Europe Briefing – Macron to face the press, Iceland volcano eruption
A look at the big stories from Europe today as French President Emmanuel Macron is set to face the media – a rare move from the struggling president. He usually favours using social media to keep in touch with the French people but hoping to breathe new life into a second term in office, as well as a lack of a parliamentary majority, and several domestic issues in France, the president will be hopeful his Q&A session will lay a new path.
Macron to hold rare press conference at Elysée following cabinet reshuffle
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to hold a rare press conference, with all eyes set to be on Gabriel Attal, 34 – France’s new PM. The moment is seen as pivotal and expected to be an extensive session, marking the first comprehensive question-and-answer event hosted by Macron in France in nearly five years. Despite being accused by opponents of aloofness and perceived monarchical tendencies, the president has typically responded to reporters’ questions during international trips but rarely held extensive press conferences domestically. He will address the nation at 8:15 pm and will be broadcast on various prime-time TV channels.
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Ukraine orders evacuation of Kharkiv villages threatened by Russian attacks
Ukraine has ordered the evacuation of Kharkiv villages, an era that Russian forces aggressively snatched during the early days of the Russian invasion. Despite Russian forces recently losing ground in the area, Ukrainian officials have ordered a “mandatory evacuation of the population from the Kindrashivska and Kurylivska communities of the Kupyansk district.” The order will affect some 3,043 people in the settlements, including 279 children. It’s not known what the direct Russian threat is.
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German farmers block Berlin streets in protest against fuel subsidy cuts
Farmers clogged Berlin streets with their tractors on Monday, honking their horns in protest at a plan to scrap tax breaks on the diesel they use, the climax of a week of protests that has tapped into wider discontent with Germany’s government. Over the past week, farmers have blocked highway entrances and slowed traffic across Germany with their protests, intent on pushing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government to abandon the planned cuts entirely.
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Houses catch fire as volcano erupts in southwestern Iceland
It was the North Atlantic nation‘s fifth volcanic eruption in under three years. The most recent occurred just weeks ago on December 18 in the same region, southwest of the capital Reykjavik. At least two houses were seen engulfed in fire on live images broadcast by public television RUV. The blaze then spread from one home to another. “In a little village like this one, we’re like a family, we all know each other as family – it’s tragic seeing this,” local resident Sveinn Ari Gudjonsson told AFP.
“It’s unreal, it’s like watching a film,” added the 55-year-old, who works in the fishing industry.
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