https://www.scmp.com/rss/322263/feed The latest breaking news, politics and current affairs from Europe. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The EU must “act now” to ensure Europe stays in the AI race with the US and China, French AI firm Mistral’s Chief Executive Arthur Mensch told a summit of the bloc’s leaders on Friday. The leaders heard from Mensch and Nobel Prize winner Geoffrey Hinton, widely known as one of the “godfathers” of AI, as they discussed how Europe can balance its AI ambitions with its desire to protect citizens from the growing risks posed by the technology. “Europe has all the technology and the talent to lead... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374405/eu-leaders-told-act-now-stay-ai-race-us-and-china https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374405/eu-leaders-told-act-now-stay-ai-race-us-and-china Fri, 13 Nov 2026 17:20:31 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi When massive lay-offs took place at BMW’s manufacturing base in northeast China – the German carmaker’s largest production hub worldwide – the entire city felt the shock. Starting from November 2, BMW Brilliance – a joint venture between the German brand and Chinese firm Brilliance Auto where BMW holds a 75 per cent share – in Shenyang, Liaoning province, began a major round of lay-offs, aiming to cut an estimated 1,800 to 2,000 jobs, multiple sources told the South China Morning Post. “You’re... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3374366/chinese-carmaker-rivalry-sparks-bmw-layoffs-and-blowback-chinas-rust-belt https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3374366/chinese-carmaker-rivalry-sparks-bmw-layoffs-and-blowback-chinas-rust-belt Fri, 13 Nov 2026 10:30:03 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A lightsaber used by Darth Vader in the Star Wars films The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi sold on Thursday for nearly US$5 million in an auction. The lightsaber, which was used in the climactic duel in Cloud City where Vader tells Luke Skywalker “I am your father”, sold for US$4.875 million at the Ultimate Star Wars Auction held by Heritage Auctions in London, Britain. The sale marks a world auction record for any Star Wars collectible, according to Heritage Auctions. The sale also... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374272/darth-vaders-lightsaber-used-i-am-your-father-duel-sells-nearly-us5-million https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374272/darth-vaders-lightsaber-used-i-am-your-father-duel-sells-nearly-us5-million Thu, 12 Nov 2026 23:32:29 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Urgent action is needed to help countries hardest-hit by the effects of climate change, small island leaders said on Thursday at the United Nations climate talks in Turkey, describing global warming as a life-or-death issue for their people. “It is time to move past the talking,” said Alix Sebastien Pillay, vice-president of Seychelles, who said the survival of his country, a 115-island archipelago in the Indian Ocean, is at stake. “For Seychelles, climate action is not simply an environmental... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374271/climate-vulnerable-nations-urge-immediate-action-un-cop31-summit https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374271/climate-vulnerable-nations-urge-immediate-action-un-cop31-summit Thu, 12 Nov 2026 23:01:00 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Pro-Palestinian activists have asked a French court to ban an Israeli real estate fair in Paris which they say offers a bonus to prospective Jewish settlers in the occupied territories, sources told Agence France-Presse on Thursday. The Franco-Palestinian NIDAL association filed an emergency motion to a court against the 9th Icube real estate and investment salon, arguing that the fair violates human rights. The event is to take place on Sunday at the European Centre for Judaism in the French... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374269/pro-palestinian-group-seeks-ban-israeli-property-fair-paris https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374269/pro-palestinian-group-seeks-ban-israeli-property-fair-paris Thu, 12 Nov 2026 21:26:51 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and US envoy Jared Kushner said Thursday Europe would join the next round of talks with Russia, as Vladimir Putin indicated Moscow will not compromise on its hardline demands to end almost five years of war. In a packed day of shuttle diplomacy following negotiations in Abu Dhabi, Kushner and fellow envoy Steve Witkoff held over four hours of talks with Putin in the Kremlin before jetting to debrief Zelensky in Dublin. As they spoke to journalists on the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3374265/putin-indicates-he-will-not-compromise-ukraine-meeting-us-envoys https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3374265/putin-indicates-he-will-not-compromise-ukraine-meeting-us-envoys Thu, 12 Nov 2026 19:05:17 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Armed robbers stole goods worth more than €1 million (US$1.1 million) from a De Beers jewellery shop in Paris on Thursday before fleeing on scooters, authorities and a police source told Agence France-Presse. The suspects, carrying long guns, targeted the shop in the city’s 2nd arrondissement at around 11am local time. During the robbery, they brandished their weapons but did not open fire, and no one was injured, according to the Paris police. A police source estimated the value at more than €1... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374261/armed-robbers-flee-paris-de-beers-store-goods-worth-hundreds-thousands https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374261/armed-robbers-flee-paris-de-beers-store-goods-worth-hundreds-thousands Thu, 12 Nov 2026 14:36:14 +0000 Reuters Reuters Britain’s ⁠media regulator Ofcom ⁠said on Thursday ⁠it had fined Meta £450,000 (US$597,000) for providing inaccurate information about its WhatsApp Business service in response to requests it made as part of its ‌telecoms market review. Ofcom reviewed the market for business bulk SMS text messages in 2025 to better understand the services available to businesses. Ofcom sought information in 2025 about WhatsApp for Business, including messaging ⁠volumes and revenues. The regulator said Meta had... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374238/uk-fines-meta-us597000-over-repeated-inaccuracies-whatsapp-data https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374238/uk-fines-meta-us597000-over-repeated-inaccuracies-whatsapp-data Thu, 12 Nov 2026 12:00:47 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Russia and Ukraine agreed to a large exchange of prisoners of war, both sides said Wednesday as two days of US mediated talks concluded, but they announced no major breakthrough on ending the conflict that began after Moscow’s full-scale invasion nearly five years ago. Hopes had been low for any significant development in the first meeting in nine months between the delegations. Russia and Ukraine have from time to time swapped POWs but have remained far apart in their demands for accepting a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374117/russia-ukraine-agree-prisoner-exchange-talks-end-without-major-breakthrough https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374117/russia-ukraine-agree-prisoner-exchange-talks-end-without-major-breakthrough Wed, 11 Nov 2026 14:54:11 +0000 Reuters Reuters Schools across Italy were evacuated on Wednesday after around 6,300 of them received bomb warnings, the latest in a series of threats and cyberattacks around Europe against supermarkets, blood banks, air ‌traffic and broadcasters. Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland said many of their schools also received a similar email threat from abroad, but it was quickly classed as a hoax and did not disrupt classes. In Italy, many parents had to drop what they were doing and hurry to... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374103/over-300-italian-schools-evacuated-after-receiving-same-emailed-bomb-alert https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374103/over-300-italian-schools-evacuated-after-receiving-same-emailed-bomb-alert Wed, 11 Nov 2026 11:47:16 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A federal judge has allowed US President Donald Trump’s multibillion-dollar defamation suit against the BBC to proceed, rejecting a bid by the British broadcaster to dismiss the case. Trump has accused the BBC of deceptively editing a documentary to make it seem as if he was inciting violence when he told supporters to march on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. He has sought at least US$5 billion each for one claim of defamation and a separate claim under a Florida consumer protection law. US... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3374096/us-judge-rejects-bbc-bid-dismiss-trump-defamation-case https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3374096/us-judge-rejects-bbc-bid-dismiss-trump-defamation-case Wed, 11 Nov 2026 11:16:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters A general strike by 4 million Spanish workers – around one-fifth of the total workforce – against the country’s housing crisis was mostly peaceful on Wednesday, unions said, though by the evening clashes erupted in some areas of Barcelona and Madrid. Workers endured stormy weather to set up picket lines, with large marches taking place in Madrid, Barcelona and cities across Spain less than three weeks before a snap general election. In the evening, clashes between police and some protesters... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374082/spanish-workers-stage-huge-general-strike-1st-14-years-angry-over-housing https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374082/spanish-workers-stage-huge-general-strike-1st-14-years-angry-over-housing Wed, 11 Nov 2026 09:57:57 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press World leaders began arriving on Wednesday to start formal discussions at the United Nations climate change conference in Turkey, hoping to agree on concrete actions to curb global warming after a year of deadly floods, heatwaves and other climate-related disasters. But what can and will be accomplished at the 11-day Conference of the Parties, called Cop31, remains to be seen. Past talks have been criticised for making promises that later fell flat, and some big names are missing from this year’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3374065/world-leaders-begin-un-climate-talks-amid-concerns-action-global-warming-too-slow https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3374065/world-leaders-begin-un-climate-talks-amid-concerns-action-global-warming-too-slow Wed, 11 Nov 2026 09:11:32 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The US Justice Department on Tuesday announced charges against three men it described as “Iranian operatives”, including one already in jail, over their role in an alleged terrorist plot at Britain’s RAF Fairford airbase. Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani allegedly helped plan and direct the September incident at the base, which has been used by the US military in its operations against Iran. Police were called to the Fairford site in southwest... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374002/us-charges-3-iranian-operatives-over-uk-airbase-plot https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3374002/us-charges-3-iranian-operatives-over-uk-airbase-plot Tue, 10 Nov 2026 23:48:14 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The 82-year-old estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was ordered to jail Tuesday because he removed an electronic monitoring device from his ankle, just days after he was charged with possession of child sexual abuse material. Thomas Markle was arrested and appeared in federal court in Tampa, Florida, after authorities learned he had cut off the device at 1.45am, First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said. “Release conditions are court orders, not suggestions,” Essayli... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3373999/thomas-markle-father-meghan-cut-ankle-monitor-days-after-arrest https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3373999/thomas-markle-father-meghan-cut-ankle-monitor-days-after-arrest Tue, 10 Nov 2026 20:44:24 +0000 Reuters Reuters ⁠A senior US ⁠Army soldier was arrested in ⁠Britain on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence, British police said on Tuesday, after the US removed aircraft from British military bases over a separate apparent threat from Iran. FBI Director Kash Patel ‌said the arrest of the 41-year-old man related to “allegations of espionage, which is of the utmost concern to the United States and our allies”. Brigadier General Sean Stinchon, the commanding general of US Army Counterintelligence Command,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373997/senior-us-soldier-arrested-uk-over-suspected-espionage-russia https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373997/senior-us-soldier-arrested-uk-over-suspected-espionage-russia Tue, 10 Nov 2026 20:20:35 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse After recent attacks on supermarket fridges, home appliances could be next, the EU’s cyber chief said on Tuesday, as he urged Europe to invest more to counter growing cyber threats. Supermarkets in at least 12 European countries were hit by cyberattacks in October and November, with France the worst affected. “Security should not and cannot be an afterthought,” Juhan Lepassaar, executive director of the EU’s cybersecurity agency ENISA, said. “Today it was fridges, tomorrow it could be routers,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373993/after-fridge-hacks-home-appliances-could-be-next-eu-cyber-chief-warns https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373993/after-fridge-hacks-home-appliances-could-be-next-eu-cyber-chief-warns Tue, 10 Nov 2026 17:36:36 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press British children’s author and comedian David Walliams used his fame to groom girls and young women for sex, two British news outlets reported on Tuesday. ITV News and the Guardian newspaper said their joint investigation featured interviews with multiple women who gave first-hand accounts of Walliams’ conduct. One woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by Walliams at his London home when she was 15, while others accused him of grooming them when they were teens. Walliams, 55, denied the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373989/uk-childrens-author-david-walliams-accused-sexual-misconduct https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373989/uk-childrens-author-david-walliams-accused-sexual-misconduct Tue, 10 Nov 2026 15:12:41 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Prominent climate change activist Greta Thunberg arrived on Tuesday at the UN climate meeting, where she emphasised the need to protect people and the planet over profits and power. This year’s meeting – called the Conference of the Parties, or Cop31 – comes after a year of climate-induced heatwaves and other disasters. As she arrived at the meeting venue in Antalya, Turkey, Thunberg, 23, said climate change is “threatening everything” and that “everything and everyone we love is at stake”. “We... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373987/activist-greta-thunberg-arrives-un-climate-talks-turkey https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373987/activist-greta-thunberg-arrives-un-climate-talks-turkey Tue, 10 Nov 2026 14:25:48 +0000 Thomas O. Falk Thomas O. Falk Last month, Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier left for his first state visit to China since 2018, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz took off for Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul on a tour meant to reduce German dependence on China. Steinmeier’s office let it be known he was travelling “as a European”. Earlier in October, Merz and France’s President Emmanuel Macron won the backing of fellow EU leaders for new trade weapons, including one that could, in extreme cases, shut a country out of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3373738/europe-urgently-needs-solidarity-china https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3373738/europe-urgently-needs-solidarity-china Tue, 10 Nov 2026 12:30:21 +0000 Reuters Reuters Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for their first peace talks since February as US President Donald Trump’s envoys launched a new push to end the war in Ukraine. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the US-brokered meeting as very productive, without giving details. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the talks “constructive and quite substantive”, and said they had included humanitarian and security issues. Addressing reporters later in Denmark, Zelensky... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3373976/russia-ukraine-hold-us-backed-talks-first-time-february https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3373976/russia-ukraine-hold-us-backed-talks-first-time-february Tue, 10 Nov 2026 12:12:29 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The United States has withdrawn military aircraft from a second British airbase following a threat from Iran, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing people familiar with events. A number of American refuelling tankers were evacuated on Monday from Mildenhall Royal Air Force (RAF) base in eastern England after the purported threat, the newspaper said. Sky News said on Tuesday that 12 aircraft – nine tankers and three Osprey transporters – left Mildenhall on Monday, citing flight tracking... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373947/us-withdraws-9-military-aircraft-second-uk-airbase-after-iran-threat-reports https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373947/us-withdraws-9-military-aircraft-second-uk-airbase-after-iran-threat-reports Tue, 10 Nov 2026 09:27:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse UK author M. John Harrison won the Booker Prize on Monday for his enigmatic novel The End of Everything, which echoes concerns about artificial intelligence in a darkly satirical depiction of post-apocalyptic Britain. Harrison, 81, became the oldest winner of the award, which comes with a £50,000 (US$67,000) prize and a boost in sales and profile for the winner. A veteran of the British science fiction literary scene, it was Harrison’s first time being shortlisted for the coveted prize, which... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373860/m-john-harrison-wins-booker-prize-end-everything https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373860/m-john-harrison-wins-booker-prize-end-everything Tue, 10 Nov 2026 01:07:45 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse France’s five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner announced on Monday he would run in next year’s presidential election, after expressing concern about the “rise of the far-right”. “My name is Teddy Riner and today, I am telling you face to face: I am a candidate in the 2027 presidential election,” the 37-year-old said in a surprise announcement on social media. Riner, one of the greatest judokas in history, said in the two-minute-37-second video that he feared France could soon become deeply... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373852/frances-macron-welcomes-judo-star-teddy-riners-entrance-2027-presidential-race https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373852/frances-macron-welcomes-judo-star-teddy-riners-entrance-2027-presidential-race Mon, 09 Nov 2026 22:18:40 +0000 dpa dpa Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has pulled out of making a joint speech with the Duke of Sussex in Brussels about online child safety because she is “not strong enough” after her father’s arrest. Prince Harry and Meghan had both been due to deliver the keynote address to the European Parliament on Tuesday. The duchess will still join Harry at the event but has decided not to speak after Thomas Markle appeared in a US court on Friday charged with possession of child abuse material. “She’s just not... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373846/meghan-markle-pulls-out-brussels-speech-after-dads-arrest-over-child-sex-abuse-images https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373846/meghan-markle-pulls-out-brussels-speech-after-dads-arrest-over-child-sex-abuse-images Mon, 09 Nov 2026 17:53:50 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Iran says French accusations that it was responsible for cyberattacks on supermarket fridges last month were “baseless”. “Iran’s foreign ministry categorically rejects the French government’s baseless and one-sided accusations against Iran regarding alleged cyber activities in France,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that it “strongly condemns this hackneyed policy of levelling accusations against the Islamic republic”. France said on Monday that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373845/french-officials-suspect-iran-behind-fridge-cyberattacks-sources-say https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373845/french-officials-suspect-iran-behind-fridge-cyberattacks-sources-say Mon, 09 Nov 2026 16:42:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse British comedian and TV star Russell Brand was Monday jailed for more than 10 years for a string of sex offences including rape, as the judge told him he had been a “sexual predator” whose fame had protected him. Brand, 51, showed no emotion as judge Joel Bennathan said he had acted with “staggering arrogance” and shown “contempt” for his victims, who had suffered significant and lasting harm. “About 20 years ago Russell Brand, you were becoming famous, you were clever, and in many people’s eyes... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373841/uks-russell-brand-sentenced-10-1/2-years-jail-rape-sexual-assault https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373841/uks-russell-brand-sentenced-10-1/2-years-jail-rape-sexual-assault Mon, 09 Nov 2026 14:54:52 +0000 Reuters Reuters French Prime ⁠Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Monday he was bringing forward a planned hike in the minimum wage to December from January, as he sought to defuse a cost-of-living crisis that has sparked some of France’s worst civil unrest in years. The government has faced a series of protests in recent weeks which started over underfunded schools but have morphed ‌into broader protests, including riots in major cities on October 17 that caught security forces off guard. France’s national... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373836/french-pm-brings-forward-minimum-wage-hike-calm-protesters https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373836/french-pm-brings-forward-minimum-wage-hike-calm-protesters Mon, 09 Nov 2026 13:40:45 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse An explosion ripped through a steel plant in western Turkey on Monday, killing 17 people, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowing to find out who was responsible. The blast occurred around midday at the HABAS steel factory about 60km (37 miles) north of the port city of Izmir, officials said. “Sixteen people lost their lives in the explosion, while 13 others are receiving medical treatment, two of whom are in critical condition,” Erdogan said. “The circumstances surrounding this tragic... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373832/turkey-steel-factory-blast-kills-6 https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373832/turkey-steel-factory-blast-kills-6 Mon, 09 Nov 2026 13:12:03 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The announcement of stricter rules for migrants wishing to settle in Britain has ended a lamentable period of anxiety and uncertainty for former Hong Kong residents forging a new life in the country. When the plans were first proposed in May last year, Hongkongers living in the United Kingdom under a special visa scheme for British National (Overseas) passport holders feared there would be drastic changes to their pathway to citizenship. The proposals, intended to ease public concerns about high... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3373590/britain-must-stop-moving-goalposts-hongkongers-bno-scheme https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3373590/britain-must-stop-moving-goalposts-hongkongers-bno-scheme Mon, 09 Nov 2026 12:30:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Hungarian police took nationalist ex-leader Viktor Orban’s brother into custody on Monday, according to a press report shared by Prime Minister Peter Magyar. Pro-EU conservative Magyar won a landslide election victory in April to end 16 years in power for Orban, promising to investigate alleged corruption and abuse of office during his rival’s rule. “According to press reports, Viktor Orban’s brother, Aron Orban, has been taken into custody on suspicion of human trafficking,” Magyar wrote on... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373823/police-detain-brother-hungarys-ex-pm-orban https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373823/police-detain-brother-hungarys-ex-pm-orban Mon, 09 Nov 2026 12:00:33 +0000 Daisy Wu Daisy Wu In late March 2023, Sergio Ermotti’s telephone rang. Then, he was serving as chairman of Swiss Re and set to renew his term, comfortably ensconced in what appeared to be a dignified, settled chapter of an illustrious banking career. On the other end of the line was UBS chairman Colm Kelleher. A day earlier, Kelleher’s bank had agreed to buy fallen rival Credit Suisse for 3 billion Swiss francs (US$3.66 billion) in a historic, state-brokered rescue – and urgently required a battle-tested hand to... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3373783/ubs-sergio-ermotti-crises-shaped-bank-and-navigating-regulatory-webs https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3373783/ubs-sergio-ermotti-crises-shaped-bank-and-navigating-regulatory-webs Mon, 09 Nov 2026 08:01:47 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The 24-year-old with far-right views who killed six people and wounded 15 others in a shooting in a Polish city square died in hospital on Monday, police said. The attacker, wearing military-style clothing and a bulletproof vest, drove into the Main Square in Krakow’s Old Town and opened fire. The location is a major tourist destination in Poland’s second-largest city, and several foreigners were among the dead and wounded. Police said the man – who has not yet been officially named – initially... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373776/gunman-who-killed-6-polish-city-square-dies-hospital https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373776/gunman-who-killed-6-polish-city-square-dies-hospital Mon, 09 Nov 2026 07:46:19 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Prince Harry attended a Remembrance Sunday event in a small English town, far away from Britain’s main ceremony to honour the country’s war dead led by his father, King Charles. Ceremonies are held at war memorials across Britain on the Sunday closest to Armistice Day, November 11, which marks the peace agreement that ended World War I. The Sun and the Daily Mail tabloid newspapers posted photographs online of former British Army captain Harry, in a dark suit with military medals, chatting to... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373720/king-charles-and-prince-harry-mark-remembrance-day-separately https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373720/king-charles-and-prince-harry-mark-remembrance-day-separately Sun, 08 Nov 2026 20:05:03 +0000 Reuters Reuters Britain’s culture minister, Lisa Nandy, said on ⁠Sunday there ⁠was still a problem ⁠with sexual abuse in the media industry after Russell Brand, once a high-profile comedian and actor, was convicted of raping a woman and sexually assaulting three more. Brand’s conviction on Thursday ‌renewed scrutiny of how Britain’s entertainment industry has treated well-known performers accused of abusing their power, with some women saying they feared speaking out could harm their careers. Asked whether... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373718/media-industry-still-has-problem-sexual-abuse-uk-culture-minister-says https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373718/media-industry-still-has-problem-sexual-abuse-uk-culture-minister-says Sun, 08 Nov 2026 18:35:55 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Tens of thousands of people dressed in red thronged the streets of Amsterdam on Sunday to denounce ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza, carrying signs reading “Stop the Genocide”. Organisers said some 20,000 people attended the “red line” protest, demanding that the Dutch government take action against Israel. “Stop sending weapons to Israel,” one of the protesters, Steven Eisinger, a 33-year-old robotics engineer originally from the United States, told Agence France-Presse, wearing a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373715/tens-thousands-dutch-protesters-take-amsterdam-streets-support-palestinians https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373715/tens-thousands-dutch-protesters-take-amsterdam-streets-support-palestinians Sun, 08 Nov 2026 16:35:44 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Thousands of people protested across France on Saturday in a new show of anger against the government with clashes erupting between police and some protesters in Paris despite a lower turnout than in previous weeks. The protests marked the fourth consecutive weekend of demonstrations against the rising cost of living which have erupted as the country heads to presidential elections in five months’ time where the far-right sees its best chance yet to win power. A total of 146,000 people took part... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373669/clashes-paris-after-new-french-protests https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373669/clashes-paris-after-new-french-protests Sat, 07 Nov 2026 18:05:42 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Six people were killed and at least 15 wounded on Saturday when a gunman opened fire in the landmark historic centre of Poland’s second city of Krakow, in the country’s deadliest shooting in decades. Three bodies – of two women and a man – were later found at the suspect’s home, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, adding there was “much to suggest that they are members of the [suspect’s] immediate family”. Tusk also announced Poland would hold two days of mourning over the shooting that he... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373667/5-killed-shooting-tourist-heart-krakow-poland https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373667/5-killed-shooting-tourist-heart-krakow-poland Sat, 07 Nov 2026 16:33:05 +0000 Bob Savic Bob Savic China has framed its relationship with Switzerland as a model of practical, mutually beneficial cooperation at a time when its broader ties with the European Union remain more complicated and politically charged. Just before Swiss President Guy Parmelin’s recent visit to Beijing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman noted that 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership, with adherence to free trade singled out as its principal... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3373312/china-switzerland-trade-partnership-offers-model-amid-fraught-eu-ties https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3373312/china-switzerland-trade-partnership-offers-model-amid-fraught-eu-ties Sat, 07 Nov 2026 12:30:05 +0000 Reuters Reuters Bomb threats warning “the clock ⁠is ticking” were sent to TV stations across Europe on Friday, prompting evacuations and programming to be suspended. Warnings were sent to Irish broadcaster RTE, Britain’s Sky, Bulgarian private station Nova TV and others, the companies said. No bombs were found at any affected site. RTE programmes were replaced by music and a pre-recorded ‌message, some for as long as three hours. The alerts follow a string of hoax bomb threats that has disrupted passenger... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373611/clock-ticking-european-tv-channels-targeted-wave-hoax-bomb-threats https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373611/clock-ticking-european-tv-channels-targeted-wave-hoax-bomb-threats Fri, 06 Nov 2026 15:31:04 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The European Union is investigating the possible misuse of EU funds earmarked for the renovation of a Spanish railway line where a train crash killed 69 people, prosecutors said on Friday. The October accident on the Madrid-Seville high-speed line was one of the worst railway disasters in Europe this century, overshadowing Spain’s coming general election this month. A similar investigation into the same stretch of track had already been opened in March in the wake of another accident that... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373589/eu-investigates-fraud-spain-rail-funds-after-fatal-madrid-crash https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373589/eu-investigates-fraud-spain-rail-funds-after-fatal-madrid-crash Fri, 06 Nov 2026 12:16:52 +0000 Jim Au Yeung Jim Au Yeung An EU funding crunch is threatening to stifle the bloc’s ambitions to expand its influence in Southeast Asia, as Brussels grapples with a budget deadlock that could slow infrastructure investments across the fast-growing region. The funding squeeze could hinder the green transition and regional connectivity goals of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, even as Brussels seeks greater strategic autonomy amid competition with Beijing’s economic clout. Analysts expect the European Union to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3373510/eus-southeast-asia-push-hits-funding-crunch-china-widens-lead https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3373510/eus-southeast-asia-push-hits-funding-crunch-china-widens-lead Fri, 06 Nov 2026 06:30:22 +0000 Vasilis Trigkas Vasilis Trigkas At their October meeting in South Korea last year, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, recognising mutual vulnerability to export restrictions, agreed to suspend some of the most draconian measures they had imposed on each other: US port fees on Chinese-built vessels and Chinese export controls on rare earths. They also announced further summit-level talks. The leaders have since met twice: Trump visited Beijing in May, Xi visited Washington in September. They are... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3373140/chances-are-us-china-truce-will-be-extended-shenzhen-apec-summit https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3373140/chances-are-us-china-truce-will-be-extended-shenzhen-apec-summit Fri, 06 Nov 2026 01:30:06 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Hundreds of thousands of striking workers protested across France on Thursday against the rising cost of living following weeks of youth-led demonstrations, with police firing tear gas as clashes broke out in some cities. The marches come as the euro zone’s second-largest economy battles to redress its dire finances, six months ahead of elections to replace President Emmanuel Macron, with the far-right leading in the opinion polls. While the CGT union put Thursday’s turnout at 1.6 million across... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373463/mass-protests-sweep-france-again-workers-strike-and-march-dignified-wage https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373463/mass-protests-sweep-france-again-workers-strike-and-march-dignified-wage Thu, 05 Nov 2026 20:23:56 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Russell Brand, the risqué comic who bragged for years of his sexual exploits, was convicted Thursday of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others on allegations dating back years. The British actor-comedian faces a “significant” prison term when he is sentenced Monday, Judge Joel Bennathan said. Brand had been free, but he was taken into custody after the judge rejected a bail request to let him see his kids because of the possibility he might flee. “I regret the hardship caused to... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373453/british-actor-russell-brand-faces-prison-after-rape-sexual-assault-conviction https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373453/british-actor-russell-brand-faces-prison-after-rape-sexual-assault-conviction Thu, 05 Nov 2026 14:54:59 +0000 Reuters Reuters A Finnish court on Thursday jailed the Russian captain and an Azerbaijani crew member of the cargo ship Fitburg for aggravated sabotage over damage to two subsea ‌telecommunications cables in the Gulf of Finland last year. Finland on December 31 seized the vessel in the Gulf of Finland while it was en route from Russia to Israel, on suspicion that it had damaged cables running from Helsinki to Estonia. The Helsinki District Court sentenced the captain to three years and six ⁠months in prison and... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373432/finland-jails-russian-cargo-ship-captain-over-baltic-sea-cable-sabotage https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373432/finland-jails-russian-cargo-ship-captain-over-baltic-sea-cable-sabotage Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:30:38 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Bomb threats targeted more than a dozen flights in Europe on Thursday, leading to a slew of emergency landings and military escorts in some cases, authorities said. No hazardous or suspicious materials have been found in what a British official called “malicious” hoaxes. Several similar threats targeted planes earlier this week, prompting searches and diversions, with at least 25 flights targeted, officials said. Europe has experienced a slew of other disruptions recently, such as attacks on... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373414/bomb-threat-forces-ireland-italy-flight-divert-french-airbase https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373414/bomb-threat-forces-ireland-italy-flight-divert-french-airbase Thu, 05 Nov 2026 10:07:38 +0000 dpa dpa Philippine investigators are examining whether Thomas Markle Jnr, the half-brother of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was involved in alleged child sexual abuse offences as an investigation into their father widens, according to the country’s interior secretary on Thursday. Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said witnesses had alleged that underage girls were brought to the younger Markle’s home. Markle Jnr was being treated as a “person of interest”, not a suspect, Remulla told reporters... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3373380/philippine-police-investigate-meghans-brother-markle-child-abuse-inquiry-widens https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3373380/philippine-police-investigate-meghans-brother-markle-child-abuse-inquiry-widens Thu, 05 Nov 2026 08:37:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Britain’s centuries-old parliament is at risk of a “Notre Dame-like” fire or other catastrophe if lawmakers continue to put off a major restoration project, MPs warned on Wednesday. Crumbling masonry, ageing electrics, frequent leaks and high asbestos levels are some of the problems besetting the Palace of Westminster, parts of which are more than 900 years old. Billions of pounds are required to renovate the estate, which sits within a Unesco World Heritage site, but parliamentarians have been... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373369/centuries-old-uk-parliament-risks-catastrophic-failure-over-delayed-revamp https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373369/centuries-old-uk-parliament-risks-catastrophic-failure-over-delayed-revamp Thu, 05 Nov 2026 07:28:53 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Bob Dylan came knockin’ on Pope Leo’s door on Wednesday, as the American singer-songwriter and poet visited the American pope at the Vatican during a break between concert dates in Italy. The Vatican said the encounter was brief, with Leo giving Dylan a rosary and Dylan presenting the pope with a copy of his autobiography, Chronicles: Volume One. Leo had quoted from an unpublished protest song Dylan penned in 1963, “Go Away You Bomb”, in his 2026 book Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift. Leo... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373316/bob-dylan-comes-knockin-popes-door-leo-welcomes-legend-vatican https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373316/bob-dylan-comes-knockin-popes-door-leo-welcomes-legend-vatican Wed, 04 Nov 2026 20:47:15 +0000