Latest news bulletin | July 18th – Evening
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00:0045 European leaders descend on England to discuss repairing partnership between the continent and Britain.
00:14Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected as President of the European Commission for a second term.
00:21She received a strong support in a make-or-break vote in the European Parliament.
00:26Votes in favour, 401.
00:40The German EPP candidate got a better result than the one she got the first time she was elected in 2019.
00:47A bigger majority gives her a stronger mandate than she had on the previous occasion.
00:52This was reflected in the congratulations she got from the Socialists, the Liberals and the Greens.
01:00But her victory had not been certain as she had to negotiate with members on the right and the left.
01:06Something that could be seen in the promises she made during her speech.
01:09As defence, competitiveness and housing were on the list.
01:13Despite the vote being secret, most of the European Parliament groups made clear their intentions.
01:18The centrist groups including EPP, SND, Greens and Renew Europe voted in favour, despite some individual dissenters.
01:27While the extremes, both the left and the far right, overwhelmingly voted against.
01:38Ursula von der Leyen delivered her candidate speech to be re-elected as President of the European Commission in front of the European Parliament.
01:46Pleasing right and left with her speech, the German politician from centre-right EPP defended a strong Europe and stressed that there is no room for demagogues or polarisation.
01:57She focused on the defence of Europe and managed to create a defence commissioner for this purpose.
02:04Von der Leyen also criticised Viktor Orban for playing to Putin's hand by visiting Moscow.
02:15Europe and the West are going soft and some in Europe are playing along.
02:23Two weeks ago, a European Union Prime Minister went to Moscow.
02:30This so-called peace mission was nothing but an appeasement mission.
02:37This was a plain appeasement mission.
02:46This is not the only new commissioner she wants to put in place.
02:53Competitiveness and SMEs, short for small and medium enterprises, are also high on her agenda.
03:00If the past term was the so-called Green Commission, the next one von der Leyen wants it to be known as the Industry Commission.
03:07Less bureaucracy, less permits and more trust for SMEs.
03:11But she also had some words for one of Europe's biggest issues, the housing crisis.
03:16To fight against increased prices and inaccessibility to housing, she will appoint a housing commissioner.
03:22Typically housing is not seen as a European issue.
03:27Some might say we should not get involved.
03:30But I want this commission to support people where it matters most and if it matters to Europeans, then it matters to Europe.
03:41Another pressing topic was migration.
03:47After the agreement on the new asylum pact that forced solidarity and put a price of 20,000 euros to each migrant, von der Leyen now wants to implement it.
03:56For the implementation of the pillar, we need a common approach on returns to make them more effective and dignified.
04:05And we need to develop our comprehensive partnerships, in particular across our southern neighbourhood.
04:12The Mediterranean region should get undivided attention.
04:17And this is why I will appoint a commissioner for the region.
04:22Von der Leyen had also some concessions for the Greens and promised to stick to the targets of the Green Deal.
04:29But with a focus on the industry, she assured she will be putting forward a clean industrial deal in the first three months.
04:43With the Israel-Hamas war in its 10th month and hospitals in Gaza at breaking point,
04:50EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made her most emotional reference yet in her pitch this week for another five years as president.
04:58The war began last October when Hamas killed over 1,200 people, mostly Israelis, in southern Israel.
05:07I want to be very clear. The bloodshed in Gaza must stop now.
05:14Too many children, women and civilians have lost their lives as a result of Israel's response to Hamas' brutal terror.
05:30The people of Gaza cannot bear any more and humanity cannot bear any more.
05:37As president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen was often criticised for her pro-Israeli stance.
05:44EU staffers in Brussels often go on walkouts to express their disappointment.
05:49And here in Strasbourg, four Irish MEPs from the centrist Renew Europe group decided to go against their party line this week and vote against her re-election.
05:59I read her political guidelines, I've listened to her contributions to our group meetings,
06:04but unfortunately I haven't heard enough to make me think that there is a change of policy, particularly on Gaza.
06:11We heard nothing about the trade agreement, we heard nothing about sanctions, we heard nothing about settler violence,
06:18we've heard nothing about the International Court of Justice or the application for an arrest warrant in the International Criminal Court.
06:24So unfortunately all of these issues were skirted over. We made some efforts to get some answers, but they weren't forthcoming.
06:30Barry Andrews has received thousands of letters from voters on this issue.
06:35They want an arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister in the International Criminal Court.
06:40But the European Union remains deeply divided on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which might explain the weak response.
06:47Maeve McMahan, Euronews, Strasbourg.
06:50Newly elected UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed 45 European leaders to a summit in England aimed at repairing relations.
07:01The meeting fired a starting gun on bolstering links between Britain and the continent, with a particular focus on supporting Ukraine, Starmer said.
07:11We want to work with all of you to reset relationships, rediscover our common interest and renew the bonds of trust and friendship that brighten the fabric of European life.
07:25And the task is urgent because our security is on the line.
07:29Every day Ukraine fights to protect not just the Ukrainian people, but the European people.
07:35Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was a key guest at the European Political Community Summit,
07:42and later wrote on social media that Russia's invasion of Ukraine could not continue while foreign leaders stood united.
07:50Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told reporters on his way out that victory for either party would not be found on the battlefield, but at the negotiation table.
08:01Police in France have opened a criminal investigation following a suspected deadly arson attack in Nice.
08:08The apartment building blaze killed seven people in the southern French city.
08:13The dead include three children, aged five, seven and ten, and a 17-year-old teenager who tried to escape by jumping from a window.
08:22According to firefighters, three people were rescued using ladders, and 33 people were evacuated from the building.
08:31Authorities in the Moulin district of Nice said everyone was taken to the hospital.
08:37Police in France have opened a criminal investigation following a suspected deadly arson attack in Nice.
08:44The apartment building blaze killed seven people in the southern French city.
08:49Authorities in the Moulin district of Nice said everyone had been affected by the tragedy.
08:57The region's prefect said they were determined to provide help and assistance to the survivors.
09:11Countries across southern Europe have issued extreme weather warnings due to potentially dangerous heat.
09:19Greece's culture ministry has ordered the iconic Acropolis to close for several hours in the middle of the day.
09:24Meteorologists said hot air coming from Africa will continue baking the nation until Sunday at least.
09:30Temperatures on Thursday are expected to reach 43 degrees Celsius.
09:34The heat is unbelievable. You have to stay hydrated, drinking, and hopefully you will survive in this weather.
09:50In Croatia, authorities have reported the highest ever temperatures at the Adriatic Sea.
09:55In Dubrovnik, thousands of tourists look for shade to hide from the blazing sun while exploring the city,
10:00while people at nearby beach resorts sheltered under umbrellas.
10:07In Romania, one person has died and another is in a very serious condition after a period of extreme heat.
10:20An orange heatwave alert remains for the country.
10:24Across Europe, doctors say it's crucial to understand the symptoms of hypothermia and dehydration
10:29and act as quickly as possible to avoid serious health problems.
10:41Europe's biggest LGBTQ sporting event has kicked off with an opening ceremony in Vienna's Karlsplatz Square.
10:47The EuroGames will see 4,000 athletes from 50 nations compete in 31 different sports,
10:53ranging from tennis and badminton to football and roller derby.
10:57This year is the first time Austria have hosted the Games.
11:00Thomas Nobis, who is organizing the tennis tournament, praised the event for its inclusivity.
11:18Gai Conconci, the worst of Eurovision fame, headlined the event, welcoming the participants to Vienna.
11:24The EuroGames were first held in 1992 in The Hague.
11:27Different cities have hosted the event since then.
11:30Vienna has donated €150,000 to the cause, as well as providing free access to many sporting venues.