Month: December 2022

Federal prosecutors said some 3,000 officers conducted searches at 130 sites in 11 of Germany’s 16 states against adherents of the so-called Reich Citizens movement. Some movement members reject Germany’s postwar constitution and have called for bringing down the government. Justice Minister Marco Buschmann described the raids as an “anti-terrorism operation,” adding that the suspects …

Read more “Germany: 25 Arrested on Suspicion of Planning Armed Coup “

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen and U.S. Senator Jim Risch discuss war aid, weapons and what’s at stake for democracies worldwide …

Rights groups are pressuring Spain’s government over the deaths of at least 23 people after thousands of migrants forced their way through the European Union’s only land border with Africa between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla. In the worst tragedy on a European frontier in recent years, the migrants died in a crush, …

Read more “Spain Under Pressure Over Migrant Deaths on Moroccan Border”

Achraf Hakimi calmly converted a penalty to send Morocco through to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time with a 3-0 shootout win over former champions Spain after a cagey last-16 clash ended goalless on Tuesday. Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved spot-kicks from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets after Pablo Sarabia had hit the …

Read more “Morocco Knocks Spain Out of World Cup on Penalties”

Companies exporting products like chocolate, timber and palm oil will soon face tough new European Union regulations to ensure these goods aren’t linked to deforestation. The measures are a first for Europe and the world — and may set a global precedent. Environmentalists are hailing the groundbreaking legislation endorsed by the European Union early Tuesday. …

Read more “Brussels Approves Groundbreaking Import Ban on Goods Linked to Deforestation”

TV network Al Jazeera submitted the case of slain journalist Shireen Abu Akleh to the International Criminal Court on Tuesday, saying she was killed by Israeli forces. The Qatar-based channel said it had “unearthed new evidence” on the death of the Palestinian-American, shot while covering an Israel army raid in Jenin in the occupied West …

Read more “Al Jazeera Takes Slain Journalist’s Case to ICC”

According to the U.S. census, there are over a million Americans of Ukrainian descent. They are a diverse group, but Russia’s war on Ukraine has brought many of them together. Iryna Matviichuk visited one small group in Indiana, in this story narrated by Anna Rice. …

Maria Kolesnikova, a prominent member of the Belarusian opposition serving an 11-year prison sentence for helping stage anti-government protests, was taken back to prison after undergoing an operation for a perforated ulcer, her father said Monday.  Alexander Kolesnikov was able to visit his daughter for about 10 minutes and found her weak but “her mood …

Read more “Belarus Opposition Figure Returned to Prison After Surgery”

Pakistan said Monday that Russia had decided to export crude oil, gasoline and diesel to the South Asian nation at discounted prices. Deputy Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik shared the details at a news conference in Islamabad after visiting Moscow last week where he met with his Russian counterparts. “An inter-governmental delegation ed by Russian …

Read more “Pakistan: Russia to Sell ‘Discounted’ Petroleum Products to Islamabad”

Belgium reopened a painful chapter in its recent history Monday, as the trial opened for alleged conspirators in the 2016 terror attacks around Brussels that killed 32 people and wounded hundreds more. Ten men stand accused of involvement in the March 2016 suicide bombings at the Brussels airport and a metro station — attacks authorities …

Read more “Brussels Reopens Painful Page With Start of Trial Over 2016 Terror Attacks”

A European Union embargo against maritime shipments of crude oil from Russia went into effect Monday, along with a price cap agreed to by the Group of Seven leading industrialized economies and Australia.  Targeting seaborne deliveries that make up two-thirds of the EU’s crude imports from Russia, the embargo counts among a raft of steadily …

Read more “EU Slaps Oil Embargo on Russia With Price Cap, Uncertain Impact”

World soccer’s governing body, FIFA, has announced a probe into alleged misconduct by Serbian players, team officials, and fans during Serbia’s World Cup loss to Switzerland last week. The investigation, which was announced on Monday, comes after complaints from the Football Association of Kosovo about offensive chants against two Swiss players who have ethnic Albanian …

Read more “FIFA to Probe Conduct of Serbian Team, Fans at World Cup”

The World Cup has brought attention to Qatar’s record on women’s rights. While it surpasses that of most Gulf nations, women’s football remains undeveloped – something that has caught the attention of female athletes – including a group of players in Spain. Jonathan Spier narrates this report from Alfonso Beato in Barcelona. …

Belgium begins proceedings Monday in its largest ever trial to determine whether 10 men played a part in the Islamist suicide bombings in Brussels in 2016 that killed 32 people and injured over 300. More than six years after the attacks, presiding judge Laurence Massart will confirm on Monday the identity of all parties to …

Read more “Belgium Starts Trial Into Brussels Bombings”

Western powers have labeled Russia’s ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine as barbaric. With the cold of winter setting in, the Kremlin appears to be increasing attacks on critical Ukrainian infrastructure. Western powers looked to fight back on Russian oil exports, but Moscow has rejected those efforts. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi has more. …

France beat Poland 3-1 in a record-smashing World Cup last-16 clash on Sunday that saw Olivier Giroud become France’s outright all-time top scorer and Kylian Mbappe score a magnificent double. France was relentless on the attack as it pushed for an opening goal but could not unlock a sturdy Poland until just before the break …

Read more “France Beats Poland to Reach World Cup Quarter-Finals “

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday the bloc must act to address “distortions” created by Washington’s $430-billion plan to spur climate-friendly technologies in the United States. The European Union must “take action to rebalance the playing field where the IRA [Inflation Reduction Act] or other measures create distortions,” von der Leyen said in …

Read more “EU Chief Says Bloc Must Act Over US Climate Plan ‘Distortions’”

The British Defense Ministry says a recent poll shows Russian public support for the war on Ukraine is dropping. In its Sunday morning intelligence update the ministry said an independent Russian media outlet has claimed access to data collected by Russia’s Federal Protective Service that indicates 55% of Russians favor peace talks with Ukraine, while …

Read more “Russian Public Support Dropping for War on Ukraine – British Defense Ministry “

British authorities have arrested a wealthy Russian businessman on suspicion of money laundering, amid efforts to disrupt potential criminal activity by oligarchs and others linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The National Crime Agency said more than 50 officers from a specialized unit raided the suspect’s multimillion-pound home in London on Thursday, seizing several digital …

Read more “UK Arrests Wealthy Russian as Police Target Putin Enablers”

U.S. intelligence expects the reduced tempo in fighting in Ukraine to continue in the next several months and sees no evidence of a reduced Ukrainian will to resist, despite attacks on its power grid and other critical winter infrastructure, the director of national intelligence said Saturday. “We’re seeing a kind of a reduced tempo already …

Read more “Fighting Slows, Ukrainian Will to Resist Does Not, US Intelligence Chief Says”

Burkina Faso’s military government has suspended the broadcast of France’s RFI radio in the Sahel West African state over what it said were false reports and giving voice to Islamist militants, a statement from the government said Saturday. The statement said RFI on Saturday broadcast a message from a leader of a militant group in …

Read more “Burkina Faso Government Suspends France’s RFI Radio Broadcasts”

Russia is rejecting a price cap of $60 a barrel on Russian oil imposed by the Group of Seven and its allies, TASS quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying Saturday. “We will not accept this ceiling.” Russia threatened to turn off the oil spigot on the coalition of Western countries that endorsed the cap. …

Read more “Russia Rejects G7 Oil Price Cap”

NATO member and Russia’s neighbor Estonia is boosting its defense capabilities by acquiring an advanced U.S. rocket artillery system in the Baltic country’s largest arms procurement project ever, defense officials said Saturday. The deal signed Friday for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is worth more than $200 million and includes equipment such as ammunition …

Read more “Estonia to Buy US Rocket Artillery System in $200M Deal “

The White House said U.S. President Joe Biden has “no intentions” at present of holding negotiations with President Vladimir Putin about ending the war in Ukraine, a day after Biden appeared to make a conditional offer to talk to his Russian counterpart. “We’re just not at a point now where talks seem to be a …

Read more “White House Says Biden Not Intending to Talk to Putin”