Greece: orange dust from Sahara envelops Athens
25 Apr 2024
A dense orange haze has enveloped Athens as clouds of Sahara desert dust swept across Greece, marking one of the worst episodes since 2018. Similar clouds hit Greece, Switzerland, and southern France in late March and…
Germany / China: Scholz’s balancing act
18 Apr 2024
German chancellor Olaf Scholz has tried to strike a delicate balance on a trip to China. He wanted to promote business ties but also to raise concerns over China's export surge to Europe and its support…
Two alleged spies, dual German-Russian nationals, have been arrested in Bavaria for suspected espionage related to sabotaging German military aid for Ukraine. The main suspect, Dieter S, is accused of various offences, including maintaining contact with…
The southern Orenburg region in Russia is facing its worst flooding in decades, with 55 cities and towns affected and thousands evacuated. Entire neighbourhoods have been submerged, with volunteers and emergency workers rescuing trapped individuals and…
France: security beefed up as Olympics approach
11 Apr 2024
With the Olympic Games due to begin in Paris in just over a hundred days, France faces the challenge of balancing security preparations with public reassurance. While concerns about potential threats from groups like IS persist,…
Toivo Saabas, a young Estonian conscript, has been undergoing rigorous military training in the country's icy forests. Conscription, mandatory for men over 18 and voluntary for women, remains vital in Estonia, conscious of Russia's invasion of…