Socialist to face hard-right candidate for Portugal’s presidency
Portugal's socialist candidate won the first round of the presidential election and will face the hard-right candidate in the second round, near-complete results showed Sunday.
High-speed train collision in Spain kills 39, injures dozens
A high-speed train derailed and was hit by another in southern Spain killing 39 people and injuring more than 120, authorities said Monday, saying the country's worst train…
Central bank chiefs voice ‘full solidarity’ with US Fed, Powell
The heads of major central banks have thrown their support behind the US Federal Reserve and its chairman Jerome Powell, saying in a joint statement Tuesday that it was "critical…
Ex-Tory finance minister defects to Farage’s Reform UK
Former UK Conservative minister Nadhim Zahawi announced today he had defected to Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK, the latest and highest profile switch by an ex-Tory MP…
Spanish PM open to sending troops to maintain peace ‘in Palestine’
Spain is ready to send troops to Palestine for peacekeeping "when the opportunity presents itself," just as it is willing to deploy forces to Ukraine, Prime Minister Pedro…
Farmers in Paris on tractors in protest at Mercosur trade deal
French farmers rolled into Paris on tractors today early in the morning to show of dissent against an EU trade deal with the South American bloc Mercosur they fear will create…
US seizes Russia-flagged oil tanker chased to North Atlantic
The United States on Wednesday seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after pursuing it from off the coast of Venezuela, in an operation set to ratchet…
Swiss local authorities admit inspections failure at burnt-out bar
Swiss local authorities admitted Tuesday they failed to conduct periodic fire and safety inspections over the past five years at a bar where an inferno killed 40 people and…
Trump says Iran will ‘get hit very hard’ if protesters killed
US President Donald Trump warned Iran yesterday that it would get "hit very hard" by the US if more protesters die during demonstrations that have entered a second week.
‘At last’: Venezuelans abroad celebrate Maduro ouster
Some of the nearly eight million Venezuelans who fled economic collapse and repression under Nicolas Maduro gathered in their thousands in cities worldwide on Saturday to…
Eurostar suspends ‘all trains’ to and from London
Eurostar suspended all trains between London, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels today after a power supply issue in the Channel tunnel, a spokesperson said.
France split over Bardot tribute
French politicians were divided today over how to pay tribute to the late Brigitte Bardot, who despite her screen legend courted controversy and convictions in later life…
Spotify says piracy activists hacked its music catalogue
Music streaming service Spotify said yesterday it had disabled accounts from a piracy activist hacker group that claimed to have "backed up" millions of Spotify's music files…
‘Massive’ Russian strikes hit Ukraine energy sites in pre-Christmas attack
Large-scale Russian strikes killed at least three people and cut power to thousands in freezing winter temperatures across Ukraine on Tuesday, officials said, as US-led talks…
Moscow car blast kills Russian general
A senior Russian general was killed in southern Moscow on Monday after an explosive device placed under his car went off, investigators said in a statement.
Global nuclear arms control under pressure in 2026
The fragile global legal framework for nuclear weapons control faces further setbacks in 2026, eroding guardrails to avoid a nuclear crisis.
German court overturns ban on neo-Nazi Hammerskins group
A German court on Friday overturned a national ban on the neo-Nazi Hammerskins group, saying there was not enough evidence it constituted a nationwide organisation.
Farmers set to descend on Brussels in Mercosur protest
Thousands of farmers are to take to the streets of Brussels to protest European Union plans for a trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur and reforming agricultural subsidies.
European Commission looks set to drop 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars
The European Commission looks set to scrap a landmark 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, as part of a package of reforms aimed at supporting Europe's embattled auto industry.
France calls for ‘robust security’ deal for Ukraine after Trump hails ‘good talks’ with Zelensky
France wants "robust security guarantees" for Ukraine before any talks on Kyiv ceding territory to Moscow to end Russia's war, President Emmanuel Macron's team said.
Spain fines Airbnb €64 million for posting banned properties
Spain's leftist government said Monday it had fined Airbnb more than 64 million euros, notably for posting listings for banned rental properties, at a time the country faces…
Kosovo takes in migrants deported by US
Kosovo has started accepting migrants that the United States wants to deport, under an accord with President Donald Trump's administration, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said.
General strike hits planes, trains and services in Portugal
Widespread disruption hit Portuguese air travel and trains, hospitals and schools today as the unions called the biggest nationwide strike action for more than a decade against…
UK secret service ‘let double agent commit murder during The Troubles’, report says
Britain's domestic intelligence agency MI5 allowed a double agent to commit murders during three decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland and then evade justice,…
Three face German court on Russia spying charges
Three men went on trial in Germany today, accused of tailing a former soldier for Ukraine on behalf of a Russian intelligence service for a possible assassination plot.
Top brands suspected in Italy sweatshop probe
Gucci, Prada, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent are among 13 luxury brands suspected of using subcontractors who exploited Chinese workers in Italy, according to documents issued…
Merz demands EU scrap ban on sale of combustion engine cars
Germany will urge the European Union to scrap a planned 2035 ban on the sale of combustion engine cars, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday, as Berlin battles to boost its…
Russia sentences eight to life for 2022 Crimean bridge blast
A Russian court on Thursday sentenced eight people to life in prison over huge 2022 explosions that partially destroyed the Crimean bridge, an attack both Kyiv and Moscow…
Saudi residents report booze ban eased for select foreigners
Diplomats and premium visa-holders in Saudi Arabia told AFP that the conservative kingdom has quietly eased restrictions on purchasing alcohol for select foreign residents.
Spain’s top prosecutor guilty of media leak against opposition
Spain's Supreme Court on Thursday said it had convicted the top prosecutor of leaking confidential legal information against the conservative opposition in a fresh blow to…