Afghan All-Girl Orchestra Performs Before World Leaders At Davos Summit
Afghanistan’s first all-girl orchestra performed a concert in front of world leaders at the closing of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 20. …
Trump Imposes Government-Wide Freeze Halting Obama Regulations
As one of his first acts in office, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a government-wide freeze on new regulations on January 20, putting a halt to rules that his predecessor Barack Obama started. …
Russian Chocolate Factory Owned By Poroshenko To Close, Lay Off 700
A chocolate maker owned by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced on January 20 that it is planning to shut its factory in Russia for “economic and political reasons” and lay off 700 workers. …
Women Across US Prepare to March on Washington
Among the huge crowds expected in Washington for Donald Trump’s inauguration will be many planning to protest against his election and his plans for the nation. While hundreds of thousands of joyful Trump supporters thronged central Washington to celebrate Friday’s events, a similarly large crowd is expected Saturday for the anti-Trump Women’s March on Washington. …
Ukraine Arrests Late Uzbek President’s Relative
Ukraine has arrested a relative of Uzbekistan’s late President Islam Karimov who is wanted by Tashkent for the alleged embezzlement of hundreds of millions of dollars. …
Is Obama’s Legacy Among World’s Muslims Tarnished?
After eight years of an on-again, off-again courtship of the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims in what he called a “new beginning” between America and Islam, President Barack Obama is leaving office with dashed hopes and disappointed fans in much of the Muslim world. Obama remains popular around the world, with notable foreign policy achievements: the …
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US Voters Speak of Their Hopes, Fears for Trump Years
Editor’s note: Story compiled with Ramon Taylor in Jacumba, CA, Aru Pande in York, PA, Aline Barros in Lumberton, NC, Kane Farabaugh in Ottawa, IL, Mohamed Olad Hassan in Minneapolis, MN. On a rocky hill outside Jacumba, California — almost within earshot of the U.S.-Mexico border — two rival gas stations duel beneath a towering …
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The Daily Vertical: Being Dmitry Peskov
The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL. …
A Divided-down-the-middle County in Nebraska Ponders a New President
Editors’ note: As Donald Trump prepares to take the oath of office, the prospect of his presidency inspires the hopes of millions of Americans, the doubts and fears of millions of others. In effect, Trump will inherit leadership of many Americas, each sharing pride in country but conflicted in expectations of where we are headed …
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Britain, Greece and Turkey Wrap up Security Talks on Cyprus
Technocrats from three NATO states wrapped up meetings on Thursday focused on security arrangements in Cyprus, seeking to break an impasse in talks over the ethnically split island, a U.N. envoy said. “The working group… successfully completed the mandate entrusted to it. Namely identifying specific questions related to the issue of security and guarantees and …
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Performers Take the Stage at Refugee Ball
Hundreds gathered Tuesday at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in Washington, D.C., to listen to a mix of performances by first- and second-generation Americans. …
As Trump Prepares For Inauguration, Washington Braces For Protests
With hundreds of thousands descending on Washington to celebrate — and protest — Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, the U.S. capital is bracing for a ceremony whose pomp has been overshadowed by extraordinary tensions. …
Last Call For Bishkek’s Obama Bar & Grill?
When Barack Obama leaves office, will the restaurant named after him close its doors? The manager of the Obama Bar & Grill in the Kyrgyz capital says definitely not, because just like Obama, the eatery has earned its place in history. (RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service) …
Orthodox Christians Celebrate Epiphany With Icy Plunges
Russian Orthodox Christians took the plunge in icy Siberian waters to mark the holy day of Epiphany. Meanwhile, the faithful in Serbia celebrated with a swimming race in Belgrade. (RFE/RL’s Russian and Balkan services) …
Ice Storm Grips Parts of Oregon, Washington State
An ice storm shut down parts of major highways and interstates Wednesday in Oregon and Washington state and paralyzed towns along the Columbia River Gorge, with up to 2 inches of ice coating the ground in some places. As temperatures hovered around freezing, Interstate 84 was shut down for a 45-mile stretch in Oregon. Transportation …
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Al-Qaida-linked Militants Claim Responsibility for Deadly Suicide Bombing in Mali
An al-Qaida-linked extremist group is claiming responsibility for Wednesday’s suicide attack on a military camp in northern Mali, killing at least 60 soldiers and former rebels and wounding 115. A car packed with explosives penetrated the camp in Gao as hundreds of solders gathered for a morning meeting. They belong to the Joint Operational Mechanism, …
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HRW: Disabled Refugees ‘Overlooked’ in Greece
Disabled refugees and migrants are not properly identified in Greece and have poor access to basic services such as toilets, showers, food and medical care, Human Rights Watch said in a report on Wednesday. About 60,000 refugees and migrants live in formal and makeshift camps in Greece and Human Rights Watch said conditions there were …
In Final Press Conference, Obama Pressures Russia Over Actions In Ukraine
U.S. President Barack Obama held his final press conference in office on January 18. Addressing U.S. sanctions on Russia, Obama stressed that they were imposed because of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, and that the sanctions can be removed once Russia stops “meddling in Ukrainian affairs.” (AP) …
Obama Tells Trump Not To Link Russia Sanctions To Nuclear Arms Reductions
U.S. President Barack Obama says Washington should not lose focus on why it imposed sanctions against Russia over Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea territory and its support for separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine. …
Iraqi General Says IS Driven Completely From East Bank Of Tigris River In Mosul
The commanding officer of Iraq’s elite Counter Terrorism Services says his forces have driven Islamic State fighters from all districts of eastern Mosul that they have been tasked with recapturing. …
Russia Extends Snowden’s Residency Permit
Russia says it has extended the residency permit of Edward Snowden, the former U.S. intelligence contractor who disclosed archives of top-secret surveillance files. …
U.S. Confirms 10 More Guantanamo Prisoners Sent To Oman
The United States on January 17 confirmed that 10 prisoners had been released from the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and transferred to Oman. …
Obama Commutes Chelsea Manning Sentence, Pardons Retired General Cartwright
U.S. President Barack Obama has commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, a former Army intelligence analyst who is serving 35 years in prison for leaking classified U.S. documents to WikiLeaks. …
Vietnam Signals Softer Stance on Contested South China Sea
Vietnam shows signs of softening its approach toward China over their bitter maritime dispute, a move welcomed by nervous leaders in Beijing as it could rebalance Hanoi’s foreign policy away from Washington while cooling decades of strife. Beijing and Hanoi issued a communique Saturday proposing negotiations on their conflicting claims in the South China Sea, …
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