A criminal case has been opened against a Siberian journalist whose news website had published content critical of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, Russian media reported on Thursday. Mikhail Afanasyev, chief editor of Novy Fokus in the Russian region of Khakassia, was arrested by security forces Wednesday over the website’s reporting on 11 riot police …
Read more “Russian Authorities Arrest Journalist for Reports on Ukraine”
Editor’s note: Here is a fast take on what the international community has been up to this past week, as seen from the United Nations perch. Impacts of Ukraine war reverberate globally U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Wednesday that because of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the developing world is facing a “perfect storm” threatening to …
On a day that saw Moscow suffer a stinging symbolic defeat with the loss of its Black Sea fleet flagship, Ukraine’s president hailed his people for their resolve since Russia invaded in February and for making “the most important decision of their life – to fight.” In his nightly address, Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Ukrainians late …
Read more “As Russia Loses Key Ship, Zelenskyy Praises Nation’s Resolve”
The capital of France may be thousands of miles from the battlefields of eastern Ukraine, but what happens in French voting stations this month could have repercussions there. Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has close ties to Russia and wants to weaken the European Union and NATO, which could undercut Western efforts to stop …
Read more “How France’s Presidential Election Could Impact Ukraine War “
U.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday that he’s considering sending a senior U.S. official to Ukraine, a high-profile visit that would underscore Washington’s commitment to the besieged nation. When asked whether he would dispatch an official, Biden replied, “We’re making that decision now.” “Are you ready to go?” Biden joked to a reporter. “Are you?” …
Read more “Biden Mulls Sending Senior US Official to Ukraine “
Russia’s nuclear saber-rattling has the attention of top U.S. intelligence officials, some of whom are expressing growing concern about the Kremlin’s willingness to unleash some of its nuclear arsenal as it faces “potential desperation” in Ukraine. Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns warned Thursday that the world should not underestimate Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose …
Read more “US Spy Chief Warns of Russia’s Nuclear Threats, ‘Potential Desperation’”
More than 150 Russian journalists have left the country since its invasion of Ukraine. More are working with international organizations safeguarding the rights of journalists. Anush Avetisyan looks at how the international community is helping independent Russian journalists in these difficult times. Camera: Andrey Degtyarev, Dmitry Shakhov Produced by: Marcus Harton …
A jury convicted a British national Thursday for his role in an Islamic State group hostage-taking scheme that took roughly two dozen Westerners captive a decade ago, resulting in the deaths of four Americans, three of whom were beheaded. The jury deliberated for four hours before finding El Shafee Elsheikh guilty on all counts. Elsheikh …
Read more “Brit Convicted as ‘Beatle’ in Islamic State Beheadings Trial”
Calls are mounting for Russia to face a legal reckoning for atrocities its forces are allegedly committing in Ukraine. Many activists are looking toward the Hague-based International Criminal Court, which last month opened a Ukraine war crimes investigation. But experts warn delivering justice will be slow, difficult and, in some cases, impossible. ICC prosecutor Karim …
Read more “As Calls Grow for Justice on Ukraine, ICC Steps Forward”
Russia is facing economic sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine from dozens of countries. Here is a look at the efficacy of similar punitive measures applied to various countries in the past. …
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), …
Read more “EU Closes Loophole Allowing Multimillion-Euro Arms Sales to Russia”
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 …
Read more “Special Shelter for Ukrainian Women, Children Set Up in Lviv”
The Biden administration appears set to include discussions of international economic repercussions of the Russian invasion and potentially Ukraine’s reconstruction as part of the November G-20 summit agenda, an idea that is likely to create further rift in the economic forum. “It is not uncommon for events that are impacting the global community as Ukraine …
Russia said Thursday the flagship of its Black Sea fleet had been seriously damaged and that all the crew evacuated following what Russia said was an explosion and what Ukrainian officials said was a missile strike. Russian state media quoted the country’s defense ministry blaming a fire that detonated ammunition on board the guided-missile cruiser …
Read more “Russia Says Black Sea Flagship Seriously Damaged”
As Ukraine braces for a massive Russian assault on its eastern Donbas region, Dutch officials are preparing for a much friendlier invasion by thousands of visitors to its once-a-decade floriculture exhibition known as Floriade. Held this year in Almere, about 30 kilometers from Amsterdam, the 62-year-old event seeks to show horticulturalists from around the world …
Read more “Despite Challenges, Holland’s Floral Festival Carries On”
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, visited mass graves in Bucha, Ukraine, Wednesday, telling reporters afterward, “Ukraine is a crime scene.” The United States says it will help document those crimes, as VOA’s Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports. …
The Russian navy’s Black Sea flagship has been “seriously damaged” by an ammunition explosion, Russian state media said Thursday. “As a result of a fire, ammunition detonated on the Moskva missile cruiser. The ship was seriously damaged,” the Russian defense ministry was quoted as saying, adding that the cause of the fire was being determined …
Read more “State Media: Russian Warship ‘Seriously Damaged’ in Explosion”
The U.S. said Wednesday it is sending an additional $800 million in weapons, ammunition and other security assistance to Ukraine to help it defend itself against Russia’s onslaught in the eastern region of the country. U.S. President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the new shipment in an hourlong phone conversation and later …
Read more “US to Send $800 Million in New Military Aid to Ukraine ”
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday called on China to use its influence with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, warning that a failure to act by Beijing would affect its economic relations with countries that have opposed the Russian invasion. “The world’s attitudes towards China and its willingness to embrace further …
Read more “US Treasury Secretary: China Must Push Russia to End Ukraine Conflict “
Moldova’s population is strongly divided over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The tiny former Soviet republic, which has a majority Russian-speaking population in some regions, is highly receptive to Russian influence, from Kremlin television propaganda to church altars. Marcus Harton narrates this report from Ricardo Marquina in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau. Camera: Ricardo Marquina Produced …
Read more “Tiny Moldova Grapples with Russia Ties While Seeking EU Membership”
The man who stabbed and killed a British member of parliament last fall has been sentenced to life in prison. Ali Harbi Ali, 26, who was inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group, attacked Conservative Party member David Amess, 69, at a church event last October, killing him. Ali said the attack was revenge for …
Volunteers are working alongside humanitarian organizations to help refugees inside and outside of Ukraine. VOA’s Celia Mendoza has more from Przemysl, Poland. …
Swiss prosecutors will not file any charges after concluding a decade-long investigation into alleged money laundering and organized crime linked to late former President Hosni Mubarak’s circles in Egypt, and will release some 400 million Swiss francs ($430 million) frozen in Swiss banks. The office of the Swiss attorney general said Wednesday that information received …
Read more “Swiss to Unfreeze $430M as Egypt Money Laundering Probe Ends”
BEIJING — China’s overall trade with Russia rose over 12% in March from a year earlier, slowing from February but still outpacing the growth in China’s total imports and exports, as Beijing slammed Western sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Shipments to and from Russia increased 12.76% in March to $11.67 billion, Chinese …
Read more “China’s Trade with Russia Slows but Still Beats Overall Growth”