News from: BBC, DW & France24
- Brexit: UK-EU talks on Northern Ireland ‘to intensify’on 2021-04-16 at 09:26
The chief negotiators on both sides have held talks about the post-Brexit arrangements for NI.
- Denmark: Three die of salmonella poisoning linked to herbal remedyon 2021-04-16 at 07:04
Thirty-three people fall ill in an outbreak traced to a herbal remedy in Denmark.
- Russia tensions on menu as Macron holds talks with Ukraine’s Zelenskyby FRANCE 24 on 2021-04-16 at 06:23
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel hold talks on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a show of support for the former Soviet state, which fears a Russian invasion.
- US imposes sanctions on Russia over cyber-attackson 2021-04-16 at 02:27
Dozens of entities are targeted over attacks including alleged interference in the 2020 elections.
- TUI says summer holiday season can be savedon 2021-04-15 at 23:05
The boss of Europe’s biggest holiday company thinks successful vaccine programmes can prevent another washout.
- France toughens law on sex with minors under age 15on 2021-04-15 at 23:00
France toughened its age of consent law as the country’s parliament approved a legislation that characterizes sex with children under the age of 15 as rape. The legislation was passed unanimously.
- Greek and Turkish foreign ministers trade barbs at meetingon 2021-04-15 at 19:31
A meeting to mend broken relations between Greece and Turkey rapidly descended into open confrontation between the two countries’ foreign ministers.
- Washington seeks to expose Russian intelligence activityon 2021-04-15 at 19:17
The US has published a vast trove of amount of information about Russian intelligence activities.
- Denmark links deadly salmonella outbreak to herbal productson 2021-04-15 at 18:20
Authorities in Denmark are investigating after a salmonella outbreak that was linked to herbal medicine products. Three people with the specific bacterial strain have died.
- Rebuilding Notre-Dame cathedral… with 1,000 oak treeson 2021-04-15 at 18:15
Two years since the fire, workers are preparing for the reconstruction phase of the Paris landmark.
- Brexit: Euro MPs’ vote bolsters EU-UK trade dealon 2021-04-15 at 17:30
The key Brexit trade deal now stands a better chance of being ratified in Brussels.
- Spain passes child abuse law backed by UK pianiston 2021-04-15 at 16:48
MPs vote to widen protection for children, including extending time limits for reporting abuse.
- France urges citizens to leave Pakistan amid anti-French protestson 2021-04-15 at 13:48
An email from the French embassy warns of “serious threats” after anti-blasphemy protests.
- Russian court sentences Navalny ally Lyubov Sobol for trespasson 2021-04-15 at 13:12
Lyubov Sobol is a close aide to the jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
- Notre Dame: President Macron visits cathedral two years after fireon 2021-04-15 at 12:18
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks of the “collective pride” of the reconstruction efforts.
- Coronavirus: Ireland ‘on course to ease restrictions in May’on 2021-04-15 at 11:53
Officials also say they are on track for more than 80% of people to be offered a Covid-19 vaccine by June.
- Blood clot risk higher for COVID than vaccines — Oxfordon 2021-04-15 at 10:44
Oxford scientists said COVID-19 patients were eight times more likely to develop rare blood clotting from the coronavirus than the AstraZeneca vaccine.
- Mystery tree beast turns out to be croissanton 2021-04-15 at 10:22
Polish animal welfare officers responding to a call discover the creature is in fact a pastry.
- Germany, US urge Russia to pull back troops near Ukraineon 2021-04-15 at 02:37
Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joe Biden spoke by phone, discussing the security situation in Afghanistan and Ukraine, as well as the COVID pandemic.
- Why Russia may not be planning the invasion that Ukraine fearson 2021-04-14 at 23:22
President Biden’s proposal for a summit with Russia’s leader means the risk of an escalation has faded.
- Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid: Liverpool knocked out of Champions League after goalless draw at Anfieldon 2021-04-14 at 22:04
Real Madrid’s three first-leg goals are enough to knock Liverpool out of the Champions League after a goalless draw at Anfield.
- From cat haven to tourist hotspot: Rome to open Area Sacra archaeological siteby NEWS WIRES on 2021-04-14 at 20:56
History buffs will be able to roam the ruins of Rome’s “Area Sacra”, perhaps catching a glimpse of Julius Caesar’s ghost, after the site becomes an open-air museum next year.
- How social media is manipulated — and how Russia is involvedon 2021-04-14 at 19:49
Social media posts by Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky are being boosted with likes paid for on promotional sites. This also appears to be the case with other Russian political accounts, as DW has discovered.
- France’s top court clear Cardinal Barbarin in abuse caseon 2021-04-14 at 19:11
France’s highest court has cleared Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of charges that he covered up the sexual abuse of children by another priest.
- Is a ban on buying sex work effective? Sex workers say ‘no’on 2021-04-14 at 18:34
Five years ago, France banned the purchase of sex — but not the sale of it. The prostitition measures aimed to decrease the number of sex workers. The result, however, has seen services pushed into clandestine routes.
- Trouble ahead? Russia, US in Black Sea showdown over Ukraineby François PICARD on 2021-04-14 at 18:00
Is it a case of Putin putting Biden to the test over Ukraine? With two US warships headed to the Black Sea in response to a Russian troop build-up at the border, Moscow is announcing live fire drills in the same waters while Ukraine trumpets land manoeuvres for its military. We ask about a neighborhood that’s getting crowded and the timing of the sudden spike in tensions less than three months into the Biden presidency.
- EU puts faith in Pfizer jab with plan for 1.8 billion doseson 2021-04-14 at 16:14
The EU has announced plans to buy 1.8 billion doses of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine through 2023. The bloc is also bringing forward shorter-term Pfizer deliveries after suspending orders for the Johnson & Johnson jab.
- EU lays out 5-year plan against human traffickingon 2021-04-14 at 15:15
Sexually exploited women and girls make up the majority of human trafficking victims in the EU. Brussels is now boosting its response against smuggling networks.
- Ukrainian forces wary of Russian troop movements near eastern front lineby Gulliver CRAGG on 2021-04-14 at 14:11
Seven years after Ukraine launched an “anti-terrorist operation” against Russian-backed separatist forces, fighting has never really stopped in the country’s restive east. FRANCE 24’s correspondent Gulliver Cragg visited the front line, near the government-held port city of Mariupol.
- Hungary footballers’ row exposes gay rights spliton 2021-04-14 at 13:10
Two big names in Hungarian football, both based in Germany, have spoken out and one has been fired.
- Denmark terminates use of AstraZeneca vaccine in European firstby FRANCE 24 on 2021-04-14 at 12:53
Denmark on Tuesday announced it would stop using the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine altogether, becoming the first European country to do so over suspicions of rare but serious side effects.
- EU, India seek closer ties to fight coronavirus pandemicon 2021-04-14 at 11:39
Europe wants to enhance its partnership with India against COVID-19 and climate change. Delhi is pushing for an intellectual property waiver to facilitate vaccine production.
- NI riots: What is behind the violence in Northern Ireland?on 2021-04-14 at 09:05
Brexit, paramilitaries and the fallout from an IRA man’s funeral lie behind rising loyalist tension.
- Czech Republic: Obesity is big factor in fight against COVID-19on 2021-04-14 at 08:38
The Czech Republic has among the world’s highest COVID-19 deaths per capita. One of the biggest contributing factors? Widespread obesity.
- Covid: Every adult is vaccinated in Fair Isle, the UK’s remotest island communityon 2021-04-14 at 05:08
Fair Isle is one of the UK’s most remote communities – but every adult has now had a second vaccine.
- Germany to give different second vaccine to AstraZeneca recipients under 60by NEWS WIRES on 2021-04-14 at 02:38
People aged under 60 who have been given a first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in Germany will receive a different jab for their second dose, federal and regional health ministers agreed Tuesday.
- Biden urges Putin to ease Ukraine tensions, proposes summitby NEWS WIRES on 2021-04-13 at 19:00
US President Joe Biden told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to ease mounting tensions with neighboring Ukraine Tuesday, joining a pushback against a build-up of troops along their border which has raised alarm among NATO allies.
- France suspends all Brazil flights over Covid-19 variant fearsby FRANCE 24 on 2021-04-13 at 15:18
France is suspending all flights to and from Brazil to curb the spread of a new Covid-19 variant found in the South American country, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Tuesday.
- ‘I pray for a miracle’: Frenchman fights to be repatriated from Turkish prisonby Tiffany FILLON on 2021-04-13 at 12:35
The Istanbul Criminal Court sentenced Fabien Azoulay to 16 years and eight months in prison in 2017. His lawyers and relatives have been fighting ever since to have him repatriated to France. They have now decided now to publicise his case to put pressure on the French government.
- Ukraine: NATO slams Russia’s troop buildup on borderon 2021-04-13 at 11:53
NATO has vowed to back Ukraine amid tensions in the in eastern Donbass region. The Kremlin accused the US and NATO of turning Ukraine into a "powder keg."
- Another Round: Thomas Vinterberg on his Bafta winning filmon 2021-04-13 at 11:30
The director dedicated the film to his daughter, Ida, who died four days into filming.
- UK: ‘World’s biggest rabbit’ stolen from homeon 2021-04-13 at 11:10
The Guinness World Records rabbit Darius has been stolen from his home. But who did it?
- US officials tour Europe to shore up allied support on Russia, China and Iranby FRANCE 24 on 2021-04-13 at 09:38
Top US officials are in Europe this week seeking to shore up allied support on countering Iran and China as well as recent Russian moves at the Ukraine border. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Berlin on his inaugural tour of Europe while Secretary of State Antony Blinken went to Brussels on Tuesday for talks on Ukraine and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
- Denmark tells Syrian refugees to return to Damascuson 2021-04-13 at 07:50
Zero asylum seekers — that is essentially the Danish government’s ultimate goal. Now, it is ordering Syrian refugees to return to Damascus, which Copenhagen says is safe.
- Europe’s Covid-19 death toll surpasses one million as cases continue to riseby NEWS WIRES on 2021-04-13 at 01:33
Europe passed the grim milestone of one million coronavirus deaths on Monday, as the World Health Organization warned that infections are rising exponentially despite widespread efforts aimed at stopping them.
- The anti-vax movement targeting German childrenon 2021-04-12 at 23:49
An anti-lockdown, anti-vaccine movement with ties to the far right has recruited hundreds of children.
- A London high street comes back to life as the UK reopenson 2021-04-12 at 19:07
As nonessential businesses reopen, DW talked to business owners and patrons in North London to see if this lockdown will really be the last.
- Nevskaya Manufaktura: Fire destroys historic factory in St Petersburgon 2021-04-12 at 16:22
One firefighter has died and two are seriously hurt after a massive blaze at a historic factory in St Petersburg.
- Where has the spring weather gone?on 2021-04-12 at 16:10
BBC Weather presenter, Owain Wyn Evans, explains the chilly temperatures and teaches us a new word.
- Calls for ‘coherent’ EU policy on AstraZeneca as public trust faltersby Nicole TRIAN on 2021-04-12 at 16:00
A mixed bag of vaccine strategies that determine who gets which vaccine prevails across the EU and the UK following revelations of possible links between AstraZeneca and blood clots, prompting calls for a “coherent” policy amid fears of growing confusion and lagging public confidence over vaccination rollouts.
- Russia: Prison guards threaten to force-feed Alexei Navalnyon 2021-04-12 at 15:46
The jailed Kremlin critic has lost several kilograms since starting a hunger strike at the end of March. Navalny’s allies say he has been refused access to his personal doctor.
- In Belarus, protest movement struggles to regain momentumby Gulliver CRAGG on 2021-04-12 at 14:18
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s authoritarian regime is doing its best to prevent a revival of the protests that marked the second half of last year. Opposition leaders are in jail or in exile. New so-called “anti-extremist” laws make it dangerous to even show the protest movement’s red and white colours. Buildings that happen to be in those colours are being repainted. Many opposition supporters are struggling to keep up morale, but others are doing just that by finding inventive new forms of activism.
- Massive fire engulfs historic Saint Petersburg factoryby NEWS WIRES on 2021-04-12 at 14:16
A spectacular fire gutted a historic factory in Russia’s second city Saint Petersburg on Monday, sending clouds of black smoke over the former imperial capital.
- Journalist murdered in Greece: Police suspect contract killingon 2021-04-12 at 13:31
Police reporter Giorgos Karaivaz died after ten bullets hit him in the head and chest. The nation is in shock as politicians in Athens react.
- UK: Boris Johnson launches probe into lobbying scandalon 2021-04-12 at 13:30
An independent commission is set to investigate the dealings of former British Prime Minister David Cameron with collapsed financial firm Greensill Capital.
- Man shot dead outside Paris hospital in apparent ‘targeted killing’by FRANCE 24 on 2021-04-12 at 13:21
An unidentified gunman calmly shot dead a man and badly injured a woman outside a Paris hospital on Monday before fleeing the scene on a scooter, police and witnesses said.
- Paris: Deadly hospital shooting was ‘not terror-related’on 2021-04-12 at 12:43
A shooting has taken place in the French capital outside of a hospital owned by the Red Cross. One victim is said to have succumbed to his injuries.
- Yuri Gagarin: Sixty years since the first man went into spaceon 2021-04-11 at 23:38
The BBC speaks to the woman who, as a child, witnessed Yuri Gagarin’s return to Earth 60 years ago.
- Dutch crew rescued from ‘near-capsize’on 2021-04-06 at 17:12
The crew were forced to abandon ship when the sea got really rough.