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Pope urges Europe to protect migrants in visit to Island Frontier

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday pressed Europe to do more to protect and integrate migrants as he visited Italy's Lampedusa island, a major port of call for those risking the perilous crossing from Africa. His trip to the migration frontline was a stark message to both EU and US leaders in a period of both growing intolerance and indifference. The Catholic Church's first US pope, who has clashed with President Donald Trump's administration over its treatment of migrants, chose to mark July 4, the United States' 250th anniversary of independence, at a migration hotspot. Leo's visit also comes just two weeks after the European Union's approval of new migrant rules allowing much broader detention powers and the creation of deportation centres outside the bloc. "From this far-flung corner of Europe on the Mediterranean Sea, one can more clearly perceive the momentous challenge that the phenomenon of migration poses to European societies," Leo told crowds...

Outgoing UK PM Starmer says successor cannot spend less time on foreign affairs

Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer said whoever succeeds him would have to devote as much time to international crises ​and diplomacy as he did, rejecting suggestions Britain's next leader ‌could focus more heavily on domestic issues. Starmer, who announced last month that he would step down after two years in office, said in a ​BBC interview on Friday that foreign and domestic policy ​could not be separated as Britain faced an increasingly ⁠volatile world. "There's often this discussion - what's the right balance ​between dealing with international affairs and dealing with domestic affairs? They're ​one and the same thing," he said. Asked whether a prime minister could spend less time on diplomacy than he had, Starmer replied: "No, I don't ​think it is possible." Starmer has faced criticism from some opponents over ​the amount of time he has spent on foreign policy. Lawmaker Andy Burnham, widely ‌expected ⁠to replace Starmer, has promised to focus on domestic priorities including living standards, housing, infrastructure and devolving more power to Britain's regions. In a video titled "With Keir" and posted on X on Saturday, ​Starmer defended the ​international focus ⁠of his premiership, saying Britain had restored its global standing. He cited support for Ukraine and ​participation in international coalitions among his key achievements. "The ​fact ⁠that now other countries look to us for that leadership is something I'm really proud of having delivered in the two ⁠years we've ​had in government," he said. Starmer also ​pointed to stabilising the economy, reducing child poverty and improving the National Health ​Service among his key accomplishments.

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