Europe

Russia has reported further territorial gains in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, with its forces capturing two villages in eastern Ukraine.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government on Friday, accusing its anti-Israel policies of fostering antisemitism after an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue. The Adass Israel synagogue was firebombed during morning prayers, injuring one and causing extensive damage. Worshippers inside reported masked assailants throwing incendiary devices through the windows.

Poland’s Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called for Russia’s suspension from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) during a meeting in Malta on Thursday, accusing Moscow of attempting to rebuild its empire. Sikorski led a walkout of European delegations in protest against Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s presence.

One of the few areas of collaboration between global nuclear powers, the International Space Station (ISS), is set to end its operational life by 2030. The ISS, a joint effort between NASA, Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada), has been a hub for groundbreaking experiments since its launch in 1998. However, its decommissioning marks the conclusion of an era in international space cooperation.

President Joe Biden’s pick to command the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa has been promoted to full general.

Belgian authorities have launched a fraud investigation into former European Union Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders, just days after his term ended. The probe, announced Wednesday, centers on potential money laundering activities, according to the Brussels prosecutor general’s office.

President-elect Donald Trump reportedly joked to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about annexing Canada as the 51st U.S. state if trade tariffs prove too challenging. The comments were made during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago last Friday, according to multiple reports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed a growing interest in peace negotiations with Russia, reportedly considering a deal that would trade NATO membership for the surrender of Russian-occupied territories.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte cautioned President-elect Donald Trump against brokering a Ukraine-Russia peace deal that could favor Moscow. Rutte expressed concerns that such an agreement could embolden adversaries like China, Iran, and North Korea, creating long-term security risks for both Europe and the United States.

When Henry the Eighth died in 1547, his nine-year-old son by Jane Seymour, Edward the Sixth, reigned for six years. He advanced Protestantism in England,...