Month: June 2020

Delegations from the United States and Russia meet in Vienna, Austria Monday and Tuesday to discuss their nuclear arsenals after more than a year’s pause. President Donald Trump has abandoned several U.S. treaties with Russia, including ones on overflights and on intermediate-range nuclear forces. Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Ambassador Marshall Billingslea is leading the U.S. delegation that will meet with their Russian counterparts led by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov in …

Read more “US, Russia to Start Nuclear Talks in Austria ”

One of the coldest places on Earth on Saturday became one of the hottest places on Earth. A Russian heat wave sent the thermometer in the Siberian town of Verkhoyansk soaring to 38 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Meteorologists say that would be the highest temperature ever recorded north of the Arctic Circle.  Verkhoyansk is about 10 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. Temperatures in the town average 40 degrees below zero Celsius (-40 Fahrenheit) in winter, and it rarely gets warmer than …

Read more “Heat Wave Shatters Record in Siberian Town”

Serbia’s ruling conservative party led by President Aleksandar Vucic is set for a landslide win in Sunday’s parliamentary election, results projected by Ipsos and CeSID pollsters showed.The projection shows the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) on track to win 62.5% of the votes, while the Socialist party, a junior coalition partner in the outgoing government, is …

Read more “Ruling Conservatives Set to Win Serbian Parliamentary Vote”

The coronavirus pandemic has prevented druids, pagans and party-goers from watching the sun rise at Stonehenge to mark the summer solstice this year.The ancient stone circle in southwestern England usually draws thousands of people to mark the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. But Britain has banned mass gatherings as part of …

Read more “Coronavirus Dampens Stonehenge Solstice Celebrations”

Vladimir Putin is considering running for a new term as Russia’s president if voters approve constitutional changes that would enable him to do so, Russian news agencies quoted him as saying in an interview on Sunday.Russia will hold a nationwide vote from June 25 to July 1 on proposed changes to the constitution, including an …

Read more “Russia’s Putin Says He May Seek Another Term If Constitutional Changes Passed”

Even though Greece is slowly but steadily lifting strict COVID-19 restrictions across the country, it is keeping more than 120,000 asylum seekers in lockdown, crammed in overcrowded camps to contain the spread the coronavirus. The virus has killed 190 people in this relatively infection-free country.In a terse weekend statement, Greece’s Migration and Asylum Ministry said confinement …

Read more “Greece Extends Lockdown on More than 120,000 Migrants, Refugees”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will announce a new “one meter plus” social distancing rule to reopen the United Kingdom, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported late on Saturday.The announcement, to be made on Tuesday, will apply to all venues including offices, schools and pubs, the paper reported, adding that it will take effect from July …

Read more “UK to Announce New ‘One Meter Plus’ Social Distancing Rule, Report Says”

Serbia is holding parliamentary and local elections Sunday expected to consolidate President Aleksandar Vucic’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s power.The opposition is partially boycotting the vote.”I fulfilled my citizen’s duty and that’s why I came to vote,” said Miroslav Krstic, a resident of Belgrade. “I think that is every citizen’s duty. But what I see is that …

Read more “Serbia Holds Parliamentary and Local Elections”

Turkey is seeking to reap diplomatic rewards from its military success in Libya. Recent gains by Turkish-backed forces of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) are enhancing Ankara’s influence in Libya and with the European Union.Turkey sent military personnel to Libya in January to support the Tripoli-based GNA. It had been under sustained attack …

Read more “Turkey Seeks Diplomatic Gains After Risky Libya Military Intervention”

World Refugee Day is being observed Saturday with the aim of raising awareness of refugees throughout the world. In Italy, a special prayer vigil was held in Rome this week titled “Dying of Hope,” in memory of the thousands who lose their lives at sea, on their journeys in search of a better life in …

Read more “The World Prays for Migrants and Refugees”

Britain’s education minister said the county should be “incredibly proud” of its history and that should be reflected in the program of study at schools.Speaking to reporters on Friday during the government’s daily briefing on COVID-19, Gavin Williamson said students need to learn about both the positive and negative aspects of the British Empire.“We mustn’t …

Read more “Education Minister: Britain Should be ‘Incredibly Proud’ of its History”

European Union leaders on Friday agreed to meet again in mid-July to discuss the European Commission’s coronavirus recovery measures, primarily powered by the proposed “Next Generation EU” plan.Friday’s meeting was a videoconference of the leaders of the 27-nation bloc to discuss the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a media conference after …

Read more “EU Leaders Discuss $840B ‘Next Generation EU’ Initiative for COVID Recovery”