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Year: 2024

North Korean forces join Russia’s fight against Ukraine

Pentagon —  North Korean troops are fighting and dying alongside Russian forces as part of Moscow’s war against Ukraine, according to the latest assessment from the Pentagon. “North Korean soldiers have engaged in combat in Kursk with Russians, alongside Russian…

Russian tankers damaged in Kerch Strait were carrying 62,000 barrels of oil products, TASS says

Moscow —  Two Russian tankers that spilled oil into the Kerch Strait after sustaining serious damage during a heavy storm on Sunday were carrying 9,200 metric tons (62,000 barrels) of oil products at the time, the state TASS news agency…

Five years on from the pandemic, long COVID keeps lives on hold

VIENNA —  Three years ago, Andrea Vanek was studying to be an arts and crafts teacher when spells of dizziness and heart palpitations suddenly started to make it impossible for her to even take short walks. After seeing a succession…

Zelenskyy offers Syria humanitarian grain deliveries

Kyiv, Ukraine —  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Sunday that he would provide Syria with grain and other agricultural products on a humanitarian basis, a week after the fall of Moscow’s ally, President Bashar al-Assad. “Now we can help the…

Ukrainian drones strike Russia as Kyiv reels from consecutive massive air attacks

KYIV —  Ukrainian drone strikes on southern Russia killed a 9-year-old boy and set fire to a major oil terminal, officials said Saturday, the day after Moscow launched a massive aerial attack on its neighbor that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy…

Incoming FCC chair is big tech critic who worries about China

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Brendan Carr to lead the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates communications in the United States. Carr, an FCC commissioner since 2017, has taken aim at big tech and China’s influence on U.S. communications. VOA’s Dora…

Mystery drone sightings keep happening in New Jersey – What we know… and don’t know

A large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over parts of New Jersey and the East Coast in recent weeks, sparking speculation and concern over who sent them and why. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy wrote to President…

UN envoy calls for increased aid for Syria in Damascus visit

The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, arrived there a week after President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by rebel forces led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTC). Responding to questions from the press upon his arrival, Mr….

Greece’s only miniature therapy horses bring joy to many, but the charity is struggling

ATHENS, GREECE —  Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, a smile spreads across the little girl’s face. Blinking behind her glasses, she inches her wheelchair forward and gently reaches out to stroke the tiny gray horse. Soon, 9-year-old Josifina Topa Mazuch…

Hackers demand ransom from Rhode Islanders after data breach

Hundreds of thousands of Rhode Island residents’ personal and bank information, including Social Security numbers, were likely hacked by an international cybercriminal group asking for a ransom, state officials said on Saturday. In what Rhode Island officials described as extortion,…