worldwide news
Germans took to the streets again over the weekend to protest far-right extremism, after it was revealed that members of the right-wing Alternative for Germany party discussed the forcible transfer of migrants — including German citizens — at a secret meeting. Henry Ridgwell reports. …
A year after a massive earthquake killed more than 56,000 people and displaced 3 million in Turkey and northern Syria, hundreds of thousands of people still live in containers in Turkey, grieving, traumatized and not knowing whether or when they will have new homes. VOA’s Heather Murdock reports from Istanbul with videographers Umut Çolak in …
Read more “Turkey Earthquake Survivor: ‘I Wish We Had Just Lost Our Homes’”
Russia is preparing for a presidential poll next month, an election overshadowed by the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – nearing its second anniversary – and a crackdown on political opponents and the media. Marcus Harton narrates this report from VOA’s Moscow bureau. …
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LONDON — Britain’s King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and will postpone public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Monday. Charles, 75, had spent three nights in hospital last month after undergoing a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate, when a separate issue of concern was noted. The palace said …
Read more “Britain’s King Charles Diagnosed With Cancer, Buckingham Palace Reports”
BUDAPEST — The U.S. envoy to Budapest along with ambassadors from some other NATO allies including Denmark and Poland attended the Hungarian parliament on Monday in a surprise show of pressure on Budapest to approve Sweden’s bid to join the alliance. The extraordinary meeting of parliament was called by the opposition to vote on ratification on …
Read more “US Envoy Piles Pressure on Orban to Ratify Sweden’s NATO Entry”
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Most people in northwest Syria were already displaced when the magnitude seven-point-eight earthquake struck Feb. 6, 2023, killing thousands in the region and rendering 170,000 people homeless again. A year later, emergency aid has dried up, and some people are sheltering in condemned buildings. VOA’s Heather Murdock reports from Istanbul, with Moawia Atrash in the …
ATHENS — A powerful bomb blast in central Athens has sent shock waves across the country with authorities concerned about what they call a new era of terrorism. Surveillance footage showed the powerful blast exploding in front of the nation’s Labor ministry, shattering its steel-and-glass façade and gutting offices as far up as the sixth floor. …
Read more “Bombing in Greek Capital Triggers Concerns of Terrorism Resurgence”
Washington — The U.S. Senate on Sunday unveiled a $118 billion bipartisan border security bill that would also provide aid to Ukraine and Israel following months of negotiations, but the measure faces an uncertain future amid opposition by Donald Trump and hard-line Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said an initial vote on the bill …
Paris — Paris voters Sunday backed a proposal from the capital’s Socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo to triple parking charges on hefty SUV-style cars, according to official results from city hall. Parisians voted 54.55% in favor of charging cars weighing 1.6 tons or more 18 euros ($19.50) per hour for parking in the city center, or 12 …
Quito, Ecuador — A diplomatic rift between Ecuador and Russia appeared to intensify over the weekend after the European nation decided to ban some imports of bananas from Ecuador. The two countries have been at loggerheads recently after Ecuador decided to transfer some of its old Russian military equipment to the United States, in exchange for …
Read more “Ecuador-Russia Diplomatic Spat Over Military Equipment Threatens Banana Exports”
Tehran, Iran — Iran on Sunday denounced the latest U.S. and U.K. strikes on targets in Yemen saying they “contradict” their declared intention of avoiding a wider Middle East conflict. These attacks are “in clear contradiction with the repeated claims of Washington and London that they do not want the expansion of war and conflict in …
Read more “Iran Says Yemen Strikes ‘Contradict’ US, UK Policy”
Athens — Angry Greek farmers are demanding the government follow through on promises to compensate them for income lost following a spate of severe weather last year. The farmers have taken to the streets to vent their frustrations. Angry farmers are protesting rising inflation, foreign competition and the growing costs of combating climate change. Dumping mounds …
Read more “Greek Farmers Vow to Escalate Protests Over Promised Government Compensation “
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London — Northern Ireland has begun a “decade of opportunity” during which it will hold a vote on unification with Ireland, the UK territory’s first nationalist leader said in an interview aired Sunday. Pro-Irish unity politician Michelle O’Neill made history on Saturday becoming Northern Ireland’s first minister, in a return of power-sharing after the biggest pro-UK …
Read more “Northern Irish Leader O’Neill Predicts Irish Unity Vote within Decade”
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rome — A convoy of tractors was poised Saturday to descend on Rome as farmers’ protests caused disruptions across Europe, though they wound down in France following government concessions. Farmers have expressed anger at what they say are excessively restrictive regulations on agriculture and unfair competition, among other grievances. The movement erupted in France last month …
Read more “Farmers Block Roads With Tractors in Protest of EU Regulations”
LONDON — An Irish nationalist made history Saturday by becoming Northern Ireland’s first minister as the government returned to work after a two-year boycott by unionists. Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O’Neill was named first minister in the government that under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday peace accord shares power equally between Northern …
Read more “A First: An Irish Nationalist Will Lead Northern Ireland’s Government”
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Berlin — More than 150,000 people gathered in front of the German national parliament Saturday afternoon to protest the far right, the latest in a string of large weekend demonstrations across Germany. The pro-democracy demonstrations started three weeks ago after the investigative journalists’ group Correctiv published an article saying right-wing extremists had recently met to discuss …
Read more “More Than 150,000 Gather in Berlin to Protest Far Right”
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MADRID — A poster in the southern Spanish city of Seville that depicts a young, handsome Jesus wearing only a loincloth has unleashed a storm on social media, with some calling it an affront to the figure of Christ and others posting lewd remarks and memes poking fun at the image. The poster by internationally recognized …
Read more “Too Pretty? Easter Poster of Jesus Prompts Criticism in Spain”