An image taken from social media and supplied by the Reuters news agency appears to show a soldier holding up a Russian flag in Kurakhove. The image has not been verified by the BBC. Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Khortytsia group of forces, told Reuters news agency that, as of …

“We are not for sale and we will not be for sale,” the island’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede, said in December. “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland.” Greenland lies on the shortest route from North America to Europe, making it strategically important for the US. It is also home …

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has lost his appeal against a prison sentence for corruption. However, the Paris appeals court ruled that he could serve his time at home wearing a tag instead of going to jail. In 2021 Sarkozy was sentenced to three years in prison – including two …

Also in the 32-page special are the 40 winning entries in a cartoon competition on the theme of “Laughing at God”. One contains the image of a cartoonist asking himself: “Is it okay to draw a picture of a man drawing a picture of a man drawing a picture of …

President Van der Bellen infuriated the FPO by not tasking it with forming a government soon after the election. At the time, the leaders of all of the other parties ruled out making an alliance with Kickl. In October, Van der Bellen gave the conservative People’s Party (OVP), which came …

With his leopard-like spots, Navarro – a male lynx – calls out during mating season as he walks towards a camera trap. Just short of 100cm (39 inches) in length and 45cm in height, the Iberian lynx is a rare sight. But there are now more than 2,000 in the …

The organisation hoping to build the facility in eastern Canada say it would be able to attract funding if it received a commitment from the French government to send the two whales there. The Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP) proposes to close off an area of seawater measuring 40 hectares (98 …

“The Ukrainian army launched a drone strike on a civilian car carrying Izvestia’s freelance correspondent Alexander Martemyanov,” the news outlet reported on its Telegram channel. “The car was located far from the line of contact.” The vehicle was returning from covering shelling in the Russian-held city of Gorlivka when it …

In the absence of agreement on Ukraine’s long term future, its allies are doing what they can to bolster its defences. In December, Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, said “everything” was being looked at, including the supply of additional air defence systems, in part to protect the country’s battered energy …

“We’re treating this not as an energy crisis but a security crisis, induced by Russia to destabilise Moldova both economically and socially,” Olga Rosca, foreign policy adviser to Moldova’s president, told the BBC. “This clearly is a shaping operation ahead of parliamentary elections in 2025, to create demand for a …

Russian gas made up less than 10% of the EU’s gas imports in 2023, according to figures from the bloc, external, compared to 40% in 2021. But several EU members, including Slovakia and Austria, continue to import significant amounts of gas from Russia. Austria’s energy regulator said it did not …

Ahead of the New Year holiday, I’ve been asking Russians about their hopes for 2025. From their replies it’s clear that people here want an end to the fighting. But how will the war end? And when? No one’s certain. The other major concern for Russians is the economy. Prices …

“He felt that this decision was in line with the position he had always taken in the trial, namely that Ms Pelicot was not and never had been his adversary,” Ms Zavarro said, adding that Dominique Pelicot wanted to be “done” with this case. He will need to be present …

On 16 December, Iranian national Mohammad Abedini was arrested in Milan on charges of supplying electronic parts for drones to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), resulting in the deaths of three American soldiers. The US is currently seeking Mr Abedini’s extradition from Italy. The US state department spokesperson quoted …

The boy, who has been held in a psychiatric institution since the attack, cannot be put on trial because he is below the age of criminal responsibility. However, his parents were accused of a “serious act against general safety” for failing to secure the weapons and ammunition properly. They denied …

They all know that Donald Trump wants to bring an end to the war. Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia’s president have indicated they’re prepared for talks too, but the idea of workable deal seems hard to imagine. So far, it is just talk about talks. Surt is not dismissive of …

The four main opposition groups have rejected Kavelashvili and boycotted parliament. It is as yet unclear how the stand-off will be resolved. Protesters, waving Georgian and EU flags, formed a human chain that spanned kilometres on Saturday. “I am out in the street together with my whole family trying somehow …

EU figures say they’re confused by the UK government proclaiming an “ambitious” reset while insisting on maintaining restrictive post-Brexit red lines. A recent working paper setting out EU interests noted there were “limited economic gains on offer” because of the UK ruling out rejoining the EU’s customs union or single …

The Kremlin released a statement on Saturday noting Putin had spoken to Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev by phone. “(President) Vladimir Putin apologised for the tragic incident that occurred in Russian airspace and once again expressed his deep and sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy …

She was seen as aligned with the ruling party, unpopular with many young people, and she blamed a short war with Russia in 2008 on Georgia allowing itself to be provoked. But as her presidential term progressed, Georgian Dream took an increasingly authoritarian and anti-Western turn, cracking down on civil …