Category: Європа
Posted on February 14, 2025
13 people arrested in Croatia for illegally disposing of hazardous waste
ZAGREB, CROATIA — Thirteen people suspected of illegally importing and disposing of hazardous waste have been arrested in Croatia, the European Union’s law enforcement agency said Friday. The main suspects, two Croatian nationals, are considered high-value targets by Europol, …
Posted on February 14, 2025
Pope Francis taken to hospital for bronchitis treatment
ROME — Pope Francis was taken to hospital on Friday morning for tests and to continue treatment of his ongoing bronchitis, the Vatican said. “This morning, at the end of his audiences, Pope Francis was admitted to the Policlinico …
Posted on February 14, 2025
As Germany election looms, far-right German party continues to gather support
German voters head to the polls this month for an election that will determine who the country’s new chancellor will be. The Feb. 23 poll is a snap election, following the collapse of center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition …
Posted on February 14, 2025
Jailed Georgian journalist: ‘I will not bow to this regime’
WASHINGTON — “I will not bow to this regime,” writes Mzia Amaglobeli from pre-trial detention in the city of Batumi in Georgia. The 49-year-old journalist has been in custody since January 11 and on a hunger strike since January …
Posted on February 13, 2025
Pentagon chief calls on NATO partners to increase role in Europe’s defense
PENTAGON — U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has called for NATO’s European members to increase their role in the defense of Europe as the United States focuses on defending the alliance’s Pacific flank. It is a move that …
Posted on February 13, 2025
NATO working to keep Baltic Sea’s strategic infrastructure safe
Northern Europe’s Baltic Sea is bordered by nations including Germany, Russia and Latvia. Many critical cables and pipelines cross the seafloor. But with tensions rising in the region, NATO is looking for ways to ensure all that infrastructure …
Posted on February 13, 2025
Several injured after motorist hits crowd of people in Munich
BERLIN — A motorist has driven a car into a group of people in the German city of Munich, leaving several people injured, police said on Thursday. The Bild newspaper reported that 15 people had been injured. The Munich …
Posted on February 13, 2025
Trump launches diplomatic blitz to end Ukraine war
Following a successful prisoner swap with Russia, U.S. President Donald Trump launched a multifront diplomatic blitz Wednesday to end the Ukraine conflict, saying he would meet with Russia’s leader soon and dispatching a vice president-led team to meet …
Posted on February 13, 2025
Russia, Ukraine trade blame for IAEA disruptions at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
KYIV, UKRAINE — Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday accused each other of blocking the rotation of staff from the International Atomic Energy Agency at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine. Moscow’s troops seized the facility, Europe’s largest …
Posted on February 12, 2025
RFE/RL journalist released from Belarus jail
WASHINGTON — A journalist with VOA’s sister outlet, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was released from Belarus on Wednesday, after spending more than three years imprisoned in a case that was widely viewed as politically motivated. Andrey Kuznechyk, a journalist …
Posted on February 12, 2025
Evacuations in eastern Ukraine’s Pokrovsk as Russian forces inch closer
Ukrainian forces are trying to slow down an ongoing Russian advance toward the city of Pokrovsk in Eastern Ukraine’s Dontesk region. The Ukrainian government has been evacuating civilians from the region, but constant shelling is making it dangerous. Kateryna …
Posted on February 12, 2025
US teacher returns home after being freed by Russia
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed American teacher Marc Fogel to the White House late Tuesday after Fogel was freed from Russia where he had been detained since August 2021 for bringing medically prescribed marijuana into the country. “I …
Posted on February 12, 2025
Russia frees American serving 14-year marijuana sentence
Marc Fogel, an American teacher detained in Russia since August 2021 for bringing medically prescribed marijuana into the country, was freed by Moscow on Tuesday and headed back to the United States, the White House announced. The 63-year-old …
Posted on February 11, 2025
EU, Canada vow to stand firm against Trump’s tariffs on metals
The 27-nation European Union and Canada quickly vowed Tuesday to stand firm against U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to impose 25% tariffs on their steel and aluminum exports, verbal sparring that could lead to a full-blown trade war …
Posted on February 11, 2025
Vance tells Europeans that heavy regulation could kill AI
Paris — U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Europeans on Tuesday their “massive” regulations on artificial intelligence could strangle the technology, and rejected content moderation as “authoritarian censorship.” The mood on AI has shifted as the technology takes root, …
Posted on February 11, 2025
EU’s AI push to get $50 billion boost, EU’s von der Leyen says
PARIS — Europe will invest an additional $51.5 billion to bolster the bloc’s artificial intelligence ambition, European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday. It will come on top of the European AI Champions Initiative, that has already …
Posted on February 11, 2025
US senior advisers to talk with Zelenskyy on Munich sidelines
Senior advisers in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump are preparing to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, according to an Associated Press interview with retired Lieutenant General Keith …
Posted on February 11, 2025
On sidelines of AI Summit in Paris, unions denounce its harmful effects
PARIS — In front of political and tech leaders gathered at a summit in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron called for a strategy on Monday to make up for the delay in France and Europe in investing in artificial …
Posted on February 10, 2025
Space telescope spots rare ‘Einstein ring’ of light
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA — Europe’s Euclid space telescope has detected a rare halo of bright light around a nearby galaxy, astronomers reported Monday. The halo, known as an Einstein ring, encircles a galaxy 590 million light-years away, considered close …
Posted on February 10, 2025
Romanian President Iohannis announces resignation after pressure by populists
Bucharest, Romania — Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation on Monday following mounting pressure from populist opposition groups, two months after a top court annulled a presidential election in the European Union country. “To spare Romania from this …
Posted on February 10, 2025
Russia drone attacks spark fire, damage homes
Russian drone attacks caused a fire in Kyiv, injured a woman in Sumy and damaged several homes, according to Ukrainian officials. Meanwhile, the Russian military reported downing 15 Ukrainian drones overnight, including seven in the Krasnodar region. Nobody …
Posted on February 10, 2025
Tensions heat up in the Arctic
Climate change is rapidly altering the Arctic region, creating environmental danger, economic opportunity and geopolitical tension as the world’s major powers scramble to control newly accessible shipping lanes and resource deposits. …
Posted on February 10, 2025
German chancellor candidates clash on Trump, the far-right and NATO
Berlin — Europe is prepared to respond “within an hour” if the United States levies tariffs against the European Union, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a pre-election debate with his conservative challenger Friedrich Merz. In the first duel …
Posted on February 9, 2025
Ukraine looks to bargain rare earth minerals for continued US support
The presidents of Ukraine and the United States are looking to make a deal. This comes as world leaders meet later this week in Munich to discuss, among other issues, the future of Ukraine’s security. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi …
Posted on February 9, 2025
Baltic states switch to European power grid, ending Russia ties
VILNIUS — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania said on Sunday they had successfully synchronized their electricity systems to the European continental power grid, one day after severing decades-old energy ties to Russia and Belarus. Planned for many years, the complex …
Posted on February 9, 2025
Kosovo votes for new parliament as foreign aid dwindles and talks with Serbia are stalled
PRISTINA, KOSOVO — Kosovars cast their votes Sunday in a parliamentary election considered a key test for Prime Minister Albin Kurti as talks on normalizing ties with rival Serbia remain stalled and foreign funding for one of Europe’s poorest …
