Europe

Young children among migrants rescued from English Channel

Two small children were among the dozens of migrants rescued from the English Channel on Tuesday after a summer that has seen record numbers attempt the dangerous journey from France. This year, hundreds of boats carrying migrants have attempted the dangerous crossing from France to England, often in small, inflatable …

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Russia, Ukraine trade accusations over annexed Crimea

Russia’s FSB security service on Tuesday accused Ukraine of organizing an attack on a gas pipeline in Russian-annexed Crimea, an allegation rejected by Kiev which said Moscow was trying to punish prominent Crimean Tatar figures. The FSB accused the Ukrainian military intelligence service and the Mejlis, the outlawed representative body …

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UK to extend Northern Ireland’s Brexit grace periods

Britain plans to further extend post-Brexit grace periods on some goods imports to Northern Ireland, Brexit minister David Frost said on Monday, in a move designed to give London and Brussels more time for talks about trade with the province. The fate of British-ruled Northern Ireland was the most contentious …

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German ambassador to China dies two weeks into the job

Germany’s ambassador to China Jan Hecker died suddenly, less than two weeks after taking up his post, the European nation’s foreign office said on Monday. Hecker, 54, a foreign policy adviser to Chancellor Angela Merkel, had presented his credentials at China’s foreign ministry on August 24, the embassy in the …

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Ex-EU commissioner named Greek civil protection minister

Greece appointed its first civil protection minister on Monday in a broad revamp of its civil defense mechanisms following sharp criticism of the government’s response to a spate of devastating wildfires this summer. The new minister is Christos Stylianides, a former European Commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management. During …

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Major fire rages in building in Italian city Turin

A major fire broke out in the centre of the northern Italian city of Turin on Friday, forcing around 100 people to be evacuated from their homes, emergency services said. The fire started in the attic of building close to the main train station and soon spread to adjacent properties, …

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German health minister says 90% of intensive care patients haven’t received Covid-19 jab

Germany’s health minister has warned that Covid-19 is becoming the “pandemic of the unvaccinated” as 90% of the country’s intensive care patients are those who refused a potentially life-saving shot. Speaking on Friday, Health Minister Jens Spahn said people who have not been vaccinated against the virus have a responsibility …

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