Category: World

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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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. …

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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 …

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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”

U.S. and Russian diplomats met Thursday in Istanbul for talks about the operations of their respective embassies in Moscow and Washington. The meeting is the latest in a series of engagements between the two sides, including a phone call earlier this month between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Working to restore …

Read more “US, Russian diplomats meet to discuss embassy operations”

NOUADHIBOU, MAURITANIA — Eager students from throughout west Africa raise their hands as teachers guide them through math and classical Arabic. Then they race outdoors to meet their parents, who clean houses, drive informal taxis or gut sardines in Chinese factories. Outside, government billboards urge these families and others to fight “migrant smuggling,” showing overcrowded boats …

Read more “School helps migrants in Mauritania; can it keep them from leaving for Europe?”

US President Donald Trump says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be at the White House on Friday to sign an agreement granting the US access to Ukraine’s lucrative rare earth minerals. But Ukraine’s leader says a few outstanding issues remain. White House correspondent Anita Powell reports from Washington. …

The Russian economy and the Russian ruble have not collapsed during the three years of the war in Ukraine despite crippling Western sanctions. However, authorities in Moscow are not hiding the fact that the country’s economy is overheated due to rising defense spending and high inflation, while interest rates are at an all-time record of …

Read more “VOA Russian: Overheated Russian economy risks stagflation”

WASHINGTON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and bilateral trade ties, amid the U.S. leader’s tariff threats on Europe and demands that the continent rely less on Washington for its security. Ahead of their meeting, …

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Three years after Russian troops drove everyone in the village into a school basement for a month, the people of Yahidne, Ukraine, continue to repair and rebuild their homes. Lesia Bakalets visited this community about 90 kilometers north of Kyiv. Camera: Vladyslav Smilianets. …

WASHINGTON — In a flash protest to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 20 coffins are laid out in Republic Square in Paris. The coffins —19 open and one closed — symbolize journalists held by Russia. The sealed coffin is a reference to Victoria Roshchyna, who died while in Russian detention under …

Read more “In Ukraine, resilience is key to three years of war coverage”

As U.S. President Donald Trump sped up efforts to end the war in Ukraine, VOA Russian spoke to experts who believe Washington is keen to redraw all layers of bilateral ties with Moscow. While experts agree that the Kremlin is not inclined to make major concessions at this point, Russia will need to find compromises …

Read more “VOA Russian: Moscow weighs compromises to end war in Ukraine”

The United States said Wednesday it is nearing a deal on Ukraine’s lucrative rare earth minerals needed for technology products to compensate Washington for the more than $100 billion worth of munitions it has sent to Kyiv to defend itself against Russia’s three-year war of aggression. “We’re very close to the finish line,” White House …

Read more “US, Ukraine near minerals deal, but security issues unsettled”

The U.S. and Belarus are reportedly negotiating a deal for the release of a significant number of political prisoners in Belarus. In return the U.S. is considering easing some sanctions on the country that is closely tied to Russia. Maxim Adams has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. Video editor: Aleksandr Bergan, Anna Rice    …