The move appears to offer both countries’ nuclear weapons as a deterrent for all of Europe while establishing greater independence from any safety net provided by the U.S.’s much larger arsenal.

The two leaders are set to confirm details of a strengthened defense relationship at a summit Thursday. An agreement on tackling unauthorized migration may also be announced.

Countries facing a resurgent threat from Russia are set to spend hundreds of billions on military gear — and they’re turning to part-timers, conscripts and reserves to rebuild their armies.

Where summer fires have struck from France and Spain to Greece - Wildfires across the continent have forced thousands to evacuate and injured dozens

France is missing out on the investor optimism that has defined Europe's markets this year, hamstrung by its strained public finances and political volatility that threatens to paralyse policy until at least 2027.

A fast-moving wildfire reached the outskirts of Marseille, France’s second-largest city, on Tuesday, leading its airport to be shut down, with residents told to stay indoors and shut all openings to be safe from the smoke.

The European Court of Human Rights has delivered damning judgments against Russia. In finding published on Wednesday, the court said Moscow was responsible for widespread violations of international law — from the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014,

The five companies ESA selected are Isar Aerospace, MaiaSpace, Rocket Factory Augsburg, PLD Space, and Orbex. Only one of these companies, Isar Aerospace, has attempted to launch a rocket into orbit. Isar's Spectrum rocket failed moments after liftoff from Norway on a test flight in March.