Travels News
China and Russia were called to explain to the international community on Wednesday why they vetoed a Security Council resolution calling for new sanctions on North Korea for its recent string of prohibited long-range and ballistic missile tests. Wednesday was the first time the General Assembly implemented its April 25 resolution requiring any of …
A high-profile fraud trial of soccer’s once most powerful men was delayed Wednesday in Switzerland after one of the accused, Sepp Blatter, said he was too ill to testify. “The pain will come back, and I am having difficulty breathing,” said the 86-year-old in a whisper. Blatter, the former head of soccer’s world governing body, …
Read more “High Profile Soccer Trial Delayed Due to Illness”
British prosecutors said on Wednesday they had authorized charges to be brought against former Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein on two counts of indecent assault against a woman 26 years ago. “Charges have been authorized against Harvey Weinstein, 70, following a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation,” Rosemary Ainslie, …
Read more “UK Prosecutors Authorize Indecent Assault Charges Against Harvey Weinstein”
A man drove a car into pedestrians in a popular Berlin shopping district on Wednesday, killing at at least one person and injuring at least eight others, rescue services said. The man drove into people on a street corner at around 10:30 a.m. before getting the car back on the road and then crashing into …
Read more “1 Dead, 8 Injured After Driver Hits Pedestrians in Berlin”
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine. The latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. All times EDT. 3:45 a.m.: In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says “whatever the occupiers plan for themselves, we must prepare for the next winter, in our state, on our land, for …
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the work of his troops in the eastern Donbas region and said Russia had not expected to meet much resistance, while Russia claimed to have assumed control of almost all of one of the provinces that makes up the Donbas. After weeks of focusing its attacks on eastern Ukraine, Russian …
Read more “As Russia Claims Gains, Zelenskyy Says ‘Heroic Defense of the Donbas Continues’ ”
The European Union’s chief executive vowed Tuesday that Poland would get no money from the bloc’s vast pandemic relief fund until the right-wing government rolls back measures deemed to limit the independence of the country’s judiciary. Poland is line to receive nearly 36 billion euros ($38.5 billion) to help its economy recover from the impact …
Read more “No Justice Reform in Poland, No Money, EU Chief Vows”
It was a moment Pablo González’s family had been longing for: a letter from the Spanish journalist imprisoned in Poland for 100 days on accusations of spying for Russia. “It was a thrill and a present for me and our three children,” González’s wife, Oihana Goiriena, told VOA. The four-page letter, which arrived last week, …
Read more “Spanish Journalist Marks 100 Days in Prison on Spy Claim”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson survived a no-confidence vote by his own party Monday evening — but the threats to his leadership haven’t gone away, as Henry Ridgwell reports from London. Videographer: Henry Ridgwell …
No 15-year-old figure skaters will be allowed to compete at the 2026 Olympics following the controversy surrounding Russian national champion Kamila Valieva at this year’s Beijing Games. A new age limit for figure skaters at senior international events was passed Tuesday by the International Skating Union in a 110-16 vote that will raise the minimum …
Read more “Figure Skating Minimum Age Rises to 17 Before 2026 Olympics”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a major military operation against U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria whom Ankara considers terrorists. Analysts say Turkey believes it’s in a strong position given that Washington needs Ankara to lift its threats to veto Sweden and Finland’s bids to join NATO. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul. …
Six opposition leaders arrested after violent anti-French protests in N’Djamena were on Monday handed one-year suspended sentences for disturbing public order, Chad’s public prosecutor told AFP. They were also fined 10 million CFA francs, or about 15,000 euros, said prosecutor Moussa Wade Djibrine, who had sought two-year prison terms. The swift trial opened Monday morning …
Read more “Chad Opposition Leaders Get One-year Suspended Terms”
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 “