Digest

World and business news. The world is the totality of entities, the whole of reality, or everything that exists. The nature of the world has been conceptualized differently in different fields. Some conceptions see the world as unique while others talk of a “plurality of worlds”

Hungary’s Orban finds key ally in Georgia amid Western concerns

Hungary’s Orban finds key ally in Georgia amid Western concerns

TBILISI, GEORGIA — Standing side by side with Georgia’s prime minister, Hungary’s Viktor Orban was among the first to congratulate the...

Moroccan authorities detain human rights activist who accused government of ‘blackmailing’ France

Moroccan authorities detain human rights activist who accused government of ‘blackmailing’ France

RABAT, Morocco — A Moroccan economist known for his work defending human rights was detained after criticizing the government in remarks...

Chinese online retailer Temu faces EU probe into rogue traders, illegal goods

Chinese online retailer Temu faces EU probe into rogue traders, illegal goods

LONDON — The European Union is investigating Chinese online retailer Temu over suspicions it’s failing to prevent the sale of illegal...

Vatican tribunal explains conviction of cardinal and others in ‘trial of the century’

Vatican tribunal explains conviction of cardinal and others in ‘trial of the century’

The Vatican tribunal said Wednesday it convicted a cardinal of aggravated fraud and other charges because of his “objectively inexplicable...

China tells carmakers to pause investment in EU countries backing EV tariffs, sources say

China tells carmakers to pause investment in EU countries backing EV tariffs, sources say

China has told its automakers to halt big investment in European countries that support extra tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles,...

European allies face challenging times, whoever wins US presidential election

European allies face challenging times, whoever wins US presidential election

BERLIN — The United States’ European allies are bracing for an America that’s less interested in them no matter who wins...

Slovak PM Fico visits China in attempt for a pro-Beijing diplomatic turn

Slovak PM Fico visits China in attempt for a pro-Beijing diplomatic turn

Vienna — Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico begins a six-day visit to China Thursday that includes a meeting with Chinese leader...

Musk’s X ineffective against surge of US election misinformation, report says

Musk’s X ineffective against surge of US election misinformation, report says

The crowd-sourced fact-checking feature of Elon Musk’s X, Community Notes, is “failing to counter false” claims about the U.S. election,...

Ukraine says Russian attack killed 1, injured dozens in Kharkiv

Ukraine says Russian attack killed 1, injured dozens in Kharkiv

The governor of northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv region said Thursday one person was dead and 29 others injured after a Russian...

Pentagon, South Korea urge North Korea to withdraw troops from Russia

Pentagon, South Korea urge North Korea to withdraw troops from Russia

Pentagon and United Nations — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his South Korean counterpart, Kim Yong-hyun, urged North Korea on...

Georgia investigates election rigging claims 

Georgia investigates election rigging claims 

State prosecutors in the country of Georgia said Wednesday that they had initiated an investigation into Saturday’s parliamentary election amid...

Fears of major oil spills as Russia grows its aging ‘shadow fleet’

Fears of major oil spills as Russia grows its aging ‘shadow fleet’

There are growing fears that Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of aging oil tankers, which it uses to bypass the Western...

US, South Korea urge Pyongyang to pull troops from Russia

US, South Korea urge Pyongyang to pull troops from Russia

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his South Korean counterpart Kim Yong-hyun exchanged views during talks on Wednesday on the...

Concerns about Elon Musk, Russia’s Putin not fading yet

Concerns about Elon Musk, Russia’s Putin not fading yet

WASHINGTON — Reports that billionaire Elon Musk has been talking on a consistent basis with Russian President Vladimir Putin are still...

Britain identifies its first case of new mpox variant

Britain identifies its first case of new mpox variant

LONDON — Britain has detected its first case of new mpox variant clade Ib, the country’s health security agency (UKHSA) said...

US cracks down on Russia’s sanctions evasion in fresh action

US cracks down on Russia’s sanctions evasion in fresh action

WASHINGTON — The United States on Wednesday imposed curbs on hundreds of targets in fresh action against Russia, taking aim at...

RFE/RL journalist marks 5 months jailed in Azerbaijan

RFE/RL journalist marks 5 months jailed in Azerbaijan

An Azerbaijani journalist with VOA’s sister outlet Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Wednesday marked five months since he was detained...

US experts see Pyongyang’s Russia gambit as no-win situation for China

US experts see Pyongyang’s Russia gambit as no-win situation for China

China’s response to Russia’s growing influence over North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong Un, likely combines “exasperation” and “panic”...

Beijing files WTO complaint over EU’s new taxes on Chinese EVs  

Beijing files WTO complaint over EU’s new taxes on Chinese EVs  

Beijing — Beijing said Wednesday it had lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organization over the European Union’s decision to...

Spanish authorities report at least 51 dead from devastating flash floods  

Spanish authorities report at least 51 dead from devastating flash floods  

BARCELONA, Spain — At least 51 people have died in Spain’s eastern region of Valencia after flash floods swept away cars,...

In Georgia, some voters balanced EU hopes with the fear of war with Russia

In Georgia, some voters balanced EU hopes with the fear of war with Russia

TBILISI, Georgia — For some Georgians who supported the ruling Georgian Dream party in Saturday’s disputed parliamentary election, the aspiration to...

China launches new crew to its space station as it seeks to expand exploration

China launches new crew to its space station as it seeks to expand exploration

JIUQUAN, China — China declared a “complete success” after it launched a new three-person crew to its orbiting space station early...