Category: World

Slovakia’s minority center-right government lost a no-confidence vote Thursday, raising political instability and possibly bringing an early election sometime in 2023 while the euro zone country battles soaring energy prices and a weakening economy. The no-confidence motion, passed by 78 lawmakers in the 150-seat parliament, will most likely not mean the immediate change of the …

Read more “Slovak Parliament Dumps Center-Right Cabinet, Early Election an Option”

Russia’s foreign ministry warned the United States on Thursday that if it ships sophisticated Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine, Moscow would consider it a “provocative move” that could prompt a response from the Kremlin. Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that U.S. deployment of Patriot missiles to combat Russian airstrikes would represent an escalation in …

Read more “Russia Warns US on Sending Patriot Missiles to Ukraine”

European Union leaders added Bosnia to the list of official candidates to join the wealthy 27-nation bloc, diplomats said Thursday. The Western Balkans country joined the waiting room despite continuing criticism of the way it is run. Three diplomats told The Associated Press that Bosnia was granted candidate status. They spoke anonymously because the conclusions …

Read more “EU Leaders Grant Bosnia Candidate Status to Join the Bloc”

Turkish forces are poised to launch a military offensive into Syria against US-backed Kurdish forces there. But as Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul, Ankara is facing opposition, and not only from Washington. …

German tennis star Boris Becker, 55, has been freed from a British prison, the government said on Thursday, meaning he is now expected to be deported from the country. In April, Becker, a six-times Grand Slam champion, was jailed for two years and six months by a London court for hiding hundreds of thousands of …

Read more “Boris Becker Freed from UK prison, Expected to be Deported”

Georgia’s imprisoned former president, Mikheil Saakashvili, is likely to stay in detention in the former Soviet republic after his legal bid for medical treatment abroad was delayed on Wednesday. After Saakashvili called off a hunger strike earlier in the week, his lawyer said Thursday that the former president would eat only food sent to him …

Read more “Former Georgian President Remains in Prison; Bid for Medical Treatment Abroad Delayed “

The United States imposed new economic sanctions on Russian financial interests Thursday, targeting one of the country’s richest businessmen, Vladimir Potanin, and his family, in the latest effort to pressure Moscow over its war against Ukraine. Potanin was once Russia’s deputy prime minister, and the U.S. said he has direct ties to President Vladimir Putin. …

Read more “US Targets Russian Oligarch in Latest Round of Sanctions”

National Health Service nurses in Britain staged a strike on Thursday, their first ever national walkout, as a bitter dispute with the government over pay increases pressure on already-stretched hospitals at one of the busiest times of year. An estimated 100,000 nurses will strike at 76 hospitals and health centers, cancelling an estimated 70,000 appointments, …

Read more “British Nurses Stage First Ever National Walkout Amid Pay Dispute”

Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele has been sentenced to 28 years in prison in Iran for a “fabricated series of crimes,” Belgium’s justice minister said on Wednesday, adding the government was doing everything possible to secure his release. Vandecasteele had been sentenced as retribution for a jail sentence Belgium imposed on an Iranian diplomat last …

Read more “Iran Sentences Belgian Aid Worker to 28 Years in Prison”

National Health Service nurses in Britain will strike on Thursday in their first-ever national walkout as a bitter dispute with the government over pay ramps up pressure on already-stretched hospitals at one of the busiest times of year. An estimated 100,000 nurses will strike at 76 hospitals and health centers on Thursday, canceling thousands of …

Read more “British Nurses Set to Begin First-Ever Strike as Pay Dispute Deepens”

The U.K. government announced on Thursday that it will significantly relax limits on taking liquids in carry-on luggage at airports from June 2024. Currently, only containers of less than 100 ml are allowed in the aircraft cabin at international airports, provided they are placed in clear bags at security checks. Larger containers have to be …

Read more “UK Airports to Relax Aircraft Liquid Rules Beginning in Mid-2024”

Kosovo’s leaders on Wednesday signed a formal application seeking the status of candidate for membership in the European Union amid a long-lasting dispute with neighboring Serbia, which immediately called on the bloc to cancel the process. Kosovo’s president, speaker and prime minister formally signed the application letter that they intend to hand over Thursday to …

Read more “Kosovo Leaders Sign Application Request to Join EU”

Convicted Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda has been transferred from the International Criminal Court to Belgium to start a 30-year sentence for war crimes, the tribunal said Wednesday. Dubbed the “Terminator,” Ntaganda, 49, was convicted by the ICC in 2019 of leading a reign of terror in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in the early …

Read more “Congolese Warlord Ntaganda to Serve Sentence in Belgium”

France and Kylian Mbappe are headed back to the World Cup final for a much anticipated matchup with Lionel Messi after ending Morocco’s historic run at soccer’s biggest tournament. France defeated Africa’s first ever semifinalist 2-0 Wednesday, with Mbappe playing a part in goals by Theo Hernandez in the fifth minute and then substitute Randal …

Read more “Mbappe, France Advance to World Cup Final, Blank Morocco 2-0”

Representatives of Ukraine have received the European Parliament’s 2022 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on behalf of “the brave people of Ukraine” amid their battle to repel invading Russian forces. The annual prize, named after the Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, was established in 1988 by the European Parliament to honor individuals and …

Read more “Ukraine’s ‘Brave People’ Receive 2022 Sakharov Prize”

A court in Turkey sentenced the mayor of Istanbul, the country’s most populous city, to two years and seven months in prison Wednesday on charges of insulting members of Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council. The court convicted Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and also imposed a political ban that could lead to his removal from office. Imamoglu, who …

Read more “Turkish Court Sentences Istanbul Mayor, Slaps Political Ban”

Helicopters and lifeboats swooped to the English Channel off the coast of Kent in southern England to rescue a small boat that capsized in the freezing water, killing four people, authorities said Wednesday. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed in comments before Parliament there was a loss of life but offered no specifics. Home Secretary Suella …

Read more “4 Confirmed Dead after Boat Capsizes in English Channel”

Pope Francis called Wednesday for people to restrain spending ahead of the upcoming Christmas holiday and use the money saved to help the people of Ukraine.  Speaking during his weekly audience at the Vatican, the pope said, “there is so much suffering in Ukraine” as he advocated for a “humble Christmas.”  “They are hungry, they …

Read more “Pope Urges ‘Humble’ Christmas to Help Ukrainians “

The United States is preparing to send the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine to shoot down incoming Russian missiles, a decision that could be announced as soon as this week, a U.S. defense official and a second U.S. official told VOA on Tuesday. Both officials spoke on condition that they not be identified because …

Read more “US Officials: US Preparing to Send Patriot Defense System to Ukraine”

U.S. prosecutors announced criminal charges on Tuesday against five Russians and two Americans, disrupting what they described as a network used to obtain military technology and ammunition for Russia’s military. The group is accused of conspiring to obtain military grade and dual-use technologies from American companies for Russia’s defense industry, and to smuggle ammunition for …

Read more “US Prosecutors Charge 7 With Running Procurement Network for Russian Military”

The United Nations reports Russia has destroyed 50% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, putting millions of people at risk of sickness and death as temperatures continue to plunge. Regular blackouts and power cuts are affecting just about everyone in Ukraine. The U.N., however, reports the situation is particularly catastrophic for more than 10 million people living …

Read more “UN: Half of Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure Destroyed by Russian Attacks”

A French court found seven men and one woman guilty on Tuesday for their roles in a 2016 truck rampage in the southern city of Nice in which 86 people were killed. Attacker Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel was shot dead by police on the spot after causing devastation and chaos on a two-kilometer (1.2 mile) stretch …

Read more “French Court Sentences Eight over 2016 Truck Attack in Nice”

France brought together international donors Tuesday for a conference focused on helping Ukraine cope with Russian attacks on the country’s infrastructure.     The meeting includes government representatives as well as companies and aid agencies with the goal of providing Ukraine with both financing and the equipment it needs to keep infrastructure such as electricity and power …

Read more “Donors Focus Conference on Ukraine’s Infrastructure Needs”

European Union foreign ministers imposed new sanctions Monday on Iranian clerics, senior officials and top state media employees over the brutal crackdown on protesters and also on experts they believe are linked to supplying Russia with explosive drones to use in its war against Ukraine. The ministers imposed bans on traveling to Europe and froze …

Read more “EU Targets Iran Over Protest Crackdown, Russia Drone Sales”