German startup’s space rocket explodes seconds after takeoff from Norway
Oslo, Norway Reuters A test rocket aimed at kickstarting satellite launches from Europe fell to the ground and exploded 40 seconds after takeoff from a Norwegian space port on Sunday, in what German startup Isar Aerospace had described as an initial test. The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was billed as the first attempt at an orbital […]
European leaders in Kyiv to mark three years of war, but top US officials stay away
Updated: 12:20pm (AEDT) Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Ukraine hosted European leaders on Monday to mark three years of all-out war with Russia, while top US officials stayed away in a clear illustration of President Donald Trump’s lurch towards Moscow since returning to power. Still reeling from Trump calling President Volodymyr Zelenskiy a “dictator”, Kyiv said it […]
European countries put Syrian asylum bids on hold after Assad’s fall
Berlin, Germany Reuters European countries put asylum applications from Syrians on hold until further notice on Monday after rebels seized the Syrian capital and President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia following 13 years of civil war. The decision, which affects tens of thousands of open claims, reflects the rapidly changing political situation in Syria as […]
As sabotage allegations swirl, NATO struggles to secure Baltic Sea
Turku, Finland Reuters On 18th November, hours after two communication cables were severed in the Baltic Sea, 30 NATO vessels and 4,000 military staff took to the same body of water for one of northern Europe’s largest naval exercises. The 12-day ‘Freezing Winds’ drill was part of a push to step up the transatlantic defence […]
Norway stops deep-sea mining, for now
Oslo, Norway Reuters A small left-wing environmentalist political party in Norway succeeded on Sunday in blocking plans to mine the sea bed at the bottom of the Arctic, by demanding the government scrap its first licensing round in return for support for the budget. “We are stopping plans to open mining on the sea bed,” […]
Sweden and Denmark to pressure tech platforms over gang crime ads
Stockholm, Sweden/Copenhagen, Denmark Reuters Sweden and Denmark will summon tech companies over ads on their platforms that are posted by gangs to recruit young Swedes to commit violent crimes in the Nordics, the justice ministers of the two countries said on Wednesday. Sweden has been having a decade-long problem with gang violence and youth crime […]
Nordic countries join forces to combat spread of Swedish gang crime
Stockholm, Sweden Reuters Nordic countries will increase police cooperation and form a hub in Stockholm in an effort to prevent Sweden’s serious gang crime problem from spreading to Norway, Finland and Denmark, the Swedish Government said last week. Swedish gangs have long been among the most violent in Europe but this year 10 Swedes – […]
Americans freed alongside Russian assassin in biggest post-Cold War prisoner swap
Updated: 2:25pm (AEST) Moscow, Russia/Ankara, Turkey Reuters Russia freed US journalist Evan Gershkovich and ex-US Marine Paul Whelan on Thursday as part of the biggest prisoner exchange of its kind since the end of the Cold War. The White House said the US had negotiated the trade with Russia, Germany and three other countries. The […]
Aquafarming becomes main global source for fish, UN food agency says
Rome, Italy Reuters For the first time farmed aquatic production has exceeded the catch from traditional captured fisheries, the UN food and agriculture agency said on Friday, underscoring hopes that aquaculture can meet growing global demand for seafood. In its latest biennial report on the state of world fisheries, the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization […]
Historically Speaking: Medieval reliquary honouring Anglo-Saxon saint found beneath Norwegian cathedral
ANGELA YOUNGMAN reports on the recent find beneath Stavanger Cathedral…