Europe
IEA Report: Global coal use
Global coal consumption is set to rise to an all-time high this year and remain at similar levels in the next few years if stronger efforts are not made to move to a low-carbon economy, a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) said yesterday.
Germany to sign hydrogen deal with Canada, discuss LNG
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz will sign a deal to establish hydrogen supply chains with Canada during his two-day visit to the country next week, officials said, as Berlin accelerates its green transition to reduce dependence on Russian gas supplies.
Europe faces Covid freeze
Austria yesterday became the first country in western Europe to reimpose lockdown since vaccines were rolled out, shutting non-essential shops, bars and cafes as surging caseloads raised the prospect of a third winter in deep freeze for the continent.
Danish police arrest 13 on suspicion of planning attack in Denmark or Germany
Thirteen people have been arrested in Denmark in the last week for acquiring firearms and ingredients to make explosives on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack in either Denmark or Germany, Danish police told reporters at a briefing today.
Hungarian opposition radio forced off air as loses licence renewal case
A Hungarian opposition radio station lost an appeal against the removal of its licence today, cutting by one the already dwindling ranks of media outlets critical of the country’s nationalist government.
Britain will not introduce Covid-19 vaccine passports
Britain will not introduce Covid-19 vaccine passports, but people will be able to seek proof from their doctor if needed for travel to other countries, vaccine deployment minister Nadhim Zahawi said today.
UK PM gives October 15 deadline for Brexit deal
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has given an October 15 deadline for a post-Brexit trade agreement with the European Union, brushing off fears about "no-deal" chaos if talks fail.
EU reaches 'historic' deal on post-pandemic recovery after marathon summit
European Union leaders reached a "historic" deal on a massive stimulus plan for their coronavirus-hit economies at a meeting after a fractious summit that lasted almost five days.
Parties wrangle over truce
A bomb killed two people during a pro-government march in the east Ukraine city of Kharkiv on Sunday, officials said, as Kiev's army and rebels wrangled over a truce requiring them to pull back heavy weapons.
Please, return home
The families of three British schoolgirls feared to be travelling to join the Islamic State (ISIS) group in Syria issued emotional appeals for them to come home Saturday.
Rebels ready for prisoner swap
Pro-Russian rebels yesterday prepared to swap prisoners with their Ukrainian government foes as part of a battered ceasefire, as an adviser to Ukraine's president said Kiev had lost 179 troops in fighting over the past month.
Quote of the day
“No one should have any illusions that it could achieve military supremacy over Russia or to put pressure on us in any form"
Germany rejects Greek loan proposal
Germany's finance ministry yesterday rejected a Greek request to European partners for a six-month extension to its EU loan programme, but the German vice chancellor called it a "starting point".
Greek eurozone hope hangs in a thread
Greece's crunch talks with its European creditors broke down after just four hours today, pushing the country closer towards a potential exit from the single currency.
Truce hope fades
Street-to-street fighting broke out for the first time inside a flashpoint town in east Ukraine yesterday, officials and pro-Russian rebels said, dealing a harsh blow to a fragile ceasefire just three days old.
Working-class poet dies at 87
Not all of Philip Levine's poetry was about his hometown of Detroit, but a lot of it was.
Breaches threaten ceasefire
A shaky truce in Ukraine was already at risk on its second day yesterday with both the Kiev government and pro-Russian separatists accusing each other of attacks holding up an agreed pull-back of heavy weapons from the frontline.
Russia vows to respond to 'illogical' EU sanctions
Moscow said yesterday it would respond to the latest EU sanctions over the Ukraine conflict which target several prominent figures including a popular singer, condemning them as "inconsistent and illogical".