Europe Briefing – Gunman on the run in Brussels & Conor McGregor running for Irish presidency
Police in Brussels are still hunting Friday’s gunman – who opened fire on shoppers injuring four on a busy shopping street. A pro-Russian Ukrainian lawmaker has been shot dead near Moscow, and Italy has quit a major Chinese infrastructure project.
Russia school shooting: 14-year-old girl kills a friend before committing suicide
A tragic incident unfolded in southwest Russia as a 14-year-old girl opened fire at her school in Bryansk, resulting in the death of one classmate and the shooter herself. Five other children were injured during the attack. Authorities are still investigating the motives. “A 14-year-old girl came to school with a shotgun, shooting at her classmates” and killing one of them, according to the statement from the Investigative Committee of Russia.
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France trade deficit lifted in October by easing energy costs
In October 2023, France’s trade deficit, which is the difference between what the country imports and exports, decreased to €8.6 billion. This improvement was mainly because the cost of energy went down, specifically from €5.4 billion in September to €5 billion in October, thanks to lower amounts of energy being brought into the country. Although imports increased by 0.6% to €58.3 billion, exports also went up by 1.2% to €49.7 billion. However, when looking at the average over the past three months, there was a small decrease in both exports and imports, according to the French Ministry of Economy and Finance.
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The New Silk Road Project: Italy quits the Chinese infrastructure project
Italy has quit the Chinese infrastructure project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – also known as the New Silk Road. The BRI, launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, aims to create a global infrastructure network connecting various regions, including Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The decision to withdraw comes after an evaluation of the benefits gained from the initiative. According to Italian sources, the country experienced limited advantages while China appeared to benefit more significantly.
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Gunman on the run after four injured in shooting on busy shopping street in Brussels
Four people have been injured in a shooting on a major shopping street in central Brussels and the gunman is still on the run. The attacker opened fire on Friday night on a busy street with shops near a covered passageway with upscale fashion boutiques. At least one of those wounded is in a critical condition. The assailants fled the scene by the time police arrived shortly after 7.30pm local time, police spokeswoman Ilse Van de Keere said.
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Conor McGregor says he’ll fight the prime minister if he becomes Ireland’s next president
Conor McGregor seems to believe he has a strong chance of becoming Ireland’s next president. And if his wishes come to pass, the UFC star has already pledged that he will physically fight the prime minister at their official anointing ceremony inside a new ‘purpose-built President’s Octagon’. It comes after the controversial mixed martial arts champion was investigated by police for ‘inciting hatred’ during the Dublin riots.
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In Belgium, sexual abuse in Catholic Church sparks debate over state funding
In Belgium, a recent documentary on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has caused shock and soul-searching, reigniting a debate about the way religion is funded in the country. Unlike in neighbouring France, the Belgian state finances officially recognised religions, with representatives of the Catholic Church receiving the best pay. But the abuse scandal has seen many people demand a change in the rules.
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Pro-Russia Ukrainian politician shot dead near Moscow
Illia Kyva, a former pro-Russian member of Ukraine’s parliament who had been residing in Russia during the conflict, was shot and killed in a park in the Odintsovo region, southwest of Moscow. Russian investigators have begun a murder investigation, saying there are no suspects at present. An anonymous Ukrainian source implicated the SBU security service in Kyva’s death, while Andriy Yusov from Ukraine’s GUR intelligence agency confirmed Kyva’s demise without specifying the responsible party.
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