founder faces life imprisonment. 15/12/2025
United Kingdom UK to scrap some jury trials in an attempt to clear court backlog The government says there are almost 80,000 cases waiting to be heard in criminal courts in England and Wales, more than double the pre-pandemic figure. 02/12/2025
Portugal António Costa wiretapped in Portugal without court approval Costa, the former PM of Portugal and current president of the European Council, was under investigation for influence peddling, embezzlement and fraud. According to his chief of staff, he has unblocked concession files for mining operations. 21/11/2025
Germany Magdeburg Christmas market reopens a year after car-ramming attack At least €250,000 was invested in new security systems, including concrete blocks that are supposed to keep cars from entering the market, German outlets reported. 20/11/2025