By Pierre Lefevre
Paris-based political reporter. Bylines from Paris, Rome and Madrid. Closely follows elections and coalition politics.
AI fakes and old clips muddy Ceuta border crossing coverage
During the Ceuta border surge, AI-generated images and old videos were shared as authentic. Reuters did not publish a viral photo of a soldi
Ukraine strikes Russian refineries as Moscow hits civilian targets
Ukraine hit oil refineries in Bashkortostan and Yaroslavl, about 700 km from the front. Russia responded with strikes on a train station and
Europe's defence shift tests the bloc's four neutral states
As the EU pours billions into defence, Austria, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus cling to neutrality. Their positions differ legally and politicall
Early social media use linked to lower grades in Italian students
A study of over 5,000 Italian pupils finds that joining social media before age 13 is linked to lower grades in Italian and maths by grade 8
Ceuta crisis deepens questions over Sánchez's role in EU
The Ceuta border crisis has exposed Spain's growing divergence from EU partners on migration, China, and defence. Critics label Sánchez a 'r
Morning Europe Briefing: Key Stories for August 6, 2026
Europe faces a scorching heatwave as EU ministers convene on climate resilience. Germany unveils a new industrial strategy, while France pre
European football bodies unite in open letter against FIFA's Infantino
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF have published an unprecedented joint open letter targeting FIFA president Gianni Infant
Migration, Mercosur, and housing: Europe's defining debates of the year
From migration management to the EU-Mercosur trade deal and the housing crisis, The Ring brings together MEPs to debate Europe's most pressi
Ukraine's ex-ambassador to US faces asset declaration probe
Ukraine's former ambassador to the US, Olha Stefanishyna, has been formally notified of her suspect status in an anti-corruption investigati
Ukraine intercepts none of 28 missiles in deadly overnight barrage
Ukraine's air force reported that none of the 28 missiles fired by Russia overnight were intercepted, while 115 drones were launched. At lea
EU channels €1.4 billion from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine after deadly strikes
The European Commission announced €1.4 billion in new funding for Ukraine, sourced from profits on immobilised Russian assets. Most of the m
Overnight Russian strikes kill 15 in Kyiv, sparking large fires
Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region killed at least 15 people and wounded 42 overnight. Firefighters battle