US finalizes rules banning Chinese, Russian smart cars
The White House says it has finalized rules that crack down on Chinese and Russian automobile technology effectively banning all personal smart cars from the two countries from entering the…
France’s new prime minister announces renegotiation of contested plan to raise retirement age
PARIS — France’s new prime minister, Francois Bayrou, announced Tuesday the renegotiation of a contested plan raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, in a crucial move to seek more…
World Economic Forum says Trump to take part virtually in Davos meeting, days after inauguration
GENEVA — U.S. President Donald Trump will take part virtually in the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos just days after his inauguration, the forum president said Tuesday. Borge Brende,…
UK’s antitrust regulator to investigate Google’s search services
LONDON — Britain’s antitrust regulator said on Tuesday it would investigate Google’s search services using its new powers to see how they impact consumers and businesses, including advertisers, news publishers and…
«Укргідроенерго»: збитки через знищення Каховської ГЕС становлять до 10 мільярдів гривень щороку
Генеральний директор «Укргідроенерго» Ігор Сирота: після руйнування Каховської ГЕС промисловість і аграрний сектор Херсонщини втратили до 94% води, а Дніпропетровщина – до 70% …
Baltic Sea nations seek to limit further incidents after cable breaches
HELSINKI — European nations must be prepared to face further incidents in the Baltic Sea following the recent damage to undersea infrastructure, leaders of NATO countries in the region said on…
German defense minister visits Ukraine in show of support
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius visited Ukraine on Tuesday in a show of support for the country in its fight against the Russian invasion that began nearly three years ago….
Premier of separatist Moldova region says gas cutoff shattered foreign trade
CHISINAU, MOLDOVA — The prime minister of Moldova’s separatist Transniestria region said Monday that the abrupt curtailment of Russian gas supplies that plunged the region into an energy crisis has also…
Russian forces bypass key stronghold to cut off supplies to Ukrainians
KYIV, UKRAINE — Russian forces are bypassing a key stronghold in eastern Ukraine that they have fought for months to capture and are focusing instead on cutting supply lines to it,…
VOA Russian: Pro-Kremlin media starting to lose audiences
Pro-Kremlin Russian media lost millions of readers and viewers in 2024, with some state propaganda outlets having their audiences slashed by up to a third. The main propaganda TV channel,…
VOA Russian: Kremlin oligarchs still prosper despite Western sanctions
U.S. experts believe that Western sanctions imposed on Russia turned out to be not painful enough for the oligarchs in Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. They say that the West has…
Russia says Iran’s president will visit this week, sign partnership pact with Putin
Moscow — Russian President Vladimir Putin will host his Iranian counterpart this week for the signing of a broad partnership pact between Moscow and Tehran, the Kremlin said Monday. The agreement…
НБУ незначно зміцнив гривню проти долара – після тижневого падіння національної валюти
За даними Bloomberg, на українському міжбанківському валютному ринку торги 13 січня завершуються на рівні 42 гривні 35 копійок за долар …
Шмигаль: уряд спрямував додаткові 5 мільярдів гривень для надання 1000 гривень «єПідтримки»
«Таким чином усі подані українцями заявки на допомогу будуть виконані, люди отримають кошти» …
‘Exhausted’ Frenchman held in Iran since 2022 reveals identity
PARIS — A Frenchman held in Iran since October 2022 on Monday revealed his identity in an audio message broadcast on a French radio station, saying he was becoming increasingly exhausted…
South Korea says 300 North Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine
Around 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed and 2,700 others injured in Russia’s war in Ukraine, South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers in a closed briefing Monday. The National…
Austrian woman kidnapped in Niger’s Agadez city, authorities say
Niamey, Niger — An Austrian woman has been kidnapped by gunmen in Niger’s Agadez city, residents and the Austrian Foreign Ministry said Sunday. It is the first time a European citizen…
London subway riders bare their legs in ‘No Trousers Tube Ride’
London — Hundreds of Londoners headed down to the Underground on Sunday afternoon, stripped down to their underwear and travelled around a bit, trying to look as though nothing unusual was…
Zelenskyy says he’s ready to swap North Korean soldiers for Ukrainian POWs in Russia
Kyiv, Ukraine — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday Kyiv is ready to hand over North Korean soldiers to their leader Kim Jong Un if he can facilitate their exchange for…
Tens of thousands protest in Romania’s capital against annulled presidential race
BUCHAREST — Tens of thousands protested in Romania’s capital on Sunday against a top court’s decision last month to annul the presidential election after an outsider candidate unexpectedly emerged as the…
Italy’s justice minister seeks to revoke arrest of Iranian based on US warrant
Rome — Italy’s justice minister has asked an appeals court to revoke the arrest of an Iranian citizen wanted by the U.S. over a drone attack in Jordan that killed three…
Зеленський: Фіцо відмовився від допомоги Словаччині за відсутності транзиту російського газу
«Це було очевидною помилкою Фіцо – сподіватися, що його тіньові схеми з Москвою існуватимуть нескінченно» – Зеленський …
Zelenskyy calls on allies to honor promises on arms supplies to Ukraine
KYIV — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on allies on Sunday to honor all promises to supply Ukraine with weapons, including those to counter Russian air attacks. Zelenskyy said that over…
Croatia’s President Milanovic overwhelming favorite to win reelection in runoff vote
ZAGREB, CROATIA — Croatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanovic was the overwhelming favorite to win reelection as he faced a candidate from the ruling conservative party in a runoff presidential vote on…
North Korean troops in Ukraine gain battlefield experience, cementing alliance with Russia
KYIV, UKRAINE — For weeks, Ukrainian troops braced for an unfamiliar enemy: North Korean soldiers sent to bolster Moscow’s forces after Ukraine launched a lightning-fast incursion and seized territory in Russia’s…
Cyclone-ravaged Mayotte on red alert as it braces for new storm
MAMOUDZOU, FRANCE — Residents of the French territory of Mayotte braced Saturday for a storm expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain less than a month after the Indian Ocean…
German far-right outlines radical program as protesters rally
RIESA, GERMANY — The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party set out a radical program Saturday at a party congress ahead of next month’s snap general election as thousands of protesters…
France starts 2025 with fresh controversy, questions over Africa
PARIS — France starts 2025 with a further drawdown of its military presence in its former African colonies, and fresh tensions ignited this week with controversial remarks by French President Emmanuel…
Turkey’s Kurdish leaders meet jailed politician; 2 sides inch toward peace
ISTANBUL — A delegation from one of Turkey’s biggest pro-Kurdish political parties met a leading figure of the Kurdish movement in prison Saturday, the latest step in a tentative process to…
Russia says Ukrainian drones injure 3 in Tambov region
MOSCOW — Ukraine launched drone attacks across several regions of Russia, striking two residential houses in the Tambov region and injuring at least three people, Russia said on Saturday. The regional…