New developments: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba discussed “ways to stop Russian aggression” in talks with Chinese envoy Li Hui, Ukraine says. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian shelling killed…
USAID Chief to Congress: Foreign Aid Key in Countering Chinese, Russian Influence
A top Republican lawmaker said Wednesday the funding priorities for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) do not go far enough in addressing the threat posed by the Chinese…
Iran Oil Minister Says Market on Right Track After OPEC+ Decisions, Report Says
Iran’s oil minister Javad Owji said that the oil market is on the right track after decisions made by OPEC+, the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim reported on Wednesday. “Iran…
How Has Life in Russia Changed Since Its Invasion of Ukraine?
Russia’s media crackdown that followed its invasion of Ukraine has made it more difficult for people outside the country to know what Russians think about the war. Reporter Genia Dulot…
Spokesperson: Prince Harry, Wife Meghan in ‘Near Catastrophic Car Chase’ with Paparazzi
Britain’s Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and her mother were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” involving paparazzi photographers, a spokesperson for the prince said on Wednesday. It occurred…
US Military Intercepts Russian Military Aircraft Near Alaska for Second Time in a Week
The U.S. military has confirmed another Russian military aircraft was tracked while operating near the U.S. state of Alaska on Monday, the second such incident in less than a week….
G-7 Leaders Likely to Focus on Ukraine, Tensions in Asia at Summit in Hiroshima
The symbolism will be palpable when leaders of the world’s rich democracies sit down in Hiroshima, a city whose name evokes the tragedy of war, to tackle a host of…
Former French President Sarkozy Loses Appeal on Corruption Conviction
A French appeals court on Wednesday upheld a one-year prison sentence for former President Nicolas Sarkozy on a conviction for corruption and influence peddling. His lawyer said he will take…
UK Speeds London Flood Defense Plan to Counter Rising Climate Risk
Britain is accelerating plans to protect London from flooding caused by a warming climate and rising sea levels, bringing forward its scheme to protect the city center by 15 years….
European Leaders Meet in Iceland to Count Cost of Russia’s War
European leaders on Tuesday pledged to hold Russia to account for its war against Ukraine and unveiled a mechanism to track the losses and damage inflicted by Moscow’s forces. German…
Russia Halts Release of Iranian Film About Serial Killer, Distributor Says
Russian authorities have suspended the release of an award-winning film about a serial killer who targets sex workers in Iran, a distributor said on Tuesday. “Holy Spider,” directed by Danish…
US Lawmakers Advance Legislation to Prosecute Russian War Crimes in Ukraine
U.S. lawmakers are set to advance legislation Tuesday urging President Joe Biden to create a special tribunal that would prosecute Russia for crimes of aggression against Ukraine. The House Foreign…
Washington Condemns Arrest of Russian Who Worked at US Diplomatic Mission
Russia has charged one of its citizens, a former employee of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Vladivostok for 25 years, with collaborating with the United States, an arrest the U.S….
South Africa Military Delegation in Russia to Discuss Combat Readiness
South Africa’s main opposition party is demanding to know why there is a high-level defense delegation in Moscow discussing increased cooperation and combat readiness. The news comes just days after…
Death Toll Climbs in Serbia Shootings, Wounded Schoolgirl Dies
A girl who was gravely wounded in a mass shooting in a school in Belgrade earlier this month has died, bringing the death toll to 10, authorities said Monday. The…
US: China, Iran, Russia, Myanmar Top Violators of Religious Freedom
An annual U.S. government report finds religious freedom under assault throughout the world, notably in what the State Department calls Countries of Particular Concern —China, Iran, Russia, Myanmar — among…
Momentum Shifts Toward Erdogan as Turkey Heads to Presidential Runoff
Turkey appears set for a presidential runoff after an inconclusive Sunday vote. But the political momentum seems to be with incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who narrowly failed to secure an…
Belarus on High Alert After 4 Russian Aircraft Reportedly Shot Down
Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko on Monday said forces had been put on high alert, adding that four aircraft had reportedly been shot out of the sky in southern Russia. Lukashenko,…
Turkish Opposition Supporters Voice Dismay Over Presidential Vote
Opposition voters expressed dismay and disbelief on Monday after Tayyip Erdogan took a solid lead in the first round of Turkey’s election, while the president’s overjoyed supporters expressed confidence that…
Discovery of Europe’s Biggest Cocaine Factory in Spain Marks New Trend
The packets of cocaine were marked with the Superman shield, but this was no accident. In an effort to make the illicit merchandise look like it had been gift wrapped…
French Club Holds Emotional Tribute for AFP Reporter Killed in Ukraine
French topflight football club Rennes on Sunday held an emotional homage to Arman Soldin, their former youth player and the AFP video reporter killed Tuesday in Ukraine. Soldin’s mother and…
VOA on the Scene: Southeastern Turkey Votes Amid Earthquake Ruins
Many voters in southeast Turkey lost their homes, valuables and loved ones in February’s earthquakes. Still, they came out to vote Sunday in what analysts say could be the country’s…
Ukrainian President: Counteroffensive Won’t Aim to Attack Russian Territory
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that his country is preparing a counteroffensive designed to liberate areas occupied by Russia, not to attack Russian territory. Speaking during a news conference…
Dozens Demand Release of French Detainees in Iran
Dozens of supporters of two French nationals detained last year in Iran demanded their release in Paris Sunday after Tehran freed two fellow citizens who had been on hunger strike….
Serbia: 13,500 Weapons Collected in Amnesty, Including Rocket Launchers
Serbian authorities on Sunday displayed many of around 13,500 weapons they say people have been handed over since this month’s mass shootings, including hand grenades, automatic weapons, and anti-tank rocket…
Erdogan’s Fate in Balance as Turks Vote in Hotly Contested Polls
Turkey is voting in presidential and parliamentary elections Sunday, in what is predicted to be one of the closest votes in decades and one of the most important, both domestically…
Turkey’s Elections For Presidency, Parliament Under Way
Voters in Turkey are heading to the polls Sunday for landmark parliamentary and presidential elections that are expected to be tightly contested and could be the biggest challenge Turkish President…
Hobbit Houses Spring Up in Bosnia Hills
Four sisters are building the first Hobbit-style village in southeast Europe in the green hills of central Bosnia, hoping to attract fans of “The Lord of the Rings” books and…
G7 Plans New Vaccine Effort for Developing Nations
The Group of Seven (G-7) rich nations is set to agree on establishing a new program to distribute vaccines to developing countries at next week’s summit of leaders, Japan’s Yomiuri…
Voters Divided in Earthquake Zone Ahead of Turkey Election
Driving through the city of Hatay in Turkey is like touring a war zone in the months after a battle. Some apartment buildings are gutted, others are massive piles of…