Author: Fworld

Russia Demands Return of Jerusalem Church as Tensions Rise

Tensions between Jerusalem and Moscow are rising over the contested Alexander Nevsky Russian church property in Jerusalem’s Old City. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently sent a personal letter to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett demanding Israel immediately hand over control of the church. The issue is one of the latest flashpoints in the increasingly contentious …

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US Visit Highlights Poland’s Rising Military Capabilities 

Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak stressed his nation’s plans to increase its defense capabilities during a visit Wednesday to Washington, where he was greeted by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. During a meeting at the Pentagon, Austin commended Poland for its humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, saying it has not only …

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Queen Elizabeth’s 96th Birthday Marked With Gun Salutes

Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 96th birthday at her Sandringham estate on Thursday as gun salutes rang out across London and Windsor and military bands played “Happy Birthday.” Britain’s longest serving monarch, who celebrates a historic platinum jubilee this year, was pictured with two white ponies in a photo released for the occasion. Government ministers joined …

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US Preparing New Military Aid for Ukraine   

The United States is imposing new sanctions on dozens more individuals and entities accused of evading financial penalties imposed on Moscow …

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Turkey’s Top Diplomat to Visit Israel on May 24 Amid Efforts to Mend Fences

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he will visit Israel on May 24 amid increasing efforts between the regional rivals to mend ties, four years after they expelled ambassadors. Turkey and Israel have in recent weeks been working to mend their long-strained ties, and energy has emerged as a potential area of cooperation. President Tayyip …

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Biden Convenes Top Military Leaders to Discuss Ukraine

As Russia launched new attacks Wednesday on the embattled Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, President Joe Biden convened his military leadership to get the latest assessment of the Russian invasion. “I want to hear from all of you and your assessments on what you’re seeing in the field and across our forces,” Biden said to …

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Diaspora Media Work to Counter Russian Propaganda

In a good month, the Russian-language news site Slavic Sacramento averages around 50,000 readers. But when Russia invaded Ukraine, that figure tripled. Founded in 2014 and catering to a large Russian-speaking community that has set up home in Sacramento, California, and in other American cities, Slavic Sacramento covers a mix of local and national U.S. …

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Ukraine Conflict Offers Turkey Reset With Washington 

Turkey’s robust stance against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine is becoming an impetus to improve relations with the United States, a NATO ally. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has unequivocally condemned the invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, Ankara has sold — in the face of Moscow’s criticism — Turkish-made drones that continue …

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Wimbledon Bans Russian, Belarusian Entrants Because of Ukraine Invasion  

The Wimbledon tennis tournament announced Wednesday it is banning Russian and Belarusian players from this year’s matches starting in late June because of what officials said was Russia’s “unjustified” invasion of Ukraine. The ban will keep some of the world’s top players from competing at one of the world’s premier tournaments at London’s All England …

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Ethiopians Line Up at Russian Embassy as Officials Deny Recruitment Effort

Hundreds of Ethiopians reportedly have been been lined up for days outside the Russian embassy in Addis Ababa this week in hopes of being recruited to fight for Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine. But the embassy has dismissed claims it is recruiting foreign fighters and says the Ethiopians are there to show their solidarity …

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Moscow Court Rejects Ekho Moskvy’s Appeal Against Broadcasting Restrictions

A court in Moscow has rejected an appeal by the independent radio station Ekho Moskvy against moves by the government to restrict the broadcaster’s reach, which led to its decision to close. The Taganka district court on April 20 refused to recognize as illegal the decision by Russia’s media regulator, Roskomnadzor, to restrict access to …

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WFP Says Food Now Reaching Ukraine’s Formerly Inaccessible Areas

The World Food Program says it is scaling up delivery of food aid into previously inaccessible areas of Ukraine’s conflict but too many areas remain out of reach. Seven weeks into the Ukrainian conflict, the United Nations has recorded nearly 5,000 civilian casualties, including more than 2,000 killed—figures the U.N. considers to be conservative. At …

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Russia Announces Expulsion of 15 Dutch Diplomats

Russia said Tuesday it will expel 15 Dutch diplomats, saying they have two weeks to leave the country. The retaliatory move following the Netherlands’ expulsion last month of 17 Russians whom Dutch officials said were intelligence officers posing as diplomats.  In response to Tuesday’s announcement, Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra said in a statement, …

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Western Sanctions on Russia May Have Repercussions for Azerbaijan

As Western sanctions against Russia continue to mount, observers in Azerbaijan are concerned about the potential ramifications in a country with close economic ties to Moscow. Some experts believe Russia’s worsening economic position will harm Azerbaijan’s trade relations and money transfers with the country, which is Azerbaijan’s main import partner and home to over 2.5 …

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IMF Predicts Slower Economic Growth Due to Russia-Ukraine War

The world economy will grow at a slower pace because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the International Monetary Fund said in a report Tuesday. The organization forecasts growth of 3.6% this year, compared to 6.1% last year. Originally, it had predicted 4.4% growth this year. “The economic effects of the war are spreading far and …

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UN Chief Appeals for Four-Day Orthodox Easter Humanitarian Pause in Ukraine

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed Tuesday for a four-day humanitarian pause this week to coincide with Orthodox Easter, as Russia’s war in Ukraine entered a dangerous new phase. “The onslaught and terrible toll on civilians we have seen so far could pale in comparison to the horror that lies ahead,” he said of the Russian …

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WHO: Ukraine Conflict Prevents Medical Aid from Reaching Those in Need 

The World Health Organization says escalating fighting in Ukraine is preventing emergency medical supplies and health personnel from reaching many people in need of help. Since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly two months ago, the World Health Organization has delivered some 218 metric tons of emergency medical supplies. Roughly two-thirds have reached their intended destinations, mostly …

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Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Says Battle for Eastern Ukraine Has Started  

Ukraine says Russia has begun its offensive to take control of eastern Ukraine while a Russian missile attack hit the western city of Lviv, killing at least seven people.   Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address Monday, “Now, we can already state that the Russian troops have begun the battle for the Donbas, …

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Sweden Links Riots to Criminal Gangs That Target Police 

Swedish police said Monday that the riots that have shaken several cities and towns in the Nordic country are extremely serious crimes against society and suspect some protesters are linked to criminal gangs that intentionally target police.  Sweden, a nation of 10 million, has seen unrest, scuffles, arson and violence since Thursday that has left …

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Turkish Forces Attack Kurdish Rebel Positions in Iraq

Turkish military forces using planes, helicopters and drones attacked Kurdish rebel positions inside northern Iraq, the Turkish Defense Ministry said Monday. The targets included camps and ammunition depots in the regions of Metina, Zap, and Avashin-Basyan, the military said. Kurdish rebels have launched attacks in Turkey from northern Iraq, and Ankara said they were planning …

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Cybersecurity Group Says Catalan Leaders Targeted With Spyware

A group of Catalan separatists, including several members of the European Parliament, other politicians, lawyers and activists from Spain’s northeastern region, had their phones hacked with a controversial spyware called Pegasus, a cybersecurity firm said Monday. Citizens Lab, which is associated with the University of Toronto, said at least 65 people were targeted using the …

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Tourism-Reliant Cyprus Scraps Virus Tests for Most Travelers

Cyprus authorities on Monday made traveling to the east Mediterranean island nation easier as the summer tourist season kicks into gear by rescinding the need to undergo any COVID-19 tests prior to boarding a flight or on arrival. According to the new regulations, only unvaccinated people who haven’t contracted and recovered from the coronavirus must …

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Zelenskyy Says Russian Forces Conducting ‘Deliberate Terror’   

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian forces of engaging in “deliberate terror” with mortar and artillery strikes on residential neighborhoods in Kharkiv, while Ukrainian forces in the southern city of Mariupol defied a Russian deadline to lay down their arms.  Zelenskyy, in a video address late Sunday, said he expects Russia to launch an offensive …

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Greek Police say Migrant Shot Dead While Crossing From Turkey 

A migrant was killed by gunfire at the Greece-Turkey border while she and several others attempted to cross a river separating the two countries, Greek police said on April 17.  It wasn’t immediately clear who fired the shot that killed the woman the night before. An autopsy showed that the victim was shot in the …

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EU Closes Loophole Allowing Multimillion-Euro Arms Sales to Russia

The European Union has closed a loophole that allowed EU governments to export weapons worth tens of millions of euros to Russia last year alone despite an embargo which took effect in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region. EU countries last year sold to Russia weapons and ammunition worth 39 million euros ($42.3 million), …

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Special Shelter for Ukrainian Women, Children Set Up in Lviv

After Russia invaded Ukraine, a Ukrainian NGO organized a shelter for displaced mothers in the western city of Lviv where a local businessman offered for his office space to be used for that purpose. Women with children stay there for a few days before continuing their journey to Spain. Anna Kosstutschenko has the story. VOA …

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