A fresh shock from the Middle East has sent energy markets reeling and reopened a debate Europe hoped it had settled.Months after stepping away from Russian fuels, EU capitals now face sharp price jumps and renewed political pressure as supplies tighten.After Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the EU moved quickly to cut dependence on Moscow. Oil flows from Russia have almost disappeared for...

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides has called for a frank review of the UK’s two sovereign military bases on the island, saying their presence is a legacy of colonial rule and needs to be discussed once tensions in the Middle East ease.The bases at Akrotiri and Dhekelia were established under the 1960 treaty that granted Cyprus independence, with Britain retaining sovereignty over roughly...

France heads to second-round municipal votes on Sunday in contests seen as an early barometer for the 2027 presidential campaign.Attention is focused on major cities where control could shift political momentum — notably Paris and Nice.In the capital, Socialists are scrambling to hang on after a quarter-century of centre-left leadership. Rachida Dati, the right-wing challenger, has closed the...

Dame Jenni Murray, the broadcaster best known for presenting BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, has died at the age of 75.She led the programme for more than three decades and left in 2020 as its longest-serving host.Murray joined Woman’s Hour in 1987 and became famous for sharp, revealing interviews with a wide range of public figures. Her guests included political leaders and cultural icons,...

A final report by the European grid body says a chain of technical problems — not a single fault — triggered the massive power outage that paralysed Spain and Portugal in April 2025.On 28 April, shortly after midday, large parts of the Iberian peninsula lost electricity.The disruption knocked out phone and internet services, halted public transport and closed schools and businesses; some...

Two people were detained on Thursday evening after they tried to gain access to the Faslane naval base, home to the UK’s nuclear-armed submarine fleet.Police Scotland said a 34-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were arrested at HM Naval Base Clyde at around 5pm near Helensburgh in Argyll and Bute.Authorities confirmed inquiries are ongoing as officers investigate the circumstances...

A ski gondola came loose and tumbled down Mt Titlis at the Engelberg resort in central Switzerland on Wednesday, killing a 61-year-old local woman.Police in the canton of Nidwalden say the cabin detached from its cable around 11:00 (10:00 GMT) as it climbed the middle section after leaving Trübsee station.Dramatic footage from the scene shows the gondola flipping several times before coming to...

A small French town has found itself in the social media glare after an unusual name clash in its local election.Incumbent mayor Charles Hittler is contesting a runoff against Antoine Renault-Zielinski, a coincidence that has sent the internet into a frenzy.Arcis-sur-Aube, a community of about 2,785 people roughly 160km southeast of Paris, heads to the polls in a municipal run-off this...

Households face a sharp rise in energy costs from July, with consultancy Cornwall Insight projecting an increase of roughly £332 a year for a typical dual-fuel home.The firm estimates the annual bill under Ofgem's price cap for July to September would reach about £1,973, up from the current level of £1,641.Cornwall Insight is updating its outlook weekly because of large swings in wholesale...

Crown Princess Mette-Marit has spoken publicly for the first time since revelations about her ties to Jeffrey Epstein, saying she feels she was misled and expressing regret over the association.In a 20-minute interview with national broadcaster NRK, the 52-year-old royal said she wishes she had never met Epstein and apologised for not checking his background more carefully.She became emotional...