Netherlands Shut Out World Cup Debutants Portugal in 1-0 Win
The Netherlands kicked off their Group E campaign with a 1-0 win over Women’s World Cup debutants Portugal at Dunedin Stadium on Sunday, thanks to a first-half goal from Stefanie…
Pope Urges World Leaders to Do More to Tackle Climate Change
Pope Francis said on Sunday that recent heat waves across many parts of the world and flooding in countries such as South Korea showed that more urgent action was needed…
Voting Begins in Spain; Election Could See Another EU Country Swing Right
MADRID — Polling began Sunday in Spain in a general election that could make the country the latest European Union member to swing to the political right. Prime Minister Pedro…
Lukashenko to Make Working Visit to Russia, See Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko will meet Sunday, the Kremlin said, two days after Moscow warned that any aggression against its neighbor and staunchest ally would…
Russia Says War Reporter Killed by Ukrainian Cluster Bomb
A Russian war reporter was killed and three colleagues were wounded in Ukraine on Saturday in what the defense ministry said was a Ukrainian attack using cluster munitions, prompting outrage…
3 Dead in Serbia After Second Deadly Storm Rips Through Balkans
BELGRADE, Serbia — Three people died in Serbia during another deadly storm that ripped through the Balkans this week, local media said Saturday. The storm Friday first swept through Slovenia,…
Protesters Try to Storm Baghdad’s Green Zone Over Burning of Quran, Iraqi Flag in Denmark
BAGHDAD — Hundreds of protesters attempted to storm Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses foreign embassies and the seat of Iraq’s government, early Saturday following reports that an ultranationalist…
Kiss Between 2 Male British Band Mates Brings Halt to Malaysia Performance
A music festival in Malaysia’s capital was canceled Saturday after two male band members of a British band kissed on stage in defiance of the country’s anti-LGBT laws. During a…
World’s Biggest Permafrost Crater Thaws as Planet Warms
BATAGAI, RUSSIA – Stunning drone footage has revealed details of the Batagaika crater, a 1-kilometer-long gash in Russia’s Far East that forms the world’s biggest permafrost crater. In the video,…
Spanish Election Could Put Far Right Back in Office for First Time Since Franco
MADRID — Voters in Spain go to the polls Sunday in an election that could make the country the latest European Union member to swing to the populist right, a…
Iraq, Iran Act Against Sweden After Quran Protests
BAGHDAD – Demonstrators marched in the Iraqi and Iranian capitals Friday to denounce Sweden’s permission for protests that desecrate the Quran, as Stockholm withdrew staff from its Baghdad embassy. Hundreds…
Russia Under Pressure at UN to Avoid Global Food Crisis, Revive Ukrainian Grain Shipments
UNITED NATIONS — Russia came under pressure at the U.N. Security Council on Friday from its ally China and developing countries as well as Western nations to avert a global…
War With Azerbaijan ‘Very Likely,’ Armenia Leader Says
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warned Friday of the risk of a new war with Azerbaijan, accusing Baku of genocide in the breakaway Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Baku and Yerevan…
Russian Nationalist Putin Critic Charged With Inciting Extremism
Prominent Russian nationalist Igor Girkin, who had publicly accused President Vladimir Putin and the army top brass of not pursuing the war in Ukraine harshly or effectively enough, was remanded…
Muslim-Majority Nations Express Outrage Over Quran Desecration in Sweden
BAGHDAD — Muslim-majority nations expressed outrage Friday at the desecration of a copy of the Quran in Sweden. Some prepared for street demonstrations following midday prayers to show their anger….
Latest in Ukraine: Pardoned Convicts Likely to Keep Wagner Jobs, UK Says
Latest developments: Belarus says its military is training with fighters from Russia’s Wagner mercenary group at a site near the Belarus-Poland border. European Union foreign ministers met Thursday to discuss…
EU Visa Rejections a Burden on Journalists, Media Groups Say
Media associations are warning that a rise in visa rejections for Turkish citizens is affecting the ability of the country’s journalists to work. The number of journalists whose applications for…
Ukrainian Farmers React to Russia’s Grain Deal Withdrawal
After Russia withdrew from a deal allowing Ukraine to export grain through ports on the Black Sea, the Kremlin launched attacks on Ukrainian ports and grain hubs. Anna Kosstutschenko spoke with…
Turkey-Egypt Rapprochement Raises Hopes for Peace in Mideast, Africa
The restoration of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Egypt in early July is raising hopes for ending conflicts across the Middle East and Africa. For VOA, Dorian Jones reports from…
Polls: Far-Right’s Social Media Strategy Is Wooing Spain’s Young Voters
Images of the red and gold Spanish flag dominate the social media feeds of Spain’s right-wing Vox party, along with videos that demonize Muslims or glorify the 15th century reconquest…
British Lawmaker Deletes Video Lauding Taliban Rule in Afghanistan
A senior British member of parliament deleted a video Thursday praising the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan and apologized for what he said was the outcome of his “poor communication.” Tobias…
Iraq Orders the Expulsion of Sweden’s Ambassador as a Man Desecrated the Quran in Stockholm
Iraq’s prime minister ordered the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador from Iraq and the withdrawal of the Iraqi charge d’affaires from Sweden on Thursday as a man desecrated of a…
Analysts See China-Russia Exercise as Sign of Deepening Cooperation
TAIPEI – As the war in Ukraine rages on, China and Russia are hosting joint military exercises in the Sea of Japan that analysts say are the latest sign of…
Sweden’s Submarine Fleet Could Prove a Major NATO Asset
Now that Sweden’s ascension into NATO appears closer to approval following developments during the NATO summit last week, many wonder what power Sweden’s military can bring to the alliance. VOA…
Fire Set in Swedish Embassy Compound in Baghdad Over Quran Burning, Sources Say
Hundreds of protesters stormed the Swedish Embassy compound in Baghdad early Thursday morning and set a building on fire, a source familiar with the matter and a Reuters witness said,…
Egypt’s President Pardons Detained Researcher Patrick Zaki
CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has pardoned rights researcher Patrick Zaki a day after he was handed a three-year prison term on charges of spreading false news in…
Video Appears to Show Wagner Chief With His Troops in Belarus
A video released Wednesday appears to show Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin for the first time since he led a short-lived rebellion last month. He is seen telling his troops…
Fears of Russian Aggression Have Estonians Revisiting Soviet Past
Among the most vocal critics of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Estonia this year declared Moscow a state sponsor of terrorism and expelled the Russian ambassador. Now, the threat of…
Upper House of Russian Parliament Approves Ban on Gender Changes
MOSCOW — The upper house of Russia’s parliament on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill outlawing gender-affirming procedures, sending the measure to President Vladimir Putin to be signed into law. The…
Minister Says More Than 700 Sentenced to Prison Over French Riots
More than 700 people have been sentenced to prison over riots in France late last month, the country’s justice minister said Wednesday, lauding the “firm” response of magistrates. In total,…