Putin and Xi Reiterate Strong Ties, Reject ‘US Interference’
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Chainsaw Artists Show Their Skills at Live Carving Event
Participants of the Extreme Chainsaw Carving Show have just a few hours to turn a cedar block of wood into a beautiful work of art. VOA’s Natasha Mozgovaya reports from Arlington, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest. …
Volcano in Iceland Erupts Again, Spewing Lava and Cutting Heat
GRINDAVIK, Iceland — A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted on Thursday for the third time since December, sending jets of lava into the sky and triggering the evacuation of the Blue Lagoon spa, one of the island nation’s biggest tourist attractions. The eruption began about 6 a.m. along a 3-kilometer (nearly 2-mile) fissure northeast of Mount …
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Russian Election Officials Reject Antiwar Politician’s Bid to Oppose Putin in Next Month’s Vote
TALLINN, Estonia — Antiwar politician Boris Nadezhdin was rejected Thursday as a candidate in next month’s presidential balloting by Russian election authorities, a strong signal from the Kremlin that it would tolerate no public opposition to the invasion of Ukraine. The move by the Central Election Commission provides an even smoother path for President Vladimir Putin …
Russia’s Economy Grew in 2023, Despite War and Sanctions
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Ukraine Reports Russian Drone Attacks on Mykolaiv, Odesa
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Stars, Athletes Plan to Flock Las Vegas for Super Bowl Events
LOS ANGELES — Las Vegas will be flooded with so many pre- Super Bowl events that Shaquille O’Neal lowered the prices to his popular carnival-themed “Shaq’s Fun House.” Instead of raising the rate, O’Neal decided to offer potential attendees more bang for their buck to the NBA legend’s sixth annual event planned for Friday in Sin …
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NATO Allies Pressure Hungary for Blocking Sweden’s Accession
Hungary’s NATO allies are turning up the pressure on Prime Minister Viktor Orban to swiftly approve Sweden’s accession to the alliance, after lawmakers from his party refused to vote on the issue this week in parliament. Henry Ridgwell reports from Budapest. …
Russia, Iran Not Invited to Munich Security Conference
BERLIN — Russian and Iranian government officials have not been invited to this year’s Munich Security Conference, as they did not seem open to meaningful dialogue, according to the chairperson of the annual event. The conference, attended by the world’s defense and security elite and sometimes known as “Davos for defense,” will take place in the …
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Migrants in Italy Could End Up in Albania if New Deal Passes
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New Russian Bill Would Crack Down Further on Dissent Against Government
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Journalists Criticize Tucker Carlson Over Putin Interview
Washington — Former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlon’s announcement on Tuesday that he interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin has been met with disapproval from an array of journalists, some of whom say the Kremlin may use the interview for propaganda purposes. In a video posted on the social media platform X, Carlson said he wanted to …
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NATO Allies Pressure Hungary Over Blocking Sweden’s Accession
budapest — Hungary’s NATO allies are turning up the pressure on Prime Minister Viktor Orban to swiftly approve Sweden’s accession to the alliance after his MPs refused an opportunity to vote on the issue this week. Sweden applied to join the alliance in May 2022 in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February …
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Switzerland to China: ‘Give Us a Hand’ With Ukraine Peace Process
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Prince William Back to Work after Kate’s Surgery and King Charles’ Cancer
London — Britain’s Prince William returned to public duty on Wednesday following his wife Kate’s surgery and news that King Charles had cancer, as his younger brother Prince Harry was set to return to the United States after a flying visit to see their father. William, the heir to the throne, had postponed all his planned …
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Media Reports: Ukrainian Intelligence Official Fired Over Surveillance of Journalists
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UN Chief: ‘Age of Chaos’ Engulfing the World Must End
New York — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Wednesday that the world has entered an “age of chaos” that is causing a multitude of suffering and thwarting progress – and must be reversed. “There is so much anger and hate and noise in our world today,” the secretary-general told member states as he laid out his …
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Spanish Farmers Block Roads for Second Day
Madrid — Thousands of farmers used tractors to block roads across Spain for the second straight day Wednesday amid Europe-wide protests against cheaper imports and heavy regulation. Farmers gathered at dawn on dozens of roads, snarling traffic, mainly in Andalusia in the south, the northeastern region of Catalonia and Navarra in the north, according to the …
Russian Missile Attacks Target Kyiv, Mykolaiv
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Annette Bening Honored as Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Annette Bening, a two-time Golden Globe winner who recently received her fifth Oscar nomination, was feted Tuesday with a raucous parade full of colorful costumes and drag performers as part of festivities honoring her as Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals 2024 Woman of the Year. A few hours later, Benning endured a celebrity …
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Azerbaijan’s Snap Presidential Elections Come Under Scrutiny
washington — Azerbaijan is set to hold snap presidential elections on Wednesday, with seven candidates vying for the top position. Incumbent President Ilham Aliyev is widely expected to secure victory, though no official reason has been given for the early election. The leading opposition parties, the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP) and the Musavat Party, are …
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Swiss Envoy to US: Moral Dimension for Supporting Ukraine Remains Same Two Years On
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EU Proposes Tougher Rules to Combat Child Sexual Abuse
Strasbourg, France — The EU unveiled plans for stringent rules on Tuesday to tackle child sexual abuse, giving victims more time to bring their abusers to justice. It is estimated that one in five children in the European Union suffer from some form of sexual abuse or exploitation, European Commission Vice President Dubravka Suica told a …
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Paris Knife Attacker Sought to ‘Target French People’
Paris — A Mali-born man suspected of injuring several people with a knife and hammer at a Paris railway station deliberately sought out French people to attack, Paris prosecutors said Tuesday. On Tuesday, the 32-year-old was charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault with a weapon, prosecutors said. An investigating magistrate questioned the suspect earlier Tuesday. …
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