Region

EU plus

Stories in this section cover the EU-27 countries plus the UK, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Andorra and the Balkan Countries (Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia).

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Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia

Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia

A Russia-appointed official in Ukraine’s occupied Luhansk region was quoted by AP on Monday saying that Moscow’s forces have overrun all of it, one of four regions Russia annexed from Ukraine in September 2022. If confirmed, it would make Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia after more than three years of war with international peace efforts led by the US failing to make progress on halting the fighting. Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively rejected a ceasefire and hasn’t budged from his demands, which include Moscow’s control over the four illegally annexed regions. 
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Denmark takes over EU Presidency with a focus on Security, Migration and Enlargement

Denmark takes over EU Presidency with a focus on Security, Migration and Enlargement

On July 1, Denmark takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time. Under the motto ‘A Strong Europe in a Changing World’, the Danish Presidency said its programme of work will ensure that the EU takes responsibility for its own security, while also strengthening its competitiveness. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that priority will be given to boosting defence capabilities in Europe amid Russia's war in Ukraine and US threats to Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory. Pushing countries to keep promises to boost defence spending and bolstering Europe's "dangerous" security will top Denmark’s agenda as it takes over the rotating presidency on Tuesday, according to Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

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Editor's choice
Live blog
Live Blog - 13 April 2020

Live Blog - 13 April 2020

News of deaths across the world leave us all sad and sorrowful. Russia in the last twenty four hours reported 2558 new cases of covid-19. But stories of how the human spirit is fighting on from one end of the world to another, fill us with hope.
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Live Blog - 12 April 2020

Live Blog - 12 April 2020

This Easter Sunday political and religious leaders issued messages urging courage and resilience as the world continues to struggle against the coronavirus pandemic. In Rome, Pope Francis made a passionate appeal calling for a cease-fire in all conflict areas, and for countries to work together to fight the pandemic and more.
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News
How is your Esperanto?

How is your Esperanto?

William Murray argues that expanding our linguistic horizons is not as daunting as we might think.
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Live blog
Live Blog - 11 April 2020

Live Blog - 11 April 2020

The number of deaths from coronavirus is now 103,506. In many countries celebrating Easter this weekend governments are struggling to keep their populations at home. In many war-torn regions fighting is still preventing medical teams from doing their jobs to fight covid-19
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Live Blog - 10 April 2020

Live Blog - 10 April 2020

Today is Good Friday and the start of the Easter festival in many Christian communities. Most religious events have however been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic
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Live blog
Live Blog - 09 April 2020

Live Blog - 09 April 2020

There are now more than 1.5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus world wide, and the number of deaths has reached 90,000. Throughout the world efforts continue to contain the crisis, but leaders have been warning that restrictions are likely to continue well into May, and maybe even as long as the summer.