UK’s Sunak Vows to Get Tough on China if He Becomes Prime Minister

Rishi Sunak on Sunday promised to get tough on China if he becomes Britain’s next prime minister, calling the Asian superpower the “number one threat” to domestic and global security. The former finance minister’s pledge comes after his rival in the race to lead the ruling Conservative party, Liz Truss, accused him of being weak …

Greece Battles Fierce Wildfires Amid Europe Heatwaves

Greece on Sunday battled four major wildfires that have forced hundreds to evacuate, as soaring temperatures there and in Spain raised fears of more blazes. Scientists say human-induced climate change is amplifying extreme weather, including the heatwaves, droughts and floods seen in several parts of the planet in recent weeks, and say these events will …

Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard Wins Maiden Tour de France Title

Jonas Vingegaard claimed his maiden Tour de France title after Sunday’s 21st and final stage, completing a triumph he effectively sealed in the mountains after a vintage duel with Tadej Pogacar. The 25-year-old, who five years ago was working as a fish packer in a factory in the morning before training in the afternoon, followed …

Mediterranean Ships Find 5 Dead, Rescue Over 1,100 Migrants 

Italian vessels have recovered five bodies and rescued 674 people packed on a fishing boat adrift in the Mediterranean off the Libyan coast, the Italian Coast Guard said Sunday, while European charities reported saving more than 500 more. Some of the survivors had to be plucked from the sea in the Italian operation Saturday that …

Britain’s PM Hopefuls Promise to Get Tough on Illegal Migration

Britain’s two contenders to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister promised on Sunday to tackle illegal immigration as a priority, with both backing the government’s policy of sending migrants to Rwanda. Former finance minister Rishi Sunak and foreign secretary Liz Truss are battling to become Britain’s next prime minister after a revolt over Johnson’s scandal-ridden …

Russian Official Admits to Missile Strike on Odesa

A spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday that Russian missiles destroyed military infrastructure Saturday in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa, a site that is vital for the exportation of Ukrainian grain. Maria Zakharova posted on her Telegram account “Kalibr missiles destroyed military infrastructure in the port of Odessa, with a high-precision strike.” …

Brexit Blamed as UK Faces Channel Port Logjam

Unions, port officials and the French authorities blamed Brexit on Saturday as thousands of holidaymakers faced long delays trying to reach Europe via the English Channel port of Dover. But U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss laid the blame squarely on Paris, telling her French counterpart, Catherine Colonna, that “the French authorities have not put enough …

Top US Delegation Visits Kyiv, Vows to Ensure Continuing Support

A senior U.S. congressional delegation met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday and promised to try to ensure continued support in the war against Russia. The delegation, which included Representative Adam Smith, chair of the House Armed Services Committee, is the latest in a series of high-profile American visitors to Ukraine. “The United …

Pope’s Indigenous Tour Signals a Rethink of Mission Legacy

Pope Francis’ trip to Canada to apologize for the horrors of church-run Indigenous residential schools marks a radical rethink of the Catholic Church’s missionary legacy, spurred on by the first pope from the Americas and the discovery of hundreds of probable graves at the school sites. Francis has said his weeklong visit, which begins Sunday, …

‘Heavy Fighting’ in Ukraine, Reports Britain’s Defense Ministry

Britain’s Defense Ministry said early Saturday that in the last 48 hours heavy fighting has been taking place as Ukrainian forces have continued their offensive against Russian forces in Kherson Oblast, west of the River Dnipro. In the statement posted to Twitter the ministry said “Russia is likely attempting to slow the Ukrainian attack using …

UN Court Rejects Myanmar Objections, Will Hear Rohingya Genocide Case

Judges at the United Nations’ highest court on Friday dismissed preliminary objections by Myanmar to a case alleging the Southeast Asian nation is responsible for genocide against the Rohingya ethnic minority. The decision establishing the International Court of Justice’s jurisdiction sets the stage for hearings airing evidence of atrocities against the Rohingya that human rights …

US Sending Ukraine More Advanced Rocket Systems; Fighter Jets Under Consideration 

The United States will send Ukraine more precision rocket systems along with hundreds of thousands of rounds of artillery shells, part of a new security assistance package unveiled Friday aimed at giving Kyiv an upper hand in what Western military officials describe as a grinding war of attrition with Russia. The highlight of the $270 …

Liberated Ukrainian Village Holds Beauty Day Amid War

The village of Borodyanka in the Kyiv region was one of the first ones in Ukraine to be shelled by the Russian military. Dozens of people were killed and hundreds more lost their homes. But on this day locals and volunteers are taking a day for self-care. Anna Kosstutschenko has the story. Camera: Paviel Syhodolskiy …

Agreement Signed on Trapped Ukrainian Grain

The United Nations, Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine signed four-way deal in Istanbul Friday intended to deliver Ukrainian grain to world markets. The deal is the result of months of negotiations as world food prices soar amid increasing grain shortages connected to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres heralded the agreement as a major …

Ukrainian First Lady’s Washington Trip Bearing Results, President Says

The results of the Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenskyy’s trip to Washington are beginning to materialize, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his daily address Thursday. Zalenskyy said U.S. Senators James Risch, Benjamin Cardin, Roger Wicker, Richard Blumenthal, Rob Portman, Jeanne Shaheen and Lindsey Graham presented a draft resolution on recognition of Russia’s actions in …

Calls Rise in US Congress to Designate Russia a State Sponsor of Terrorism

As the war in Ukraine approaches the end of its fifth month and Russian attacks on civilian sites are reported on a near-daily basis, pressure is mounting on the Biden administration to officially designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. This week, according to reporting by Politico, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Secretary of …

Turkey’s Erdogan: Deal to Resume Ukraine’s Grain Exports Set for Signing Friday

Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will sign a deal Friday to resume Ukraine’s Black Sea grain exports, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s office said Thursday. Russia and Ukraine are both major global wheat suppliers, but Moscow’s February 24 invasion of its neighbor has sent food prices soaring and stoked an international food crisis. …

Europe’s Central Bank Backs Larger-than-expected Rate Hike

The European Central Bank raised interest rates Thursday for the first time in 11 years by a larger-than-expected amount, joining steps already taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other major central banks to target stubbornly high inflation.  The move raises new questions about whether the rush to make credit more expensive will plunge major …

Italian Prime Minister Draghi Resigns

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi resigned Thursday after failing in his efforts to unite the fractious pieces of his unity government. President Sergio Mattarella’s office said in a statement the president had accepted Draghi’s resignation but asked him to stay on in a caretaker role. The development could mean Italy heads to a parliamentary election …

Ukraine: Russian Shelling Kills 2 in Kharkiv

Ukraine reported Russian shelling Thursday on the city of Kharkiv killed at least two people and wounded 19 others. Regional governor Oleg Synegubov said the dead included one child, and that four people were in serious condition. Britain’s defense ministry said Thursday that Russian forces were continuing small-scale assaults along the front line in the …

US Warns Putin Falling for His Own Rhetoric

Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to have succumbed to his own mythmaking and hyperbole, unable to let go of his desire to conquer Ukraine, no matter what the costs, according to a public assessment by America’s top spymaster. CIA Director William Burns, the last U.S. official to meet with Putin before he ordered Russian forces …

Russia Resumes Gas Deliveries Through Pipeline to Europe

Russia resumed the flow of natural gas through the Nord Stream pipeline to Europe on Thursday after a 10-day interruption for maintenance. Klaus Mueller, head of Germany’s energy regulator, tweeted that gas flows had reached 40% of capacity, the same level as before the shutdown. Russia’s state-owned Gazprom blamed the reduction on the absence of …

Network of Fact-Checkers Unites to Stem Flow of Disinformation

When Russian missiles struck a mall in the Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk last month, the deadly attack sent ripples of disinformation across Europe. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the mall was “permanently closed” at the time of the strike and that its forces were targeting ammunition stores. Russia’s ambassador to Ireland responded to international criticism over …