2025, third hottest year on record

The French government successfully navigated two no-confidence votes from hard left and far right parties, which criticized its handling of the EU-Mercosur trade deal approved last week. French farmers have expressed concerns that the deal will undermine local agriculture by introducing cheaper imports from South America.

For the first time since the end of World War II, France has reported more deaths than births, with 651,000 deaths compared to 645,000 births in 2025, indicating a significant demographic shift. This trend suggests that France's historical demographic advantage within the EU is diminishing as the nation grapples with an ageing population and declining birth rates.

The European Union has committed to providing Ukraine with a substantial $105 billion loan, aimed primarily at enabling the country to purchase weapons and military platforms from European manufacturers, reinforcing its defense capabilities amid ongoing conflict.

Ukraine is set to gain access to a €90 billion EU loan, enabling the purchase of military equipment from non-European suppliers, as outlined by the European Commission. This financial support is contingent on Russia paying reparations, with discussions about utilizing frozen Russian assets still ongoing.

British vets have been compelled to chase lorries on the motorway to Dover due to the overwhelming paperwork required by inspectors in Calais, a situation described as “pure hell” by Toby Ovens of Broughton Transport. He characterized the post-Brexit logistics as a nightmare and expressed hope for a reset with the EU that could provide relief.

Authorities in Jharkhand, India, are on high alert as they search for a single-tusked elephant responsible for the deaths of 22 people during a rampage through villages and forests in West Singhbhum district. The elephant, which appears to have become separated from its herd, has been causing destruction since early January.

Russia is actively seeking ways to bypass US sanctions to maintain India's high levels of crude oil imports, as the country has become the world's second-largest buyer of discounted Russian oil since the onset of the Ukraine conflict.