MOSCOW — A Ukrainian drone attack on a house in a Russian border village killed five people, including two children, the regional governor said Saturday. The drone hit a house in the village of Gorodishche, a tiny village in Russia’s Kursk region, just a few meters from the border with Ukraine. “To our great grief, five people were killed … including two small children. Another two …
Japan’s emperor, wife take trip down memory lane during UK visit
OXFORD, England, — Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and his wife took a trip down memory lane Friday, the final day of their weeklong stay in Britain, with a visit to the medieval university city of Oxford where they both studied in the 1980s. The imperial couple’s formal state visit concluded Thursday with a goodbye from King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace, but they squeezed in …
Kyiv pushes allies to create no-fly zone in western Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine — Lacking sufficient anti-aircraft systems to repel Russia’s unrelenting attacks, Ukraine is pushing its European allies to establish a no-fly zone in the west of the country by deploying air defense systems in neighboring Poland and Romania, officials told AFP. Kyiv would like to create a safe space in western Ukraine where industry, energy infrastructure and civilians can be protected against the massive destruction …
EU leaders pick von der Leyen for second term as European Commission chief
brussels — European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to nominate Ursula von der Leyen of Germany for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission, the EU’s powerful executive body. At a summit in Brussels, the bloc’s 27 national leaders also picked former Portuguese Premier Antonio Costa as the future chair of their European Council meetings and selected Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as …
Closer Russia-North Korea ties may create opportunity for US, China
washington — The recent defense pact between Russia and North Korea could present a diplomatic opportunity for the United States and China to work together for stability on the Korean Peninsula, an issue of mutual interest to both countries, some experts say. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said Monday that China would be “somewhat anxious” about enhanced cooperation between Russia and North Korea, adding …
Serbian police ban cultural festival with Kosovo
BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbian police on Thursday banned a festival that promotes cultural exchange with Kosovo in a sign of growing nationalism and government pressure on liberal voices in the Balkan country. A police statement cited security concerns as the reason to ban the “Mirdita, dobar dan” event that was scheduled to start later Thursday in Belgrade with a theater show from Kosovo. The words mean …
Yacht captain jailed ahead of arson trial over Greek island fire
Athens — Greek judicial authorities have jailed the captain and first officer of a yacht ahead of a trial on charges of arson over a forest fire on the island of Hydra believed to have been sparked by fireworks, legal sources said. The two men and the entire crew of the yacht have denied any wrongdoing. Eleven other crew members were freed on bail and with …
Spain’s proposal to reform media law seen as threat to press freedom
Madrid — Spain’s leader has pledged to reform the country’s media law next month to stop the spread of fake news, a move criticized by many as a threat to press freedom. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced this month that the new legislation would “end the impunity of some pseudo media largely financed by … the extreme right.” In an interview with Spanish paper La Vanguardia, …
US Javelin anti-tank missile, a cherished weapon among Ukrainian soldiers
Javelin anti-tank missile systems are part of a new $275 million aid package the U.S. is sending to Ukraine. Since 2022, the Javelin has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance against Russia’s aggression. Anna Kosstutschenko has the story. VOA footage and video editing by Pavel Suhodolskiy. …
Emotional homecoming for WikiLeaks’ Assange
London — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrived in his home country of Australia a free man Wednesday after agreeing to a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors over espionage charges, ending a 14-year legal odyssey. Supporters of the 52-year-old journalist and political activist welcomed his release, but said the prosecution sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom. Assange received an emotional welcome as he arrived at Canberra …
Ukraine sets out on long path to EU membership
Warsaw, Poland — Ukrainian officials are embracing what will be a detailed and tortuous process of negotiations following the official opening of EU accession talks this week, saying they have already made major strides toward qualifying for a status that would cement their place in Western Europe. While the process that began Tuesday at a ministerial-level meeting in Luxembourg can take years or even decades, the …
Emotional homecoming for WikiLeaks’ Assange, but supporters say free speech under threat
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrived in his home country of Australia a free man Wednesday – after agreeing to a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors over espionage charges. The deal ends an extraordinary 14-year legal odyssey. Supporters of Assange welcomed his release but say the prosecution sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom. Henry Ridgwell reports from London. …
NATO picks Netherlands’ Mark Rutte as next boss
LONDON — NATO allies on Wednesday selected Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO’s next boss, as the war in Ukraine rages on its doorstep and uncertainty hangs over the United States’ future attitude to the transatlantic alliance. Rutte’s appointment became a formality after his only rival for the post, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, announced last week that he had quit the race, having failed to …
UK’s King Charles welcomes Japan’s Emperor Naruhito for state visit
london — Britain’s King Charles welcomed Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and his wife to London at a Buckingham Palace banquet on Tuesday, celebrating economic, diplomatic and cultural ties on the first day of a three-day state visit. “Our governments are working together to provide a stable world for future generations,” said Charles, flanked by Queen Camilla on one side and Naruhito on the other. “Supporting all …
‘Sham’ trial of American journalist Gershkovich to begin in Russia
Washington — The closed-door trial of American journalist Evan Gershkovich is set to begin on Wednesday in Russia, nearly 15 months after he was jailed on espionage charges that are widely viewed as baseless and politically motivated. A correspondent with The Wall Street Journal, Gershkovich was detained in March 2023 on spying charges that he, his employer and the U.S. government vehemently deny. The State Department …
Georgians link past Russian atrocities with Ukraine invasion
Campaigners in Georgia are seeking to highlight past atrocities committed by invading Russian troops and allied militias during the early 1990s, which they say should have acted as a warning of the dangers posed by Russia, long before Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Henry Ridgwell reports from Tbilisi. …