Europe
Greece: prime minister blocks full investigation into huge fraud scandal
A major scandal has erupted in Greece, with European prosecutors accusing senior government officials, including ministers and MPs, of orchestrating a large-scale scheme to defraud the EU of agricultural subsidies. It is claimed…
Ukraine: Trump shortens Russia's peace deal deadline
U.S. President Donald Trump has shortened his previously declared 50-day ultimatum for Russia to reach a peace deal in Ukraine, now stating that Vladimir Putin has “10 or 12 days” to agree or…
Greece claims 'invasion' in Crete as it tries to halt asylum
Greece has suspended the right to seek asylum for at least three months amid a sharp rise in migrants arriving via the Libya–Crete route. The controversial policy, described by Migration Minister Thanos Plevris…
Ukraine: new peace talks, says Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine and Russia will engage in another round of talks on 23 July in Turkey. This comes at a time of intensified Russian drone attacks and continued escalation…
France: cities impose curfews on children after drug violence
Several French cities have introduced night-time curfews for minors in response to escalating violence linked to drug trafficking. In Nîmes, where recent shootings and a brutal murder have shaken residents, authorities have imposed…
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,…
