English

Gavin Blackburn

Europe News

Drone alert highlights Lithuania's poor access to air raid shelters

At the end of 2024, Lithuania had 6,344 shelters, which could protect 53% of the population, the country's National Audit Office said in a report last year.

Europe News

Germany fails to gain seat on UN Security Council

In secret ballots cast by the General Assembly for the European seats, Portugal and Austria received 134 and 131 votes respectively, while Germany received 104.

USA

FBI fatally shoot man holding hostages in California, police say

Nearby buildings, including City Hall and the police headquarters, were evacuated and some roads were temporarily closed during the hostage situation.

Europe News

Germany seizes tonnes of cocaine in €500m bust at North Sea port

Instead of cacao beans, officials found more than 400 packets wrapped in black foil, each containing about 20 blocks of compressed cocaine.

ADVERTISEMENT

India

At least 21 people killed in fire at New Delhi hotel, police say

Several of those killed were foreigners, mainly from Central Asia and Africa, the Press Trust of India news agency reported, quoting unnamed officials.

Bolivia

Bolivian ministers resign as weeks of protests rock Paz's government

The government has refused to rule out declaring a state of emergency and using the military to control the demonstrations.

Japan

Bear injures four in Fukushima as annual number of attacks rises

Japan's Environment Ministry said 13 people were killed in more than 230 bear attacks in 2025, exceeding the number of fatalities and attacks in any preceding year.

Europe News

Zelenskyy says US air defence 'necessary' after Russian barrage

Russia launched a record 8,150 long-range drones at Ukraine in May, an AFP analysis of Ukrainian air force data showed, up 24% from April.

Europe News

Sweden eases rules for teenage migrants facing deportation

Following a large influx of asylum seekers in Sweden in 2015, successive left- and right-wing governments have tightened asylum rules.

Europe News

Court rejects Rwanda's €115m claim over scrapped UK migrant deal

In 2022, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson sealed a deal with Kigali to send migrants arriving in Britain via "dangerous or illegal journeys" in small boats or lorries to Rwanda.

Europe News

Two injured in explosion at fireworks factory in Malta, police say

Prime Minister Robert Abela wrote on social media that his "thoughts are with the people affected by the explosion that occurred this morning."

Tech News

Macron announces €93 billion in 'Choose France' investments

Since the first "Choose France" in 2018, a year after Macron came to power, more than 230 projects have been announced, representing several thousand jobs, according to the Élysée Palace.

Europe News

Syrians accused of torture during al-Assad era go on trial in Austria

Austrian law provides for the jurisdiction of local courts over certain offences committed abroad and the Vienna court has jurisdiction in this case because the defendants reside there.

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Rescuers seek alternative route to reach two in flooded Laos cave

The villagers reportedly entered the cave nearly two weeks ago to look for valuable minerals such as gold before being trapped by a flash flood that blocked their way out.

Europe News

France and allies intercept uncompliant Russian shadow fleet tanker

Russia has reportedly built up a flotilla of old oil tankers of opaque ownership to get around sanctions imposed by the European Union over Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

USA

Israel freezes out UN chief Guterres over sexual violence blacklist

The UN cited "credible information" regarding sexual violence allegedly committed by Israeli security forces against Palestinians in prisons and other detention centres.

Europe News

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner forced out of French Open due to heat

Sinner received medical attention and left the court and minerals were added to his drink when he returned but he wasn't able to continue.

USA

Judge refuses to block Trump order to create federal voter list

Democrats and civil rights groups argued it was urgent that the judge issue a restraining order in the midst of primary season and with states already gearing up for the fall midterm elections.

Europe News

Italian police seize more than €200m in late mafia boss's assets

Assets were being seized in Andorra, the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain and Switzerland, as well as Italy, police said.

Europe News

Ukraine to buy up to 20 Gripen jet fighters, Sweden to donate 16

Ukraine is largely reliant on its Western allies to down Russian missile barrages, despite having pioneered a system for intercepting long-range drones that is the envy of some of the world's most advanced militaries.

ADVERTISEMENT