worldwide news
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is still in an induced coma from a suspected poisoning but his condition is stable and his symptoms are improving, the German doctors treating him said Friday. Navalny, a politician and corruption investigator who is one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest critics, fell ill on a flight back to Moscow …
Read more “Hospital: Russia’s Navalny Still in Coma But Improving”
The British government announced Friday plans to fast-track any viable COVID-19 vaccine, allowing the emergency use of the drug before it goes through the formal licensing process, if it meets certain safety and quality standards.In a statement the British government, said if a viable vaccine is discovered before the end of the year, the proposals …
Read more “UK to Revise Laws to Allow Use of COVID Vaccines Before Licensing”
The Russian navy conducted major war games near Alaska involving dozens of ships and aircraft, the military said Friday, the biggest such drills in the area since Soviet times. Russia’s navy chief, Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, said that more than 50 warships and about 40 aircraft were taking part in the exercise in the …
Read more “Russian Navy Conducts Major Maneuvers Near Alaska”
Maris Selga has served as Latvia’s ambassador to the United States since September 2019.He began his diplomatic career in 1994. Prior to Washington, Selga served in various diplomatic posts, including in Denmark and Egypt, most recently as Latvia’s top diplomat stationed in the People’s Republic of China.He discussed the situation in Belarus in a recent …
Read more “Ambassador from Riga: Without an Independent Latvia, His Job Wouldn’t Exist”
The people in Latvia have been closely following the crisis in Belarus, their neighboring country to the southeast, and “are deeply concerned about the situation,” Maris Selga, Latvia’s ambassador to the United States, said in an Maris Selga has served as Latvia’s ambassador to the United States since September 2019. (Photo courtesy Latvia Embassy)Latvia, along …
Read more “In Belarus Crisis, Latvians See Echos of Their Own Independence Struggle”
Grainy surveillance video shows a person walking toward a car belonging to Ukrainian investigative news team Schemes moments before the vehicle ignites.Police on Wednesday arrested two suspects in connection with the August 17 fire in Brovary, a city near the capital, Kyiv, and continue to investigate, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov FILE – Ukrainian President Volodymyr …
European governments are preparing to reopen schools in the coming days for the new academic year, as health experts say it’s vital for children to resume education. Most students have not attended school for six months after lockdowns were imposed in March to contain the coronavirus pandemic. As Henry Ridgwell reports from London, some teachers …
Read more “Europe Races to Reopen Schools Amid COVID-19 Resurgence”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia has prepared a contingent of law enforcement officers that could be sent to Belarus “if necessary” to restore order in the event of “looting” amid continuing postelection protests.Putin made the comments in a surprise interview aired on the state channel Rossia on August 27.”Russian forces won’t be …
Read more “Russian Forces Prepared to Help Belarus, Putin Says”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday the alliance is “watching developments in Belarus closely,” and that NATO supports “a sovereign and independent Belarus.” Stoltenberg made the comments to reporters after meeting in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The two leaders met to discuss pressing European diplomatic issues ahead of meetings with European Union defense ministers …
Read more “NATO Chief Calls on Belarus’s Lukashenko to ‘Respect Fundamental Rights’”
A mother and her three children scanned the school supplies in a Paris supermarket, plucking out multicolored fountain pens, crisp notebooks – and plenty of masks. Despite resurgent coronavirus infections, similar scenes are unfolding across Europe as a new school year dawns. Virus or no virus, European authorities are determined to put children back into …
Read more “Europe Is Going Back to School Despite Recent Virus Surge”
Greek and Turkish leaders dug in their heels Wednesday even after their foreign ministers proposed talks to settle rival claims to energy-rich sections of the Mediterranean. Greece announced plans Wednesday to extend its territorial waters along its western coastline and held a second day of military exercises in waters where Turkey challenges Greek claims of jurisdiction. Turkey carried out military exercises nearby. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos …
Read more “Greek, Turkish Leaders Dig in Their Heels in Mediterranean Dispute”
After more than two weeks of massive street protests in Belarus, police arrested at least 50 protesters on Wednesday, and prosecutors opened criminal inquiries against opposition activists who set up a Coordination Council. The U.S. has called for all detained protesters to be released and for the people of Belarus to be allowed to decide …
Read more “Belarus Authorities Arrest Protesters, Crack Down on Opposition Leaders”
A small number of U.S. troops were injured during an incident with Russian forces in Syria, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday. While such interactions between American and Russian forces are not rare, the incident highlights the risks of troops from both countries operating in close proximity in northern Syria and the potential for an …
Read more “US Troops Injured in Incident With Russian Forces in Syria, US Officials Say”
As Belarusians continue protesting against longtime ruler Alexander Lukashenko, who was reelected to a fourth term in a vote widely viewed as rigged, Chicago’s Belarusian community is also taking to the streets to back the protests. Kulsoom Khan spoke with some of the Chicago protesters and filed this report, narrated by Anna Rice.Producer: Barry Unger. …
Read more “Belarusian Community in Chicago Backs Protests in Home Country”
The 2021 Davos World Economic Forum (WEF) summit of business leaders and politicians has been called off for January due to the coronavirus pandemic, with organizers planning to reschedule the event to sometime early next summer. “The advice from experts is that we cannot (host the event) safely in January,” WEF said on Wednesday in …
Read more “COVID Fears Postpone World Economic Forum Until Summer 2021”
U.N. prosecutors urged United Nations judges Wednesday to uphold former Bosnian Serb Army chief Ratko Mladic’s life sentence for crimes, including genocide, which they say Mladic personally oversaw.His lawyers, meanwhile, called for an acquittal or retrial.Mladic, 78, was commander of the Main Staff of the Bosnian Serb army during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War. A U.N. …
Read more “UN Prosecutors: Uphold Mladic’s Life Sentence for Srebrenica Massacre”
Greece and Turkey say they are ready for talks to settle rival claims to an energy-rich section of the Mediterranean, but the hostility was clear when the foreign ministers of both countries called for dialogue Tuesday. After talks in Ankara with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Greece must drop what he called its “maximalist demands.” “We are open to talks without pre-conditions. But, when one side starts …
Read more “Greek, Turkish Foreign Ministers Say They are Ready for Talks”
The Trump administration says it strongly objects to Turkey’s recent hosting of two leaders of Hamas, which the United States regards as a terrorist group. “President Erdogan’s continued outreach to this terrorist organization only serves to isolate Turkey from the international community, harms the interests of the Palestinian people, and undercuts global efforts to prevent terrorist attacks launched from Gaza,” a State Department statement said Tuesday. It pointed out that one of the Hamas …
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged Tuesday to beat the latest surge in COVID-19 cases that has hit the nation, and he urged the Spanish people to remain “alert but serene” as the country works to flatten the increase.In a televised speech, Sanchez told the nation that Spain’s total number of infections hit 405,436 during …
Read more “Spain PM Pledges to Flatten Nation’s Second COVID-19 Surge”
Russia announced this month it had won the global race to develop the first vaccine against the novel coronavirus. But that self-proclaimed victory – and plans to ramp up production – come amid lingering questions about the safety and effectiveness of the Russian drug. From Moscow, Charles Maynes reports.Video editor: Henry Hernandez …
Russia announced this month it had won the global race to develop the first vaccine against the novel coronavirus. But that self-proclaimed victory – and plans to ramp up production – come amid lingering questions about the safety and effectiveness of the Russian drug. From Moscow, Charles Maynes reports.PRODUCER: Henry Hernandez …
Belarusian authorities have jailed several opposition activists as part of a mounting pressure campaign against protesters who are planning more demonstrations against President Alexander Lukashenko to force an end to his 26-year rule.A court on Tuesday sentenced opposition leader Sergei Dylevsky to a 10-day jail sentence, while authorities summoned other opposition activists for questioning and …
Read more “Belarusian Government Ups Crackdown Against Opposition Activists”
Ten people arrested last week in an investigation of the militant Irish nationalist New IRA group have been charged on a range of offenses from directing terrorism to conspiracy to possess explosives, Northern Ireland police said on Monday. The New IRA, one of a small number of active militant groups opposed to Northern Ireland’s 1998 peace …
Read more “Ten People Charged in New IRA Investigation – Northern Ireland Police”
Sundays for the Barysevich family are usually a time to catch up on chores and take their two young children to nearby parks and playgrounds. But just weeks after a disputed election in Yauheni Barysevich’s Belarusian homeland, this past Sunday was a time to protest.“The last two weeks have been very different for our family …
Read more “ Washingtonians March for Belarus, Recalling Baltic Protests”