STRASBOURG, France (AFP) – by Clément ZAMPA with Danny KEMP in Brussels European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday issued a rallying cry for unity after Brexit, saying the EU is not in danger of splitting up but must fight “galloping populism”. In his annual State of the Union speech, Juncker unveiled plans including a European Union defence headquarters in a bid to find common ground after a year of crisis and division in the bloc. […]
EU
Foiled Paris terror plot: What we know
PARIS, France (AFP) – Seven people are in custody in France after intelligence services foiled a plot to use a car laden with gas cylinders to carry out an attack in Paris. Anti-terrorism prosecutor Francois Molins said the would-be attackers were guided by the Islamic State group in Syria. French President Francois Hollande said the terror cell behind the plot had been “destroyed”. Here is what we know so far: Car spotted A worker at […]
New Ukraine truce jeopardised by first combat death
KIEV, Ukraine (AFP) – by Olga SHYLENKO Ukraine on Friday reported its first combat death since a new ceasefire with pro-Russian rebels went into effect on September 1 before the new school year. The announcement delivered a worrying signal that one of the most enduring in a series of truces risked collapsing just as tensions between Moscow and Kiev are scaling new hights. “In the past day, as a result of military activities, one of […]
Southern nations gear up for EU future showdown
ATHENS, Greece (AFP) – by John HADOULIS Sabine WIBAUX Southern EU leaders on Friday sought to close ranks on migration, extremism and austerity with the bloc’s future on the line, and ahead of a showdown with hardliners next week. Bringing together the members worst hit by the EU’s twin recession and refugee crises, the mini-summit will focus on “protecting borders, fostering growth, fighting against immigration… and acting together against terrorism,” French President Francois Hollande said at the […]
Raging temperatures spark wildfires in northern Portugal
Portuguese firefighters on Wednesday (September 7) struggled to control six active wildfires in several parts of the country. In the town of Vila Pouca de Aguiar, at least 15,000 hectares have burned in the last two days, according to local authorities. The fire surrounded villages but firefighters prevented flames from reaching houses. Other districts affected by the fires were Viseu, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Braganca, Vila Real and Faro. Summer forest fires are common in Portugal, […]
Arsonists blamed for Spanish wildfires
JAVEA, Spain (AFP) – Spanish authorities on Tuesday blamed arsonists and record temperatures for wildfires ravaging the eastern coast near the popular resort of Benidorm that have forced 1,400 people to flee. Hundreds of firefighters backed by water-dropping aircraft were battling the largest of several fires which began Sunday near the resort of Javea, up the coast from Benidorm on Spain’s Costa Blanca. Another blaze was raging near the mountain town of Bolulla, about 40 kilometres […]
Over 1,000 flee wildfire on Spain’s Costa Blanca
MADRID, Spain (AFP) – More than 1,000 people were evacuated after a wildfire fuelled by intense heat roared through brush surrounding a popular tourist resort on Spain’s Costa Blanca, officials said Monday. The blaze which broke out on Sunday near the Mediterranean resort of Javea, up the coast from the popular holiday spot of Benidorm, has so far destroyed 320 hectares (790 acres) of land and several buildings, local emergency services said. Authorities said they believe […]
French farmers, truckers block roads in migrant camp demo
CALAIS, France (AFP) – by David COURBET Benjamin MASSOT Angry French truckers and farmers blocked the main routes in and out of the port of Calais on Monday to call for the closure of the sprawling “Jungle” migrant camp. Around 70 trucks mounted a “go-slow” on the A16 motorway — the main artery for freight and passengers heading for Britain either via the Channel Tunnel or on board ferries from the port. Dozens of farmers […]
Merkel vows to ‘win back trust’ after defeat to anti-migrant party
BERLIN, Germany (AFP) – by Frank ZELLER German Chancellor Angela Merkel vowed Monday to “win back trust” of voters angered by her open-door refugee policy, while admitting her share of responsibility for her conservatives’ humiliating election loss to an anti-migrant party. “Everyone now needs to think about how we can win back trust — most of all, of course, myself,” Merkel said, speaking on the sidelines of a G20 summit in China a day after […]
Irish cabinet agrees to appeal Apple ruling
DUBLIN, Ireland (AFP) – by Douglas DALBY Ireland’s fragile minority government agreed Friday to recommend an appeal against the EU’s tax ruling on Apple but said it was recalling parliament early to debate the issue. The deal overcomes a split in cabinet surrounding the 13 billion euros ($15 billion) plus interest that the EU says Apple owes in back taxes, putting Ireland at the centre of a row between Europe and the United States. Apple […]
UK to seek ‘unique’ deal to leave EU: PM’s spokesman
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – Britain will seek a “unique” deal on leaving the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May’s Downing Street office said Wednesday, after ministers held their first Brexit talks since the summer break. The government wants to control immigration from the EU while retaining strong trading ties, despite warnings from other nations that single market access is incompatible with limits on the free movement of people. Britain voted to leave the EU […]
Apple hit with record EU tax bill
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) – by Danny KEMP The EU ordered tech giant Apple on Tuesday to pay a record 13 billion euros in back taxes in Ireland, a move Washington warned could damage hugely important transatlantic economic ties. Brussels said Apple, the world’s most valuable company, avoided virtually all tax on its business in the bloc by illegal arrangements with Dublin which gave the company an unfair advantage over competitors. Apple and the Irish government […]
