By Pierre Lefevre
Paris-based political reporter. Bylines from Paris, Rome and Madrid. Closely follows elections and coalition politics.
Lavrov rebuffs Berlin's plea to de-escalate as Germany-Ukraine tensions rise
Sergey Lavrov dismissed German calls to abandon escalation, accusing Berlin of being Ukraine's main sponsor. He also warned that Western amb
Pope Leo XIV reaches Lourdes after record Paris Mass
Pope Leo XIV landed at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées airport on Saturday evening to begin the Lourdes leg of his four-day France trip. His Paris M
Trump turns down Iranian plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Iran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the US lifts its naval blockade and sanctions. President Trump reportedly
Athens blast kills six as building collapses in Plaka district
Six people have died after an explosion caused a building to collapse in Athens' Plaka district. The victims include four US tourists and a
C8 Summit and MOL-Naftogaz Oil Deal Expose Fragile Hungary-Ukraine Ties
Hungary and Ukraine clashed publicly over Budapest's participation in the Carpathian Eight summit. The disclosure of an oil-storage deal bet
Europe Evening Briefing: September 26, 2026 – Key Updates
From Brussels to Berlin, here are the top stories shaping Europe this evening. Key political shifts, economic moves, and cultural highlights
Granada protests swell after Madrid eviction of 87-year-old
Protests erupted in Granada and other Spanish cities after 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal was evicted from her Madrid home. Demonstrators de
European Parliament honours Greek rapper murdered by Golden Dawn
A theatrical monologue at the European Parliament commemorated Pavlos Fyssas, the Greek rapper murdered by a Golden Dawn member in 2013. The
Macron and Pope Leo XIV clash over secularism, AI, and bioethics at Élysée
President Macron and Pope Leo XIV met in Paris, presenting divergent views on secularism, AI, and bioethics. The Pope warned against AI misu
US diesel export ban would squeeze Europe's fuel supply and prices
A US diesel export ban would not empty Europe's fuel stations overnight, but it would push prices up and force governments to intervene. Fra
Turkey agrees to hand over Bashiqa-Zilkan base to Iraq
Turkey will gradually transfer control of the Bashiqa-Zilkan military base in northern Iraq to Baghdad. The deal follows Iraqi progress in s
Europe's top leagues demand FIFA governance overhaul amid Infantino pressure
The Premier League and Europe's other leading leagues have jointly called for fundamental governance reform at FIFA. Their statement follows