Van Drives Into Brussels Terrace, Several Injured
A van rammed into terraces in the center of Belgium’s capital Brussels, leaving at least six injured and in shock, authorities said.
Europe
Europe Narrowly Avoids Nuclear Disaster, For Now
Ukraine’s president says Europe narrowly avoided a nuclear radiation disaster on Thursday as a Russian-occupied nuclear plant was disconnected from Ukraine’s power grid
Evangelicals Pray For Ukraine As Rockets Take Toll
Two groups representing more than 600 million evangelical Christians urged prayers for an end to the war in Ukraine as territories still controlled by Kyiv observed Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Against the odds, Biden inches closer to nuclear deal with Iran
The Biden administration on Wednesday inched closer to restarting a controversial nuclear deal with Iran, brushing aside stark warnings from key American ally Israel and sidestepping mounting evidence that Tehran and its proxies have not moderated their behavior on other fronts and remain intent on targeting U.S. troops, officials, allies and interests.
Biden Pledges Nearly $3 Billion To Ukraine In Largest U.S. Military Aid Package Yet
U.S. President Joe Biden has announced nearly $3 billion in new U.S. military aid for Kyiv as Ukraine marked its independence day six months after Russia invaded the country.
Pakistan: Couple escape to Europe after years on death row for blasphemy
A couple who spent seven years on death row in Pakistan for alleged blasphemy have been helped to escape the threat of further Islamic extremist violence and have found refuge in Europe, Christian Today (CT) reports.
Drought inflicting ‘severe impacts’ on EU energy production, as Putin tightens squeeze on gas
Ongoing drought is wreaking damage on the European Union’s energy generation, its drought agency warned today, just as the bloc braces for power blackouts in winter as Russia squeezes its gas supply.
Nuclear deal moves closer as US says Iran has ‘finally crossed the Rubicon’
Iran has dropped some of its main demands on resurrecting a deal to rein in Tehran’s nuclear program, including its insistence that international inspectors close some probes of its atomic program, bringing the possibility of an agreement closer, a senior US official told Reuters on Monday.
Serbia Threatens To Enter Kosovo Amid Balkans War Fears
Europe faced a potential new war in the Balkans as Serbia’s president threatened to move into neighboring Kosovo if the NATO military alliance failed to “do their job.”
World must ‘walk away’ from Iran nuclear talks, Lapid tells Western leaders
The time has come for Western powers to walk away from talks with Iran on returning to the nuclear deal, top Israeli officials are telling their counterparts in Washington and in European capitals.
France Fights Huge Blaze As Deadly Wildfires And Heat Spread In Europe
France has become the latest European nation to appeal for international help to respond to a massive southwestern wildfire that officials say has already destroyed nearly 7,000 hectares or 17,300 acres of forest. French President Emmanuel Macron said several countries are assisting in fighting the blaze amid deadly wildfires triggered by record temperatures and droughts across Europe, reportedly killing at least 1,000 people.
Millions Flee As Tensions Rise Over Nuclear Power Plant
The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said Tuesday that more than 10.5 million people had fled war-torn Ukraine, where the threat of a nuclear disaster looms.
Europe’s drought on course to be worst for 500 years, European Commission researcher warns
The drought scorching much of the European Union is set to be the worst endured since the sixteenth century, a senior scientist at the European Commission’s (EC) drought service has warned.
UN Chief Fears “Nuclear Suicide” In Ukraine
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres wants international inspectors to be given access to a vast nuclear power plant in war-torn Ukraine, saying an attack on the site is “suicidal.”
UN Warns Of Nuclear Disaster As Russia’s Military Occupies Europe
Europe was on edge Saturday as the United Nations nuclear watchdog demanded an end to military action near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, warning of a “very real risk of a nuclear disaster.”
US Senate gives overwhelming approval to Finland/Sweden NATO applications
The US Senate on Wednesday voted 95-1 in overwhelming approval of the applications by Sweden and Finland to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Axios reports. NATO was established in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, Canada, Italy, and France, to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.
Iran has installed three IR-6 centrifuges at enrichment plant
The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear watchdog said in a report to member states Wednesday that Iran has finished installing three advanced IR-6 centrifuges at its Natanz fuel enrichment plant, Israel Hayom reports.
Senate votes to let Sweden, Finland join NATO
The Senate on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to accept the application of Sweden and Finland to join NATO amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
EU Agrees To Reduce Gas Consumption Despite Hungary’s Objections
The European Union announced a deal Tuesday to curb its natural gas consumption between now and spring despite objections of EU member state Hungary.
Russia’s Gazprom says it’s cutting gas to Nord Stream to 20% of capacity
Russia‘s Gazprom said Monday that it would further reduce natural gas flows through a major pipeline to Europe to 20% of capacity, citing repairs of equipment.