Europe
Russia: Putin orders 160,000 conscripts
Vladimir Putin has ordered the conscription of 160,000 new troops between April and July, targeting citizens aged 18 to 30. The spring draft is part of Russia’s biannual conscription cycle; the previous autumn…
Ukraine: Russia bombs hospital as naval ceasefire is negotiated
Russia and Ukraine have reached separate agreements with the USA on a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea, following peace talks in Saudi Arabia. Though indirect, the negotiations resulted in a promise to…
Turkey: over 1,400 arrested, protests continue
Protests have rocked Turkey for more than a week after the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key opposition figure and potential rival to President Erdogan. He was detained on corruption charges,…
Ireland: turmoil as motion of no confidence in Speaker is tabled
Ireland’s political landscape is bracing for a showdown over Ceann Comhairle (Speaker) Verona Murphy, whose role is under fire amid a prolonged row over speaking rights in the Dáil. Since January, tensions have…
Ukraine: Putin agrees to a partial ceasefire
Vladimir Putin has agreed to a thirty-day pause in strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure following a phone call with Donald Trump. The two leaders spoke for 90 minutes as the Trump administration works…
Turkey: key opposition leader arrested
The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, a key opposition leader, has been arrested days before he was to be selected as a presidential candidate. Along with 100 others, he has been charged with…
North Macedonia: protests after 59 die in nightclub fire
North Macedonia is in mourning after a devastating nightclub fire in Kočani killed 59 people, most of them young. As grief turns to anger, thousands have taken to the streets demanding justice and…
Ukraine: Russia considers US ceasefire proposal, claims it is regaining Kursk region
US officials have arrived in Moscow to discuss a proposed thirty-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Special envoy Steve Witkoff hopes to persuade Russia to agree to the deal, which Ukraine accepted earlier…
Portugal: voter frustration as another election is called
Voters in Portugal are growing frustrated as another snap election looms, with little hope for stability. Prime minister Luis Montenegro’s centre-right government collapsed after losing a confidence motion, forcing the president to call…
Ukraine / USA: first all military aid, now intelligence sharing is paused
Donald Trump’s administration has reportedly halted, at least partially, intelligence sharing with Ukraine, a move that could severely impact Kyiv’s defence against Russia. National security adviser Mike Waltz and CIA Director John Ratcliffe…
