EUROPE

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Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks of the war overnight Thursday, striking a major Moscow oil refinery for the second time in a week and grounding flights across the Russian capital. Massive fires erupted at the Moscow Oil Refinery, located roughly 15 kilometers from the Kremlin, sending thick black smoke billowing over the city as the facility burned.

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Technology companies have had more than enough time to make their platforms safe for children, UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said ahead of an expected announcement by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on new restrictions targeting social media use by teenagers.

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A private school in Moray that was co founded by Oscar winning actress Tilda Swinton is set to close after trustees announced that financial challenges have made it impossible for the institution to continue operating.

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The United Kingdom may need to make "different choices and different priorities" as it faces escalating threats from Russia, according to the country's chief of defence staff.

Sir Richard Knighton issued the warning during an appearance on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, where he described the current moment as "the most dangerous period" in decades and said the nation must prepare for potential "longer conflicts."

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The BBC announced plans to cut 550 jobs across news, nations and TV and radio content as the first stage of a drive to save £500m over the next two years. In an email to staff, Jonathan Munro, interim CEO of BBC News, outlined proposals that include ending Radio 4’s The World Tonight and reducing the number of permanent presenters on Today from five to four from September, with a single anchor on Saturdays.

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Primavera Sound in Barcelona has been thrown into chaos after severe weather forced the last-minute cancellation of several headline performances, leaving thousands of festival goers frustrated and confused. Organisers confirmed that acts including Massive Attack, Doja Cat and Bad Gyal were unable to perform due to safety concerns linked to strong winds and heavy rain.

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An Oslo court on Monday sentenced Marius Borg Hoiby, the stepson of Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon, to four years in prison after convicting him of two counts of rape and one count of domestic violence. The 29-year-old, who joined the royal family in 2001 when his mother Mette-Marit married the Crown Prince, was acquitted on two other counts of rape. Hoiby had pleaded not guilty to the most severe charges while admitting to some lesser offenses, and he retains the right to appeal the verdict.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sent an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin proposing a face-to-face meeting to end the war. Zelensky stated that relying on a shift in U.S. political attention is the wrong approach, arguing that peace can only be achieved through direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. He also requested a full ceasefire for the duration of the proposed talks, a condition that Putin had already ruled out earlier on Thursday.