“This is the first cardinal to be prosecuted in a Vatican criminal court”, said FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Rome, Italy, Seema Gupta.” Cardinal Angelo Becciu is the most senior Vatican official to face such charges; “the 75-year-old cardinal was a former advisor to Pope Francis, so he was somebody who would meet with the pope and he was seen as a papal contender”. 

French actor Gerard Depardieu’s Legion d’Honneur medal is under review following a string of allegations about sexual aggression and a TV documentary in which he was heard making lewd comments about women. 

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday called for an “intelligent compromise” over a controversial immigration bill as his government battles a political crisis following the rejection of the flagship legislation in parliament.

Talking Europe sat down with the prime minister of Bulgaria, Nikolai Denkov, during a crucial EU summit that approved the start of EU accession talks for Ukraine and Moldova – but failed to find an agreement on budget support for Ukraine. We take the political temperature in the summit room with our guest, and discuss some regional and Bulgarian developments as well – notably Sofia’s efforts to join the Schengen free travel area, which is currently under negotiation between Bulgaria, Romania, Austria and the European Commission. 

Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been removed from a prison near Moscow and taken to an undisclosed location, his spokeswoman said Friday, citing a court representative.

Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned the International Olympic Committee rules mandating Russian athletes compete at the Paris Olympics as neutrals.