Section: Voice of America (USA)
EU Summit Set Against Turbulent Backdrop
Leaders of the European Union meet in Brussels Thursday for a summit that follows a turbulent year for the 28-member group, as questions loom over the integrity and future of the organization. Among the top challenges to be addressed at the one-day meeting in Brussels Thursday will be whether to continue sanctions against Russia over Ukraine,...
EU Leaders to Hold ‘Minefield’ Summit
Leaders of the European Union meet Thursday in Brussels for a summit fraught with disputes on how to handle the many crises they face, bar on possibly the biggest rift of all — how to handle Brexit. After a day of talks on migrants, Turkey, Russia, defense in the era of Donald Trump and the euro zone economy in the age of austerity, leaders will...
Japanese, Russian Leaders to Discuss Territorial Dispute
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet at a hot spring resort Thursday, seeking progress on a territorial row that has prevented their countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II. The two sides are likely to clinch some agreements on economic cooperation, but both have sought to...
US Troops to Arrive in Europe in January to Reassure Allies
The United States is deploying troops to Poland, the Baltic states and Romania next month as part of raising the security of the region, Polish and U.S. defense officials said Wednesday. Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz made the announcement following talks with the commander of U.S. land troops in Europe, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, in Zagan,...
Bosnia to Expel Hundreds of Foreign Property Owners Amid Tax Probe
Bosnia will expel more than 300 foreigners, most from the Gulf, as illegal residents after they bought property for investment that they may have evaded taxes on, the office for expatriate affairs said on Wednesday. In recent years, Bosnia has seen an influx of Arab investors who have built residential complexes and tourist resorts, attracted by...
Ukraine Security Chief Calls for Better Cyber Defense Against Russia
A Ukrainian security chief said on Wednesday Ukraine needed to beef up its cyber defenses, citing a recent spate of attacks on government websites that he said originated in Russia. Over the past week, Ukraine’s Finance and Defense ministries and State Treasury said their websites had been temporarily downed by attacks aimed at disrupting...
Judge Orders Crimean Artifacts Returned to Ukraine
A priceless collection of gold artifacts from Crimea that were on loan to a Dutch museum when Russia seized the peninsula must be returned to Ukraine and not Crimea, a Dutch court ruled on Wednesday in a judgment likely to anger Moscow. Kyiv and the four museums have been wrangling over the fate of the archeological treasures, including gems,...
Russia Ready to Boost Serbian Defense to Counter NATO
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday the Kremlin is ready to boost Serbia’s defense capabilities amid what his Serbian counterpart alleges is a threat from neighboring Croatia. The statements came amid rising tensions between the two major Balkan rivals and former Yugoslav republics that were at war in the 1990s. Serbian...
Denial and Outrage in Russia at Latest Anti-Doping Report
In the runup to the release of the World Anti-Doping Agency report, Match TV, a Kremlin-sponsored national sports channel launched earlier this year, rightly labeled the stakes involved. The WADA findings, the channel’s lead noted, would “determine the future of Russian sport.” It may prove the only point on which Russia and the rest of the...
Ukrainians Want to Make a Deal with Trump
Ukrainians trying to figure out what to expect from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump may be having trouble. His praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the recent political campaign received a lot of media attention. On the other hand, Trump also criticized President Barack Obama for “not doing what he should be doing for...
