Month: February 2025

WASHINGTON — On the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine earlier this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed Beijing’s “no limits” partnership with Moscow in a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Chinese state media. “China-Russia relations have strong internal driving force and unique strategic value,” Xi said, according to the official …

Read more “Russia and China’s relationship may not be as strong as it seems, report says”

Pope Francis had a setback Friday during his stay at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he has been for the last two weeks. The Vatican said an “isolated breathing incident” caused the 88-year-old pontiff to inhale his own vomit, which required noninvasive mechanical ventilation. Francis was conscious during the episode and was able to cooperate and …

Read more “Pope Francis has new medical setback”

Georgians broadly supported Maidan protests in Ukraine seeking closer integration with Europe, elimination of corruption and malign foreign influence. Those goals resonate with Georgia’s current opposition. …

NATO’s newest rapid-response force is testing its strength in Romania, just kilometers from the Ukrainian border. VOA Eastern Europe Bureau Chief Myroslava Gongadze has more on the drills and NATO’s evolving defense strategy. Camera: Daniil Batushchak …

PARIS — French police said at least three people were killed when a tropical storm packing fierce winds and torrential rains thumped the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion on Friday.  Residents were ordered to stay at home as Tropical Cyclone Garance brought heavy rain and winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph), causing floods, …

Read more “Cyclone Garance hits island of Reunion; police report 3 deaths”

WASHINGTON — The issue of Ukraine’s next presidential election has emerged as a possible element in the peace deal between Russia and Ukraine that the United States is negotiating. Ukrainian leaders and elections experts argue, however, that holding elections anytime soon would endanger lives and Ukraine’s sovereignty. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was elected in April 2019, …

Read more “Perspectives, challenges of Ukraine’s next election”

New Delhi  — India and the European Union agreed to wrap up a free trade deal by the end of this year, the two sides announced Friday following talks in the Indian capital between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen. While negotiations between India and the EU have dragged on …

Read more “India, EU, pledge to push free trade agreement, elevate strategic ties  “

After several incidents involving damage to undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, including the latest one that Sweden began investigating Friday, NATO launched a program to monitor these vital underwater communication and energy pipelines. VOA’s Vladislavs Andrejevs embedded with a NATO minehunter and has this report from the Gulf of Finland, narrated by Anna Rice.  …

Read more “NATO continues to patrol Baltic Sea after cable damage incidents ”

ATHENS — Hundreds of thousands of people rallied in cities and towns across Greece on Friday to demand justice on the second anniversary of the country’s deadliest-ever train crash, and striking workers grounded flights and halted sea and train transport. Fifty-seven people were killed when a passenger train filled with students collided with a freight train …

Read more “Hundreds of thousands protest across Greece over deadly train crash”

Moscow’s Sheremetevo Airport resumed flight arrivals and departures early on Friday after a temporary suspension of operations, Russia’s aviation authority said. “Restrictions on the arrival and departure of aircraft were lifted at Sheremetevo Airport at 03:45 Moscow time (0045 GMT),” the aviation authority said on its Telegram app. The authority said the restrictions were introduced …

Read more “Moscow airport resumes flights after brief suspension, officials say”

ROME — Nations cheered a last gasp deal reached Thursday to map out funding to protect nature, breaking a deadlock at United Nations talks seen as a test for international cooperation in the face of geopolitical tensions.  Rich and developing countries worked out a delicate compromise on raising and delivering the billions of dollars needed to …

Read more “At UN talks, nations agree to invest in plan to protect nature”

U.S. President Donald Trump hosted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Thursday at the White House, where the two laid out their visions for the end of Ukraine’s brutal three-year war. The allies also sparred over trade and tariffs, and Trump revived his first-term push for NATO allies to contribute more to their own security and …

Read more “Trump hosts British PM for Ukraine-focused talks”

white house — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he and President Donald Trump discussed achieving an agreement to end the war between Ukraine and Russia that would involve Kyiv and be backed by European peacekeeping forces. Following meetings Thursday at the White House, Starmer said the plan would “reach a peace that is tough and …

Read more “British PM Starmer seeks to project unity with Trump despite differences on Ukraine “

WASHINGTON — There is hope in Washington that the decision by the leader of a Turkey-based, U.S.-designated terror group to ask its factions to lay down their arms could ease tensions with Ankara and facilitate efforts to counter remnants of the Islamic State terror group. Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), …

Read more “Possible Kurdish-Turkish peace could be bad news for Islamic State”

Pope Francis is continuing to improve from a bout of double pneumonia, the Vatican said Thursday evening. The 88-year-old pontiff had progressed from using a nasal tube for supplemental oxygen to alternating the tube with a mask that allowed for a more comfortable flow, according to a detailed update. Doctors on Thursday still said Francis’ …

Read more “Vatican reports Pope Francis’ condition is continuing to improve “

Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, on Thursday called for the group’s disarmament and disbandment. VOA Kurdish spoke to locals in Diyarbakir, Turkey’s largest Kurdish-majority city. While many residents supported Ocalan’s message of peace, others wondered whether his call would be met by real steps by the Turkish government to address the …

Read more “VOA Kurdish: Turkey’s Kurds react to PKK leader’s call to disarm group”

Following the Freedom House report where Russia occupies the record low 183rd place in global ratings of political and civil freedoms, VOA Russian spoke to human rights activists who painted a grim picture of Russia rapidly descending into the abyss with the war in Ukraine exacerbating the lack of democratic freedoms that existed before.  Click …

Read more “VOA Russian: Rights activists see democratic freedoms plunge in Russia “

As Russian activists mark the 10th anniversary of the assassination of anti-Putin opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, his closest associates recount to VOA Russian their memories of that day in February 2015. Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Tefft, who knew Nemtsov personally, notes that those who ordered the murder have not been found 10 years …

Read more “VOA Russian: Activists mark 10 years since Nemtsov assassination “

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — South Korea’s spy agency said Thursday that North Korea appears to have sent additional troops to Russia after its soldiers deployed on the Russian-Ukraine fronts suffered heavy casualties. The National Intelligence Service said in a brief statement it was trying to determine how many more troops North Korea has deployed to Russia. …

Read more “North Korea appears to have sent more troops to Russia, Seoul says”

JOHANNESBURG — The Group of 20 major economies has been instrumental in coordinating the response to crises like the COVID pandemic. But top officials from the U.S. and several other member states skipped the G20 finance ministers’ meeting in South Africa this week, raising questions about the group’s continued relevance in a splintered global environment. The …

Read more “Global splinters evident at G20 finance ministers meeting”

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA — Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, who are charged with human trafficking in Romania, left for the United States after authorities lifted travel restrictions imposed as part of the case, an official said Thursday. The brothers — who are dual U.S.-British citizens and have millions of online followers — were arrested in late …

Read more “Andrew Tate, accused of rape, trafficking in Romania, leaves for US”

Anticipation is growing in Russia for a summit – yet to be scheduled – between U.S. President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. On the streets of Moscow, many Russians welcome what they see as a thaw in relations with Washington, and what some hope is the beginning of the end of their country’s isolation from …

Read more “On Moscow streets, Russians welcome thaw in relations with Washington”