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U.S. President Joe Biden makes a guest appearance at the European Union’s monthly summit Thursday, which will also be dominated by tensions over COVID-19 vaccinations and the pandemic’s latest surge in parts of the 27-member bloc.Discussions with Biden might be one of the few upbeat moments during this EU summit, taking place by videoconference because …
German Chancellor Angela Merkel Thursday defended a European Union (EU) decision to limit exports of coronavirus vaccine to make sure the bloc has enough for its own people. Speaking to Germany’s lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, Merkel highlighted the importance of the EU producing enough vaccine for itself because other nations are not …
Read more “Germany’s Merkel Says Europe Needs More Vaccine Independence”
Tensions are again rising between France and Turkey with President Emmanuel Macron accusing the Turkish government of meddling in the runup to next year’s French presidential election. After weeks of a relative lull in the often rocky relationship between France and Turkey, French President Emmanuel Macron signaled new trouble, accusing Turkey of meddling in France’s …
Read more “Macron Warns Turkey Not to Interfere in French Elections”
George Kent, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, spoke with VOA’s Ukraine service Wednesday, discussing Ukraine as well as Russia and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project.The following interview, held at the U.S. State Department, has been edited for clarity and brevity.VOA: In the last two months since President Joe …
Read more “VOA Interview: State Dept’s George Kent Discusses US-Ukraine Relations”
U.S. officials say Russian state media is citing false reports to undermine faith in Western COVID vaccines to promote Russia’s own Sputnik V vaccine. Daria Dieguts has the story.Camera: Artyom Kokhan …
George Kent, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, spoke with VOA’s Ukraine service Wednesday, discussing Ukraine as well as Russia and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project.The following interview, held at the U.S. State Department, has been edited for clarity and brevity.VOA: In the last two months since President Joe …
Read more “VOA Interview: State’s George Kent Discusses US-Ukraine Relations”
Boston and New York are reopening for business, but Paris, Rome and Berlin are shuttered again amid a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.While a quarter of Americans now have at least one COVID-19 shot in their arms, only about 10% of Europeans do. And while a raft of analyses predict the U.S. economy will …
Read more “Coronavirus Upsurge, Slow Vaccinations Darken EU’s Outlook”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to NATO as he sought to strengthen the transatlantic relationship in a two-day summit this week in Brussels, which wrapped up Wednesday.”You have our unshakeable vow: America is fully committed to NATO,” Blinken said in a speech at NATO headquarters in the Belgian capital.He …
Read more “China, Russia Top NATO Agenda as US Seeks to Rebuild Transatlantic Bonds”
Becoming a “free French woman” hasn’t been easy for Claire Koç, a 37-year-old French TV presenter and daughter of Turkish immigrant parents. And it may prove dangerous. To finish her university education and marry the man she loved she had to break with her family. She suffered hostility from them, too, when she decided in …
Read more “In France, a Woman’s ‘Emancipation Journey’ Triggers Death Threats”
The European Commission’s proposal to create a health passport to facilitate safe, free movement inside the EU during the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic could be a solution to save the tourism industry in parts of southern Europe this summer. But with the vaccine rollout off to a slow start and the infection rates going up across Europe, few are hoping for …
Read more “As Europe Debates COVID Passports, Recovery Hopes Fade”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to outline in a speech Wednesday in Brussels a commitment by the Biden administration to rebuild and revitalize U.S. alliances. That has been part of his message during his first visit to the region as the top U.S. diplomat this week, showing a departure from four years of foreign policy …
Benjamin Briere is a French tourist who was arrested last May while visiting Iran with his drone and minivan. Still detained, he was charged with espionage and “spreading propaganda against the system.” His lawyers deny the charges.If found guilty, he could be sentenced to death.Briere’s case is the latest in a series against foreigners at a …
Read more “Jailing of French Tourist Complicates Bid to Resolve Iran Nuclear Tensions”
Press freedom advocate Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is suing Facebook in France, saying the social media platform spreads misinformation. The suit was filed Monday with the Paris public prosecutor. “Reporters Without Borders accuses Facebook of ‘deceptive commercial practices’ on the grounds that the social media company’s promises to provide a ‘safe’ and ‘error-free’ online environment …
Read more “Press Freedom Group Sues Facebook Over Misinformation, ‘Hate Speech’”
The executive director of Europe’s drug regulator, the European Medicines Agency, (EMA) said Tuesday it is evaluating Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine for possible authorization of use in the European Union.In comments to European Parliament lawmakers, EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke said the agency is also planning inspections of the manufacturing and clinical sites in …
Read more “European Medicines Agency Reviewing Russian Vaccine Sputnik”
After aviation, Europe’s cultural and creative sector has been hit hardest by the coronavirus crisis, losing nearly $240 billion, according to a recent study by an accounting firm. Now as France weathers its third lockdown in a year, the creative arts industry is pushing back, with a growing protest movement now occupying dozens of theaters nationwide.It’s been months since the Odeon theater was …
Read more “Swelling COVID-19 Protest Movement Takes Over French Theaters”
Results of an independent inquiry announced Monday cleared Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, of breaking a ministerial code of conduct, but she is likely to face an opposition-led vote of no confidence in parliament Tuesday. Sturgeon has been under intense scrutiny over what she did and did not do when she learned of complaints by …
Read more “Scotland’s Sturgeon Cleared of Breaching Ministerial Code”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is holding talks Tuesday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, then attending meetings with NATO foreign ministers and a separate session with his counterparts from Britain, France and Germany. Stoltenberg said ahead of the start of the two-day NATO session that ministers would look toward strengthening the alliance for the future and specifically consult about the situation in …
The United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada have imposed sanctions on several Chinese officials for human rights abuses against the Muslim Uyghur minority in China’s Xinjiang province, prompting retaliation from China. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. sanctions were taken in solidary with U.S. allies. “A united transatlantic response sends …
Read more “US, EU, Britain, Canada Impose Sanctions on Chinese Officials Over Uyghurs”
European Union solidarity is breaking down amid a vaccine debacle that analysts say may have long-lasting repercussions for the future of European political integration.Member states are divided over the wisdom of imposing a vaccine export ban threatened by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The ban is mainly focused on Britain, a bid to …
Read more “EU Solidarity Breaks Down, States Complain of Unfair Vaccine Distribution”
A protest in the English city of Bristol against new policing legislation turned into violent clashes that left at least 20 officers injured — two of them seriously — widespread damage to a police station and police vehicles torched, police said Monday.Seven people were arrested during the protest, which started Sunday afternoon and ran through …
Read more “Clashes in English City of Bristol Leave 20 Police Injured”
EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday approved sanctions over abuses in China, Myanmar and Russia, as the bloc expands measures targeting global rights breaches.The 27 nations are due to place four Chinese officials and one state-run entity on a blacklist over Beijing’s crackdown on the Uighur minority after ambassadors gave the go-ahead last …
Read more “EU Approves Sanctions over China, Myanmar Abuses”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Brussels Monday for meetings this week that the State Department says are aimed at boosting ties with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies and partnering on issues such as climate change, counterterrorism and ongoing efforts in combating the coronavirus pandemic. Blinken is scheduled to take part in a meeting of NATO foreign ministers Tuesday and Wednesday, and to also …
Germany will likely institute another lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus, which would make it the latest European country enacting fresh restrictions.A draft of recommendations to be presented to German Chancellor Angela Merkel will push for lockdowns to be extended until April 18, Reuters reported Sunday.In Poland, which is seeing the highest number …
Read more “European Countries Enter New Lockdowns as Vaccine Campaigns Lag”
A year ago, Greece prided itself on successfully quashing its coronavirus curve like few countries worldwide. Now, it is struggling with a roaring resurgence of the bug that causes the COVID-19 disease. As infections continue to surge, the government in Athens is preparing to draft doctors from the private sector to aid the state’s strained …
Read more “Greece Set to Mobilize Private Doctors to Cope With Surging Coronavirus Infections”