A Fiji court has ruled a Russian-owned superyacht be removed from the Pacific island nation by the United States because it was a waste of money for Fiji to maintain the vessel amid legal wrangling over its seizure. The U.S. Justice Department’s Taskforce KleptoCapture has focused on seizing yachts and other luxury assets of Russian …
Ukrainian and Russian forces engaged in intense street-to-street fighting in the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk on Monday, as Ukraine’s president said Russian troops were also intending to capture the key southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia. The situation in Sievierodonetsk was “changing from hour to hour,” according to the head of the city’s administration, Oleksandr Stryuk, who …
Read more “Ukrainian and Russian Forces Fight for Control of Sievierodonetsk”
The government of Poland, where a near-total abortion ban is in place, faced accusations Monday of creating a “pregnancy register” as the country expands the amount of medical data being digitally saved on patients. Women’s rights advocates and opposition politicians fear women face unprecedented surveillance given the conservative views of a ruling party that has …
Read more “Poland, With Near-total Abortion Ban, to Record Pregnancies “
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson survived a no-confidence vote Monday but is weakened after more than 40% of his Conservative Party voted against him remaining in office. In a secret ballot, 148 of the 359 Conservative Party lawmakers voted against Johnson. At least 180 would have had to vote against Johnson for him to be …
Read more “British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Survives No-Confidence Vote “
The U.S. Justice Department ordered the seizure Monday of two aircraft owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, saying they had been used in violation of sanctions on Russia imposed over its invasion of Ukraine. The department said in court filings that the two aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and a Gulfstream G650ER executive jet, had …
Read more “US Orders Seizure of 2 Luxury Jets Owned by Russian Oligarch Abramovich”
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine. The latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. All times EDT. 12:01 a.m.: Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced sanctions on 61 U.S. nationals, The Associated Press reported. The ministry said the move was being taken “in response to the ever-expanding U.S. sanctions against …
Belgium’s King Philippe on Tuesday begins a historic visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, in a region cruelly exploited by his ancestors, as tensions rise in the volatile east. The six-day trip, at the invitation of President Felix Tshisekedi, has strong symbolic significance, coming two years after Philippe expressed to the Congolese leader his …
Italy summoned Russia’s ambassador Monday after Moscow alleged the Italian media were waging an anti-Russian propaganda campaign through its coverage of the Ukraine war. The foreign ministry in Rome said it called in ambassador Sergey Razov to reject “insinuations regarding the alleged involvement of our country’s media in an anti-Russian campaign.” The ministry’s top civil …
Read more “Italy Summons Russian Ambassador Over Media Spat”
The United States on Monday announced sanctions on two Bosnian officials, saying they sought “to pursue ethno-nationalist and political agendas at the expense of the democratic institutions and citizens” of Bosnia. Bosnia was the site of a violent interethnic war in the 1990s after the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. The U.S. said Marinko Cavara, …
Britain announced Monday it will supply an unspecified number of long-range missile launchers to Ukraine, following the United States’ decision last week to send similar weapons. Ukrainian troops will be trained to use the systems in Britain in the coming weeks. Ukraine has repeatedly asked the West to supply longer-range weapons as it faces an …
Read more “Britain Gives Ukraine Long-Range Missiles to Counter ‘Brutal Russian Artillery’”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is due to visit Turkey on Wednesday for talks, including on creating a Black Sea corridor to allow Ukrainian grain to access world markets as global food prices soar. The talks come as Ankara faces pressure to open the Black Sea to NATO ships to break Russia’s blockade of Ukraine. …
Read more “Turkey at Center of Battle to Avert Global Food Crisis”
Britain’s governing Conservatives will hold a no-confidence vote on Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday that could oust him as Britain’s leader. Party official Graham Brady says he has received enough letters from lawmakers demanding a vote on Johnson’s leadership to trigger one. That happens if 54 Tory lawmakers — 15% of the party’s group …
Read more “British Prime Minister Johnson to Face Confidence Vote “
After making gains in recent days, Ukrainian fighters fighting in the city of Sievierodonetsk have lost some ground back to Russian forces, the region’s governor said. “Our defenders managed to undertake a counterattack for a certain time; they liberated almost half of the city. But now the situation has worsened a little for us again,” …
Read more “Luhansk Official Says Ukrainian Forces Lose Ground in Sievierodonetsk “
When D-Day veterans set foot on the Normandy beaches and other World War II sites, they express a mix of joy and sadness. Joy at seeing the gratitude and friendliness of the French toward those who landed on June 6, 1944. Sadness as they think of their fallen comrades and of another battle now being …
Read more “Crowds Honor WWII Veterans at Normandy D-Day Celebrations “
NATO kicked off nearly a two-week U.S.-led naval exercise on the Baltic Sea on Sunday with more than 7,000 sailors, airmen and marines from 16 nations, including two aspiring to join the military alliance, Finland and Sweden. The annual BALTOPS naval exercise, initiated in 1972, is not held in response to any specific threat. But …
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For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine. The latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. All times EDT. 12:10 a.m.: The United Nations estimates Ukraine is now one of the most mined countries in the world. In territories no longer occupied by Russian troops, experts from the country’s emergency …
The United Nations estimates Ukraine is now one of the most mined countries in the world. In territories no longer occupied by Russian troops, experts from the country’s emergency services are now defusing hundreds of mines a day. VOA’s Lesia Bakalets has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. …
Ukraine missed out on qualifying for the World Cup Sunday after the war-disrupted team was beaten 1-0 by Wales in the European playoff final for the FIFA soccer showpiece. Andriy Yarmolenko inadvertently headed the ball into his own net while trying to clear Wales captain Gareth Bale’s first-half free kick. While Wales heads to a …
Read more “Ukraine Misses Out on World Cup After Losing 1-0 to Wales”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Serbia has been canceled after countries around Serbia closed their airspace to his aircraft, a senior foreign ministry source told the Interfax news agency on Sunday. The source confirmed a Serbian media report that said Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro had closed their airspace to the plane that …
Read more “Closed Airspace Forces Cancellation of Lavrov’s Visit to Serbia, Interfax Reports”
In a crowning moment for her Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II appeared at the balcony of Buckingham Palace Sunday, delighting fans who had hoped to catch a glimpse of her during the final day of festivities marking the monarch’s 70 years on the throne. The 96-year-old monarch has curtailed her schedule in recent months due …
Read more “And She Waved: Festive Pageant Caps Queen’s Platinum Jubilee “
Rafael Nadal pulled away to beat Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in the French Open final on Sunday for his 14th championship at Roland Garros and 22nd Grand Slam title overall, adding to two records he already owned. Nadal’s victory came two days after his 36th birthday and made him the oldest title winner in …
Read more “Nadal Tops Ruud for 14th French Open title, 22nd Slam Trophy “
Explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Sunday as a regional governor said Ukrainian forces were pushing back against Russian troops in the strategic eastern city of Sievierodonetsk. The battle for Ukraine’s eastern city of Sievierodonetsk was being waged street by street, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, while explosions rocked the capital early Sunday. “Several explosions …
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Pope Francis added fuel to rumors about the future of his pontificate by announcing he would visit the central Italian city of L’Aquila in August for a feast initiated by Pope Celestine V, one of the few pontiffs who resigned before Pope Benedict XVI stepped down in 2013. Italian and Catholic media have been rife …
Read more “Pope Francis Fuels New Speculation on Future of Pontificate”
Officials in British prime minister Boris Johnson’s ruling Conservative Party expect a challenge to his leadership this week and have penciled in a vote for Wednesday, the Sunday Times newspaper reported. A growing number of Conservative lawmakers have said they have lost faith in Johnson’s government over a “partygate” scandal, with some saying they have …
Read more “Times – UK’s Johnson Could Face Leadership Challenge This Week”