Category: News

China and Russia have begun collaborating on technology to rival the United States’ GPS and European Galileo satellite navigation systems, as the two countries pursue closer military and strategic ties. Earlier this year, China agreed to host ground monitoring stations for Russia’s GLONASS positioning system on its soil, which improves global range and accuracy but …

Read more “China-Russia Collaboration in Space Poses Challenge for West”

Soaring infections in Britain driven in part by the omicron variant of the coronavirus rattled Europe on Thursday, prompting new restrictions and fueling a familiar dread on both sides of the Atlantic about entering a new phase of the pandemic just in time for the holidays.  Much remains unknown about omicron, but officials increasingly warn …

Read more “Soaring Infections Rattle Europe, Fuel Dread About Holidays”

The European Union’s drug regulator, the European Medicines Agency, on Thursday recommended two new treatments against COVID-19 for use among EU member nations, as well as offer advice on the use of another, pending its authorization. In separate statements on its website, the EMA recommended the use of Swedish-made drug Kineret and U.S.-made Xevudy for …

Read more “European Drug Regulator Recommends 2 New COVID Treatments”

New German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said Thursday he is seeking to secure additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine for a swift booster vaccine offensive, which is the center of the government’s strategy for fighting off the new omicron variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Speaking at his first COVID-19 briefing, along with Lothar Wieler, president of the Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases (RKI), Lauterbach said 1.5 million booster vaccinations were given Wednesday …

Read more “Germany Health Minister Says Boosters at Center of COVID-19 Strategy”

Authorities on Spain’s La Palma island allowed evacuated residents to return to clear their ash-covered houses on Thursday as scientists suggested solidifying lava vents beneath the Cumbre Vieja volcano could herald an end to the three-month eruption.  Deep banks of black ash had piled up to head height outside Daniel Geronimo’s whitewashed house in the village of …

Read more “Cautious Clean-up on La Palma as Hopes Rise for End to Volcano Eruption”

Older Russians blame NATO for rising tensions between the Kremlin and Western powers over Ukraine, according to a public survey conducted this week by an independent Moscow-based pollster. Across all age groups, half of those polled by the Levada Center believe the United States and other NATO nations are “the initiators of the exacerbation of …

Read more “Russians Split on Responsibility for Worsening Tensions Over Ukraine”

Authorities in Belarus have again failed to release a freelance journalist who has worked for RFE/RL’s Belarus Service, even though the second consecutive jail term he was handed on a controversial hooliganism charge ended on December 15. Andrey Kuznechyk was initially sentenced to 10 days in jail on November 26 after a trial in which …

Read more “Belarusian Journalist Kuznechyk Remains Detained Despite Fulfilling Sentence”

Leaders of European Union member states are meeting in Brussels Thursday seeking a unified approach to the new omicron coronavirus variant to avoid widespread lockdowns and closed borders.  Ahead of the summit, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control on Wednesday said the new, highly transmissible omicron is likely to become the dominant variant …

Read more “EU Leaders Meet in Brussels to Strategize Against Omicron”

Airbus is set to deliver the final A380 superjumbo to Dubai’s Emirates on Thursday, marking the end of a 14-year run that gave Europe an instantly recognized symbol across the globe but failed to fulfil the commercial vision of its designers.    Production of the world’s largest airliner — capable of seating 500 people on …

Read more “End of an Era: Airbus Delivers Last A380 Superjumbo to Emirates “

France announced on Thursday that because of surging COVID-19 cases in Britain only designated categories of people would be allowed to travel between the two countries, and anyone arriving from Britain would have to self-isolate.  Truck drivers will though be exempt from the new rules, the French government said, easing British concerns the restrictions could …

Read more “France Ratchets up Travel Curbs with Britain over Omicron Concerns “

Liudmyla Momot wipes away tears as she searches for clothes and household items to salvage from the ruins of her home that was shelled by Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Her village of Nevelske, northwest of the rebel-held city of Donetsk, is only about 3 kilometers from the line of contact between the separatists and …

Read more “Jittery Ukrainian Villagers ‘Fear That a Big War Will Start’”

Istanbul hosts a two-day African Summit this week, the latest effort by Turkey to expand its diplomatic and economic influence in Africa. For VOA, Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul. Produced by: Marcus Harton …

Germany is expelling two Russian diplomats over what a German court said was a Russian-ordered killing of a German citizen of Chechen origin in Berlin in 2019.  In the high-profile incident, Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili was gunned down in a Berlin park.  On Wednesday, a German court found Russian Vadim Krasikov guilty of murder and sentenced …

Read more “Germany Expels 2 Russian Diplomats Over 2019 Killing”

French troops have left a military base in Timbuktu, Mali, where they were posted since liberating the area from Islamist militants in 2013. French forces have been gradually withdrawing from the region, despite ongoing fighting with militants that threatens stability. Locals are expressing unease about the French troops’ departure. On Tuesday, French troops left their …

Read more “French Army Leaves Timbuktu for First Time Since Arriving in 2013”

The European Union’s drug regulator Wednesday approved booster shots of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for adults who received their first dose of the vaccine at least two months prior. In a statement, the Europe Medicines Agency (EMA) said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may also be taken by people who had received the full …

Read more “Europe’s EMA Approves Johnson & Johnson Booster for Adults”

A U.N. Human Rights Council debate on Ukraine Wednesday drifted into criticism of Russia’s large-scale military buildup along the Ukrainian border. U.S. and British representatives voiced support for Ukraine, while a Russian diplomat completely ignored the issue.  The debate in Geneva was called to discuss the human rights situation in Ukraine. The U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, presented a carefully balanced report on civic space …

Read more “Criticism of Russia Military Build-up Dominates UN Session on Rights in Ukraine”

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen Wednesday warned Russia it could face “unprecedented measures” if it does not de-escalate its aggressive posture against Ukraine. Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Von der Leyen noted Russia’s recent buildup of troops and equipment near its border with Ukraine. She reiterated the European Union’s “unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Although the EU …

Read more “EU Warns Russia of ‘Unprecedented Measures’ for Ukraine Aggression”

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met Wednesday via video conference, stressing their strong alliance amid both countries’ deteriorating relations with the west.  “A new model of cooperation has been formed between our countries, based, among other things, on such principles as non-interference in internal affairs, respect for each other’s interests, …

Read more “Chinese President Xi, Russia’s Putin, Hold Video Meeting”

The president of the European Commission is warning that the omicron  variant could become the dominant coronavirus variant across the 27-nation bloc by mid-January. Ursula von der Leyen told members of the European Parliament Wednesday in Brussels that many member nations are already seeing a sharp rise in new infections from both omicron and the highly-contagious delta variant. But …

Read more “European Commission President Warns Omicron Could Dominate Continent by Mid-January  ”

A family who went to court to ensure a quarter of the classes for their five-year-old son at a primary school are taught in Spanish were offered police protection Wednesday after they said they were harassed and abused.  The family, residents of Canet de Mar, a Mediterranean coastal town 50 kilometers northeast of Barcelona, won …

Read more “Spain’s Language Wars Reignite in Catalonia”

U.S. lawmakers just back from a visit to Ukraine warn that Washington’s threats of sanctions and diplomatic maneuvering are not doing enough to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from potentially launching an invasion.  The group of Democrats and Republicans visited Kyiv Saturday and Sunday where they met with the commander of the Ukrainian special forces …

Read more “US Lawmakers Call on White House to Expedite Weapon Deliveries to Ukraine “

Russian journalism experienced extreme highs and lows in 2021. On the plus side, a Nobel Peace Prize for newspaper editor Dmitry Muratov. But the downside saw an escalating government crackdown on independent media. News organizations and individual reporters were declared “foreign agents” and “undesirable elements,” while some journalists went into exile. …

Almost 100 Conservative lawmakers voted Tuesday against new coronavirus restrictions, dealing a major blow to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s authority and raising questions about his leadership.  After a day of frenzied failed lobbying, Johnson was handed the biggest rebellion against his government so far by his party over measures he said were necessary to …

Read more “Conservative Revolt Over COVID-19 Rules Deals Stinging Blow to British PM”

Britain will end a ban on visitors from 11 African countries aimed at combatting COVID-19, the government said Tuesday, despite an alarming spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. After the variant was first detected in southern Africa and Hong Kong in November, the British government compiled a travel “red list” of the 11 African nations later in the month. Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced in parliament Tuesday that the ban would be lifted on Wednesday at 0400 GMT since the country had achieved community …

Read more “UK to Lift COVID Travel Ban on 11 African Countries”