Browsing: Europe

Europe is a continent and is different to the European Union.

Switzerland’s non-membership of the EU means it is viewed as more neutral than countries like Austria, Ireland or Sweden.

A new Iron Curtain? Finland bolsters border with neighbouring Russia EU

In this week’s Focus, we turn to the tense frontier between Russia and Finland. The rapport between these neighbouring nations has soured significantly in the wake of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Historically, their mutual border has been a theatre of confrontation and conflict. Currently, Finland is taking drastic measures by erecting a formidable barbed wire fence along this boundary. According to authorities in Helsinki, the intention behind this undertaking is twofold: ensuring the nation’s protection and enhancing scrutiny over entries from Russia.

? Live: NATO launches largest-ever European air drill in ‘show of strength’ EU

NATO launches its largest-ever aerial drill in Europe on Monday, coordinated by Germany, in a show of unity from the military alliance against potential threats – notably from Russia. Ukraine said on Sunday it had made territorial advances on three villages in its southeast, marking the first liberated settlements since its military launched a counteroffensive this past week. Follow our live blog for the latest updates on the war in Ukraine. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).

Why the Red Cross’ crisis is causing aid groups to rethink their financing EU

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) last month announced it would lay off nearly 10 percent of its global staff and roll back dozens of its operations across the world. Although the ICRC’s crisis can partly be blamed on the war in Ukraine and resulting inflation, it also reflects a much more worrying problem plaguing the world’s humanitarian aid groups: with the world more in need of humanitarian action than ever before, donations are failing to keep up with demand.

Kakhovka dam burst leaves roads inaccessible, villages cut off from the world EU

Entire villages in southern Ukraine were flooded after the Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro river burst on Tuesday. One of the river’s tributaries, the Inhoulets, burst its banks, flooding fields and villages situated more than 50 kilometres north of Kherson. FRANCE 24’s correspondent Gulliver Cragg toured part of the stricken area with the head of the Snihurivka military administration – the wartime equivalent of a mayor.