TALLINN, Estonia — The president of Belarus said Monday that Russia has completed its shipments of tactical nuclear weapons to his country, an initiative that raised strong concerns in neighboring Poland…
Shipping Firm Maersk Prepares Resumption of Red Sea Voyages After Attacks
FRANKFURT, Germany — Shipping firm Maersk says that it’s preparing to allow vessels to resume sailing through the Red Sea, thanks to the start of a U.S.-led multinational naval operation to…
276 Indians Stuck in French Airport for Human Trafficking Probe Have Left for India
VATRY, France — A charter plane grounded in France for a human trafficking investigation departed Monday for India with 276 Indians aboard, authorities said. The passengers had been heading to Nicaragua…
Police in Serbia Detain at Least 38 People as Opposition Plans More Protests Against Election Results
BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbian police said Monday they have detained at least 38 people who took part in a protest against reported widespread irregularities during a recent general ballot that declared…
Pope Presides Over Christmas Eve Mass: ‘Our Hearts Are in Bethlehem’
Vatican City — Recalling Jesus’ birth in a stable in Bethlehem, Pope Francis in a Christmas Eve homily said that “the clash of arms even today” prevents Jesus “from finding room…
Serbian Police Fire Tear Gas at Protesters Threatening City Hall
Belgrade, Serbia — Police in Serbia fired tear gas to prevent hundreds of opposition supporters from entering the capital’s city council building Sunday in protest of what election observers said were…
As 2023 Draws to Close, Notre Dame’s Reconstruction Offers Light
Paris — With bleak December weather gripping the French capital and world attention dominated by the bloody conflict in Gaza, the slow reemergence of Paris’ fire-battered Notre Dame cathedral is a…
Manchester United Announces Deal to Sell up to 25% of EPL club to UK Billionaire Jim Ratcliffe
MANCHESTER, England — More than a year after it was put up for sale, Manchester United said Sunday that British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe had agreed to buy a minority stake in…
Indians Held in France Over Trafficking Fears Questioned
Vatry, France — Four French judges on Sunday began questioning more than 300 Indians travelling on a plane detained near Paris over suspicions of human trafficking. The Nicaragua-bound Airbus A340 has…
UN Says Swedish Citizen Faces Iran Execution ‘Shortly’
Geneva — The United Nations warned Saturday that an Iranian-Swedish citizen is facing imminent execution in Iran after a Swedish court upheld the conviction of a former Iranian prison official. “Disturbing…
France Completes Military Withdrawal From Niger, Leaves Gap in Terror Fight
ABUJA, Nigeria — France on Friday completed the withdrawal of its troops after they were asked to leave Niger by the country’s new junta, ending years of on-the-ground military support and…
300 Indian Travelers Stuck at French Airport in Human-Trafficking Probe
VATRY, France — About 300 Indian citizens heading to Central America were sequestered in a French airport for a third day Saturday after a dramatic police operation prompted by a tip…
Anti-War Russian Blocked From Challenging Putin in Election
London — Former TV journalist Yekaterina Duntsova was disqualified on Saturday as a candidate for Russia’s next presidential election, preventing her from running against Vladimir Putin on a platform of opposition…
Czech Republic Holds Day of Mourning for Victims of Worst Mass Killing
PRAGUE — The Czech Republic came to a standstill at noon Saturday as people across the country observed a minute of silence as part of a national day of mourning to…
Czechs Mourn Victims of University Shooting as Police Tighten Security
Prague, Czech Republic — Czechs mourned the victims of the Czech Republic’s worst mass shooting as police tightened security around schools and other public buildings across the country on Friday after…
Estonia Bolstering Security Measures With US Presence on Ground
During his November visit to Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin warned that if Russia succeeds in Ukraine, the next Kremlin threat will extend to the Baltics. VOA’s Eastern…
Migration to Europe Increases as Syrians, Afghans Top Asylum-Seekers
Washington — The number of people seeking asylum in European countries this year is projected to surpass 1 million, reaching levels not seen since 2016 when 1.16 million asylum-seekers were reported….
NATO Expands in 2023, but Timing of Ukraine’s Membership at Issue
London — 2023 saw NATO welcome its 31st member, as Finland joined the alliance in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Sweden’s application is still being held up by…
НБУ та експортери розвернули тренд – гривня посилюється на міжбанку
На міжбанківському валютному ринку котирування станом на 16:05 становили 37 гривень 46–49 копійок за долар …
Charity: For Many Older People Christmas is ‘Hardest Day’
Christmas for many is a time of family togetherness and good cheer, but for older adults, it can too often be one of the year’s loneliest days. Age UK, a…
Syriac Christmas Message Stirs Debate in Turkish Parliament
Diyarbakir, Turkey/Washington — Turkey’s parliament erupted in controversy this week when the nation’s only Assyrian lawmaker delivered a Christmas message in his native Syriac language, offending other legislators who believe that…
White House Says It Is Preparing New Proposal to Free American Journalist Jailed in Russia
washington — The White House said Thursday that it is preparing a new proposal to Russia to secure the release of journalist Evan Gershkovich and another jailed American. “We’re working hard…
EU Pays Last of Ukraine Budget Support for 2023
BRUSSELS — The European Union on Thursday paid the final tranche of a multibillion-euro support package to Ukraine to help keep its war-ravaged economy afloat this year, leaving the country without…