The proposed bill would enshrine in law the end of so-called “conjugal rights” – the notion that marriage means a duty to have sex. BBC News
Read More »France moves to abolish concept of marital duty to have sex
Ukraine receives 1,000 bodies in latest soldier swap with Russia
Russia received 38 soldiers’ bodies in exchange as part of an agreement between the warring countries. BBC News
Read More »Panic on crowded train – passenger tells BBC of moment of Russian drone strike
Five people died in the attack in northeastern Ukraine when three drones targeted the train. BBC News
Read More »Europe must act urgently and stop outsourcing defence, says EU's Kallas
The EU foreign policy chief’s remarks come days after Nato’s secretary general said Europe needed the US for its defence. BBC News
Read More »Former French senator found guilty of drugging MP
Getty Images A former French senator has been found guilty of spiking an MP’s drink with ecstasy in order to sexually assault her. Joel Guerriau received a four-year prison sentence – 18 months of which are to be served behind bars – and, according to local media, was ordered to …
Read More »Sicily hit by huge landslide in aftermath of Storm Harry
A 2.5 mile (4km) section of cliff has collapsed on the Italian island of Sicily, after it was pummelled by wind and rain brought by Storm Harry last week. More than 1,000 residents have been evacuated from their homes in Niscemi and geological surveys are currently under way to asses …
Read More »France debates under-15s social media ban endorsed by Macron
France is on course to follow Australia in banning social media to younger teenagers, as debate on a new law opens in the National Assembly. The law would block access for under 15-year-olds to networks such as Snapchat, Instagram and Tiktok. President Emmanuel Macron has said he wants the ban …
Read More »Fire at Violanta food factory fire leaves least three dead
Reuters The fire began early on Monday morning at the Violanta biscuit factory At least three people have been killed and two others are still missing after a fire broke out at a food factory near the central Greek city of Trikala, officials say. The blaze began in the early …
Read More »Captain of suspected Russian shadow tanker into French custody
Reuters The Grinch was intercepted by the French navy on Thursday French officials have taken the Indian captain of a suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker into custody days after the oil tanker was seized. On Thursday, the French navy intercepted the tanker – named the Grinch – which President Emmanuel …
Read More »How Soviet urban planning is helping Russia freeze Ukraine
Ukraine is now living through its most difficult winter in recent memory. With January temperatures plummeting below -15C, Russia has been attacking energy infrastructure, leaving about a million Ukrainians without heating. The capital, Kyiv, is the main target of such attacks. Following the latest Russian bombardment overnight into 24 January, …
Read More »Danish PM Mette Frederiksen in Greenland for ‘show of support’
Adrienne MurrayCopenhagen Reuters Frederiksen (left) said there was now a “diplomatic, political track” to pursue after a difficult week Danish PM Mette Frederiksen is visiting Greenland’s capital Nuuk for talks with the territory’s leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, after a rollercoaster week that saw US President Donald Trump roll back his threats …
Read More »Spanish track was fractured before high-speed train disaster, report finds
A fracture in a straight section of track “occurred prior to the passage” of a high-speed train that derailed, causing last Sunday’s rail disaster in which 45 people died, an initial report has found. A train run by private company Iryo derailed last Sunday and its rear carriages crossed on …
Read More »High stakes but low expectations ahead of Ukraine talks with Russia and US
Sarah RainsfordEastern Europe correspondent , Kyiv Getty Images Ukraine wants peace more than anyone in this process Negotiators from Russia, Ukraine and the US are due to meet in Abu Dhabi for their first trilateral talks since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Senior officials from all three nations …
Read More »Russia, Ukraine and US to hold trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi
Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators will hold talks in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, in what officials say is the first meeting attended by all three countries since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion nearly four years ago. The Kremlin confirmed Russian officials would attend the talks following a meeting …
Read More »Ukraine is battling to keep the lights on
Wrye DaviesKhmelnytsky nuclear plant, western Ukraine BBC Technicians monitor the control room at the Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant A handful of technicians closely monitor a wall of screens and dial in the control room at the Khmelnytsky nuclear plant – a vast facility in western Ukraine that’s now vital to …
Read More »Dozens of sanctioned Russian tankers navigate Channel despite UK vow of ‘assertive’ action
Kayleen Devlin, Barbara Metzlerand Kevin Nguyen,BBC Verify BBC The Sofos sailing under its earlier name, the MTH Hudson Dozens of oil tankers sanctioned by the UK in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine have sailed through the English Channel this month despite defence officials vowing to take “assertive action”. Since …
Read More »German nurse jailed for murder may face inquiry into 100 more deaths
An ex-nurse convicted of murdering 10 patients in western Germany may be linked to more than 100 additional deaths, an official has said. The chief public prosecutor in Aachen, Katja Schlenkermann-Pitts, told the BBC that there was “a correspondingly high number of suspicious cases” under review. She cautioned that the …
Read More »Trump to meet Zelensky as US envoy says ending war with Russia down to one issue
US envoy Steve Witkoff said he was optimistic about a deal ahead of talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. BBC News
Read More »Austria’s biggest spy trial for decades puts ex-intelligence officer in the dock
Bethany BellVienna correspondent Reuters Egisto Ott is accused of collecting large amounts of data and handing information to Russian intelligence Former intelligence official Egisto Ott goes on trial in Vienna on Thursday, accused of spying for Russia in what is being dubbed Austria’s biggest spy trial in years. Egisto Ott, …
Read More »Why was the French president wearing sunglasses indoors at Davos?
While speaking at the Davos summit on Tuesday, French president Emmanuel Macron drew attention for his stern rebuke of US leader Donald Trump’s threat to tariff eight European countries opposed to his proposed takeover of Greenland. But another aspect of Macron’s speech also made an impression: his choice of eyewear. …
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