Category: News

At least 27 migrants drowned Wednesday after their inflatable dinghy capsized as they tried to cross the English Channel from France. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 34 people were aboard the boat. Two were rescued and one is missing, according to Reuters, in the worst recorded tragedy involving migrants between the two countries. Without explanation, the Interior Ministry later revised the initial death toll to 27, according to Agence France-Presse. …

Read more “At Least 27 Migrants Die Crossing English Channel “

The buildup of Russian troops along the border with Ukraine, and on the Crimean Peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, is prompting an intense debate among American and European policymakers about how to respond, say Western officials. They are split over why Russian President Vladimir Putin is amassing troops. They are also wrestling with their …

Read more “Western Policymakers Weigh Options for Ukraine, Responses to Russian Aggression “

Three European countries have broken records for new COVID-19 cases, prompting calls for urgent measures to slow the spread. Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary, all of which have vaccine rates below 60%, hit new highs for infection rates Wednesday. In the face of surging cases, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, or ECDC, shifted its booster policy and is …

Read more “Facing New COVID Surge, Europe Examines Mitigation Steps”

Poland has threatened Belarus with further economic sanctions and the closure of its border to all freight and rail traffic, as thousands of migrants continue to try to cross the frontier. The European Union accuses Belarus of creating a humanitarian crisis by ferrying migrants to the border, in retaliation for EU sanctions imposed over last …

Read more “‘Ping-Pong Pushbacks’: Winter Misery for Migrants Trapped on Poland-Belarus Border “

Poland has threatened Belarus with further economic sanctions and the closure of its border to all freight and rail traffic, as thousands of migrants continue to try to cross the frontier. The European Union accuses Belarus of creating a humanitarian crisis by ferrying migrants to the border, in retaliation for EU sanctions imposed over last …

Read more “‘Ping-Pong Pushbacks’: Winter Misery for Migrants Trapped on Poland-Belarus Border”

The three parties negotiating to form Germany’s next government will finalize and present their coalition agreement Wednesday, two of the prospective partners said. The deal paves the way for center-left leader Olaf Scholz to replace longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel in the coming weeks. The center-left Social Democrats have been negotiating with the environmentalist Green party …

Read more “German Parties Say Deal Ready for New Coalition Government”

Sweden’s parliament on Wednesday approved Magdalena Andersson as the country’s first female prime minister, tapping the finance minister who recently became the new leader of the Social Democratic party.  Andersson was tapped to replace Stefan Lofven as party leader and prime minister, roles he relinquished earlier this year. The development marked a milestone for Sweden, viewed for …

Read more “Sweden’s Parliament Approves First Female Prime Minister”

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Tuesday diplomatic efforts with Turkey, middle eastern nations and others have helped ease the situation at the Polish border with Belarus, but he said there are also signs the crisis “will not come to swift end.”  For weeks, Poland and the European Union have accused the government of Belarusian …

Read more “Polish Prime Minister Credits Diplomacy for Easing Border Tensions “

Europe’s unprecedented energy crunch will worsen during this northern hemisphere winter, increasing the likelihood of power rationing and plant stoppages, industry analysts are warning. And with natural gas prices skyrocketing, subjecting manufacturers and households to soaring bills, some fear the European Union’s integrated energy system could break down, with the bloc’s member states resorting to …

Read more “Is the Kremlin Stoking Europe’s Energy Crisis?”

The top U.S. and Russian generals spoke by phone Tuesday, as tensions along the Russian-Ukrainian border appeared to reach new highs.    Both Washington and Moscow quickly issued readouts of the call between U.S. chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, and chief of Russian General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov.  According to …

Read more “Top US, Russian Generals Speak as Tensions Mount”

The United States and its European allies are planning for “a number of contingencies,” fearing that Moscow’s saber-rattling may be more than tough talk.  Multiple U.S. officials cited serious concerns Tuesday about what they consistently described as Russia’s “unusual military activity” along its border with Ukraine, as well as Moscow’s harsh rhetoric, insisting that no …

Read more “US Preparing for Multiple Contingencies as Russia-Ukraine Tensions Rise”

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Europe regional office Tuesday said the 53-country area could see another 700,000 COVID-19 deaths in the next four months if vaccination efforts are not increased.  In a statement, WHO Europe reports the region saw nearly 4,200 deaths from COVID-19 in the past week, double the number of daily deaths reported at the end of …

Read more “WHO Europe Warns Region’s COVID-19 Deaths Could Reach 2.2M by March”

North Macedonia’s chief prosecutor says that 12 children were among the some 45 people who died in a fiery bus crash in Bulgaria early Tuesday morning. Lubomir Jovevski spoke to reporters as he visited the scene of the accident on a highway in the west of the country. The cause of the crash was not …

Read more “Bus Crashes, Catches Fire in Bulgaria; at Least 45 Dead”

A flight carrying more than 100 Afghans arrived Monday in northern Greece.  According to Greek officials, the group of 119 people included Mohibullah Samim, Afghanistan’s former minister of border and tribal affairs, as well as a lawyer who prosecuted Taliban fighters, women’s rights activists and a female judge.  The evacuees are expected to remain in Greece until arrangements …

Read more “More Than 100 Afghans Arrive in Greece”

Amid concerns about the unusual buildup of Russian troops near the Russia-Ukraine border, the Ukrainian minister of defense came to Washington to talk about defense and strategic issues. Ostap Yarysh reports. Camera: Oleksii Osyka …

Germany’s Health Minister Jens Spahn said Monday the current surge of COVID-19 cases in the country likely means that over the next three months – by the end of winter – everyone in the country will be “vaccinated, recovered or dead.” Spahn made the stark comment to reporters in Berlin as he discussed efforts to …

Read more “With Cases Surging, German Health Minister Issues Stern COVID Warning”

Russia’s troop buildup along the Ukrainian border is drawing alarm from U.S. officials who are warning of a potential new invasion. Ukrainian officials estimate 90,000 Russian troops are now positioned along the border and in Russian-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine. The issue topped the agenda earlier this month when Secretary of State Antony Blinken told …

Read more “US, Ukraine Scrutinize Russian Troop Buildup as Moscow Dismisses Invasion Fears”

Human rights groups and Western lawmakers are warning that Interpol’s powerful network of global police officers could end up under the sway of authoritarian governments, as the world police agency meets in Istanbul this week to elect new leadership. Representatives of countries like China and the United Arab Emirates are bidding for top posts in …

Read more “Interpol Election Raises Rights Concerns About Fair Policing”

Belarus does not want confrontation with Poland but wants the European Union to take in 2,000 migrants stranded on its border, President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday, after Warsaw warned that tensions over the trapped people could flare up. The EU accuses Belarus of flying in thousands of people from the Middle East and pushing …

Read more “Belarus Says it Does Not Want Confrontation, Wants EU to Take Migrants”

When the Taliban took Kabul in August, Zakia was six months pregnant and in her first year of university while her husband, Hamid, was working as an auditor. They decided to flee, and along with five relatives, began a two-month odyssey that took them through Iran and Turkey. When it was time to cross the …

Read more “Sailboats Packed with Migrants Seek Italy in Latest Tactic “

Ahead of the Christmas holidays, Austria shut its shops, restaurants and festive markets Monday, returning to lockdown in the most dramatic Covid-19 restriction seen in Western Europe for months.  The decision has prompted a fierce backlash, with tens of thousands taking to the streets, some blaming the government for not doing more to avert the …

Read more “Austria Re-enters COVID Lockdown as Europe Battles Virus Surge”

Riots broke out in cities across the Netherlands on Sunday, the third night in a row that police clashed with mobs of angry youths who set fires and threw rocks to protest COVID-19 restrictions. Unrest was reported in locations including Leeuwarden and Groningen in the north, the eastern town of Enschede and Tilburg in the …

Read more “Third Night of Rioting Erupts Over Dutch COVID-19 Rules”

Charging points for electric vehicles will be required to be installed in new buildings in Britain from next year under new legislation to be announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his office said in a statement on Sunday. It said the regulations would lead to up to 145,000 extra charge points being installed in England …

Read more “UK to Require Charging Points for Electric Vehicles in New Buildings”

French authorities sent police special forces to the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, an overseas territory of France, as protests over COVID-19 restrictions erupted into rioting and looting for the third day in a row. On Sunday, many road blockades by protesters made traveling across the island nearly impossible. Firefighters reported 48 interventions overnight into Sunday …

Read more “France Sends Police Forces to Guadeloupe Amid COVID Riots”