Firefighters on the Spanish Island of La Palma have retreated due to intensifying volcanic explosions. The Cumbre Vieja volcano started erupting on Sunday with thousands evacuated and more than 350 homes destroyed. On Friday, authorities in three more towns told residents to evacuate. A thick plume of smoke now extends four kilometres (2.4 miles) into […]
Aukus France and the US have made efforts to end a row which started last week with the announcement of the Aukus defence pact between the US, UK and Australia. The pact cost France a deal worth $37bn (£27bn) to build submarines for Australia. Paris said it found out only hours before the public […]
President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party looks set for a majority in the country’s parliamentary election, after a vote dogged by allegations of fraud. An exit poll predicted a resounding victory for the ruling party. The Kremlin’s most vocal critics were barred from running in the election, and there have been numerous reports of ballot […]
A Smart Voting app devised by jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been removed from Apple and Google stores on the day Russians start voting in parliamentary elections. Russian authorities had threatened to fine the two companies if they refused to drop the app, which told users who could unseat ruling party candidates. Parliamentary […]
Coronavirus pandemic About 3,000 health workers in France have been suspended because they have not been vaccinated against Covid-19. A new rule, which came into force on Wednesday, made vaccination mandatory for the country’s 2.7 million health, care home and fire service staff. But French Health Minister Olivier Véran said on Thursday that “most […]
Pope Francis has warned the threat of anti-Semitism is “still lurking” in Europe, during a brief trip to Hungary. He was speaking after meeting Hungary’s populist and anti-immigrant PM Viktor Orban, with whom he has stark differences on the issue of refugees. Mr Orban has also been accused of an anti-Semitic stance, but he has […]
By Francesca Gillett BBC News Europe migrant crisis France has hit out at the UK over plans to turn back some boats carrying migrants across the Channel to England. The government wants the Border Force to turn away boats – but only in limited circumstances under a pre-authorised policy signed off by Home Secretary […]
Chancellor Angela Merkel has targeted the centre-left favourite in the race to succeed her, in what is likely to be her final appearance before MPs. In a bid to bolster her own party’s candidate ahead of Germany’s 26 September elections, the outgoing leader was bitterly critical of Olaf Scholz, whose SPD is leading the polls. […]
Thousands of demonstrators have blocked roads in southern Montenegro in a protest over the enthronement of a new Serbian Orthodox Church archbishop. Angry crowds threw stones at police and pulled down security fences around the monastery in the city of Cetinje where the ceremony will take place on Sunday. Demonstrators shouted “This is not Serbia!” […]
Iceland’s prime minister has urged the nation’s football association to root out sexual abuse after it was accused of covering up assault allegations against national team players. Katrin Jakobsdottir said she was saddened by allegations that have plunged Iceland’s football governing body (KSI) into crisis. KSI apologised to the women involved before its entire board […]
