Starmer sacks top Foreign Office official amid Mandelson vetting crisis
Olly Robbins, the most senior civil servant in Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, was dismissed late Thursday after Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper lost confidence in ...
France and UK to co-host Hormuz security conference as fuel crisis looms
France and Britain will co-host a video conference Friday of countries willing to contribute to a defensive mission securing the Strait of Hormuz, with France's finance minister warning the strait must open "but not at a...
Orbán Concedes Historic Defeat but Clings to Fidesz Leadership
Viktor Orbán made his first public comments since his April 12 election defeat, admitting 'a political era has ended' in Hungary and calling it 'a clear defeat' of great magnitude. Despite the loss, he signaled he would...
Hormuz Closure Triggers European Jet Fuel Crisis and Diplomatic Rift
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused a severe jet fuel shortage in Europe, forcing major airlines to cancel flights and ground planes. IEA chief Fatih Birol warned Europe has 'maybe six weeks or so of jet fuel ...
Bolloré's Grasset Publishing House in Crisis as 115 Authors Walk Out
More than 100 authors have announced they will leave French publishing imprint Grasset following the surprise departure of its long-time CEO. The exodus is linked to billionaire Vincent Bolloré's growing influence over ...
UK Government in Crisis Over Mandelson's Failed Security Vetting
Keir Starmer's government faced fresh turmoil after it emerged that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting but was nonetheless appointed UK ambassador to the United States. Foreign Office officials approved the appo...
EU Population Set to Shrink by 53 Million People by 2100, Eurostat Projects
A new Eurostat forecast projects the EU's population will decline by 11.7 percent — roughly 53 million people — by the end of this century. The bloc's population is expected to peak at around 453 million by 2029 befo...
French Lawmakers Pull Controversial Anti-Semitism Bill from Parliament Agenda
Members of President Macron's Renaissance party withdrew the so-called 'Yadan bill' from the National Assembly's agenda on Thursday. The legislation, which aimed to combat 'new forms of anti-Semitism,' had generated sign...
Naples Bank Robbers Hold 25 Hostages, Escape Through City Sewers
Armed robbers in Naples took 25 people hostage during a bank robbery before evading police by fleeing through the city's sewer system. Authorities were unable to apprehend the suspects following the escape....
Pope Leo XIV Warns of 'Tyrants Ravaging the World' in Escalating Row with Trump
Pope Leo XIV intensified his rhetorical clash with President Trump, warning that 'the world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants' during a pilgrimage to Cameroon. Without naming Trump directly, the American pope cond...
Trump Announces Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Deal
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire, saying he had spoken with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The announcement ca...
France's traditional lunch break under pressure as habits and voucher rules evolve
French lunch culture is gradually shifting, with workers increasingly opting for quick sandwiches or solo dining over the traditional three-course midday meal. Upcoming reforms to France's meal voucher system are expecte...
Billionaire Bolloré sparks turmoil at French publisher Grasset
Dozens of authors attacked French conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré after the long-standing head of publisher Grasset, Olivier Nora, abruptly departed after 26 years — reportedly sacked following a disagreement...
France pushes US to release 86-year-old French citizen detained by ICE
The French government said Thursday it is seeking the release of 86-year-old Marie-Thérèse Ross, who has been held by US immigration authorities since early April. Ross moved to the United States last year to marry a s...
EU top court rules online gamblers can sue for losses if betting was illegal
The European Court of Justice has ruled that online gamblers may seek compensation for money lost when gambling was illegal in their home country, even if the laws have since changed. The ruling could open the door to wi...
German-Israeli relations strained after Israeli minister criticises Chancellor Merz
Israel's finance minister sharply criticised German Chancellor Merz over his views on Israeli settlement policy, the latest sign of growing estrangement between the two countries. The episode has prompted a broader reass...
Madrid housing market at risk of bubble as wealthy foreigners drive up prices
Madrid has become an increasingly popular destination for wealthy Latin American investors and young Americans, who are settling in the city's most historic neighbourhoods and pushing up prices in an already competitive ...
France debates controversial antisemitism bill critics say will stifle pro-Palestinian activism
French lawmakers debated a bill on Thursday that would classify implicitly expressed hatred toward the state of Israel as antisemitism, punishable under terrorism laws. Critics — including rights groups, academics and ...
French father who held son in van faces 30 years in prison
A French prosecutor announced Wednesday that a father who confined his nine-year-old son in a van for more than a year could face 30 years in jail. Officers found the malnourished boy in the foetal position and unable to...
Fuel price protests sweep Ireland as truck convoys block roads
Demonstrations led by convoys of trucks blocking roads and critical infrastructure have been sweeping the Republic of Ireland over fuel prices. The protests may spread north of the border into Northern Ireland....