Month: July 2022

Heatwaves Becoming Normal Amid Climate Change as Europe Continues Sweltering

The World Meteorological Organization, WMO, warns heatwaves, raging wildfires and record-breaking temperatures are becoming normal because of climate change. Meteorologists say the scorching heatwave sweeping Europe is likely to last well into the middle of next week, smashing more temperature records as it continues. They warn the time between heatwaves is becoming shorter, noting the current event was preceded by a similar one in June. And they say the likelihood of a third heatwave occurring before summer ends is strong. WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said he has no doubt as to what is behind the phenomenon. “Thanks to climate change, …

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Putin, Erdogan to Discuss Ukrainian Grain Export Deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived Tuesday in the Iranian capital, Tehran, where he was due to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and discuss an agreement to resume grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters Monday there has been incremental progress with the negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations, “but nothing to announce at this stage.” He said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is ready to travel to Istanbul if need be. Guterres spoke on the phone Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the ongoing negotiations, according to the United …

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US, Ukrainian First Ladies to Meet in Washington

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska is set to meet with U.S. first lady Jill Biden at the White House on Tuesday.  The two last met during Biden’s unannounced visit to western Ukraine in May when they visited a school and joined children who were making Mother’s Day gifts.  Zelenska on Monday met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington.  State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Zelenska and Blinken talked about “the immense and growing human costs of Russia’s full-scale invasion,” and that Blinken emphasized the U.S. commitment to supporting Ukraine.  “Secretary Blinken commended first lady Zelenska’s work to …

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Конкурсна комісія затвердила Клименка керівником САП

Конкурсна комісія затвердила Олександра Клименка керівником Спеціалізованої антикорупційної прокуратури. Комісія ухвалила рішення подати на розгляд генеральному прокурору подання про призначення Олександра Клименка на посаду керівника САП.  Доповнюється…  …

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Putin Visits Iran for First Trip Outside Russia Since Ukraine War

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Tehran on Tuesday for a meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the first trip by the Kremlin chief outside Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.  Putin casts the West’s attempt to cripple Russia’s economy with the most severe sanctions in recent history as a declaration of economic war and says Russia is turning away from the West to China, India and Iran.  Just three days after U.S. President Joe Biden finished a visit to Saudi Arabia, Russia’s leader arrives in Tehran to hold his fifth meeting with Khamenei, Iran’s second supreme leader who came …

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Brussels Warns Against EU Fatigue Over Ukraine War

EU officials warned against shrinking European Union support for Ukraine, as the bloc’s foreign ministers agreed Monday to earmark half-a-billion more dollars in military aid to Kyiv and consider banning imports of Russian gold.  European foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned against what he called “democratic fatigue” which Russia would try to exploit. “European societies cannot afford fatigue,” he said. “European societies and European Union member states, governments have to continue standing behind the decisions they have taken. They took decisions on restrictive measures on the Russian economy and they have to stick to it.” Borrell insisted energy and other …

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Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s First Lady, on High-Profile US Trip

Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday as she began a series of high-profile appearances in Washington that will include a session with U.S. counterpart Jill Biden. Blue and yellow Ukrainian flags flew alongside American ones on Pennsylvania Avenue as Zelenska headed for her first announced event in the United States, the meeting with Blinken. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the secretary of state assured Zelenska of the United States’ commitment to Ukraine. Blinken also commended her for her work with civilians dealing with trauma and other damage from the war. The …

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Millions Swelter as UK Endures Its First Extreme Heat Warning

Millions of people in Britain stayed home or sought shade Monday during the country’s first-ever extreme heat warning, as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moved north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. The red heat alert covers a big chunk of England and is due to last through Tuesday, when temperatures may reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time, posing a risk of serious illness and even death among healthy people, according to the Met Office, Britain’s weather service. The highest temperature ever recorded in Britain is 38.7 C …

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