Author: staff

EU foreign ministers agreed on Monday to set up a new civilian and military mission in Lebanon to strengthen the country’s security forces, as the United Nations prepares to end its long-running peacekeeping operation there. The mission, which could deploy within months, will focus on border and maritime security, counter-drone operations and training Lebanese security forces. Its precise mandate, staffing and command structure have yet to be finalised. Unlike the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), whose mandate expires at the end of 2026, the EU mission will not be deployed in the south, where Israel is continuing its…

Opposition leaders and journalists accused Indian police of heavy-handed tactics during weekend demonstrations, as authorities locked down New Delhi on Monday ahead of a fresh rally against the election chief. Authorities deployed thousands of personnel across the centre of the capital for a third straight day, erecting heavy metal barricades and closing key metro stations before a march called by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. The protests were triggered by allegations of manipulating voter lists during a nationwide roll revision that critics say could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Election Commission of India, which oversees…

Published on 12/10/2026 – 16:39 GMT+2•Updated 16:57 The malicious use of AI or nuclear war could end humanity as we know it by 2100, according to a new global health risk assessment. They top a pyramid of 17 major threats to human health identified in a study published in The Lancet, including antimicrobial resistance, climate change, pandemics, income inequality and a range of health issues such as tobacco, obesity and mental health. According to the study, nuclear conflict does not just cover the impact of the missiles but the consequences too, such as nuclear famine, while the malicious use of…

It’s not even winter yet in Europe, but airlines are already putting new routes on sale for summer 2027, as holidaymakers start planning next year’s sunny escapes. A number of carriers have issued schedule updates, including Ryanair, which has announced its first 29 new routes for next summer, and easyJet, which has put 18 new routes on sale from 10 UK airports. ‘Bumper’ summer schedule Ryanair says its “bumper” summer schedule for 2027 will cover more than 2,500 routes across 230 destinations in its network. Italy features prominently with new routes including Alicante-Naples, Athens-Turin, Bari-Friedrichshafen, and Bari-Oslo Torp. Sicily gains…

The Ukrainian embassy in London declined to comment. The U.K. has committed £25 billion to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to government figures published in July 2026. That includes £16 billion of military support, up to £5.6 billion in non-military support and a £3.5 billion cover limit for export finance. Farage was answering questions at a press conference after Donald Trump deepened the gulf between Washington D.C. and Kyiv by saying he would suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports. After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the deal, Trump said Saturday: “It’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.”…

Greece is moving to ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social networking services, introducing a new regulatory framework that is expected to come into force on 1 January 2027. The main provisions of the bill were presented on Monday by Minister of State Akis Skertsos, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, and Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, with a focus on protecting minors from the risks linked to the use of social media, as well as safeguarding users’ privacy. The bill will be tabled before the parliamentary committees on 13 October, while debate and the final vote in the…

A major fire tore through Paris’s oldest covered food market, the Marché des Enfants Rouges, in the early hours of Monday, 12 October, destroying its stalls and causing part of its metal structure to collapse. The blaze broke out at around 4.15am in the historic Marais district. Firefighters prevented it from spreading to neighbouring buildings. One firefighter suffered a minor medical episode, but no other casualties were reported. Distraught traders gathered outside to assess the damage. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said the cause remained unknown and an investigation would follow. Nearby buildings were being checked for structural damage, while the…

Standing next to Bardella in Ceuta, Abascal said the French far-right leader’s presence was “a demonstration that a new era can open for [the two] nations” and praised “collaboration among patriotic forces.” Spain’s snap elections “will allow the Spanish people to speak their mind, just as the French presidential election in a few months will allow the French people to take back control of their own destiny,” said Bardella, framing migration as an existential issue for both countries, epitomized by the crisis in Ceuta over the summer. The trip to Ceuta, discussed between the two leaders’ teams over the summer,…

Published on 12/10/2026 – 15:21 GMT+2•Updated 15:23 Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has vowed to end the United Kingdom’s asylum system for up to five years if the hard-right party gets into power. Speaking at a press conference in Kent in southeastern England on Monday, Farage renewed his criticism of the government’s handling of small boat crossings from mainland Europe as he outlined Reform’s stance on those seeking asylum in Britain. “We will end the asylum system for up to five years,” Farage told the audience. “Why are we going to do that? Because we are in the most terrible…

German energy and infrastructure heavyweights are exploring new opportunities in Azerbaijan. Their plans cover both gas supplies and renewable energy, at a time when Europe seeks to reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Speaking at the German-Azerbaijani Connectivity Conference 2026, which was hosted by the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (AHK Azerbaijan) in Baku, European corporate leaders outlined concrete investment plans ranging from fossil fuels to renewable energy networks along the Middle Corridor. The gathering brought together more than 250 participants, including over 35 guests from Germany and Azerbaijani policymakers. A new pillar of economic cooperation Nargis Wieck, Executive Director…