Portugal looks to put new twist on cork industry
Mozelos, Portugal — Portugal, the world’s leading cork producer, is finding new uses for the material, from footwear to furniture, as demand for wine bottle stoppers wanes. Producers highlight the environmentally friendly properties of cork, which is lightweight, recyclable, waterproof…
A week after Helene hit, thousands still without water struggle to find enough
ASHEVILLE, North Carolina — Nearly a week after Hurricane Helene brought devastation to western North Carolina, a shiny stainless steel tanker truck in downtown Asheville attracted residents carrying 19-liter containers, milk jugs and buckets to fill with what has become…
NATO’s new leader pledges to boost Ukraine support, but challenges lie ahead
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, ((eds.: pronounced ROO-tuh)) who took up the role this week, visited Ukraine Thursday and pledged to prioritize the alliance’s support for Kyiv. But Rutte faces daunting challenges in his new job, as Henry Ridgwell reports. Source:…
China-connected spamouflage networks spread antisemitic disinformation
washington — Spamouflage networks with connections to China are posting antisemitic conspiracy theories on social media, casting doubt on Washington’s independence from alleged Jewish influence and the integrity of the two U.S. presidential candidates, a joint investigation by VOA Mandarin…
Despite obstacles, new NATO leader aims to increase support for Ukraine
london — With an escalating war in the Middle East, uncertainty over Western military aid for Ukraine, and the U.S. presidential election looming next month, new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has no time to settle in. The former Dutch prime…
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy visits Sumy region bordering Russia’s Kursk province
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that he had visited the northern Sumy region, from where Ukraine recently launched a major incursion into the neighboring Russian Kursk region. Almost two months into the surprise operation, Kyiv’s troops control swaths of…
Ukraine’s Femen protest war at Iran embassy
kyiv, ukraine — Ukrainian feminist activists staged a topless protest Friday outside the Embassy of Iran, which Kyiv and the West say is arming Russia. Ukraine’s Femen group is a feminist art collective that has for years staged stunts in…
EU backs tariffs on Chinese EVs despite concerns about Chinese retaliation
European Union countries voted Friday to adopt tariffs of up to 45% on electric vehicles, or EVs, imported from China. Ten countries, including France and Italy, supported the imposition of tariffs, while five countries, including Germany, voted against the proposal….
Handful of residents remains in Ukrainian village destroyed by Russia
Viktor Kalyberda, 63, lives in the village of Sulyhivka with no running water or electricity. The village, 170 kilometers from Kharkiv, was destroyed during the Russian invasion in 2022, not a single house was spared. All of the residents fled…
Gang attack in Haiti’s Pont Sondé leaves 70 dead
Among the victims at the hands of the so-called Gran Grif gang were 10 women and three infants. “As the attacks unfolded, gang members reportedly set fire to at least 45 houses and 34 vehicles, forcing a number of residents…