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Video. Latest news bulletin | March 9th – Evening

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Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.



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Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.

Former Honduran President convicted in US of conspiring with drug traffickers

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Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was convicted in New York on Friday of conspiring with drug traffickers to enable tonnes of cocaine to be smuggled into the US.

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Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was convicted Friday in New York of charges that he conspired with drug traffickers and used his military and national police force to enable tonnes of cocaine to make it unhindered into the US.

The jury returned its verdict at a federal court after a two-week trial, which has been closely followed in his home country. Hernández was convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the US and two weapons counts. The charges carry a mandatory minimum of 40 years in prison and a potential maximum of life. Sentencing was set for 26 June.

Hernández, 55, served two terms as the leader of Honduras, a nation of roughly 10 million people.

Jurors reached a unanimous verdict, which was necessary for a conviction. Defence lawyer Sabrina Shroff said Hernández will appeal the conviction.

In a release, US lawyer Damian Williams said he hopes the conviction “sends a message to all corrupt politicians who would consider a similar path: choose differently.”

He added that Hernández “had every opportunity to be a force for good in his native Honduras. Instead, he chose to abuse his office and country for his own personal gain and partnered with some of the largest and most violent drug trafficking organisations in the world to transport tonnes of cocaine to the United States.”

Hernández was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, three months after leaving office in 2022 and was extradited to the US in April of that year.

US prosecutors accused Hernández of working with drug traffickers as long ago as 2004, saying he took millions of dollars in bribes as he rose from rural congressman to president of the National Congress and then to the country’s highest office.

Hernández acknowledged in trial testimony that drug money was paid to virtually all political parties in Honduras, but he denied accepting bribes himself.

He noted that he had visited the White House and met US presidents as he cast himself as a champion in the war on drugs who worked with the US to curb the flow of drugs to the US.

In one instance, he said, he was warned by the FBI that a drug cartel wanted to assassinate him.

He said his accusers fabricated their claims about him in bids for leniency for their crimes.

“They all have motivation to lie, and they are professional liars,” Hernández said.

But the prosecution mocked Hernández for seemingly claiming to be the only honest politician in Honduras.

During closing arguments Wednesday, Assistant US Attorney Jacob Gutwillig told the jury that a corrupt Hernández “paved a cocaine superhighway to the United States.”

Stabile said his client “has been wrongfully charged” as he urged an acquittal.

Trial witnesses included traffickers who admitted responsibility for dozens of murders and said Hernandez was an enthusiastic protector of some of the world’s most powerful cocaine dealers, including notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who is serving a life prison term in the US.

Hernández, wearing a suit throughout the trial, was mostly dispassionate as he testified through an interpreter, repeatedly saying “no sir” as he was asked if he ever paid bribes or promised to protect traffickers from extradition to the US.

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His brother, Juan Antonio “Tony” Hernandez, a former Honduran congressman, was sentenced to life in 2021 in Manhattan federal court for his own conviction on drug charges.



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Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was convicted in New York on Friday of conspiring with drug traffickers to enable tonnes of cocaine to be smuggled into the US.

ADVERTISEMENT

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was convicted Friday in New York of charges that he conspired with drug traffickers and used his military and national police force to enable tonnes of cocaine to make it unhindered into the US.

The jury returned its verdict at a federal court after a two-week trial, which has been closely followed in his home country. Hernández was convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the US and two weapons counts. The charges carry a mandatory minimum of 40 years in prison and a potential maximum of life. Sentencing was set for 26 June.

Hernández, 55, served two terms as the leader of Honduras, a nation of roughly 10 million people.

Jurors reached a unanimous verdict, which was necessary for a conviction. Defence lawyer Sabrina Shroff said Hernández will appeal the conviction.

In a release, US lawyer Damian Williams said he hopes the conviction “sends a message to all corrupt politicians who would consider a similar path: choose differently.”

He added that Hernández “had every opportunity to be a force for good in his native Honduras. Instead, he chose to abuse his office and country for his own personal gain and partnered with some of the largest and most violent drug trafficking organisations in the world to transport tonnes of cocaine to the United States.”

Hernández was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, three months after leaving office in 2022 and was extradited to the US in April of that year.

US prosecutors accused Hernández of working with drug traffickers as long ago as 2004, saying he took millions of dollars in bribes as he rose from rural congressman to president of the National Congress and then to the country’s highest office.

Hernández acknowledged in trial testimony that drug money was paid to virtually all political parties in Honduras, but he denied accepting bribes himself.

He noted that he had visited the White House and met US presidents as he cast himself as a champion in the war on drugs who worked with the US to curb the flow of drugs to the US.

In one instance, he said, he was warned by the FBI that a drug cartel wanted to assassinate him.

He said his accusers fabricated their claims about him in bids for leniency for their crimes.

“They all have motivation to lie, and they are professional liars,” Hernández said.

But the prosecution mocked Hernández for seemingly claiming to be the only honest politician in Honduras.

During closing arguments Wednesday, Assistant US Attorney Jacob Gutwillig told the jury that a corrupt Hernández “paved a cocaine superhighway to the United States.”

Stabile said his client “has been wrongfully charged” as he urged an acquittal.

Trial witnesses included traffickers who admitted responsibility for dozens of murders and said Hernandez was an enthusiastic protector of some of the world’s most powerful cocaine dealers, including notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who is serving a life prison term in the US.

Hernández, wearing a suit throughout the trial, was mostly dispassionate as he testified through an interpreter, repeatedly saying “no sir” as he was asked if he ever paid bribes or promised to protect traffickers from extradition to the US.

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His brother, Juan Antonio “Tony” Hernandez, a former Honduran congressman, was sentenced to life in 2021 in Manhattan federal court for his own conviction on drug charges.

Women worldwide participated in International Women’s Day participating in strikes and demonstration

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On Friday, women worldwide participated in International Women’s Day, participating in strikes, marches, and demonstrations, highlighting endeavors to combat discrimination and expedite progress towards gender equality.

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The event, first celebrated in 1911, traces its roots to the early struggles for equal pay and votes for women.

On Women’s Day in Italy, a nationwide general strike for women’s rights is underway, organised by most trade unions across the political spectrum. Sectors such as schools, healthcare, and other industries are participating in the strike, with minor disruptions reported in regional train services, while long-distance transport remains operational.

In major Italian cities including Rome and Milan, marches organised by unions and women’s associations advocate for equal treatment of male and female workers and call for more robust policies against gender-based violence and femicide.

In Paris, supporters gathered to witness the formal inclusion of a woman’s right to abortion in the French constitution, a measure recently approved by lawmakers despite restrictions on abortion access in other countries like the United States.

In Lebanon, a demonstrator carried a handmade sign linking the struggle for equal rights to the conflict in Gaza, highlighting the toll of violence on women, with Palestinian health officials reporting thousands of female casualties in months of fighting.

Meanwhile, in Brazil, protesters raised awareness about the rising number of femicides, emphasizing the alarming trend of women being killed because of their gender.

The complex narrative of progress and ongoing challenges was succinctly expressed by a banner displayed on the streets of Pamplona, Spain, which read, “So much has been achieved. There is so much to achieve.”



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rewrite this content and keep HTML tags

On Friday, women worldwide participated in International Women’s Day, participating in strikes, marches, and demonstrations, highlighting endeavors to combat discrimination and expedite progress towards gender equality.

ADVERTISEMENT

The event, first celebrated in 1911, traces its roots to the early struggles for equal pay and votes for women.

On Women’s Day in Italy, a nationwide general strike for women’s rights is underway, organised by most trade unions across the political spectrum. Sectors such as schools, healthcare, and other industries are participating in the strike, with minor disruptions reported in regional train services, while long-distance transport remains operational.

In major Italian cities including Rome and Milan, marches organised by unions and women’s associations advocate for equal treatment of male and female workers and call for more robust policies against gender-based violence and femicide.

In Paris, supporters gathered to witness the formal inclusion of a woman’s right to abortion in the French constitution, a measure recently approved by lawmakers despite restrictions on abortion access in other countries like the United States.

In Lebanon, a demonstrator carried a handmade sign linking the struggle for equal rights to the conflict in Gaza, highlighting the toll of violence on women, with Palestinian health officials reporting thousands of female casualties in months of fighting.

Meanwhile, in Brazil, protesters raised awareness about the rising number of femicides, emphasizing the alarming trend of women being killed because of their gender.

The complex narrative of progress and ongoing challenges was succinctly expressed by a banner displayed on the streets of Pamplona, Spain, which read, “So much has been achieved. There is so much to achieve.”

United Airlines plane loses tyre during takeoff

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The Boeing 777 plane was able to make a safe emergency landing.

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A United Airlines jetliner bound for Japan made an emergency landing in Los Angeles on Thursday after losing a tyre while taking off from San Francisco.

Video shows the plane losing one of the six tyres on its left-side main landing gear assembly seconds after leaving the ground. 

The tyre landed in an employee parking lot at San Francisco International Airport, where it smashed into a car and shattered its back window before breaking through a fence and coming to stop.

The flight was carrying 235 passengers and a crew of 14.  No injuries were reported.

Fire engines stood by at Los Angeles International Airport but weren’t needed, as the Boeing 777 made a safe landing and stopped about two-thirds of the way down a runway. 

The plane was then towed away.

Boeing 777s have six tyres on each of the two main landing gears. United said the plane, built in 2002, was designed to land safely with missing or damaged tyres. 

Aviation experts said planes losing tires is a rare occurrence and not indicative of a larger safety issue, or a problem created by the manufacturer.

The Federal Aviation Administration is due to investigate the incident.



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The Boeing 777 plane was able to make a safe emergency landing.

ADVERTISEMENT

A United Airlines jetliner bound for Japan made an emergency landing in Los Angeles on Thursday after losing a tyre while taking off from San Francisco.

Video shows the plane losing one of the six tyres on its left-side main landing gear assembly seconds after leaving the ground. 

The tyre landed in an employee parking lot at San Francisco International Airport, where it smashed into a car and shattered its back window before breaking through a fence and coming to stop.

The flight was carrying 235 passengers and a crew of 14.  No injuries were reported.

Fire engines stood by at Los Angeles International Airport but weren’t needed, as the Boeing 777 made a safe landing and stopped about two-thirds of the way down a runway. 

The plane was then towed away.

Boeing 777s have six tyres on each of the two main landing gears. United said the plane, built in 2002, was designed to land safely with missing or damaged tyres. 

Aviation experts said planes losing tires is a rare occurrence and not indicative of a larger safety issue, or a problem created by the manufacturer.

The Federal Aviation Administration is due to investigate the incident.

Negotiations for ceasefire and release of more Israeli hostages on hold

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As Palestinians lay to rest 43 bodies returned by Israeli authorities to Rafah in a mass grave, negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of more Israeli hostages are suspended until next week, ending hopes for a truce before Ramadan.

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On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to continue military operations throughout the Palestinian enclave, including Rafah. 

Netanyahu underscored that halting now, before the Hamas regime is eradicated, all captives are recovered, and future threats from Gaza are neutralised, would mean conceding the war.

Despite worsening conditions for Palestinians in the enclave, humanitarian aid continues to be delivered to Gaza by air, facilitated by parachutes.

During his State of the Union address on Thursday night, US President Joe Biden is set to unveil a plan for the country’s military to assist in establishing a temporary port on the Gaza coast, aimed at enhancing the flow of humanitarian aid during the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to senior administration officials.

After almost five months of conflict, much of Gaza lies in ruins, exacerbating a growing humanitarian crisis. In the southern part of the enclave, hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals live in tents, grappling with food shortages, soaring prices, and a lack of income sources.

In addition to calls from international leaders for a ceasefire, British humanitarian organisations have joined in urging an end to hostilities, an early acknowledgement of International Women’s Day, highlighting the suffering of women and girls amid the war.



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As Palestinians lay to rest 43 bodies returned by Israeli authorities to Rafah in a mass grave, negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of more Israeli hostages are suspended until next week, ending hopes for a truce before Ramadan.

ADVERTISEMENT

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to continue military operations throughout the Palestinian enclave, including Rafah. 

Netanyahu underscored that halting now, before the Hamas regime is eradicated, all captives are recovered, and future threats from Gaza are neutralised, would mean conceding the war.

Despite worsening conditions for Palestinians in the enclave, humanitarian aid continues to be delivered to Gaza by air, facilitated by parachutes.

During his State of the Union address on Thursday night, US President Joe Biden is set to unveil a plan for the country’s military to assist in establishing a temporary port on the Gaza coast, aimed at enhancing the flow of humanitarian aid during the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to senior administration officials.

After almost five months of conflict, much of Gaza lies in ruins, exacerbating a growing humanitarian crisis. In the southern part of the enclave, hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals live in tents, grappling with food shortages, soaring prices, and a lack of income sources.

In addition to calls from international leaders for a ceasefire, British humanitarian organisations have joined in urging an end to hostilities, an early acknowledgement of International Women’s Day, highlighting the suffering of women and girls amid the war.

Video. Latest news bulletin | March 7th – Midday

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Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.



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Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.

Explosions hit Odessa as Zelensky meets with Greek prime minister

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Explosions were heard in the port of Odessa as Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Greek prime minister in the city on Wednesday.

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A blast rocks the Ukrainian city of Odessa during a visit by Zelenskyy and Greece’s prime minister

The sound of a large explosion reverberated around the Ukrainian port of Odesa as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greece’s prime minister ended a tour of the war-ravaged southern city Wednesday.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the delegations were getting into their vehicles when they heard the blast, which he called a “vivid reminder” that Odesa is gripped by the war with Russia. It is one thing to hear about the war and “quite another to experience war firsthand,” Mitsotakis said.

Zelenskyy said the explosion caused an unknown number of dead and wounded. “You see who we’re dealing with, they don’t care where to hit,” he told reporters.

Russian officials made no immediate comment.

Zelenskyy has regularly visited cities and military units on the front line during the war, always in secrecy until after he has left. Foreign leaders have made numerous trips to Ukraine, and they occasionally have had to take refuge in shelters when air raid sirens sound.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned on X, formerly Twitter, what she called the “vile attack” during the Greek visit. She called it a “new attempt at terror” by Russia.

Zelenskyy showed Mitsotakis around the destruction in Odesa, where in the most 12 people — including five children — were killed when debris from a Russian drone hit an apartment block on March 2.

Mitsotakis said Odesa held a special place in Greek history as the place where the Filiki Etairia organization was founded that fought for Greek independence from Ottoman rule in the 19th century.



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Explosions were heard in the port of Odessa as Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Greek prime minister in the city on Wednesday.

ADVERTISEMENT

A blast rocks the Ukrainian city of Odessa during a visit by Zelenskyy and Greece’s prime minister

The sound of a large explosion reverberated around the Ukrainian port of Odesa as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greece’s prime minister ended a tour of the war-ravaged southern city Wednesday.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the delegations were getting into their vehicles when they heard the blast, which he called a “vivid reminder” that Odesa is gripped by the war with Russia. It is one thing to hear about the war and “quite another to experience war firsthand,” Mitsotakis said.

Zelenskyy said the explosion caused an unknown number of dead and wounded. “You see who we’re dealing with, they don’t care where to hit,” he told reporters.

Russian officials made no immediate comment.

Zelenskyy has regularly visited cities and military units on the front line during the war, always in secrecy until after he has left. Foreign leaders have made numerous trips to Ukraine, and they occasionally have had to take refuge in shelters when air raid sirens sound.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned on X, formerly Twitter, what she called the “vile attack” during the Greek visit. She called it a “new attempt at terror” by Russia.

Zelenskyy showed Mitsotakis around the destruction in Odesa, where in the most 12 people — including five children — were killed when debris from a Russian drone hit an apartment block on March 2.

Mitsotakis said Odesa held a special place in Greek history as the place where the Filiki Etairia organization was founded that fought for Greek independence from Ottoman rule in the 19th century.

Video. Latest news bulletin | March 6th – Midday

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Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.



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Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.

Czech and French leaders pledge support for Ukraine

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French President Emmanuel Macron and his Czech counterpart Petr Pavel agree to send support to Ukraine, but rule out sending combat troups.

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The Czech and French presidents said Tuesday their countries remain united in their support of Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression and are ready to look for new ways of helping the Ukrainians succeed.

“We agree that the only option for us is to continue supporting Ukraine,” Czech President Petr Pavel said. “We’ve agreed that Europe has to play a bigger role in helping Ukraine.”

Pavel said that all options had to be considered but ruled out deploying combat troops in Ukraine, an idea French President Emmanuel Macron floated last week, prompting an outcry from other European leaders. Later, French officials sought to clarify Macron’s remarks and tamp down criticism while insisting on the need to send a clear signal to Russia that it cannot win in Ukraine.

“We haven’t talked about it at all,” Pavel said. “We’re talking about various forms of assistance.” He suggested the training of Ukrainian soldiers may take place in their home country despite the ongoing conflict.

“Russia must not win the war,” Macron said in Prague. “We must all be aware that this war affects us all.”

He said European nations cannot put constraints on themselves when Russia has no limits, including threatening the use of nuclear weapons.

“It’s a strategic leap that I called for and that I fully embrace,” Macron said. “We must be rational about the reality of the situation playing out in Europe.”

“I am convinced that the clarity of these words is precisely what Europe needed,” he said. “Ask President (Vladimir) Putin what he is prepared not to do. Who started the war in Ukraine? Vladimir Putin, who threatens whatever we do, whatever we say, with nuclear weapons.”

The Kremlin has warned that if NATO sends combat troops, a direct conflict between the alliance and Russia would be inevitable.

Last month, Pavel announced at a security conference in Munich that the Czechs had identified 800,000 pieces of artillery ammunition in various countries and were seeking funding for their acquisition to ship to Ukraine. Macron welcomed the Czech plan to acquire the ammunition Ukraine badly needed.

About 15 countries, including Britain, Belgium Denmark, Canada, Sweden and the Netherlands, have voiced their support for the plan, the Czech government said.

Later Tuesday, Macron and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala signed a French-Czech action plan for a long-term strategic partnership that should further boost cooperation in nuclear energy among other fields, including defense, transport, science and culture.

Unlike some other European countries, the Czech Republic and France both heavily rely on nuclear energy.

The Czech government is currently seeking to build up to four nuclear reactors and France’s state nuclear giant EDF and Korea’s KHNP are the two contenders bidding for the project. They have to submit their final bids by the middle of April with a contract to be signed on the turn of 2024-25.

The first new reactor, located at the Dukovany nuclear power station, is set to be operational by 2036.

During Macron’s visit, the main majority-state-owned Czech power company, CEZ, signed a contract with France’s Orano for its uranium enrichment needs in an effort to eliminate the country’s dependence on Russia. Under this deal, the uranium supplied will be transformed into fuel to be used in the Dukovany plant.

Orano already provides the same services for the country’s other Temelin nuclear plant.

Another French company, Framatome, was selected in 2022, together with U.S. Westinghouse Electric Co., to deliver fuel supplies for Temelin.



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French President Emmanuel Macron and his Czech counterpart Petr Pavel agree to send support to Ukraine, but rule out sending combat troups.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Czech and French presidents said Tuesday their countries remain united in their support of Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression and are ready to look for new ways of helping the Ukrainians succeed.

“We agree that the only option for us is to continue supporting Ukraine,” Czech President Petr Pavel said. “We’ve agreed that Europe has to play a bigger role in helping Ukraine.”

Pavel said that all options had to be considered but ruled out deploying combat troops in Ukraine, an idea French President Emmanuel Macron floated last week, prompting an outcry from other European leaders. Later, French officials sought to clarify Macron’s remarks and tamp down criticism while insisting on the need to send a clear signal to Russia that it cannot win in Ukraine.

“We haven’t talked about it at all,” Pavel said. “We’re talking about various forms of assistance.” He suggested the training of Ukrainian soldiers may take place in their home country despite the ongoing conflict.

“Russia must not win the war,” Macron said in Prague. “We must all be aware that this war affects us all.”

He said European nations cannot put constraints on themselves when Russia has no limits, including threatening the use of nuclear weapons.

“It’s a strategic leap that I called for and that I fully embrace,” Macron said. “We must be rational about the reality of the situation playing out in Europe.”

“I am convinced that the clarity of these words is precisely what Europe needed,” he said. “Ask President (Vladimir) Putin what he is prepared not to do. Who started the war in Ukraine? Vladimir Putin, who threatens whatever we do, whatever we say, with nuclear weapons.”

The Kremlin has warned that if NATO sends combat troops, a direct conflict between the alliance and Russia would be inevitable.

Last month, Pavel announced at a security conference in Munich that the Czechs had identified 800,000 pieces of artillery ammunition in various countries and were seeking funding for their acquisition to ship to Ukraine. Macron welcomed the Czech plan to acquire the ammunition Ukraine badly needed.

About 15 countries, including Britain, Belgium Denmark, Canada, Sweden and the Netherlands, have voiced their support for the plan, the Czech government said.

Later Tuesday, Macron and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala signed a French-Czech action plan for a long-term strategic partnership that should further boost cooperation in nuclear energy among other fields, including defense, transport, science and culture.

Unlike some other European countries, the Czech Republic and France both heavily rely on nuclear energy.

The Czech government is currently seeking to build up to four nuclear reactors and France’s state nuclear giant EDF and Korea’s KHNP are the two contenders bidding for the project. They have to submit their final bids by the middle of April with a contract to be signed on the turn of 2024-25.

The first new reactor, located at the Dukovany nuclear power station, is set to be operational by 2036.

During Macron’s visit, the main majority-state-owned Czech power company, CEZ, signed a contract with France’s Orano for its uranium enrichment needs in an effort to eliminate the country’s dependence on Russia. Under this deal, the uranium supplied will be transformed into fuel to be used in the Dukovany plant.

Orano already provides the same services for the country’s other Temelin nuclear plant.

Another French company, Framatome, was selected in 2022, together with U.S. Westinghouse Electric Co., to deliver fuel supplies for Temelin.

Rain floods southern France for third time in six months

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Severe floods have hit the French Southwest city of Saintes (Charente-Maritime) for the third time in just six months.

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Severe floods have hit southwest France, the third time in just six months.

Charente-Maritime is now on orange alert, following Pas-de-Calais and Gironde.

In Saintes, the river Charente is once again overflowing its banks. It is impossible to move about in the streets without beams. This scenario is being repeated just three months after the last flood, which affected thousands of homes. 

It’s “unbelievable”, said one resident on Monday, who admitted that he was “fed up”. He goes to check on a neighbour who had fifty centimetres of water in her house at the beginning of December.

The flood should reach its peak on Friday, when the water level is expected to reach 5.85 metres. Up to 200 homes could be flooded.

The mayor of the commune is considering solutions for future floods.

“In this street, we’ll probably have to buy some houses and knock them down to make it easier for the water to drain away. Maybe, upstream, we’ll have to build some reservoirs, I don’t know… Obviously, we’ll have to build cofferdams (flood barriers), we’ll try to find effective cofferdam systems,” explained Bruno Drapron, the mayor of Saintes.

Extreme weather in Alpine region

Extreme weather has brought avalanches, storms, strong winds and landslides to Italy and France.

A 16-year-old boy died after being hit by an avalanche while skiing in southern Italy.

The avalanche risk in the area stands at level three, or “considerable”, on the European avalanche danger scale. The boy is the second person to be killed by an avalanche in the region in recent days.

More than 6,000 people living in three villages in the Gressoney area of the Aosta valley, the Alpine region near the French border, have been isolated since Sunday as a result of avalanches, which also blocked a tunnel.

Thunderstorms and winds of more than 100km/h triggered landslides in the Liguria region on Italy’s north-west coast.



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Severe floods have hit the French Southwest city of Saintes (Charente-Maritime) for the third time in just six months.

ADVERTISEMENT

Severe floods have hit southwest France, the third time in just six months.

Charente-Maritime is now on orange alert, following Pas-de-Calais and Gironde.

In Saintes, the river Charente is once again overflowing its banks. It is impossible to move about in the streets without beams. This scenario is being repeated just three months after the last flood, which affected thousands of homes. 

It’s “unbelievable”, said one resident on Monday, who admitted that he was “fed up”. He goes to check on a neighbour who had fifty centimetres of water in her house at the beginning of December.

The flood should reach its peak on Friday, when the water level is expected to reach 5.85 metres. Up to 200 homes could be flooded.

The mayor of the commune is considering solutions for future floods.

“In this street, we’ll probably have to buy some houses and knock them down to make it easier for the water to drain away. Maybe, upstream, we’ll have to build some reservoirs, I don’t know… Obviously, we’ll have to build cofferdams (flood barriers), we’ll try to find effective cofferdam systems,” explained Bruno Drapron, the mayor of Saintes.

Extreme weather in Alpine region

Extreme weather has brought avalanches, storms, strong winds and landslides to Italy and France.

A 16-year-old boy died after being hit by an avalanche while skiing in southern Italy.

The avalanche risk in the area stands at level three, or “considerable”, on the European avalanche danger scale. The boy is the second person to be killed by an avalanche in the region in recent days.

More than 6,000 people living in three villages in the Gressoney area of the Aosta valley, the Alpine region near the French border, have been isolated since Sunday as a result of avalanches, which also blocked a tunnel.

Thunderstorms and winds of more than 100km/h triggered landslides in the Liguria region on Italy’s north-west coast.