EUROPE

PUTIN SAYS RUSSIAN FORCES HAVE ENCIRCLED POKROVSK AS KYIV REPORTS FIERCE COUNTERATTACK

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that his forces have fully surrounded the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk and now control most of it, while Ukraine's top commander insisted that Kyiv's troops are still holding key positions and pushing back against renewed Russian assaults.

META ORDERED TO COMPENSATE SPANISH MEDIA FOR ‘UNFAIR COMPETITION’

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In a significant ruling on Thursday, a Spanish court found Facebook owner Meta liable for "unfair competition" and ordered it to pay local media outlets 479 million euros ($552 million) in compensation, along with 60 million euros in interest. The judgment sided with Spain's main media association (AMI), which filed a 2023 lawsuit accusing the US tech giant (also owner of Instagram and WhatsApp) of "systematically" violating EU regulations—which oblige companies to obtain users' consent for personalized advertising data—between May 2018 and July 2023.

POPE LEO XIV PURSUES PEACE MISSION AMID GLOBAL TENSIONS

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Pope Leo XIV's first foreign visit has drawn intense global attention as he embarked on a six-day peace mission to Turkey and Lebanon, two nations with deep historical ties to Christianity and complex modern political landscapes. The pope's journey began with a gesture that immediately resonated with Americans when he extended warm Thanksgiving wishes to journalists aboard his flight from Rome. His gratitude to the press, whom he thanked for their continued commitment to truth, signaled the central theme of his approach to global diplomacy. He emphasized that accurate storytelling is essential in a world increasingly destabilized by misinformation and conflict.

UKRAINE SECURES DEAL FOR UP TO 100 FRENCH-MADE RAFALE FIGHTER JETS AMID INTENSIFYING RUSSIAN ATTACKS

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Ukraine is set to receive up to 100 French-made Rafale F4 fighter jets under a sweeping new defence agreement signed in Paris, marking one of Kyiv's most significant commitments yet to strengthening its long-term air power. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the move "historic" after signing a letter of intent with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Villacoublay air base, where the two leaders stood in front of a Rafale jet and pledged deeper military cooperation.

ITALIAN GOVERNMENT DECLARES FEMICIDE A CRIME IN UNANIMOUS VOTE

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Italy's parliament has voted unanimously to define femicide, the killing of a woman because of her gender, as a distinct crime punishable by life imprisonment, marking a historic shift in how the country confronts violence against women. The vote took place on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, giving the decision added symbolic weight amid rising public concern over gender-based violence.

UKRAINIAN DRONE STRIKE FORCES RUSSIA TO HALT GLOBAL OIL EXPORTS

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Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, one of the country's most critical export hubs, was forced to suspend oil shipments on Friday after what local authorities described as a major Ukrainian drone attack, an incident that temporarily froze the movement of 2.2 million barrels per day, roughly 2% of the world's oil supply, according to industry sources.

BBC IN SEARCH FOR A NEW BOSS AFTER TIM DAVIE RESIGNATION

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The BBC officially began its search for a new chief on Monday, following Tim Davie's resignation. His departure stemmed from a misleading edit of Donald Trump that caused a dispute with the US president. The British broadcaster has since apologized for the edit, which erroneously suggested Trump had incited violent action prior to the 2021 assault on the US Capitol.

KING CHARLES MARKS BIRTHDAY WITH WALES VISIT

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King Charles' seventy seventh birthday unfolded in wet and blustery conditions as he journeyed to south Wales for a series of engagements that reaffirmed his commitment to public duty despite ongoing medical treatments. Accompanied by Queen Camilla, he visited Cyfarthfa Castle in Merthyr Tydfil, a site rich in cultural heritage where he met notable local figures, including celebrated actor and writer Ruth Jones. The castle reception featured a birthday cake modeled after the centuries-old landmark, reinforcing the spirit of celebration despite the heavy rainfall brought by Storm Claudia.