Europe

Pope Leo XIV, recovering from lung cancer surgery, called Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging a ceasefire in Oleshky, Ukraine. The Vatican highlighted the dire humanitarian situation, with approximately 2,000 civilians needing safe evacuation and aid. Putin acknowledged the Pope’s humanitarian efforts and expressed gratitude for his involvement.

A Norwegian teenager, Johannes Kongsnes Natland, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for planning an assassination in the UK, lured by a €25,000 contract. Arrested in March 2025, police uncovered firearms in his hotel room, linked to the Foxtrot Network, a Swedish criminal gang.

Britain and France unveiled a pilot “one in, one out” scheme under which migrants arriving via small boats to the UK will be detained, returned to France and, in exchange, an equivalent number of asylum seekers with UK family ties will be admitted each week, potentially limited to around 50 people.

Ursula von der Leyen has defied her critics by comfortably surviving a no-confidence vote, with an overwhelming number of European Union legislators rejecting a censure motion against her.

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