US court rejects TikTok request to temporarily halt pending US ban

US court rejects TikTok request to temporarily halt pending US ban

WASHINGTON — A U.S. appeals court on Friday rejected an emergency bid by TikTok to temporarily block a law that would...

Moody’s hands France surprise downgrade over deteriorating finances

Moody’s hands France surprise downgrade over deteriorating finances

PARIS — Credit ratings agency Moody’s unexpectedly downgraded France’s rating on Friday, adding pressure on the country’s new prime minister to...

Blinken calls on Azerbaijan to release Meydan TV journalists 

Blinken calls on Azerbaijan to release Meydan TV journalists 

The arrests in Azerbaijan of several journalists, including staff at the independent Meydan TV, have been condemned by the international...

Argentina’s Milei receives Italian citizenship during Rome visit, source says

Argentina’s Milei receives Italian citizenship during Rome visit, source says

ROME — Italy’s government has granted citizenship to Argentinian President Javier Milei on account of his Italian family roots, a source...

Landmark climate change legal hearing wraps up in The Hague

Landmark climate change legal hearing wraps up in The Hague

LONDON — A landmark hearing into nation-states’ legal obligations over climate change wrapped up at the United Nations’ top court in...

Landmark climate change hearing ends on question of reparations

Landmark climate change hearing ends on question of reparations

A landmark hearing into nation-states’ legal obligations over climate change wrapped up at the United Nations’ top court in The...

VOA Russian: Sister of American jailed in Russia says she doesn’t know where he is

VOA Russian: Sister of American jailed in Russia says she doesn’t know where he is

Patricia Hubbard Fox, the sister of the 72-year-old U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard sentenced to jail in Russia for almost seven...

Moldova declares a state of emergency over energy as fears of Russian gas shortage loom 

Moldova declares a state of emergency over energy as fears of Russian gas shortage loom 

CHISINAU — Moldova’s parliament on Friday voted in favor of imposing a state of emergency in the energy sector over fears...

Georgia crisis deepens as government set to name far-right president 

Georgia crisis deepens as government set to name far-right president 

Tbilisi — Georgia’s political crisis deepened Friday after new pro-Europe protests were announced ahead of the controversial nomination of a far-right...

Russia launches massive aerial attack on Ukrainian infrastructure

Russia launches massive aerial attack on Ukrainian infrastructure

KYIV, UKRAINE — Russia launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine on Friday, firing 93 missiles and almost 200 drones, Ukrainian...

Ukraine’s reformed military procurement agency drives country’s NATO ambitions 

Ukraine’s reformed military procurement agency drives country’s NATO ambitions 

KYIV — Ukraine’s Defense Ministry unveiled a new state agency for its armed forces last year. It was the government’s answer...

Switzerland plans revamp of Cold War-era nuclear bunker network 

Switzerland plans revamp of Cold War-era nuclear bunker network 

GOLLION, Switzerland — Switzerland wants to update its network of aging nuclear shelters, which are increasingly seen as an asset at...

China-Russia Arctic cooperation a US national security concern

China-Russia Arctic cooperation a US national security concern

LOS ANGELES — The United States and its NATO allies are paying increased attention to military cooperation between Russia and China...

US announces new arms aid package for Ukraine worth $500 million

US announces new arms aid package for Ukraine worth $500 million

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration announced another package of weapons aid for Ukraine on Thursday, valued at $500 million, Secretary of...

First Chechen War: The moment when ‘Russia’s democratic post-Soviet dream ended’

First Chechen War: The moment when ‘Russia’s democratic post-Soviet dream ended’

WASHINGTON — Brutal tactics employed by Russia in its war on Ukraine have shocked much of the world but come as...

Far-right support rose in Europe in 2024

Far-right support rose in Europe in 2024

LONDON — Support for far-right parties in Europe continued to grow in 2024 amid voter concerns over immigration, inflation and the...

Far-right support rose in Europe in 2024

Far-right support rose in Europe in 2024

Support for far-right parties in Europe continued to grow in 2024. Analysts say the trend was driven by concerns over...

VOA Russian: Anti-war group helps those who fled Russia adapt

VOA Russian: Anti-war group helps those who fled Russia adapt

The Russian anti-war committee, a group founded by Putin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky and other Russian politicians who were forced into...

ETA terrorists jailed in Spain for attempted murder of journalists

ETA terrorists jailed in Spain for attempted murder of journalists

Four former members of Basque separatist organization ETA were each sentenced Thursday in Spain to nearly 75 years in prison,...

As tourists discover Finland’s Santa Claus Village, some locals call for rules to control the masses

As tourists discover Finland’s Santa Claus Village, some locals call for rules to control the masses

Rovaniemi, Finland — Shuffling across icy ground on a cold December afternoon, lots of tourist groups poured into Santa Claus Village,...

Rights group accuses Russian mercenaries of abuses against civilians in Mali

Rights group accuses Russian mercenaries of abuses against civilians in Mali

DAKAR, SENEGAL — Mali’s armed forces, supported by Russian mercenaries, committed abuses against civilians since the withdrawal of a U.N. peacekeeping...

Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s Chechnya region

Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s Chechnya region

The head of Russia’s Chechnya region said Thursday a Ukrainian drone attack hit a police barracks, injuring at least four...