2021-12-08

France

France arrests two suspects planning Christmas knife attack

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed the arrests on Twitter.

08/12/2021

Serbia

Serbia moves to defuse protests over Rio Tinto lithium mine

For two consecutive weekends, thousands of protesters in Belgrade and other Serbian towns have blocked main roads and bridges to decry the planned lithium mine near Loznica, close to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

08/12/2021

Spain

Giant star lights up Barcelona as Sagrada Familia tower inaugurated

The 138-metre tower dedicated to the Virgin Mary is the tallest of the nine completed thus far and the first to be inaugurated since 1976.

08/12/2021

World News

Pfizer says COVID booster offers protection against Omicron

"What we should really be reading into this is that any vaccine that boosts immunity will do the job," clinical expert Bharat Pankhania told Euronews.

08/12/2021

Russia

Russia blocks access to anonymous online Tor network

Russia's communications watchdog said the network had been used to share "illegal" content.

08/12/2021

No Comment

US and Kurdish forces hold joint military exercise in north-eastern Syria

Members of the US-led international coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hold a joint military exercise in the countryside of Syria's eastern province of Deir Ezzor, near the Iraqi border.

08/12/2021

United Kingdom

UK PM announces new virus measures amid Omicron fears

Vaccine passports will be introduced in nightclubs and places with large crowds, said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

08/12/2021

Egypt

Egyptian activist released from prison after nearly two years

He was arrested in February 2020, shortly after landing in Cairo on what was supposed to be a short visit home from Italy. His trial has been postponed until February next year.

08/12/2021

Europe News

Brussels wants EU police to cooperate better to fight organised crime

According to Europol, 80% of gangs are involved in cross-border crimes.

08/12/2021

Culture news

The Scottish Play the Italian way: La Scala season opens with Verdi

Star soprano Anna Netrebko gave her Lady Macbeth in Milan.

08/12/2021

World News

WHO 'confident' current COVID-19 vaccines will work against Omicron

"We have very effective vaccines that have proven to be effective against all variants so far, in terms of severity of disease and hospitalisation, and there is no reason to think that this would not be the case with Omicron," said WHO emergency manager.

08/12/2021

Germany

Bye-bye Angela: Six legacies that defined the Merkel era

Already feeling nostalgic about the Merkel era? Here is a look at the key legacies that defined her 16-year chancellorship — and will likely outlive it.

08/12/2021

The Exchange

Kidults drive boom for traditional toys

In partnership with Media City

2021 is set to be another bumper year for the toy industry. And despite some reports that video games have killed the sector, it seems the traditional toy market is bouncing back.

08/12/2021

Top News Stories Today

Watch top news stories today | December 8th – Evening edition

Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.

08/12/2021

No Comment

'Really worried': South Koreans react to new daily-Covid-case high

People queue outside a COVID-19 testing station Wednesday near Seoul Station as South Korea's number of daily new coronavirus infections hit another record, surpassing 7000 cases, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

08/12/2021

Partner content

Christmas in Serbia, Eastern Europe’s most exciting winter wonderland

Partner content presented by National Tourism Organisation of Serbia

With its snow-capped mountains, thermal hot springs and hearty meat stews, Serbia, the landlocked heart of the Balkans, is best experienced in the winter months.

08/12/2021

Economy

IMF issues austerity warning to Europe

International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva praises EU's recovery efforts and warns against "the suffocating force of austerity".

08/12/2021

Health news

Here’s what COVID vaccine makers are doing about the Omicron variant

COVID vaccine manufacturers are racing to develop new doses to combat the rising number of cases connected to the Omicron variant.

08/12/2021

Green News

Is the UK illegally subsidising fossil fuel companies?

Britain's treasury received around £248 million (€289 million) from oil and gas production in 2020/21.

08/12/2021

France

French junior minister resigns after convition for false declarations

Alain Griset was the first French minister in office to appear before a criminal court.

08/12/2021

Culture news

Empress Josephine Bonaparte's 'highly rare' tiaras sell for €710,000

Both headpieces are set with gemstones engraved with classical heads, several of which are possibly dating back to the Roman era, as early as 100 BC, and were designed to be worn together.

08/12/2021

Green News

Are microplastics making us resistant to antibiotics?

Polystyrene is pretty much everywhere - in plastic packaging, teabags, clothing and take-away food containers - this means we’re likely ingesting millions of bacteria laced with microplastics.

08/12/2021

Nature

Colombian farmers take on David vs. Goliath fight to stop gold mining

Colombia’s land and communities are under threat from companies looking to extract precious metals.

08/12/2021

Health news

How dangerous is Omicron? We put your questions to an expert

We asked you what you wanted to know about Omicron and put your questions to an expert from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

08/12/2021

Poland

Polish soldiers find body of suspected migrant near Belarus border

Human rights groups say at least 13 people have already died near the Poland-Belarus border since the start of the summer.

08/12/2021

Germany

German police target alleged human smuggling with nationwide raids

The smuggling ring is accused of forging EU citizenship documents and placing the workers with large logistics companies.

08/12/2021

Partner content

The women making history racing camels in Dubai

Partner content presented by Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Dubai

Camel racing can be traced back to the seventh century in the United Arab Emirates. Fast-forward to 2021 and a group of women are making history in the world of camel racing.

08/12/2021

Living

Spain is banning fruit and veg wrapped in plastic in 2023

With a ban on plastic wrapped fruit and veg expected in 2023 in Spain, manufacturers and retailers have concerns around its effect on food waste and the nation’s health.

08/12/2021

Tech News

New reporting process for Twitter amid complaints of system misuse

It’s all change at Twitter; the company has a new boss, new rules on posting media of private individuals, and now a new reporting process.

08/12/2021

France

'Nothing to cure': Senators back ban on LGBT 'conversion therapy'

The proposed law would introduce fines and prison sentences for citizens who try to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBT+ people.

08/12/2021