Author: Fworld
Ukraine’s parliament passes controversial law to boost conscripts, fill army ranks
11/04/2024
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s parliament passed a law on Thursday that will govern how the country recruits new conscripts, following months of delay and after thousands of amendments were submitted to water down the initial draft. Lawmakers dragged their feet for months over the law, which is expected to be unpopular. The law was spurred by …
Top US general warns Ukraine on brink of being overrun by Russia
10/04/2024
WASHINGTON — The tenacity of Ukrainian troops will soon be no match for Russia’s manpower and missiles should U.S. lawmakers fail to approve additional security assistance for Ukraine, the top American general in Europe told lawmakers, part of a stark warning about the direction of the more than two-year-old conflict. U.S. military officials have warned repeatedly …
EU lawmakers approve an overhaul of migration law, hoping to deprive the far right of votes
10/04/2024
BRUSSELS — European Union lawmakers approved Wednesday a major revamp of the bloc’s migration laws aimed at ending years of division over how to manage the entry of thousands of people without authorization and depriving the far right of a vote-winning campaign issue ahead of June elections. The members of the European Parliament voted on the …
Ukrainian civilians help build up their country’s drone fleet
10/04/2024
Inexpensive first-person view – or radio controlled – drones have become a powerful weapon in Ukraine’s war against Russian invaders. As the country presses the West for more military aid, many Ukrainian civilians are stepping in to help by making homemade attack drones. Lesia Bakalets has the story from Kyiv. …
In Their Own Words: VOA Covering Ukraine
10/04/2024
With Russia’s war on Ukraine in its third year, VOA’s Celia Mendoza shares her experience of reporting on the ground in Ukraine and speaking with those affected by the conflict. …
Ukraine says Russian drone attacks targeted energy infrastructure
10/04/2024
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Blinken, Cameron implore Republican lawmakers to unblock aid to Ukraine
10/04/2024
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington to help push for a new aid package for Ukraine. He also met with former President Donald Trump in Florida, as VOA’s Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from the State Department. …
Russia, Kazakhstan evacuate 100,000 people in worst flooding in decades
10/04/2024
ORSK, Russia — Russia and Kazakhstan ordered more than 100,000 people to evacuate after swiftly melting snow swelled rivers beyond bursting point in the worst flooding in the area for at least 70 years. The deluge of melt water overwhelmed scores of settlements in the Ural Mountains, Siberia and areas of Kazakhstan close to rivers such …
Germany refutes claim it is enabling genocide in Gaza
10/04/2024
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EU to investigate Chinese wind turbine suppliers over subsidy concerns
10/04/2024
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US top military leaders face Congress over Pentagon budget and questions on Israel, Ukraine support
09/04/2024
Washington — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Charles Brown Jr. testified on Capitol Hill on Tuesday about the Pentagon’s $850 billion budget for 2025 as questions remained as to whether lawmakers will support current spending needs for Israel or Ukraine. The Senate hearing was the first time lawmakers on both sides were …
Ukrainians stay in front-line town despite danger, hardships
09/04/2024
It has been two years since the town of Siversk in Ukraine’s Donetsk region has enjoyed electricity, gas and sewage service. Once a bustling community of over 12,000 people, only about 800 remain today. Anna Kosstutschenko visited Siversk and talked to residents. Video editor: Pavel Suhodolskiy …
Vatican’s top diplomat visits Vietnam, looks to normalize relations
09/04/2024
HANOI, Vietnam — The Vatican’s top diplomat began a six-day visit to Vietnam on Tuesday as a part of efforts to normalize relations with the communist nation. Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s foreign minister, met his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son and expressed the Vatican’s “gratitude” for the progress that has been made to improve ties. …
China’s Xi meets with Russian FM Lavrov in show of support against Western democracies
09/04/2024
Beijing — Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Tuesday in a sign of mutual support and shared opposition to Western democracies amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “We would like to express our highest appreciation and admiration for the successes that you have achieved over the years and, above all, over the …
Is action on climate change a human right? A European court to rule for the first time
09/04/2024
STRASBOURG, France — Europe’s highest human rights court will rule Tuesday on a group of landmark climate change cases aimed at forcing countries to meet international obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The European Court of Human Rights will hand down decisions in a trio of cases brought by a French mayor, six Portuguese youngsters and …
Cameron to try to rally US support for Ukraine aid
09/04/2024
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Russians stage rare protest after unprecedented floods engulf Ural region
09/04/2024
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Russia’s Lavrov visits Beijing to discuss Ukraine war, Asia-Pacific situation
09/04/2024
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Spain to scrap ‘golden visas’ granting non-EU property buyers residency
08/04/2024
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Sweden expels Chinese journalist, calling her threat to national security, report says
08/04/2024
Copenhagen, Denmark — Sweden has expelled a Chinese journalist, saying the reporter was a threat to national security, Swedish media reported on Monday. The journalist, an unnamed, 57-year-old woman, was arrested by the Swedish security service in October and expelled by the government in Stockholm last week, Swedish broadcaster SVT reported. She is banned from returning. …
Swapping of the Guard: French, British troops mark Entente Cordiale
08/04/2024
Paris — French and British troops on Monday swapped roles to take part in the changing of the guard ceremonies outside the palaces of the other country’s head of state, in an unprecedented move to celebrate 120 years since the Entente Cordiale. Signed in 1904, the Entente Cordiale accord cemented an improvement in relations after the …
Ukraine reports downing 17 Russian drones
08/04/2024
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Top UN court opening hearings in case accusing Germany of facilitating Israel’s Gaza conflict
08/04/2024
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Preliminary hearings are opening Monday at the United Nations’ top court in a case that seeks an end to German military and other aid to Israel, based on claims that Berlin is enabling acts of genocide and breaches of international humanitarian law in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Nicaragua argues that by …
Ukraine denies Russian claim it struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
08/04/2024
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Despite Google Earth, people still buy globes. What’s the appeal?
07/04/2024
London — Find a globe in your local library or classroom and try this: Close the eyes, spin it and drop a finger randomly on its curved, glossy surface. You’re likely to pinpoint a spot in the water, which covers 71% of the planet. Maybe you’ll alight on a place you’ve never heard of — or …
Russia’s Lavrov to visit China to discuss Ukraine war
07/04/2024
Moscow — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit China on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the war in Ukraine and the deepening partnership between Moscow and Beijing. Talks between Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who extended the invitation to the Russian minister, will include bilateral cooperation as well as “hot topics,” such as …