Europe
France: prime minister proposes axing two public holidays
There has been widespread criticism after prime minister François Bayrou proposed eliminating two public holidays - Easter Monday and 8 May (Victory in Europe day) - to help reduce the national budget deficit.…
Türkiye: Kurdish fighters disarm, engage in peace process
On 11 July thirty Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters publicly disarmed in Sulaimaniyah, northern Iraq, marking the start of a renewed peace process with Türkiye aimed at ending a forty-year conflict that has…
Russia: minister’s death a warning to ruling elite
Russia has been rocked by the sudden death of transport minister Roman Starovoit, who was found dead from a gunshot wound just hours after being dismissed by Vladimir Putin. With the presumption that…
Migrant boat crossings: France and UK aiming to curb the flow
Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer are engaged in critical talks aimed at curbing illegal Channel crossings in small boats. During Macron’s historic state visit to the UK, the first by a French president…
Armenia: bitter dispute escalates between PM and the church
A deepening rift between prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Apostolic Church, is threatening to polarise the nation of three million. Tensions erupted after Pashinyan accused Catholicos Karekin II, the Church’s spiritual head,…
Ukraine: USA pauses munitions shipment, Russia launches huge aerial assault
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has paused a planned shipment of advanced munitions to Ukraine amid growing concern over the country’s depleted stockpiles of weapons. The delay, stemming from a defence department review,…
Europe: severe heatwave, record temperatures, wildfires
A severe early-summer heatwave is scorching much of Europe, triggering wildfires, evacuations, and health alerts across multiple countries. In Turkey, over 50,000 people have been evacuated due to wildfires, especially near Izmir. France…
NATO summit reaffirms collective defence, omits criticism of Russia
NATO allies, including the USA, have reaffirmed their ‘ironclad commitment’ to collective defence at a brief summit in The Hague. The final five‑paragraph communiqué emphasised unity, describing Russia as a ‘long‑term threat’ but…
Greece: five wildfires break out on Chios
A state of emergency has been declared on the Greek island of Chios as five separate wildfires, fanned by strong winds, are ravaging homes, farms, and infrastructure. The fires broke out within hours…
Venice: Jeff Bezos forced by protesters to change wedding plans
Protesters in Venice have claimed an ‘enormous victory’ after forcing US billionaire Jeff Bezos and guests to move their wedding celebration away from the city centre. The three‑day event, featuring A‑list guests like…
