Europe

Violence erupted in Barcelona following Spain's first general strike in 14 years, with protesters throwing fireworks at police and setting bins ablaze after four million workers walked off the job. The industrial action was driven by a housing and cost-of-living crisis ahead of a snap election.

The United Kingdom has appointed the world’s first special representative for climate security, a move designed to address the intersection of environmental challenges and global geopolitical stability.

Chris Cash, the former parliamentary researcher acquitted of spying for China, has claimed he was used as a "fall guy" by UK security services to dramatize foreign espionage threats, revealing over 6,000 messages that discuss sensitive political matters but contain no evidence of payment or allegiance to the Chinese state. The charges against Cash and his associate Chris Berry were ultimately dropped after the prosecutor determined that the government could not legally classify China as an "enemy" at the time of the alleged offenses.

Two-time Olympic champion Tatjana Smith will compete for the Netherlands at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, citing financial challenges and increased high-performance support as the primary motivators for switching allegiances from South Africa. The swimmer, who holds dual citizenship, made the announcement via a tearful Instagram video, acknowledging that the decision may disappoint her former supporters but emphasizing that it allows her to pursue her Dutch heritage and a more sustainable career.