Europe
France: cement firm goes on trial for financing terrorism
Cement maker Lafarge, part of Swiss-based Holcim, will face trial in France for financing terrorism and violating European sanctions to keep a Syrian plant operational. The investigation, ongoing since 2016, is one of…
Serbia: hundreds protest against proposed lithium mining
Hundreds of protesters in Loznica, Serbia, have rallied against a planned lithium mining project by Rio Tinto in the region. This followed the ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s rejection of a draft law banning…
EU: von der Leyen calls for tougher migrant deportations
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has suggested that the EU could learn from Italy’s controversial new policy of processing migrants offshore in Albania. She has proposed new legislation to increase deportations,…
Ukraine: Zelensky optimistic as he meets different leaders
Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed optimism that the current battlefield dynamics could create a chance to end Russia’s invasion by 2025. Speaking at a summit meeting in Dubrovnik, Croatia, he highlighted the importance of…
EU: von der Leyen criticises Hungary’s policies
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has sharply criticised Hungary's foreign policies, accusing Viktor Orban of endangering European security. In a speech to the European parliament, she took aim at Hungary's reluctance…
Ukraine: Russia captures strategic town
Russia has captured the strategic eastern Ukrainian town of Vuhledar, a significant blow to Ukraine as it faces its third wartime winter. Russian soldiers have raised their flag over the devastated town, once…
Russia: journalists associated with Navalny put on trial
Four Russian journalists have gone on trial in Moscow, accused of involvement in an ‘extremist’ group linked to FBK, an organisation set up by the late dissident Alexei Navalny. The defendants face up…
Austria: far-right politician is the man to beat
Herbert Kickl, the far-right leader of Austria’s Freedom Party (FPO), is the man to beat in the parliamentary election on 29 September despite being one of the country’s least popular politicians. Known for…
Serbia: judo champion suspended for making the sign of the cross
Serbian judo champion Nemanja Majdov has been suspended for five months by the International Judo Federation (IJF) for making the sign of the cross during the Paris Olympics. The 28-year-old did this before…
Central Europe: Storm Boris causes widespread devastation
Central Europe has been severely affected by Storm Boris, bringing heavy rain and snow and causing flooding across Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Austria, with at least 24 reported deaths. In Poland,…
