EUROPE

PUTIN AGREES TO ENERGY STRIKE HALT BUT REJECTS FULL UKRAINE CEASEFIRE

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a temporary halt on strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure but declined to endorse the full 30-day ceasefire proposed by President Donald Trump. This marks the first mutually agreed suspension of attacks in the three-year conflict, though fighting will continue elsewhere on the battlefield.

PORTUGAL FACES THIRD ELECTION IN THREE YEARS AS PM MONTENEGRO LOSES CONFIDENCE VOTE

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In a dramatic political upheaval, Portugal is hurtling toward its third general election in barely three years after Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's right-of-centre minority government collapsed on Tuesday. Lawmakers decisively rejected Montenegro's confidence motion by 142 to 88, with zero abstentions.

PUTIN AGREES TO CEASEFIRE—WITH STRINGS ATTACHED, ZELENSKYY CALLS IT MANIPULATIVE

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed support for a ceasefire in Ukraine while simultaneously imposing substantial preconditions that could derail peace efforts. "The idea is right - and we support it - but there are questions that we need to discuss," Putin stated during a Moscow press conference.

RUSSIAN SPY RING OF BULGARIAN NATIONALS FOUND GUILTY IN UK

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In one of the largest foreign intelligence operations uncovered in Britain, three Bulgarian nationals have been convicted of espionage for Russia. Vanya Gaberova, 30, Katrin Ivanova, 33, and Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, were found guilty of conspiracy to spy after a trial at the Old Bailey that revealed a sophisticated network operating across Europe.

A MAFIA EXECUTION: THE BLOODY END OF JEAN-PIERRE MALDERA

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The dark world of organized crime resurfaced in brutal fashion this week as Jean-Pierre Maldera, a notorious former mafia figure, was gunned down in broad daylight on a French motorway. Maldera, once a key player in the "Italo-Grenoblois" criminal syndicate, met his end in a hail of bullets, reportedly from military-grade weapons such as a Kalashnikov rifle.

TRANSPORT PARALYZED IN PARIS AFTER BOMB IS UNEARTHED

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A massive 500-kilogram World War II bomb unearthed near tracks outside Paris brought travel to a standstill on Friday, impacting thousands of passengers and causing significant disruption at the Gare du Nord train station. The station, France's busiest railway terminus and a key international hub serving London and mainland Europe, saw all traffic halted as authorities worked to safely remove the device.

NORTHVOLT FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY IN SWEDEN

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Northvolt, a Swedish electric car battery maker once hailed as a cornerstone of Europe's efforts to rival Asia and the United States in battery cell production, has filed for bankruptcy in Sweden. The company, founded in 2016, struggled with debt, slow demand, and production delays, ultimately failing to secure the necessary financing to continue operations. The setback follows BMW's cancellation of a €2 billion ($2.2 billion) order in May 2024.

DENMARK TO END LETTER DELIVERING SERVICE

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Denmark's state-run postal service, PostNord, will end its 400-year-old letter delivery service at the end of 2025 due to a 90% drop in letter volumes since the start of the century. The company will begin removing Denmark's 1,500 post boxes from June.