Category: News

The vice president of the European Commission on Monday warned against complacency regarding the COVID-19 pandemic as the highly infectious delta variant, first discovered in India, continues to spread on the continent. During a European Union parliamentary committee meeting, European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said a recent advisory from the European Center for Disease Prevention …

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The Kremlin on Monday strongly rejected claims that Russian military instructors in the Central African Republic have been involved in killing civilians and looting homes. During a heated discussion at the U.N. Security Council last week, the United States, Britain and France accused Russian military contractors of committing human rights abuses in the conflict-stricken country. On …

Read more “Russia Denies its Personnel in CAR Involved in Killings”

Leaders of Turkey and France are pledging to ease tensions after months of trading insults, but tensions between them remain over their competing interests in Africa.French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian declared Turkey and France are in what he described as  “recovery period” after the French and Turkish President met on the sidelines of the …

Read more “Turkey and France Ease Tensions, but Africa Rivalries Remain “

A U.N. report examining systemic racism suffered by people of African descent is calling for an end to impunity for human rights violations by law enforcement, and for accountability and compensation for the victims. The report by the U.N. high commissioner for human rights was mandated by the Human Rights Council in June 2020 in …

Read more “UN Report on Systemic Racism Calls for Accountability, Redress for Victims “

Coalition ministers met face-to-face in Rome for the first time in two years, pledging to maintain watch against a resurgence of the insurgents.The resumption in ISIS “activities and its ability to rebuild its networks and capabilities to target security forces and civilians in areas in Iraq and Syria where the coalition is not active, requires …

Read more “Anti-Islamic State Coalition: IS Terrorists Remain a Threat  ”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Monday continued to make the case that a face-to-face summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin is the best way to address regional issues with him, days after other European leaders rejected her proposal for such a meeting.   Merkel, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, proposed the summit idea during a …

Read more “Merkel Continues to Urge Summit with Putin”

The U.N. human rights chief, in a landmark report launched after the killing of George Floyd in the United States, is urging countries worldwide to do more to help end discrimination, violence and systemic racism against people of African descent and “make amends” to them — including through reparations.   The report from Michelle Bachelet, …

Read more “UN Rights Chief: Reparations Needed for People Facing Racism”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged allies Monday to maintain a focus on defeating the Islamic State group, with a particular focus on countering its affiliates in Africa.“We’ve made great progress because we’ve been working together, so we hope you’ll keep an eye on the fight, keep up the fight against this terrorist organization until it …

Read more “Blinken Urges US Allies to Keep Up Islamic State Fight”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the Vatican on Monday to meet with Pope Francis and other officials with climate change, human rights and human trafficking among the topics of discussion.  The visit comes ahead of an expected October meeting between the pope and U.S. President Joe Biden, who is the second Catholic to lead the United States. In addition to meetings with Cardinal …

Read more “Blinken Meets with Pope, Discuss Defeating IS with Allies”

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, who lost a confidence vote last week, faces a stark choice Monday; call snap elections or resign and trigger the search for a successor. The Social Democrat leader — a master of consensus for some, a dull and visionless party man for others — has had seven days since the confidence vote …

Read more “Resign or Call Elections? Big Decision for Swedish PM”

Israel’s new government on Sunday pledged close cooperation with the United States even as it expressed “serious reservations” about efforts by Washington to rejoin the international pact to restrain Iran’s nuclear program.Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in Rome in their first face-to-face meeting since a new coalition government …

Read more “Israel Voices Opposition to Revamped Iran Nuclear Deal”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s multination trip to Europe takes him to Italy Sunday for several days of meetings with top Italian leaders, Pope Francis, Group of 20 leaders and ministerial-level officials.After being warmly welcomed in France and Germany, Blinken left Paris on Sunday for Rome, where he meets with the Italian foreign minister, …

Read more “Blinken in Italy on Sunday for Meetings with Top Leaders, Pope”

A large, newly restored area of the Colosseum, which used to be the underground backstage of the ancient Roman amphitheater, is now accessible to the public for the first time. Visitors can use a newly constructed wooden walkway to admire the tunnels and chambers under the arena that were used by wild animals and human …

Read more “Colosseum’s Newly Restored Hypogeum Opens to Public”

Classified documents from Britain’s defense ministry containing details about a British warship and Russia’s potential reaction to its passage through the Black Sea have been found at a bus stop in southern England, the BBC reported on Sunday.The BBC said the documents, almost 50 pages in all, were found “in a soggy heap behind a …

Read more “Classified UK Defense Documents Found at Bus Stop in England, Says BBC “

France was voting in the second round of regional elections on Sunday after a first round that saw a drubbing for President Emmanuel Macron’s ruling party, disappointment for Marine Le Pen’s far-right and record low turnout.    For some observers, the outcome of the June 20 first round raised doubts over whether the 2022 presidential election …

Read more “Macron, Le Pen Face New Test in French Regional Vote  “

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s multination trip to Europe takes him to Italy Sunday for several days of meetings with top Italian leaders, Pope Francis, Group of 20 leaders and ministerial-level officials.After being warmly welcomed in France and Germany, Blinken left Paris on Sunday for Rome, where he meets with the Italian foreign minister, …

Read more “Blinken Arrives in Italy on Sunday for Meetings with Top Leaders, Pope”

After being warmly welcomed in France and Germany, Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to Italy on Sunday to meet with top Italian leaders and the pope and to take part in ministerial level meetings on Syria and defeating Islamic State fighters and attending a G-20 meeting. VOA’s Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from …

Read more “Blinken Heads to Rome Focusing on Syria and Defeating IS Terrorists”

Britain’s Health Minister Matt Hancock quit Saturday after he was caught breaking COVID-19 rules by kissing and embracing an aide in his office, enraging colleagues and the public who have been living under lockdown.Hancock, 42, wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign after The Sun newspaper published photos on Friday of the married minister …

Read more “Britain’s Health Secretary Quits After Breaking COVID-19 Rules by Kissing Aide “

In a blaze of publicity, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan laid a foundation stone close to Istanbul, starting the construction of a 45-kilometer canal linking the Black and Marmara seas. Erdogan declared the project would usher in a new era for Istanbul and for Turkey.“This going to be a brand-new page in Turkey’s development. On …

Read more “Turkey Starts Canal Project Amid Environmental, Regional Concerns”

Iran said Saturday it believes a reinstatement of its 2015 nuclear deal with major world powers is possible but warned that Tehran “will not negotiate forever.””Out of a steadfast commitment to salvage a deal that the U.S. tried to torpedo, Iran has been the most active party in Vienna, proposing most drafts,” Iranian Foreign Ministry …

Read more “Iran Says Nuclear Deal Salvageable but ‘Will Not Negotiate Forever’”

U.N. Independent Expert on Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz, is calling for the global elimination of laws that criminalize same-sex unions by 2030.  His report has been submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council. Currently, 69 countries criminalize homosexuality or some forms of gender identity, nearly half …

Read more “UN Expert: Criminalization of Same Sex Unions Violates Human Rights Law and Must End”

Turkish police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd that gathered for a Pride parade Saturday in central Istanbul, detaining some of those seeking to take part in an event banned by local authorities.Reuters TV video showed police in riot gear pushing and dragging people, some waving rainbow flags as they assembled for the event …

Read more “Turkish Police Fire Tear Gas to Disperse LGBTI March in Istanbul”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s multination trip to Europe takes him to Italy Sunday for several days of meetings with top Italian leaders, Pope Francis, Group of 20 leaders and ministerial-level officials.After being warmly welcomed in France and Germany, Blinken arrives in Rome from Paris on Sunday, when he meets with the Italian foreign …

Read more “Blinken to Arrive in Italy Sunday for Meetings With Top Leaders, Pope”

The United Nations said 12 German troops and a Belgian soldier serving in the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali were wounded Friday in an attack in the country’s restive north.The U.N. mission in the country, MINUSMA, had earlier said that 15 peacekeepers were wounded when a temporary operational base in the Gao region was targeted …

Read more “Attack on UN Base in Mali Injures 12 German Soldiers”