TBILISI, Georgia — Tens of thousands of people joined an 11th straight day of protests in Georgia on Sunday after the governing party moved to suspend negotiations on joining the European…
‘Reindeer’ volunteers bring holiday magic to Ukrainian children on front lines
IZIUM, Ukraine — Hopes for victory, a swift end to the war and prayers for their loved ones’ survival or return from Russian captivity are among the wishes scattered throughout letters…
From VOA Turkish: Turkey’s opposition reacts to the fall of Assad in Syria
Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel said his party supports the territorial integrity, democracy, peace, and stability in Syria following the departure of President Bashir al-Assad….
Trump calls for ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Ukraine after meeting Zelenskyy in Paris
KYIV — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, shortly after a meeting in Paris with French and Ukrainian leaders, claiming Kyiv “would like to…
Sumo wrestlers bring 1,500 years of tradition to London as sport has international moment
LONDON — London’s Royal Albert Hall, the gilded concert venue known for an annual Rule Britannia singalong, is preparing to host a different kind of spectacle: Sumo wrestling. Camera shutters clicked…
Notre Dame reopens with music, prayers, heads of state
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and first lady Jill Biden join dozens of heads of state attending Notre Dame reopening celebrations this weekend, five years after the iconic Paris cathedral narrowly…
Georgia’s president says she talked with Trump, Macron about ‘stolen election’
TBILISI, GEORGIA — Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili said she talked with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron about the parliamentary election last month in her country that she…
North Macedonian political party calls for ban on social media content that incites ‘self-destructive behavior’
SKOPJE, North Macedonia — A political party in North Macedonia on Saturday demanded authorities ban social networks whose content incites violence and self-destructive behavior after several young people were seriously injured…
Macron welcomes Trump to Paris with presidential pomp, joined by Zelenskyy
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Donald Trump to Paris on Saturday with a full a dose of presidential pomp, and they held an impromptu meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymr Zelenskyy…
Pope presides over ceremony with wide bruise on his chin
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis was seen with a significant bruise on his chin Saturday, but he presided over a ceremony to install new cardinals without apparent problems. A Vatican spokesperson…
Ukraine confirms Danish delivery of F-16s as Zelenskyy seeks support in Paris
KYIV, UKRAINE — Denmark has delivered a second batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday as he traveled to Paris to meet with top politicians and…
Russian LGBTQ+ activists describe a climate of fear amid new laws, court rulings
TALLINN, Estonia — In the year since Russia’s Supreme Court effectively outlawed any promotion of LGBTQ+ rights, activists say they are experiencing a climate of fear and intimidation in the country….
Irish YouTuber moves millions of followers to donate millions for charity
NEW YORK — Sean McLoughlin wears a lot of hats: YouTuber. Voice actor. Coffee entrepreneur. But McLoughlin, better known by his pseudonym Jacksepticeye, likes to say he would be a therapist…
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris to reopen Saturday evening
The iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is reopening Saturday evening, more than five years after a fire destroyed its roof and spire. An invitation-only ceremony will include heads of…
US urges China to act as North Korea cozies up to Russia
As North Korean troops bolster Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, the U.S. is urging China to rein in its allies’ provocative actions. This comes amid indications that Beijing is increasingly…
Zelenskyy reveals new medium-range Peklo drone missile
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday introduced new long-range Peklo drone missiles being manufactured in a Ukrainian factory, the first batch of which, he said, already has been delivered to…
Russia takes villages in key areas of east Ukraine front
Moscow — Russia said Friday its forces had captured a village near the embattled supply hub of Pokrovsk and another near the industrial town of Kurakhove, gaining ground in two key…
Sudan’s ambassador to Russia praises Moscow for vetoing UN resolution that would have halted violent war in Sudan
The Russian veto blocked a U.N. resolution calling for a halt to hostilities in Sudan, where a civil war has killed at least 66,000, destroyed civil institutions, causing widespread hunger,…
Georgian opposition leader arrested, beaten unconscious as Tbilisi protests continue
Prominent Georgian opposition leader and former journalist Nika Gvaramia is recovering after being beaten unconscious by police Wednesday amid pro-Europe protests in Tbilisi, according to his lawyer. Gvaramia, head of…
France’s Macron to serve out office term, name new prime minister soon
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron vowed Thursday to stay in office until the end of his term, due in 2027, and announced that he will name a new prime minister…
Ukraine looks back with regret at 1994 deal requiring it to give up nukes
This month marks 30 years since Ukraine signed an agreement to give up its nuclear arsenal, the world’s third largest at the time. With Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearing…
With another government collapsing, France faces uncertain future
Paris — French President Emmanuel Macron was set to address his nation later Thursday (19:00 UTC), a day after his government fell in a no-confidence vote— a first in more than…
Syrian rebel gains threaten to raise tensions among Turkey, Iran, Russia
Turkish-backed Syrian rebels’ lightning victories are threatening to stoke tensions among Turkey, Iran and Russia — the main outside players in Syria’s 13-year-long civil war. But some analysts predict diplomacy…
Нацбанк: протягом листопада міжнародні резерви України зросли на 9,1%
Динаміку резервів визначала низка чинників. Серед них – надходження до уряду та виплати за обслуговування й погашення державного боргу …
Prime Minister Barnier to resign as France’s political crisis deepens
PARIS — French Prime Minister Michel Barnier will resign on Thursday after far-right and leftist lawmakers voted to topple his government, plunging the euro zone’s second-largest economy deeper into political crisis….
Azerbaijan denounces diplomatic criticism of human rights
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry denounced on Wednesday criticism by Western ambassadors of the country’s human rights record, saying the diplomats’ comments amounted to interference in its judicial system. A ministry statement…
From VOA Russian: Experts address strategic context of situation in Kursk region
An operation by Ukraine launched on August 6 captured dozens of towns and villages and gained control of about 1,000 square kilometers in Russia’s Kursk region. Gradually, Russia has pushed…
From VOA Russian: How sanctions could affect China’s support for Russia
The U.S. and EU are urging Beijing to stop supporting Russia’s war machine. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited China on Monday, asking China to stop backing Russia and to…
Russia-related sanctions target illicit digital finance network, US says
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration issued a fresh round of Russia-related sanctions on Wednesday, taking aim at what it called an illicit finance network that allowed Russian elites to leverage digital…
Notre Dame reopens amid French political turmoil
PARIS — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and U.S. first lady Jill Biden are among global dignitaries expected in Paris Saturday as the city’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral reopens five years after…