A top far-right German politician says he will pull back from campaigning for the upcoming EU elections – although he will remain his party’s lead candidate. The latest controversy comes after the Alternative for Germany (AfD)’s Maximilian Krah told an Italian newspaper that SS members weren’t automatically “criminals”. “It depends. …

Gen Popov was sacked in July 2023 after complaining publicly about Russian military problems in Ukraine. In a widely-shared voice message, he said: “It was necessary either to keep quiet and be a coward or to say it the way it is.” “I had no right to lie in the …

Ukraine has battled endemic corruption since the first days of its independence in 1991, and government officials and independent campaigners alike say that fight is key to winning the existential war it is fighting with Russia. They have had some success. Anti-corruption organisation Transparency International ranks Ukraine at its highest …

Eagles changed their migration routes across Ukraine to avoid fighting and because their habitats were likely damaged or destroyed by war, say scientists. The researchers believe the Greater Spotted Eagles skirted around dangers including artillery fire, jets and tanks as well as buildups of troops. They fly through Ukraine every …

Homes were evacuated and many schools closed after a flurry of earthquakes hit the area around Naples in southern Italy. More than 160 earthquakes were recorded on Monday evening and overnight. The strongest, of magnitude 4.4, happened around 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT) near the town of Pozzuoli. Italy’s National …

Emmanuel Macron will fly to New Caledonia on Tuesday night to “set up a mission” on the riot-hit island, France has confirmed. France’s president will travel to the island after more than a week of unrest there over his government’s voting reform plans, which have been rejected by indigenous Kanaks. …

It’s an alleged coup plot featuring a German aristocrat, a “massive arsenal” of weapons and the belief that Queen Elizabeth II’s death might have been a secret “signal” to act. The trials of people allegedly connected to the so-called Reichsbürger movement are underway with those accused of being ringleaders set …

The indictment also says that the nine Egyptian men were part of a smuggling gang and charged each passenger between $4,000 and $8,000 (£3,100-£6,300) for a spot on the boat. The prosecution’s charges are based on interviews, conducted by the coastguards themselves, of nine other survivors in the days after …

Spain has demanded a public apology after Argentina’s president said the Spanish prime minister’s wife was “corrupt”. Without directly naming her, Javier Milei made the remarks about Begoña Gómez, wife of Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez, at a far-right political rally in Madrid. Prosecutors called for a preliminary inquiry into Ms …

Watching old footage of Mr Zelenksy being sworn in is like viewing a different Ukraine. The comedian-turned-president looks fresher faced. He enthusiastically greets crowds and even jumps to kiss a man on the forehead. No stubble, no stern expression, just an excited grin. You also don’t see people cheer any …

Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee, told the BBC he was disappointed there had not been more improvements to the Metro in the lead-up to the Games. But he said it would have required a change in the law and “monumental” investment to make a significant impact in …

The alleged assailant has not been formally named, but Slovak reports have widely identified him as 71-year-old Juraj Cintula from the town of Levice. Local media have described him as a poet who has been involved in political organisations with various ideologies. Mr Kalinak said in a previous update that …

The Vovchansk police chief has been helping to evacuate front-line border villages in the Kharkiv region, where Russian forces have recently been advancing. Parked up in his police car, he tells us the scale of attacks has increased dramatically. “Over the past six months, we were hit by glide bombs …

Georgia’s youth, vocal in their desire to join the EU and radicalised by events in Ukraine, have given new momentum to opposition parties in protesting against a new and deeply controversial law. The law was passed by parliament, then vetoed by the president, but is expected to be come into …

Ms Zourabichvili – an opponent of prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze – was widely expected to veto the law. Meanwhile, Mr Kobakhidze has called on youth protesters to select at least 10 representatives to join a public discussion with him on the controversial law. According to The Interpressnews agency reported on …

Mr Zelensky also told AFP more soldiers were desperately needed at the frontlines. “There are a serious number of brigades, existing brigades, which, a large number of them, are empty. We need to do this so that the guys have a normal rotation. Then their morale will be improved.” A …

In fact, the road to EU membership already seemed strewn with obstacles long before VMRO-DPMNE won the elections. No sooner had Greece dropped its veto than Bulgaria decided to raise objections of its own – insisting that North Macedonia should acknowledge the Bulgarian heritage of its country and people. The …

Storms and heavy rainfall have left many parts of northern Italy under water, with the cities of Padua and Vicenza particularly affected. Emergency services have been using dinghies to rescue people from their homes, and footage from the scene shows cars floating in the streets. The governor of the Veneto …

The BBC’s Jonathan Beale joins Ukrainian forces in Kharkiv as they try to shore up a weakened frontline. Source link

In Kyiv, they believe Russia’s force in Ukraine now numbers more than half a million. That has left Ukraine’s military outmanned as well as outgunned, with Vladimir Putin now devoting an estimated 8.7% of Russia’s entire economic output (GDP) to defence and security. But the reinforcements waiting over the northern …