Month: August 2022

The Hungarian government on Monday fired the head of the national weather service and her deputy, two days after a fireworks display to celebrate Hungary’s national holiday was delayed for fear of storms. Technology Minister Laszlo Palkovics, under whose authority the National Meteorological Service (NMS) falls, relieved President Kornelia Radics and her deputy Gyula Horvath …

Read more “Hungary Fires Weather Service Chief Over Inaccurate Forecasts”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has already killed some 9,000 Ukrainian soldiers since it began nearly six months ago, a general said, and the fighting Monday showed no signs that the war is abating. At a veterans event, Ukraine’s military chief, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said many of Ukraine’s children need to be taken care of because …

Read more “Ukraine: 9,000 of Its Troops Killed Since Russia Began War”

The U.N. children’s agency says nearly 1,000 Ukrainian children have been confirmed killed or injured from violence since Russia invaded Ukraine almost six months ago. UNICEF said Monday its tally of at least 972 child casualties represents only those that have been verified by the United Nations and said the true number is likely to …

Read more “UN: At Least 972 Children Killed or Injured in Ukraine Since Beginning of War   ”

A bag with an explosive charge was found in a Stockholm park during an annual cultural festival and police have opened a preliminary investigation into attempted public destruction, police in Sweden said Monday. On Sunday, a bag was found and its content was immediately “assessed as dangerous.” The surrounding area was cordoned off and traffic …

Read more “Police: Bag Found at Stockholm Festival Had an Explosive”

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has tested negative in a drug test she took following the publication of video footage last week that showed her partying with friends, the prime minister’s office said on Monday. Video clips of Marin, 36, at a party with Finnish celebrities began circulating on social media last week and they …

Read more “Finnish PM Tests Negative for Drugs in Wake of Leaked Party Video”

Turkey is touting its recent success in brokering a deal to free up grain trapped in Ukrainian ports as a good reason why it should maintain close ties with Russia. Those relations are deepening further as Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend a Russia-China security alliance meeting next …

Read more “Putin Courts Erdogan, as Turkey Claims Ukraine Grain Deal Success”

British health authorities will begin offering eligible people just a fraction of the normal monkeypox vaccine dose to stretch supplies by about five times, in line with similar decisions to extend available doses in Europe and the U.S. In a statement Monday, Britain’s Health Security Agency said patients at clinics in Manchester and London would …

Read more “UK to Use Lower Dose of Monkeypox Vaccine to Stretch Supply”

Russia’s top counterintelligence agency Monday blamed the Ukrainian spy service for the car bomb explosion that killed the daughter of a leading Russian nationalist ideologue, both of whom have been staunch supporters of President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s Federal Security Service [FSB], the main KGB successor agency, said that the Saturday night killing …

Read more “Russia Blames Ukraine Spy Service for Car Bomb that Killed Putin Ally’s Daughter”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of potential Russian actions as Ukraine prepares to mark its independence on Wednesday. During his nightly address Sunday, Zelenskyy said he had spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron about “all the threats” posed by Russia, and that similar messages had been sent to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President …

Read more “Ukrainian Leader Warns of Russian Action Ahead of Independence Anniversary”

Serbia’s president called on NATO on Sunday to “do their job” in Kosovo or he says Serbia itself will move to protect its minority in the breakaway province. The fiery televised address to his nation by President Aleksandar Vucic followed the collapse of political talks between Serbian and Kosovo leaders earlier this week mediated by …

Read more “Serbia Warns it Will Protect Kosovo Serbs if NATO Doesn’t”

The leaders of the United States, Britain, France and Germany discussed efforts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the White House said on Sunday in a statement largely focused on Ukraine.   “In addition, they discussed ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, the need to strengthen support for partners in the Middle East region, …

Read more “Leaders of US, UK, France, Germany Discuss Iran Nuclear Issue”

Pope Francis on Sunday called for an “open and sincere” dialogue to resolve a stand-off between the Church and government in Nicaragua, following the arrest of a bishop who is a leading critic of President Daniel Ortega. Speaking to pilgrims and tourists in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly blessing, Francis made his first comments …

Read more “Pope Urges Dialogue over Church-State Crisis in Nicaragua after Bishop’s Arrest “

Ukraine is set this week to mark six months since the Russian invasion. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his daily address Saturday, “I remember what various ‘advisers’ told me and advised me then. … I know that many of them are now ashamed of the words that were said then. … Ukrainians have proven that …

Read more “Ukraine to Mark 6 Months Since Russian Invasion”

The daughter of an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin was killed Saturday when the Toyota Land Cruiser she was driving exploded in Russia. Darya Dugin, a journalist, was killed in the blast Saturday near Moscow. Darya’s father is Russian political commentator Alexander Dugin, often referred to a “Putin’s brain.” Media reports say the elder …

Read more “Daughter of Putin Ally Killed in Blast”

Shortly before his two-day trip to Canada, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz received support for his interest in Canadian liquid natural gas to help replace Russian gas imports from an unexpected ally: Ukrainian state-owned gas company Naftogaz. Kyiv has been at loggerheads with Berlin over its gas imports policy: firstly, over its deal with Moscow to …

Read more “Ukraine’s Naftogaz Backs Scholz’s Bid for Canadian LNG Ahead of Trip”

The first surprise, for the Finnish conscripts and officers taking part in a NATO-hosted military exercise in the Arctic this spring: the sudden roar of a U.S. Marine helicopter assault force, touching down in a field right next to the Finns’ well-hidden command post. The second surprise: Spilling out of their field headquarters, the Finnish …

Read more “Finland, Sweden Offer NATO an Edge as Rivalry Warms Up North “

Sixteen people were killed in southeast Turkey on Saturday when a bus crashed into emergency workers and journalists who were working at an earlier accident on a highway near the city of Gaziantep, local authorities said. Regional governor Davut Gul said the dead included three firefighters, four emergency health workers and two drone operators from …

Read more “Sixteen People Killed in Turkey as Bus Crashes at Accident Site”

Conservative British member of parliament Tobias Ellwood, who chairs the House of Commons Defense Select Committee, cautioned that any nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant could draw NATO into the war between Russia and Ukraine.   “Let’s make it clear now: any deliberate damage causing potential radiation leak to a Ukrainian nuclear reactor would …

Read more “British Lawmaker: Nuclear Accident Could Draw NATO Allies into War”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed that independent inspectors can travel to the Moscow-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the French presidency said Friday, as fears grow over fighting near the site.  According to French President Emmanuel Macron’s office, Putin had “reconsidered” his demand that the International Atomic Energy Agency travel through Russia to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear …

Read more “Putin to Allow Inspectors to Visit Russia-Occupied Nuclear Plant “

The Ukrainian military’s push to “hollow out” invading Russian forces and retake territory will soon get a boost in the form of a new $775 million security aid package from the United States. The Pentagon on Friday confirmed it was readying the package — the 19th from the U.S. in the past year — complete …

Read more “US Moves to Bolster Mobility of Ukrainian Forces”

A rights group has asked Switzerland to investigate an alleged attack on a Swiss photojournalist by Russian troops in Ukraine earlier this year, prosecutors confirmed Friday. Ukrainian NGO Truth Hounds has asked Switzerland’s Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to probe an attack on Swiss freelance journalist Guillaume Briquet in southern Ukraine in March as …

Read more “Swiss Prosecutors Asked to Probe Attack on Journalist in Ukraine “

Russia will halt natural gas supplies to Europe for three days at the end of the month via its main pipeline into the region, state energy giant Gazprom said Friday, piling pressure on the region as it seeks to refuel ahead of winter.  The unscheduled maintenance order on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which runs …

Read more “Nord Stream 1 Pipeline to Shut Briefly in Latest Fuel Blow to Europe”

A smaller dose of the monkeypox vaccine appears to still be effective and can be used to stretch the current supply by five times, the European Medicines Agency said Friday, echoing a recommendation made earlier this month by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The EU drug regulator said in a statement that injecting people …

Read more “EU Regulator OKs Plan to Stretch Monkeypox Vaccine Supplies”

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is hosting an exhibition of African fashion that organizers say is the largest of its kind. The landmark exhibit — named simply “Africa Fashion” — promises to set a new standard on how the subject is portrayed in museums and art galleries. For VOA, Pasi Myohanen reports from …

Read more “London Exhibit Marks New Era for African Fashion”