Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, in Strasbourg, France, on January 18. (Philipp von Ditfurth/picture-alliance/dpa/AP) A joint European Union-Ukraine summit to be held in Kyiv on Friday is “a very strong signal” of support, a senior EU official said in a briefing ahead of the meeting. Speaking to reporters in Brussels this … Read more
Kramatorsk, Ukraine CNN — A new barrage of missiles ripped through the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk on Thursday, sending flames and thick plumes into the air as screaming civilians rushed to find shelter. A CNN crew had just arrived on the scene and heard the first incoming strike on Kramatorsk. CNN saw the second … Read more
London CNN — Europe’s two largest central banks have hiked interest rates strongly on Thursday, opting for a bigger hike than the US Federal Reserve as inflation in the region remains near historically high levels. The European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England raised their rates an additional half point. Benchmark interest rates … Read more
Canadian Tammy Cecco was not a fan of cruising. “The idea of being on a boat with thousands of other people and not being able to get off,” she said, “was something I wanted to avoid.” That didn’t change when Cecco, a travel magazine publisher, boarded a surprise cruise booked by her husband to renew … Read more
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A Romanian court on Wednesday upheld a second 30-day detention for divisive influencer and former professional kickboxer Andrew Tate, who is suspected of organized crime and human trafficking, an official said. Tate lost his appeal against a judge’s Jan. 20 decision to extend his arrest a second time by 30 days, … Read more
Near Bakhmut, Ukraine CNN — Southwest of the town of Bakhmut, Ukrainian soldiers Andriy and Borisych live in a candle-lit bunker dug into the frozen earth. For several weeks, they have been facing hundreds of fighters belonging to the Russian private military contractor Wagner throwing themselves against the Ukrainian defenses. Disguised in a balaclava, Andriy … Read more
Russia and Belarus are conducting another week of joint military exercises, the Belarusian Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday, in the latest sign of cooperation between neighboring allies amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “During the week, military representatives from both countries will practice joint planning for the use of troops based on past experience of armed … Read more
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Previously, visitors roamed Bakhmut’s late 19th-century buildings, strolled its rose-lined lakeside park and savored sparkling wines produced in historic underground caves. It was back when this city in eastern Ukraine was a popular tourist destination. No more. The longest battle of the Russian war turned this town of salt and gypsum … Read more
