Year: 2022

U.S. lawmakers moved Tuesday to give the administration of President Joe Biden expanded authority to enforce sanctions on Russia for the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.   Republican Senator Pat Toomey and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen introduced a framework supporting the administration’s efforts, along with G-7 leaders, to cap the price of …

Read more “US Lawmakers Move to Expand White House Authority on Russia Sanctions”

Kyiv residents braved the cold to line up for hours on Tuesday as McDonald’s opened three branches in the Ukrainian capital that had been shut since the Russian invasion began nearly seven months ago. The branches only opened for delivery services but customers waited outside the restaurants anyway to collect their meals from the motorcycle …

Read more “McDonald’s Reopens in Kyiv, Nearly Seven Months Into War”

French President Emmanuel Macron held face-to-face talks with his Iranian counterpart President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday with the French leader saying he hoped to be able to “discuss all subjects.” The meeting is Raisi’s first head-to-head with a major Western leader since he was elected last year. It comes amid a complete stalemate to revive …

Read more “French, Iranian Presidents Meet Amid Nuclear Talks Stalemate”

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to leaders Tuesday to unite and take action to address the problems of a world “teeming with turmoil.” “We are in rough seas; a winter of global discontent is on the horizon,” he said at the opening of the annual weeklong gathering of presidents, prime ministers and other officials at …

Read more “UN Chief Calls for Action on Global Food, Climate Crises”

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is attending this year’s United Nations General Assembly as a member of an unnamed European country’s delegation. In an exclusive interview with VOA, Tsikhanouskaya said Belarus should not be viewed as an “appendix to Russia,” even though “Vladimir Putin wants to drag it back to the Soviet era.” In New …

Read more “Opposition Leader: Belarus Not ‘Appendix to Russia’”

Brittney Griner’s highly publicized legal woes in Russia and the country’s invasion of Ukraine has the top WNBA players opting to take their talents elsewhere this offseason. For the past few decades, Russia has been the preferred offseason destination for WNBA players to compete because of the high salaries that can exceed $1 million and …

Read more “With Griner in Jail, WNBA Players Skip Russia in Offseason”

Russians have held Vladyslav Yesypenko, a Ukrainian journalist employed by VOA’s sister network Radio Free Europe, in captivity in Crimea for 18 months. He was arrested on charges of illegal possession of weapons, which he denies. In February, he was sentenced to a penal colony. Some human rights organizations believe he is a political prisoner. …

Read more “Family, Colleagues of Imprisoned Ukrainian Journalist Working for His Release”

Flags on government buildings returned to full mast and an epic clean-up operation was underway on Tuesday as British public life resumed after the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, although the royal family remains in mourning for another week. Around a quarter of a million people queued round the clock to view the queen’s …

Read more “Britain Cleans Up, Looks to Future After Queen’s Funeral “

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country is “stabilizing” the situation in its northeastern Kharkiv region after driving out Russian forces in a counteroffensive, and he called on the international community to speed up aid to Ukraine. Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Monday that at this stage, the pace at which things happen is …

Read more “Ukraine Seeks Aid Matching Pace of Counteroffensive  “

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, who died earlier this month, has been laid to rest following a funeral service attended by over 100 world leaders. Henry Ridgwell reports from London. …

In interview with VOA New York Bureau Chief Ihar Tsikhanenka, the exiled opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya says the world should not be ‘putting the [Lukashenko] regime and the Belarusian people into one basket’ …

Responding to a series of questions on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the leader of the Belarusian opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, told VOA that the democratic world should not be “putting the [Alexander Lukashenko] regime and the Belarusian people into one basket.” “Here, it’s very important to distinguish the Belarusian regime that became accomplice to Russian invasion …

Read more “VOA Interview: Belarusian Opposition Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya”

The price of bread rose by almost a fifth in the European Union in August as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, both major exporters of grains and fertilizers, continued to disrupt global markets and headline inflation accelerated. Global wheat prices have surged since February, after the war halted grain exports from the Black Sea for months …

Read more “Bread Prices Jump 18% in EU, Eurostat Says as War in Ukraine Weighs”

VOA Eastern Europe bureau chief Myroslava Gongadze spoke to Ukraine’s Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov about a United Nations program to deliver Ukrainian grain to the world and his country’s efforts to replace bridges damaged during Russia’s invasion. The transcript has been edited for length and clarity. VOA: After you signed the agreement with the …

Read more “Interview: Ukraine’s Minister of Infrastructure Speaks to VOA”

Tensions between NATO members Turkey and Greece are escalating over territorial disputes. Some analysts warn domestic politics are fueling the tensions, with little sign of mediation efforts by Western allies who are focused on the Ukrainian conflict. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul. …

As of midnight, Lithuanian border control stopped 11 Russian citizens from entering the country, the Lithuanian Interior Ministry reported. This comes after the prime ministers of four of the five Baltic nations bordering Russia — Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania — agreed earlier this month to stop admitting Russian citizens, a move in support of …

Read more “Baltic Countries to Stop Russian Citizens from Entering”

The operator of one of Germany’s three remaining nuclear power stations said Monday that it has detected a leak that will require the plant to shut down for several days of maintenance next month if it is to keep going beyond the end of the year. The announcement by PreussenElektra, a subsidiary of utility giant …

Read more “Nuclear Plant Leak Pressures German Govt to Decide Extension”

The European Union’s executive branch has unveiled plans for new laws that it said would help protect media freedom and independence in the 27-nation bloc at a time of mounting concern about the dangers of political influence in several member countries. Spurred into action allegations of state spying on reporters, the use of political pressure …

Read more “EU Drafts Media Act Amid Concern Over Spying, State Pressure “

U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden paid their respects to Queen Elizabeth II Monday, joining world leaders, the royal family and a small group of invited guests at a somber, pomp-filled funeral ceremony at Westminster Abbey that celebrated her 70 years of service as Britain’s longest-serving monarch. The Bidens arrived late Saturday …

Read more “ Bidens Attend Packed Funeral For Queen Elizabeth II “

The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II is being held at London’s historic Westminster Abbey. Her body has been lying in state since Wednesday at Westminster Hall, where thousands of mourners have filed past her coffin to pay their respects. Heads of state and dignitaries from around the world have flown into London to attend …

Read more “In Photos: Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II”

The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II is being held Monday at London’s historic Westminster Abbey.  Her body has been lying in state since Wednesday at Westminster Hall, where thousands of mourners have filed past her coffin to pay their respects.  Heads of state and dignitaries from around the world have flown into London to …

Read more “London Prepares for Queen’s Funeral at Westminster Abbey”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday there would be no letup in the effort by his country’s military to retake territory from Russian forces.  Zelenskyy’s comments – made during his regular nightly address – followed gains by Ukrainian forces in the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine during a counteroffensive this month.  “Maybe now it seems …

Read more “Zelenskyy Says No Letup in Push to Reclaim Territory”

The British royal family is wealthy, but where does their money come from? Here, we break it down and explain some of the history. …

The Spanish charity Open Arms has rescued 372 people seeking to cross the central Mediterranean to Europe in unseaworthy smugglers’ boats and recovered the corpse of a man who had been shot by smugglers, officials said Sunday. The rescue ship Open Arms Uno remained at sea and is seeking a safe port for the rescued …

Read more “Spanish Charity Rescues 372 in Central Mediterranean; 1 Dead”