Section: Voice of America (USA)
Britain Accuses Russia of Brexit Vote Meddling as New Evidence Emerges
After widespread allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, the first evidence is emerging of possible attempts by Moscow to influence Britain’s referendum on leaving the European Union. Researchers have identified thousands of social media accounts that promoted anti-EU messages or sought to whip up...
German Spy Chief Sees Russia as Danger, Cites Military Advances
Germany’s spy chief has warned that Russia should be seen as a “potential danger” rather than as a partner in building European security and said its big military exercise in summer showed an alarmingly high level of modernization in its armed forces. Bruno Kahl, head of BND foreign intelligence, made his remarks in a speech at...
Spain Sees Russian Interference in Catalonia Separatist Vote
Madrid believes Russian-based groups used online social media to heavily promote Catalonia’s independence referendum last month in an attempt to destabilize Spain, Spanish ministers said Monday. Spain’s defense and foreign ministers said they had evidence that state and private-sector Russian groups, as well as groups in Venezuela,...
EU Signs Historic Defense Pact as Brexit, Trump Drive Bloc to Cooperate
Twenty-three member states of the European Union have signed a historic deal to cooperate more closely on defense. The pact, known as Permanent Structured Cooperation or PESCO, legally binds its signatories into joint defense projects as well as pledging to increase defense spending and contribute to rapid deployments. The pact includes all EU...
Russia: Putin, Trump Agree to Continue IS Fight in Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed Saturday to a joint statement on Syria that said they would continue joint efforts in fighting Islamic State until it is defeated, the Kremlin said. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the Kremlin announcement or the conversation the Kremlin said...
Grammar-Proofing Startup by Ukrainian Techies Helps Foreign Students
Some foreign students in U.S. schools find it challenging to submit grammatically correct, idiomatically accurate papers. So two former Ukrainian graduate students launched an artificial intelligence-driven grammar-proofing program that goes well beyond spell-check. Today, their 8-year-old startup, Grammarly, whose first venture round netted $110...
Lithuania Says East-west Schism Within EU Benefits Russia
Lithuania said a growing rift between some eastern and western European Union states over issues such as migration posed a threat to the bloc at a time of increased Russian military assertiveness. Frictions between ex-communist states in Europe’s East and the wealthier West have increased since the 2015 migration crisis and Britain’s...
NATO Backs Plan to Improve Command of Its Forces
Wary of a belligerent and unpredictable Russia, NATO is expanding its operations for the first time since the end of the Cold War and drawing up plans to improve the way the military alliance commands and deploys its forces. NATO defense ministers Wednesday endorsed a proposal to create two new commands: one to protect sea lanes ferrying troops...
Lithuania Expects NATO to Reach Deal on Baltic Air Shield
Lithuania expects NATO to reach an agreement next year to shield Baltic countries with air defenses, plugging a gap in its security against Russia, its defense minister said Tuesday. Since Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and began providing weapons and troops to separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, NATO has sent more...
Rivals of Incumbent Seek to Sway Czech Policy Toward West in Presidential Vote
A host of pro-Western candidates met Tuesday’s deadline to run for Czech president, seeking to unseat incumbent Milos Zeman, who has leaned toward Russia and China. Czech presidents wield limited day-to-day power but have large informal influence and play a key role in forming governments — now underway following elections last month. The...
