worldwide news
Many western companies and brands have temporarily closed their locations in Russia or stopped selling products there. But officials for the some of the companies say they will continue to support their employees. Karina Bafradzhian has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. VOA footage by Artyom Kohkan. …
Britain’s communications regulator has revoked the license of Russian-backed broadcaster RT amid investigations of its coverage of the Ukraine war. The regulator, Ofcom, said it a statement that it did not consider RT’s licensee, ANO TV Novosti, to be “fit and proper to hold a U.K. broadcast license.” Ofcom says Friday’s decision followed 29 ongoing …
Read more “British Regulator Revokes License of Russia-Backed Broadcaster RT”
A sixth-year medical student at Ternopil National Medical University in Ukraine, Dominic Oru, a Nigerian, was two months from completing his medical degree when Russian forces invaded the country on Feb. 24. Oru woke up that day to news about explosions in many Ukrainian cities. And, like hundreds of other students in Ternopil, he fled …
Read more “Nigerian Medical Students Who Fled Ukraine Continue Education Online”
Pallets loaded onto the Japanese Self-Defense Force cargo aircraft this month contained bulletproof vests, helmets, and other nonlethal military equipment – much different from the shoulder-fired missiles, drones, and other weapons many Western countries have sent to Ukrainians fighting Russia’s invasion. Japan’s decision to ship military equipment to Ukraine still marked a major step for …
Read more “More Assertive Japan Stands Up to Russia Over Ukraine”
Australia imposed sanctions on Friday on two Russian oligarchs with links to its mining industry, one of them a billionaire with an investment connection to Rio Tinto’s Gladstone alumina refinery joint venture. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia was working in close cooperation with international partners to increase sanctions pressure on oligarchs close to Russian …
Read more “Australia Sanctions Russian Billionaires With Mining Industry Links”
According to U.S. and Ukrainian officials, Moscow’s efforts to win over the world with its accounts of events in Ukraine are doing no better than Russia’s military forces inside Ukraine. More often than not, they are meeting with stiff resistance. “Outside of Russia, we have not seen their information operations really find purchase,” a senior …
Read more “US Sees No Letup in Russian Influence Operations”
Ukrainian and Russian officials say they have made progress in negotiations toward a cease-fire in the 3-week war. Experts detect a shift in Russia’s demands as the war has gone on much longer than it planned. But U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he sees no evidence Russia is serious about diplomacy. VOA’s senior …
Read more “Blinken: No Evidence Russia Is Serious About Cease-Fire in Ukraine”
Ottawa announced Thursday it was establishing a new immigration program that would offer Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion a temporary Canadian residence permit for up to three years. Canada, which has a large Ukrainian diaspora, especially in the center and west of the country, said in a statement that “Ukrainians and their immediate family members …
Read more “Canada Offers 3 Years of Temporary Residency to Ukrainians”
The head of the World Health Organization said Thursday that “the lifesaving medicine” needed in Ukraine is peace. “Prolonged conflict is in nobody’s interests and will only prolong the suffering of the most vulnerable,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told an emergency U.N. Security Council session on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine, which has …
Read more “UN: Ukraine’s Humanitarian Situation Worsening Daily”
While the United States and European Union are enforcing powerful financial and trade sanctions on Moscow and closing their airspace to Russian airplanes, Turkey strongly opposes such measures, arguing they are counterproductive. As a result, concerns are growing that Turkey is helping Russians to circumvent the sanctions, said Timothy Ash, an emerging-markets analyst with London-based …
Read more “Turkey’s Opposition to Russian Sanctions Stokes Suspicions of Sanctions-Busting “
An American man was killed in a Russian attack on the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, where he was seeking medical treatment for his partner. The death of Jim Hill was reported Thursday by his sister. “My brother Jimmy Hill was killed yesterday in Chernihiv, Ukraine. He was waiting in a bread line with several …
Read more “American Among Civilians Killed in Russian Attack in Ukraine”
VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb interviews AFRICOM commander Gen. Stephen Townsend. Their conversation touches on Somalia, Russia, China and Iran. …
Washington turned its gaze at Beijing on Thursday, with U.S. President Joe Biden scheduling a rare phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a high-stakes conversation as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy begged the world for help fighting against a three-week Russian invasion. China has played an increasingly important role in the conflict amid reports that …
Read more “Ukraine President Appeals for Help as US Gaze Turns to China”
Russian attacks on civilians in Ukraine are pushing millions out of the country. While most have fled through Poland, more than 300,000 refugees have gone through Moldova, very close to the Ukrainian city of Odesa. Jon Spier narrates this report by Ricardo Marquina at Palanka. …
Two British-Iranian nationals who were jailed in Iran are back in Britain. Few details have emerged on the negotiations, but Britain confirmed that it had repaid a long-standing debt to Tehran ahead of their release. As Henry Ridgwell reports from London, critics say Iran is increasingly engaging in hostage diplomacy. …
Less than a month before France’s first round of presidential elections, incumbent Emmanuel Macron finally laid out his campaign platform for reelection at a lengthy news conference Thursday outside Paris. The war in Ukraine has lifted Macron’s popularity, and his rivals are scrambling to make an impact. If he wins, Macron would be the first …
Read more “Amid Ukraine War Diplomacy, Macron Launches Reelection Bid”
Russia is pounding residential areas in Ukraine as its invasion continues. One such attack hit a high-rise apartment building in Kyiv, causing multiple casualties. Serhiy Lysenko spoke to some of the survivors. Anna Rice narrates his report. …
Russia has been deploying mercenaries to African countries for years. New reports indicate some of those battle-hardened soldiers may be heading to Ukraine to take part in Russia’s invasion of its neighbor. In this report, VOA’s Salem Solomon looks at what the addition of mercenaries into the Ukraine war might mean. Video editor – Jason Godman. Carla …
Read more “Experts Warn Russian Mercenaries in Africa May Be Headed to Ukraine”
South African medical students, who were evacuated from Ukraine, are now looking for ways to complete their studies. South African universities are discussing options for the students, some of whom are still shaken by the attacks they witnessed and are fearful for teachers and classmates left behind. Concerned students have already launched a “Save Our …
Read more “South African Medical Students Return From War-Torn Ukraine”
Using the same kind of rough street language he used 22 years ago when talking about rubbing out Chechen rebels even when they’re in their “outhouses,” Russian President Vladimir Putin midweek took aim at Russians who oppose his invasion of Ukraine, saying Russia should undergo “self-cleansing” and get rid of “bastards and traitors.” “The Russian …
The Russian Wagner Group mercenary organization has tried to enlist some of its units in Africa to fight for Russia in Ukraine, the top commander of U.S. military forces in Africa told VOA. “We’re seeing some efforts to recruit Wagner units for Ukraine,” Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of U.S. Africa Command, said in an exclusive …
Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine has gradually aligned itself more with Western countries. Russia views that shift as a security threat. Here’s a look at major events that led to Russia’s February invasion of its neighbor. …
As the war in Ukraine rages on, diplomats trying to salvage the languishing 2015 Iran nuclear deal have been forging ahead with negotiations despite distractions caused by the conflict. They now appear to be near the cusp of a deal that would bring the U.S. back into the accord and bring Iran back into compliance …
Read more “As Ukraine War Rages, Diplomats Near Iran Nuclear Agreement”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed for Germany’s help Thursday, telling the German Parliament that a new wall is being erected in Europe “between freedom and bondage.” “And this wall is getting bigger with every bomb that falls on Ukraine, with every decision that is not taken,” Zelenskyy said in his video address. He criticized Germany …
Read more “Zelenskyy Seeks Germany’s Help Amid Russian Invasion”