Europe News

Confirmed: Swedish national held prisoner in Iran is EU diplomat

"We will not stop" until Johan Floderus is freed, Josep Borell said on Tuesday, confirming the identity of the Swedish national held prisoner in Iran.

05/09/2023

Niger

Niger coup supporters rally after French ambassador ordered out

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had told coup leaders in Niger it was not too late to return to civilian rule despite the junta demanding the expulsion of the French ambassador

26/08/2023

Niger

Niger junta vows transition to civilian rule within three years

General Abdourahmane Tchiani gave no details on the plan, saying on state television only that the principles for the transition would be decided within 30 days at a dialogue to be hosted by the junta.

20/08/2023

Vanuatu

French President Macron denounces ‘new imperialism’ in Pacific

French President Emmanuel Macron denounced a ‘new imperialism’ in the Pacific and reflected on his country's colonial past while visiting the small island nation Vanuatu.

27/07/2023

China

China and US must choose between 'cooperation and conflict' - Beijing

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with top diplomats in Beijing as he continues his two-day mission to try and cool US-China tensions.

19/06/2023

Germany

Russia to close four out of five consulates in Germany

Russo-German relations are at a new low after the German government announced on Wednesday that Russia will have to close four out of its five consultants across Germany.

31/05/2023

Iran

European hostages in Iran used as political 'bargaining chips'

Some 15 European citizens are currently detained in Iranian prisons proving a major source of diplomatic tension between Iran and the EU.

16/05/2023

World News

Can an earthquake once again improve relations in the Aegean region?

An earthquake in Turkey in 1999 helped ease tensions with Greece. While some are optimistic this may happen again, others have their doubts.

16/05/2023

France

France welcomes home two men released from a prison in Iran

France has welcomed home two men who were released from a prison in Iran. One had been held for three years on spying charges after taking photographs with a drone while the other was detained seven months ago while doing consultancy work for a travel company.

13/05/2023

Turkey

Watch: Ukrainian MP punches Russian politician after flag stunt

Footage has gone viral on social media showing a Ukrainian MP punching and pushing a Russian delegate at a parliamentary assembly in Turkey.

05/05/2023

World News

Russian foreign minister visits Cuba, condemns US sanctions

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned US sanctions on Cuba on Thursday as he visited the island and met with top leaders, including newly re-elected President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

21/04/2023

Europe News

Europe's week: Macron's comments about Taiwan reveal EU division

In our weekly programme we follow the outcome of the French president's official visit to China.

14/04/2023

World News

US House leader McCarthy, Taiwan president meet as China protests

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, which it considers a rogue province. The United States meanwhile has long maintained a "strategic ambiguity" on the matter, trying to dissuade China from invading the island, while at the same time discouraging Taiwanese leaders from declaring independence.

05/04/2023

India

G20: Blinken meets Lavrov as US and Russia trade barbs over Ukraine

US officials said the top American and Russian diplomats met on the sidelines of the G20 conference in New Delhi. There is no sign of a change of stance on either side.

02/03/2023

Ukraine

Zelenskyy open to meeting Xi Jinping after China proposes peace plan

As Kyiv marked the one-year anniversary since the start of Russia's invasion, Beijing called for peace talks and a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine.

25/02/2023

Belgium

Ukraine tops agenda as EU foreign affairs ministers meet in Brussels

Ukraine tops agenda as EU foreign affairs ministers meet in Brussels

20/02/2023

United Kingdom

UK embassy guard in Berlin jailed for spying for Russia

A London court has sentenced David Ballantyne Smith to more than 13 years in prison for putting UK diplomats at “maximum risk” by selling secret information to Russia.

17/02/2023

China

China and Iran strengthen cooperation amid Western pressure

Xi Jingping and Ebrahim Raisi meet in Beijing, where China expressed support for Iran in the face of Western sanctions over the country's nuclear development, and tensions over Russia and Chinese balloons.

15/02/2023

Ukraine

EU-Ukraine summit: How do you prepare a trip to a war-zone?

As an EU delegation makes its way to Ukraine, security experts say a 'holistic, agnostic and horizontal' approach can reduce life-threatening risks in a conflict zone.

02/02/2023

Nature

Cash-strapped Finnish zoo may have to return giant pandas to China

Could the return of giant pandas impact Finnish-Chinese relations?

30/01/2023