Category: Євросоюз

Planeloads of French citizens are returning home. Anti-French demonstrations are peppered with Russian flags. French military and political interests are once again under attack in the Sahel as another onetime ally is toppled in a coup. Last month’s military power grab in Niger follows those of Burkina Faso and Mali, all former French colonies, amid mounting anti-French sentiment over the past two years. Not so long ago, their leaders and military collaborated closely with Paris, as part of a five-nation regional G5 Sahel alliance — including Mauritania and Chad — fighting a spreading jihadist insurgency. Today, France’s military has left …

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Russia’s Ministry of Defense said it began live-fire naval exercises Wednesday in the Baltic Sea, ratcheting up tensions with nearby European nations that are already high over NATO and Ukraine. Russia last carried out mass military exercises in the Baltic Sea in June, two months after Finland became NATO’s newest member. The drills took place at the same time NATO was holding its own Baltic Sea exercises. The Russian exercises announced Wednesday will involve more personnel and aircraft than the last round and will feature the use of live weapons. The Russian defense ministry said the navy’s commander-in-chief, Admiral Nikolai …

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MOSCOW – Russia’s Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected an appeal by prominent investigative journalist Ivan Safronov against his 22-year prison sentence for high treason. Safronov, 33, was convicted last year of giving Russian military information to Czech intelligence and a Russian-German political scientist, charges he denies. The appeal hearing was held in private and journalists were invited only to hear the court’s decision, which left his sentence unchanged, Russian news agencies reported. His prison sentence has been criticized by human rights groups and former colleagues, who argue that he was targeted for writing about embarrassing incidents in the Russian army. …

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A much-changed Sweden side reached the Women’s World Cup last 16 with a perfect record after Rebecka Blomqvist’s second-half header and substitute Elin Rubensson’s 90th-minute penalty helped them beat Argentina 2-0 on Wednesday.  Blomqvist met Sofia Jakobsson’s cross with a fantastic header in the 66th minute to put the third-ranked Swedes firmly on course to advance as Group G winners, with Rubensson sealing the win with a superbly taken spot kick.    Argentina, which lost midfielder Florencia Bonsegundo to injury minutes before the break, needed a victory to stand any chance of going through but never really troubled the Swedish …

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Thembi Kgatlana scored early in stoppage time Wednesday to give South Africa a 3-2 win over Italy and send it into the knockout rounds of a Women’s World Cup for the first time. On a night of high drama and low temperatures, Hilda Magaia scored in the 67th minute to put South Africa 2-1 ahead before Arianna Caruso equalized with her second goal of the match from a Cristiana Girelli corner, briefly denting South African hopes. A draw would have been enough to put eighth-ranked Italy into the knockout rounds. Instead, South Africa will play Netherlands in a round of …

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Military chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) were set to hold talks Wednesday in the Nigerian capital Abuja about last week’s coup in Niger, while several European nations work to evacuate their nationals from Niger.  ECOWAS said in a brief statement the Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff would discuss the “political situation in the Republic of Niger” in their meetings lasting through Friday. France planned to continue running evacuation flights Wednesday after an initial plane load landed early Wednesday in Paris.  French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said 262 people were on board, mostly French nationals.  …

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The French and Japanese air forces have conducted aerial exercises in Japan, the first of their kind between the two allies. But even as Paris seeks to build its military alliances in the Indo-Pacific region, France has blocked proposals to open a NATO liaison office in Tokyo. The four-day joint drills are part of a larger French exercise, codenamed Pegase 2023, taking place across the Indo-Pacific in the coming weeks, including in French island territories. “It’s natural that France, a resident nation of the Indo-Pacific, is particularly concerned by the geopolitical tensions felt in the region as a result of …

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The British government on Tuesday recognized as genocide those crimes committed against the Yazidi minority by Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq in 2014. The decision comes days before the ninth anniversary of the crimes that were perpetrated by the terror group also known as ISIS or Daesh. “The Yazidi population suffered immensely at the hands of Daesh nine years ago, and the repercussions are still felt to this day,” Britain’s minister of state for the Middle East, Tariq Ahmad, said in a statement. “Justice and accountability are key for those whose lives have been devastated.” Yazidis are a Kurdish-speaking …

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SYDNEY — Only the video assistant referee prevented England’s Lauren James from scoring a hat trick against China at the Women’s World Cup. China certainly didn’t know how to stop the forward as she scored two goals and provided three assists in a 6-1 rout on Tuesday at Adelaide, South Australia. “She did special things today … she flows over the pitch,” England Coach Sarina Wiegman said. James’ impressive performance should be a warning for future opponents of the threat she poses at this World Cup, with England entering the knockout stage with three straight wins. The Chelsea forward makes …

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Greek authorities are planning tougher penalties for arson — with fines to be increased to 10 times the current level — following a spate of major wildfires that have already caused more damage than the 2022 annual total.  Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said details of the measures would be announced next month, but added that fines for causing fires deliberately or because of negligent behavior would match penalties introduced two years ago for the abuse of animals. Those carry a fine of up to $55,000 and a maximum jail sentence of 10 years. “I am obliged to say that …

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Megan Rapinoe’s energy as a second-half substitute failed to spark the listless United States, which slipped through to the round of 16 in the Women’s World Cup despite an uninspiring 0-0 draw against Portugal on Tuesday.  The tie helped the U.S. avoid the biggest upset in tournament history and was just enough to ensure the Americans advanced to the knockout round. The U.S. team looked shaky at best in a game the team was expected to win.  The Americans, the most successful team ever at the World Cup with four titles, have never been eliminated in the group stage at …

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The Netherlands powered into the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup as group winners ahead of the United States with a 7-0 demolition of Vietnam Tuesday. Esmee Brugts and Jill Roord both scored twice in the biggest win yet at the Women’s World Cup, eclipsing Germany’s 6-0 thumping of Morocco. A crowd of 8,215 were treated to the Dutch goal bonanza in Dunedin. In the build-up, Dutch coach Andries Jonker said he wanted the 2019 finalists to finish top of the group in order to stay clear in the last 16 of Group G leaders Sweden, who routed Italy …

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Latest developments: Croatia allocated $1.1 million for the demining of Ukrainian agricultural lands, Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said Monday.    United Nations humanitarian office says a $3.9 billion appeal for humanitarian aid for Ukraine is less than 30% funded.  Ukraine’s Defense Ministry signed an agreement with Turkish company Baykar to build a service center for the repair and maintenance of drones in Ukraine, a ministry official said Monday.      Russian officials said Tuesday air defenses shot down several Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow, with the wreckage from one drone striking a high-rise building in the Russian capital.  Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram …

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When Pope Francis made the first foreign trip of his papacy — to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day in 2013 — he urged young people to make a “mess” in their local churches, to shake things up even if it ruffled the feathers of their bishops.  As he embarks this week on another edition of World Youth Day, in Lisbon, Portugal, Francis in many ways has taken his own advice to heart. After 10 years as pope, Francis is accelerating his reform agenda and making revolutionary changes in personnel and policy that are definitely shaking up things.  Unencumbered …

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The United States arrived at the Women’s World Cup as the favorite to win an unprecedented third consecutive title. But after an underwhelming draw against the Netherlands, there’s a real chance the Americans could be eliminated in group play for the first time in tournament history.  The U.S. plays Portugal in the third and final match of Group E play, and if Portugal pulls off an upset Tuesday at Eden Park in Auckland, the Americans could be in big trouble.  The United States needs to either win or draw against Portugal, one of eight teams playing in its first World …

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Frustration as other foreign nationals were set free. Occasional phone calls, months apart. And the constant fear that the executioner’s noose could be tightened any day. The family of Jamshid Sharmahd have endured three years of torment as each day they await a breakthrough, while always fearing the worst, for the German citizen sentenced to death in Iran. Sharmahd was abducted three years ago in late July 2020 by the Iranian authorities and sentenced earlier this year to be hanged for “corruption on Earth.” Iran’s Supreme Court in April confirmed the death penalty. Activists regard him as one of more …

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They rode into a kill zone. The timing was off. Many men were lost. In the end, they recaptured the ruined village of Staromaiorske, claiming Ukraine’s biggest advance for weeks.  Troops at the spearhead of Ukraine’s counteroffensive say a battle last week along the front in the southeast proved to be tougher and bloodier than expected, with plans going awry and an enemy that was well-prepared.  “The Russians were waiting for us,” said a 29-year-old soldier using the call-sign Bulat, from a unit sent into battle in armored vehicles during last week’s assault.  “They fired anti-tank weapons and grenade launchers …

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The West African regional bloc ECOWAS has given Niger’s coup leaders one week to return the country to normal or face possible military intervention. The deadline comes after Niger’s democratically elected president was toppled by members of his presidential guard last week. There are no easy options and the few that are available come with their own regional consequences.  Meeting Sunday in an emergency session, members of ECOWAS led by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu gave Niger’s junta leaders a week to release and reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum.    The group says all measures including the use of force are on …

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China imposed restrictions Monday on exports of long-range civilian drones, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine and concern that drones might be converted to military use.  Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s government is friendly with Moscow but says it is neutral in the 18-month-old war. It has been stung by reports that both sides might be using Chinese-made drones for reconnaissance and possibly attacks.  Export controls will take effect Tuesday to prevent use of drones for “non-peaceful purposes,” the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. It said exports still will be allowed but didn’t say what restrictions it would apply.  China …

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Japan scored three times from lightning breaks in the first half, once in the second and defended resolutely to trounce Spain 4-0 on Monday and top Group C at the Women’s World Cup. Hinata Miyazawa scored twice, Riko Ueki scored once and both were instrumental in each other’s goals as Japan switched swiftly from defense to counter-attack and scored from its only three attempts on goal before halftime. Mina Tanaka came off the bench to score the last in the 82nd minute as Japan, with only 22% of possession, turned on a counter-attacking master class in front of 21,000 fans. …

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