INTERNATIONAL

France has carried out its first air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria, the president’s office says. French planes had hit targets identified during reconnaissance missions over the past fortnight, the statement said, without giving details. The French prime minister said the strikes had hit IS “sanctuaries where those who attack France are trained”. A US-led coalition has been ...

Russia and Estonia have exchanged two convicted spies over a bridge separating the countries. Estonian security official Eston Kohver was sentenced to 15 years in a Russian jail last month. He was swapped for Aleksei Dressen, who was imprisoned in Estonia in 2012 on charges of spying for Moscow. Kohver’s case provoked a diplomatic row, with Estonia and the EU ...

Switzerland has temporarily banned the sale of Volkswagen (VW) diesel-engine models which could have devices capable of tricking emission tests. It said the move could affect 180,000 cars – not yet sold or registered – in the Euro5 emission category. This comes after VW, the biggest carmaker in the world, admitted cheating on emissions tests in the US. Meanwhile, Matthias ...

Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Sepp Blatter, the head of the world football body Fifa. The attorney general’s office said he was being investigated “on suspicion of criminal mismanagement as well as – alternatively – on suspicion of misappropriation”. It said Mr Blatter was currently being questioned. Earlier, Fifa cancelled a press conference at its Zurich headquarters. ...

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has ordered a safety review for the Hajj pilgrimage after at least 717 people died in a stampede near the holy city of Mecca. Another 863 people were injured in the incident at Mina, which occurred as two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj’s last major rite. It is the deadliest incident to occur ...

At least 310 people taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage have been killed in a stampede near the Islamic holy city of Mecca, officials in Saudi Arabia say. Another 450 people were injured in the incident at Mina, which occurred as two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj’s last major rite. They converge on Mina to throw stones ...

European Union leaders have pledged another €1bn (£700m, $1.1bn) to help UN agencies support Syrian refugees in the Middle East, as part of renewed efforts to tackle the EU’s migrant crisis. More help will be extended to Syria’s neighbours, where millions have fled since the country’s conflict began. The leaders also agreed on strengthening EU external borders. European Council President ...

EU leaders meeting in Brussels are set to approve a plan to relocate 120,000 migrants across the continent, despite fierce opposition from some members. Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary voted against the mandatory quota scheme. Wednesday’s emergency summit will also focus on tightening EU borders and boosting aid to neighbours of Syria, from where many migrants come. EU ...

European interior ministers have agreed a deal to relocate 120,000 migrants across the continent in a vote passed by a significant majority. Under the plan, migrants will be moved from Italy, Greece and Hungary to other countries in the EU. Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary voted against accepting mandatory quotas. But a large majority of EU member states ...

Burkina Faso’s army has reached the capital, Ouagadougou, to seek the surrender of the elite presidential guard who staged a coup last Thursday. Negotiations between army chiefs and the presidential guard are under way, security sources said. Both the president and the prime minister have been released. Coup leader Gen Gilbert Diendere says he will step aside once regional leaders ...