Gavin Blackburn

Europe News

Poland arrests six suspected of espionage and arms smuggling to Russia

The charges against the group of six also include violations of regulations governing the international trade in goods and technologies of strategic importance for national defence and international security.

5 November 2026

North Korea

North Korea tells EU to 'mind its own business' on human rights

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said last year that human rights in North Korea have shown no improvement over the past decade and had in fact worsened in many cases.

5 November 2026

Europe News

Finnish court jails Russian captain over Baltic Sea cable sabotage

The Russian captain was ordered jailed for three years and six months and the crew member, an Azerbaijan national, for two years and 10 months.

5 November 2026

USA

US first lady to host Ukrainian and Russian officials at White House

On Wednesday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the first lady a national honour for her role in brokering a partial ceasefire that allowed the evacuation of civilians from a Russian-occupied town.

5 November 2026

China

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 years for collusion

Wong rose to prominence during Hong Kong's 2014 protests, known as the Umbrella Movement, and has been in and out of jail since 2017.

5 November 2026

Tech News

Cyberattack hits French blood banks but no samples compromised

The incident comes after supermarkets in a number of European countries reported this week that their fridges and freezers warmed up after they were remotely taken over.

4 November 2026

Europe News

Slavery reparations 'not feasible' for UK, foreign minister says

At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Andy Burnham floated a "debt reset" plan for the poorest Commonwealth countries that could alter interest rates on repayments.

4 November 2026

Europe News

More than 50 trapped under rubble after Russian strike on aid centre

Russia pummelled Ukraine on Monday and Tuesday after a rare truce ended at the weekend, with the strikes dampening hopes for a breakthrough at US-led negotiations set for next week in Abu Dhabi.

4 November 2026

Israel

Israel's election commission says no fraud found in last week's vote

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters have repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims that Arab-led parties had “stolen” the election, possibly with foreign assistance.

4 November 2026

USA

Historic leadership firsts for minorities across US in midterm vote

The first Black female governor, the first openly gay male senator and the first female Native American governor all won groundbreaking elections in the vote that racked up resounding wins for Democrats.

4 November 2026

USA

Democrats win control of US Congress in midterm rebuke of Trump

The results reflected deep anger over living costs, tariffs and Trump's war against Iran, which has sent fuel prices soaring and compounded dissatisfaction with an already deeply unpopular president.

4 November 2026

Europe News

Hungary appoints new prosecutor for anti-graft drive after Orbán fall

Public confidence in prosecutors eroded under Orbán's 16-year rule, as critics accused the highly centralised institution of shielding the premier's inner circle from scrutiny.

3 November 2026

Europe News

All 69 victims of last week's train crash in central Spain identified

The latest disaster struck when a service by state operator Renfe ploughed into the back of a stationary train belonging to Spanish company Iryo outside the central village of Urda.

3 November 2026

Turkey

Turkey's justice minister says 'criminal network' behind fund scandal

In the fund investigation, Korkmaz Enes Ergun, detained on 31 October, was remanded on charges of "accepting bribes" and "membership of an organisation formed to commit crimes".

3 November 2026

Europe News

Students block high schools across France ahead of general strike

The school protests have fuelled a nationwide movement against soaring prices and inadequate public services, which has drawn hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets over the past three weekends.

3 November 2026

Europe News

Spanish police investigate death of Tenerife footballer

Prosecutors say criminal charges are unlikely, as tributes pour in from across European football for the 30-year-old father, who suffered a cardiac arrest after being struck in the chest.

3 November 2026

Europe News

Russia pounds Ukraine with 289 drones overnight, Zelenskyy says

In a fresh push for diplomacy as the conflict grinds through its fifth year, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Tuesday that Washington-led talks between Russia and Ukraine were set to resume next week.

3 November 2026

Europe News

Police dismantle housing cost protest camp in central Madrid

The camp sprang up on 26 September following the police eviction of an 87-year-old pensioner from her lifelong Madrid home, after the real estate company that owned the apartment drastically raised the rent.

3 November 2026

Tech News

North Korea slams FBI claims it was behind €5bn Binance hack

A 2024 United Nations report said proceeds from North Korean cyberattacks had "reportedly helped to fund the country's development of weapons of mass destruction".

3 November 2026

Europe News

European troops to rehearse post-war Ukraine deployment in Poland

The force, which was set up in 2025 and already has an operational headquarters in Paris, is not a NATO operation and has little US involvement.

3 November 2026