ADVERTISEMENT

       A passenger train has collided head-on with a freight train in the Czech Republic.

       At least four people were killed and 23 others injured, officials said early Thursday.

       The crash took place late Wednesday night in the city of Pardubice, some 100 kilometers east of Prague, according to Interior Minister Vít Raku？an.

       Transport Minister Martin Kupka said the main track between Prague and the eastern part of the country had to be closed while authorities investigate the collision.

       “We can't and won't speculate about the cause of the accident," Kupka said.

       The private RegioJet company owns the train.

       Raku？an said none of the injured was in life-threatening condition.

       The state-run train company, Czech Railways, said it's likely the track will remain closed for the entire day “due to the extent of the accident.”

       Rescuers said more than 300 passengers were on board the high-speed train heading for the city of Kosice in eastern Slovakia.

       The dead were not immediately identified. The drivers in both engines survived, the local CTK news agency said..

       The corridor in Pardubice, where the trains collided, is vital for Czech Railways. It said the line will also likely be closed tomorrow.

       Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the crash a big tragedy and offered his condolences to the families of those killed.

       ADVERTISEMENT

       The economy is one of Europeans main concerns as citizens prepare to go to the polls this weekend to choose their next representatives, according to chief analyst of the Euronews Polls Centre, Boyd Wagner. In second place, migration remains a hot topic for residents across every European country.

       "All our economies are so interlinked. We have local problems as well in Ireland. It continues to be a massive housing crisis. Cost of living crisis. I don't think politicians are taking seriously these issues, especially European Parliament politicians," an Irish man told Euronews.

       For others, climate remains a priority.

       "It's important to me that we manage to become climate neutral as European Union and we get on the path to that," a teacher from Germany told Euronews. She also said it is important to ensure that being climate aware becomes socially acceptable.

       Watch the full report in the player above to find out more.

       ADVERTISEMENT

       Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that Russia could provide long-range weapons to others to strike Western targets.

       He also reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness to use nuclear weapons if it sees a threat to its sovereignty.

       The move comes after Germany recently joined the US in authorising Ukraine to hit some targets on Russian soil with the long-range weapons they are supplying to Kyiv.

       Putin said Kyiv using such weapons would be a “dangerous step”, which could also ruin relations between Berlin and Moscow.

       Such action by the West will further undermine international security and could lead to “very serious problems.” he said, adding that the Kremlin could provide long-range weapons to others to strike Western targets.

       “That would mark their direct involvement in the war against the Russian Federation, and we reserve the right to act the same way”.

       Putin took questions from international journalists — something that has become extremely rare since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.

       'Nothing will change' after US presidential vote

       On Wednesday, a Western official and a US senator said Ukraine had used US weapons to strike inside Russia under newly approved guidance from President Joe Biden.

       It allows US arms to be used for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. The official was not authorised to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

       Taking questions from international journalists for the first time since his inauguration last month to a fifth term, Putin also said nothing will change in terms of Russia-US relations regardless of whether Biden or Donald Trump wins the US presidential election in November.

       “We will work with any president the American people elect,” Putin said, speaking on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

       “I say absolutely sincerely, I wouldn’t say that we believe that after the election something will change on the Russian track in the American politics,” he added. “We don’t think so. We think nothing that serious will happen.”

       NATO foreign ministers discuss restrictions on Ukraine using their weapons to attack Russia Germany says Ukraine can use its weapons to strike Russian territory

       Putin also said Trump’s felony conviction at his hush money trial last week was the result of "the use of the court system as part of the internal political struggle.”

       Asked about Russian military losses, Putin said that no country would reveal that information during hostilities but claimed without providing details that Ukraine's casualties are five times greater than Russia’s.

       He also said Ukraine has more than 1,300 Moscow troops in captivity, while more than 6,400 Ukrainian soldiers are being held in Russia.

       The claims could not be independently verified.