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Gavin Blackburn

Europe News

Austrian court acquits ex-official over Novichok document leak

Prosecutors had accused Peterlik of requesting "without official necessity" a classified report in 2018 that included the formula for Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent developed in the Soviet Union.

Europe News

Greek parliament lifts immunity of MPs probed in EU farm scandal

The EU's European Public Prosecutor's Office has announced probes into 20 New Democracy members, including active and former lawmakers.

Europe News

Keir Starmer defies resignation calls over Mandelson envoy row

Mandelson was named to the top diplomatic post in December 2024, just weeks before US President Donald Trump was inaugurated the following month.

Europe News

Moldovan oligarch sentenced to 19 years in prison over $1bn fraud

A former businessman, lawmaker and kingpin in the Democratic Party of Moldova, Plahotniuc fled Moldova in 2019, as he faced a series of corruption charges.

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Iran

Iran seizes two cargo ships in Hormuz after three vessels fired on

The tanker seizures come after US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was being indefinitely extended at the request of mediator Pakistan.

USA

Almost 8,000 people died or disappeared on migration routes in 2025

The migration agency highlighted that at least around 340,000 family members are estimated to have been directly affected by the missing migrant crisis since 2014.

Europe News

Rome summons Russian ambassador over insults against Meloni

Relations between Rome and Moscow have been tense because of Meloni's strong support for Ukraine as it continues to fight off Russia's full-scale invasion.

Europe News

German police launch raids against Syrian trafficking ring

Police believe the ring operated by using genuine residency documents issued to Syrian refugees in Germany, which were sent to people in Syria with a similar appearance.

Lebanon

Israeli army jails soldiers for vandalising Jesus statue in Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said on Monday he was "stunned and saddened to learn that an IDF soldier damaged a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon."

Europe News

Six on trial in Istanbul over poisoning deaths of whole family

The Turkish-German Böcek family were staying at the Harbour Suites Old City hotel in Istanbul’s Fatih district when they fell ill on 12 November, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.

Mexico

Sheinbaum urges better security at Mexico tourist sites after shooting

Security officials said that the shooting at the world-famous Teotihuacan pyramids that left one person dead and 13 others wounded "wasn't spontaneous."

North Korea

Russia and North Korea connect road bridge ahead of summer opening

Ties between both countries have surged amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Moscow and Pyongyang deepening economic, political, cultural and military links.

Iran

Trump wants to extend Iran ceasefire, until negotiations conclude

The US president also wrote on Truth Social that the blockade of Iranian ports will continue until Tehran presents a "unified proposal".

Europe News

Slovakia to vote in July referendum on life payments for politicians

Slovak prime ministers and parliament speakers who served at least two terms in office receive a lifelong payment, a monthly sum that equals the salaries of lawmakers in Parliament.

Iran

Trump refuses to lift Hormuz blockade until Iran deal agreed

Trump’s announcement comes after Iran said earlier it would not be sending a delegation to participate in the second round of high-stakes peace talks in Islamabad that were set to take place on Monday.

Europe News

France and Poland discuss boosted defence ties as US wavers on Europe

One theme Macron has repeatedly come back to is a "European preference" for military procurement to ensure greater independence and self-reliance on the continent.

USA

FBI director files $250-million defamation suit against US magazine

According to The Atlantic, Patel's job as head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is in jeopardy in part because of what it said were "bouts of excessive drinking" and "unexplained absences".

Europe News

Whale stranded on German coast swims off and gets stuck again

The plan was to lift the whale from the seabed using inflatable cushions and transport it with pontoons back to the North Sea or possibly as far as the Atlantic Ocean.

Spain

Migrants rush to apply under Spain's new mass legalisation programme

Spain's position sharply differs from prevailing attitudes on immigration in Europe, where many governments have been trying to curb arrivals and step up deportations.

Turkey

Turkey arrests 90 people with suspected links to Islamic State

Authorities have not officially connected the arrests to a shootout outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul on 7 April in which two police officers were wounded.

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