On New Year’s Day, Bulgaria becomes the 21st country to join the euro currency union, furthering its integration into the European Union. But the historic milestone arrives amid political instability and skepticism among ordinary people fueled by fears of price rises. Story by Luke Shrago.
Continue ReadingRobbers used a large drill to break into a German savings bank’s vault room and steal cash, gold and jewelry worth some 30 million euros ($35 million), police said Tuesday. While the criminals remained at large, hundreds of distressed bank customers massed outside the branch on Tuesday demanding information, but were kept at bay by […]
Continue ReadingAn overnight Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa wounded at least four people, three of them children, Ukrainian authorities said Wednesday. The city’s energy, transport and port infrastructure, as well as residential buildings, have been frequent targets of Russian strikes since the early days of the war. Follow our liveblog for […]
Continue ReadingEurostar said on December 30 it was restarting services over a power supply problem in the Channel tunnel. Travellers were left scrambling to find alternatives after the operator postponed all services between London, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. FRANCE 24’s Olivia Bizot spoke to some in Gare du Nord in Paris.
Continue ReadingUkraine said on Tuesday said there was no evidence that it had launched a drone attack on one of President Vladimir Putin’s homes, located in Russia’s Novgorod region. The Kremlin said on Monday it would “toughen” its stance in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine due to a “terrorist” attack on the residence.
Continue ReadingRussia accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack on Vladimir Putin’s residence, vowing to respond and warning it would toughen its position on a possible peace deal. Vladimir Putin also told Russian army commanders to press on with their offensive in Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine has denied the accusations and said the reports would undermine the peace […]
Continue ReadingUS President Donald Trump said he was “very angry” to hear from Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine had tried to attack his residence in northern Russia on Monday. Moscow provided no evidence for claims that Ukraine dismissed as baseless and aimed at derailing arduous peace talks. Russia’s foreign minister referred to the attack as […]
Continue ReadingRussia accused Ukraine on Monday of having fired dozens of drones at one of President Vladimir Putin’s homes, an accusation that Ukraine called a “lie” aimed at undermining US-led efforts to end the war. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who does not typically announce drone strikes, said Ukraine had fired “91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles” […]
Continue ReadingSpeaking at a joint press conference, both US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were cautiously optimistic about negotiations over the 20-point peace plan for Ukraine. But progress made doesn’t include issues of security guarantees for Ukraine, nor the country’s eastern Donbas region. So what is blocking the negotiations?
Continue ReadingThe US has offered Ukraine “solid” security guarantees for the next 15 years with the possibility of an extension, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday after talks with the US president at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Kyiv is seeking guarantees for a longer time period.
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