General

A trial of “immense significance” for the future of France began this week, said Florian Harms on T-Online (Berlin). Marine Le Pen, 57-year-old head of the far-right National Rally (RN) party, was convicted last year of embezzling millions of euros of EU funds, handed a four-year prison sentence and banned from running for office for

Britain’s resident doctors are embroiled in ongoing industrial action over an intractable pay dispute, which has been running since March 2023. Average pay for resident doctors (previously junior doctors) has risen, in total, by 28.9% since then, with a pay rise of 8.8% awarded by the last government, and three separate rises given by Labour

Cases of scabies are rising across the UK, with health experts struggling to account for the sudden increase. In the second week of January, GPs reported just under 900 cases of scabies across England, which was nearly 20% higher than the same period the year before. And as doctors are only required to report cases

Delegations from the US, Ukraine and Russia have met together for the first time since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago, buoying hopes of a peace deal despite continued sticking points over territory. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that talks overnight between Vladimir Putin and the US had been

Members of Islamic State have escaped from Syrian prison camps, renewing fears that the country’s fledgling government is struggling to contain thousands of militant prisoners and their relatives, including British-born Shamima Begum. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-dominated militia that runs many prison camps in northeast Syria, said they had to abandon the notoriously

Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem delivers an address from an unknown location, January 27, 2025. (Photo: Screenshot/Al Manar TV/Reuters TV via Reuters) The Muslim world faces “a major confrontation” with the U.S., the West, and Israel, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said in a message to party fighters on Saturday.  Amidst the growing tensions in

Iranians search for loved ones among body bags on the ground outside Kahrizak Forensic Medical Centre in Tehran, Iran, January 11, 2026. (Photo: Social Media via Reuters) Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ordered the Supreme National Security Council on Jan. 9 to suppress the protests in Iran “by all necessary means,” according to a report

IDF Chief Eyal Zamir speaks with the parents of slain Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili. (Photo: IDF) IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir stopped by a rally on behalf of Israeli hostage Ran Gvili, held on Friday, to deliver a message of hope to his parents, saying there was “room for optimism” regarding their son’s

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 3, 2025. (Photo: Iranian Supreme Leader's Office via ZUMA Press Wire) Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has moved to an underground bunker in Tehran due to increased signs of a U.S. military strike on the country, Iran International reported.  The opposition-affiliated Iran International reported