Human Rights Watch (HRW) says Russia is causing casualties and suffering among civilians in its war against Ukraine by using antipersonnel landmines that have been banned internationally. In a report published on June 16, HRW says that while both Russia and Ukraine have used anti-vehicle mines, Russia is the only party to the conflict that …
Read more “HRW Urges Russia to Halt Use of Banned Landmines in Ukraine “
Britain announced a new round of sanctions Thursday against Russia, targeting the head of the Russian Orthodox Church for his prominent support for the war in Ukraine as well as Russia’s children’s rights commissioner, who Britain said is responsible for the forced transfer and adoption of hundreds of Ukrainian children into Russia. Foreign Secretary Liz …
Read more “UK Sanctions Russian Orthodox Head; Decries Forced Adoption”
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi arrived Thursday in Kyiv in a show of support to Ukraine amid its battle to fend off a Russian invasion. “It’s an important moment,” said Macron. “It’s a message of unity we’re sending to the Ukrainians.” The trip comes as the …
Read more “US Sending New $1 Billion Tranche of Weapons to Ukraine”
The truck driver had the radio on, his daughter’s stuffed toy keeping him company, and was bouncing his lumbering vehicle down one of the innumerable dirt tracks in Ukraine that are vital thoroughfares in the country’s vast agricultural heartlands. Then the right rear wheel hit a Soviet-era TM-62 anti-tank mine. The explosion blew Vadym Schvydchenko …
Read more “In Ukraine, Mines Take Lives Even After Fighting Moves on”
Two U.S. veterans from Alabama who were in Ukraine assisting in the war against Russia haven’t been heard from in days and are missing, members of the state’s congressional delegation said Wednesday. Relatives of Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, of Trinity and Alexander Drueke, 39, of Tuscaloosa have been in contact with both Senate and …
Read more “2 US Veterans from Alabama Reported Missing in Ukraine “
Egypt, Israel and the European Union signed a gas deal Wednesday in which Egypt will export Israeli liquified natural gas to Europe via two Egyptian LNG plants. The memorandum of understanding was inked at the East Mediterranean Gas Forum in Cairo, expanding upon gas cooperation among the three partners. Representatives of participants at the gas …
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Phil and Kristie Graves are a U.S.couple from Maryland and parents of three biological children and an adopted girl with special needs from Armenia. Recently, they decided to adopt a six-year-old girl with special needs from Ukraine. But that was before the Russian invasion. Anush Avetisyan has the story. Videographer: Dmytri Shakhov …
The United States imposed sanctions Wednesday on two backers of an “ethnically motivated violent extremist group” called the Russian Imperial Movement, or RIM, one of whom visited the United States to make connections with far-right and white nationalist groups. The U.S. Treasury Department named the two as Stanislav Shevchuk, a Europe-based representative of RIM, who …
Read more “US Places Sanctions on Men Tied to Russian Ultranationalist Group”
U.S. Defense Minister Lloyd Austin is leading a meeting of dozens of his counterparts from NATO member states and other parts of the world Wednesday to discuss their latest efforts to boost military aid to Ukraine in the face of the nearly four-month Russian invasion. The talks are taking place on the sidelines of a …
Britain has canceled its first deportation flight to Rwanda after a last-minute intervention by the European Court of Human Rights, which decided there was “a real risk of irreversible harm” to the asylum-seekers involved. The flight had been scheduled to leave Tuesday evening, but lawyers for the asylum-seekers launched a flurry of case-by-case appeals seeking …
Read more “UK Cancels First Flight to Deport Asylum Seekers to Rwanda”
Citing “concern about holding individual athletes accountable for the actions and decisions of their governments,” the U.S. Tennis Association will let Russian and Belarusian tennis players participate in the U.S. Open later this summer. Wimbledon will still maintain the ban on those athletes, which will include the world’s No. 1 player, Daniil Medvedev. Medvedev is …
Read more “US Open Will Allow Russian, Belarusian Tennis Players”
Britain and four Asian members of the Commonwealth have announced efforts to expand and re-energize the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a 51-year-old series of mutual assistance agreements embracing the U.K, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and Britain. At its core, the pact commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat …
Read more “Five Nations Revive 51-year-old Security Pact Amid China Threat”
The Kremlin says the United Kingdom should address the leaders of separatist-controlled parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk region and not Moscow over two Britons sentenced to death last week for fighting alongside Ukrainian forces against Russian troops in eastern Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow on Tuesday that British authorities had not turned …
London has marked the fifth anniversary of the deadly Grenfell Tower inferno that killed 72 in Britain’s deadliest residential fire since World War II. In a subsequent investigation, the 23-story residential building was found to have widespread flaws in building regulations. Among the events marking the anniversary was a memorial service held Tuesday at Westminster …
Read more “London Marks 5 Years Since Deadly Grenfell Tower Fire”
About 5 million Ukrainian refugees have fled to other parts of Europe since Russia’s assault on their homeland began in February. Among them: nearly three dozen dancers from the Kyiv City Ballet. They’ve found refuge in Paris and continue to perform and plan foreign tours, but the conflict is never far away. For VOA, Lisa …
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Tuesday that Russia’s legislation on “foreign agents” violated the rights of the groups designated as such and ordered Russia to pay many of them compensation. Russia uses the term “foreign agents,” which carries Cold War connotations of espionage, to label organizations and individuals it deems to …
Read more “European Court Rules Russia’s ‘Foreign Agent’ Law Violates Rights”
“Bulava” is the name of a volunteer organization created by young Ukrainians in the Washington, D.C., area after Russia invaded Ukraine. The group collects funds and basic supplies for those who need them most back home. For VOA, Maxim Moskalkov reports from Washington. …
The European Union’s executive arm is expected to decide soon whether to recommend that Ukraine be granted candidate status for EU membership. The EU Commission — which must unanimously approve the recommendation — is set to debate the issue at a summit on June 23 and 24. While some EU leaders have signaled support for …
Read more “European Commission to Decide on Possible Ukraine Candidacy for EU Membership”
European Union governments are intensifying pressure on Pfizer PFE.N and other COVID-19 vaccine makers to renegotiate contracts, warning millions of shots that are no longer needed could go to waste, according to EU officials and a document. During the most acute phase of the pandemic, the European Commission and EU governments agreed to buy huge …
Read more “EU States Step Up Pressure on Pfizer to Cut Unneeded COVID Vaccine Supplies”
The first flight to take migrants arriving illegally in Britain to Rwanda can go ahead on Tuesday, Britain’s Supreme Court ruled, after judges dismissed campaigners’ latest attempt to win an injunction to stop it. Charities and a trade union had launched a fresh, last-minute appeal against the government’s plan to send asylum seekers to the …
Read more “UK Supreme Court: Migrant Flight to Rwanda Can Go Ahead”
A startup professional golf tour backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has roiled the usually staid world of professional golf — the PGA Tour — in the United States. The PGA suspended 17 professional players last week for participating in the inaugural Saudi tournament, which began June 9. The new tour, the LIV Golf …
Italy’s furniture and design industry embraced the Milan Furniture Fair after a two-year pandemic delay with unapologetic, over-the-top statement pieces, multi-purpose furnishings adapted to small spaces, and sustainable creations by young designers pushing the industry toward a greener path. After a surprising pandemic redecorating boom, the industry is looking to an uncertain future. There are …
Read more “Crowds Returned to Milan Furniture Fair After 2-year Hiatus “
U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet says she will step down as high commissioner when her term ends in late August. She disclosed this information, without a detailed explanation, at the opening of the U.N. Human Rights Council’s 50th session. Following her review of global human rights developments to the council, Bachelet told journalists in …
Read more “Bachelet to Step Down When Her Term as UN Rights Chief Ends August 31 “
After many Western companies left Russia in response to its aggression against Ukraine, Moscow opened the first of the restaurants that are meant to replace those of the American fast food giant McDonald’s. The rebranded Russian version — some call it a knockoff — aims not only to serve hamburgers but to affirm Russia’s self-sufficiency …