World / Europe

'Catastrophe' as Central Europe deals with deadly floods

'Catastrophe' as Central Europe deals with deadly floods

Emergency services are shoring up flood defences in Central and Eastern Europe after torrential rainfall swelled rivers and damaged thousands of homes. Storm Boris proved deadly in Romania, where four people were killed during floods in the south-eastern region of Galati. In the Czech Republic, f


Russia, Ukraine swap 206 war prisoners

Russia, Ukraine swap 206 war prisoners

Russia and Ukraine exchanged 206 prisoners of war on Saturday, said the Russian Defense Ministry. "A total of 103 Russian servicemen who were taken prisoner in Kursk region have been released. In exchange, 103 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been transferred," Russian Defense Ministry said in a st

A mini Russia emerges in Serbia as thousands flee war

A mini Russia emerges in Serbia as thousands flee war

On a sweltering summer morning in Serbia's capital Belgrade, Vadim Morus, a professional ice skater from Russia, glides across an outdoor rink. Morus is 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from his native Moscow, but is beginning to feel at home. He fled Russia with his fiancee in 2022, part of a wave of tens

German rail services 'massively disrupted' by technical fault

German rail services 'massively disrupted' by technical fault

Germany rail company Deutsche Bahn (DBN.UL) said on Saturday that train services in the centre of the country had been "massively disrupted", citing an unspecified technical fault.   In a statement on its website, the rail operator said trains would not leave their stations in the affected a

Russia to boost purchases of foreign currency, gold

Russia to boost purchases of foreign currency, gold

Russia will boost its purchases of foreign currency and gold by seven times as of Sept. 6, the country's Finance Ministry said on Wednesday. According to the ministry, it will allocate 172.9 billion rubles (about 1.98 billion US dollars) for purchases of foreign currency and gold under Russia's fi

Grenfell Tower fire inquiry blames deaths on incompetence

Grenfell Tower fire inquiry blames deaths on incompetence

A public inquiry into the devastating 2017 London Grenfell Tower blaze that killed 72 people blamed the disaster on failings by the government, construction industry and, most of all, the firms involved in fitting the exterior with flammable cladding. The fire ripped through the 23-storey social h

UK suspends 30 of its 350 arms export licences to Israel

UK suspends 30 of its 350 arms export licences to Israel

Britain will immediately suspend 30 of its 350 arms export licences with Israel because there was a risk such equipment might be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law, foreign minister David Lammy said on Monday. Lammy said the decision to suspend the licences did not

Ukraine criticises Mongolia’s failure to arrest Putin

Ukraine criticises Mongolia’s failure to arrest Putin

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Mongolia's failure to arrest visiting Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, wanted on an international warrant, dealt a severe blow to the international criminal law system. Putin arrived in Mongolia on Monday for talks likely to focus on a new gas pipeline