Europe

Pope Leo XIV departed the Canary Islands for Rome on Friday aboard a Falcon plane provided by King Felipe VI, following a technical fault with his original aircraft. The flight, delayed by half an hour, took off shortly after 6:00 pm and is expected to arrive by 11:00 pm.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy extended an invitation for a direct meeting with Vladimir Putin, proposing a “full ceasefire” in an open letter. This marks a rare direct appeal since Russia’s invasion in 2022, aiming to resolve the conflict through personal engagement.

Austrian protesters blocked the Brenner Pass on Saturday to demand action against rising traffic noise and pollution. Authorities closed the vital highway from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, although traffic disruptions were less severe than anticipated, according to early reports. Local leaders seek urgent infrastructure reform.

Football fans clashed in Budapest ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final, with local police reporting fights involving supporters of Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal. The Budapest Police have launched a criminal investigation for violent disorder and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify further individuals involved in the altercations.

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