Displaying items by tag: Europe

Ukraine has criticised Mali's decision to sever diplomatic ties, calling it short-sighted and hasty. This decision followed comments from Ukraine's military spy agency about the recent clashes in northern Mali, where Tuareg rebels claimed responsibility for killing 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers. This was Wagner's most significant defeat since assisting Mali's military against insurgent groups two years ago. Ukraine denied involvement, stating no evidence was provided. After the spy agency mentioned that rebels had received ‘necessary’ information for the attack, Mali interpreted this as an admission of Ukraine's involvement, condemning it as a violation of sovereignty and support for terrorism. Senegal summoned Ukraine’s ambassador over related accusations. These events occur amid deteriorating relations between the West and Sahel nations, which have expelled French and US forces and turned to Russian mercenaries for security following recent military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

Journalist Evan Gershkovich and US marine Paul Whelan have been released from Russian jails in the largest prisoner swap with the West since the Cold War. The exchange, the result of months of complex negotiations, also freed British-Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, who had been sentenced to 25 years for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Others released include Radio Free Europe editor Alsu Kurmasheva, anti-war artist Aleksandra Skochilenko, dissident politician Ilya Yashin, two former staffers for Alexei Navalny, and Russian-German dual citizen Kevin Lik. The swap, conducted in Turkey, involved the US, Russia, Germany, and other nations, led by Joe Biden and his national security team. Biden, speaking from the White House with the families of the released, called it ‘a very good afternoon’ and praised the diplomacy involved. He acknowledged Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey for their roles in the negotiation and logistical support.

Government-aligned Italian MEPs are defending a plan to detain migrant arrivals in Albania, despite NGOs calling it ‘cruel’. Two Italian-funded migrant reception centres in Albania, part of a five-year agreement, face delays and are now unlikely to open before the end of the year. Under this deal, Albania will host up to 36,000 asylum seekers a year while Italian authorities handle their cases. The upfront costs are arguably minor compared to managing migration in Italy, but critics, including Amnesty International, argue that the plan violates human rights by detaining migrants for long periods and externalising asylum procedures. The externalisation model, also seen in the now-discarded UK government’s Rwanda plan, is seen as effective by some EU states but raises concerns about human rights and costs.

On 31 July Ukraine repelled one of Russia's most massive attacks since the war began, shooting down 89 Iranian-designed explosive drones and a missile, primarily targeting Kyiv. Despite debris damage to buildings, there were no casualties. This attack comes 29 months into Russia's invasion, with daily bombardments straining Ukraine's air defences. Russia claims it only targets military and energy sites, but residential areas are frequently hit. Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need for sufficient air defence supplies to protect against Russian strikes and called for faster deliveries of systems like the US-made Patriots. Meanwhile, Ukraine struck a weapons depot in Russia's Kursk region, causing a fire. Russia's slow advance continues, with small gains reported in July, capturing eight villages in north-east, eastern, and southern Ukraine.

Recent Ukrainian attacks in the Black Sea have compelled the Russian navy to rebase its ships, according to the Ukrainian navy. Dmytro Pletenchuk, a Ukrainian navy spokesman, confirmed that no Russian naval vessels remain in the Sea of Azov. Russian ballistic missile strikes on Kharkiv on Wednesday damaged the office of a Swiss mine-clearing NGO, injuring six people. Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that an industrial area was targeted. Kharkiv police head Volodymyr Tymoshko described a "double-tap" attack aimed at rescuers, who fortunately evacuated just before the second strike. Heavy Russian attacks have intensified around Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, making conditions "tense" and difficult. Ukrainian forces continue to defend the area. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted marginal Russian advances near Kharkiv and confirmed progress in Donetsk oblast. The ISW highlighted Russia's significant challenges in maintaining troop numbers and replacing heavy losses of equipment. Ukrainian authorities noted that Russia's current production is insufficient to cover these losses, with a British assessment indicating that Russia can only sustain operations until 2026-2027 by refurbishing Soviet-era stocks.

As the games commence, a number of Christian ministries, including World Prayer Center are collaborating to invite a gift of one million prayers for France, the safety and success of the games, and to cover many evangelistic outreaches taking place. We are also invited to pray for 500+ Church initiated events and projects taking place across France this summer under the umbrella of Ensemble 2024. They range from Bible giveaways, street evangelism, sports, arts and music festivals to 24/7 prayer. We are invited to say a prayer and click to add our gift on the website. Alternatively, there is an online pledge form for ongoing prayers from families or larger groups. An online prayer guide is available in 33 languages.

The Balkans, along with much of Europe, are enduring a prolonged heatwave, which has led to the unprecedented drying up of Serbia's Rusanda salt lake. An expert has warned that such heatwaves could become more frequent due to climate change. Temperatures in the Balkans have soared to 39°C (102°F), and the Adriatic Sea reached a record-high temperature of 29.5°C in Croatian coastal resorts. North Macedonia and Albania have deployed resources to combat forest fires, with North Macedonia declaring a state of emergency. The World Bank has highlighted the need for significant investment to mitigate the impact of climate change. Other European countries, including Italy, Greece, and France, are also experiencing extreme heat. In Ukraine, rain is forecast on 18 July, to break the pattern of several weeks of abnormally high temperatures; the country’s grain harvest is likely to be significantly reduced.

The German cabinet has at last approved its 2025 budget after months of wrangling, despite a €17 billion shortfall between projected spending and revenue. Finance minister Christian Lindner stated that innovative measures and stronger growth from a new economic package should generate an additional €6 billion next year. The budget includes record investments of €78 billion, net borrowing of €43.8 billion, and a total size of €481 billion. The country aims to boost its economy by over 0.5% in 2025. Lindner defended the budget's legality and fiscal prudence despite analysts’ concerns. Military aid to Ukraine will be reduced next year, as Ukraine is expected to secure $50 billion in loans from the G7. Germany was the worst performing major economy last year, with gross domestic product contracting by 0.3%. It pulled out of recession early this year, but growth has been slower than expected. Reaching agreement on the budget has been a major test for a coalition often accused of being hobbled by internal disagreements.

Love France is an initiative by International Prayer Connect and its partners, including the World Prayer Centre in Birmingham, aiming to bless, celebrate, and connect the worldwide Christian church with the Church across France as it runs various Christian events, outreaches and activities during the games this Summer. The project’s vision includes mobilising global prayer support for France, celebrating positive developments in the church community, and fostering connections through cultural, artistic, and sporting events. Key activities feature the 'France 1 Million' campaign that invites a gift of a million prayers from the worldwide Church for France this summer. A prayer guide and other resources are being published with daily prayer pointers: see An online prayer and discussion platform app will run for the duration of the main and para-games. See Churches are encouraged to get involved with the Eric Liddell 100 Celebrations, honouring the legacy of the famous athlete and missionary.

A Russian cruise missile has struck Okhmatdyt, Ukraine's largest children's hospital, in central Kyiv. The attack caused significant damage, including a collapsed roof that killed two hospital workers and injured 16 people, including seven children. Thousands of children, including those with cancer, undergo treatment at the hospital every year. The strike was one of forty launched against several Ukrainian cities, which resulted in at least 36 deaths and 125 injuries. Moscow, which habitually denies targeting civilian infrastructure, claimed the hospital was hit by a Ukrainian missile. The latest UN figures show over 30,000 civilian casualties since February 2022: see