Yacht docked in US port symbolizes struggle to convert seizures into cash for Ukraine
Everett, Washington/Washington, DC — When a superyacht worth $230 million pulled into the port of Everett, Washington, for repairs last month, it made a big splash in the city of 110,000 residents. The 106-meter luxury behemoth known as the Amadea…
US House speaker to VOA: Ukraine should be able to fight war as ‘they see fit’
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday that the United States needs “to allow Ukraine to prosecute the war in the way they see fit,” when it comes to how Ukraine uses U.S.-provided weapons in its war against…
War leaves tragic legacy of mental illness in Ukraine
Experts say that in Ukraine, there has been a heavy increase in cases of anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems since Russia’s invasion in 2022, and it will likely have a long-term impact. For…
Droughts and floods threaten ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ across southern Africa
The droughts have destroyed harvests in areas where 70 per cent of the population depends on agriculture for survival. Executive Director McCain said what she has seen has been both alarming and heartbreaking. “I met farmers who usually grow enough…
Gaza: Rafah aid situation increasingly desperate, UN teams warn
In a post on X, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) confirmed that food distribution had been suspended because of a lack of supplies and ongoing hostilities that have made it too dangerous for aid teams to work. “The situation in…
Australian researchers unveil device that harvests water from the air
SYDNEY — A device that absorbs water from air to produce drinkable water was officially launched in Australia Wednesday. Researchers say the so-called Hydro Harvester, capable of producing up to 1,000 liters of drinkable water a day, could be “lifesaving…
Russia reports downing Ukrainian drones, missiles in western regions
The governor of western Russia’s Belgorod region said Wednesday falling fragments from a destroyed Ukrainian aerial drone damaged two residential buildings, while Russia’s defense ministry said the country’s air defenses shot down a total of three drones and six missiles…
Biden administration faces pressure on US weapons restrictions in Russia
In recent weeks Ukraine has intensified its appeals to the Biden administration to lift the ban on using U.S.-provided weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Oleksandra Ustinova, a member of the Ukrainian parliament who recently visited Washington, said Russia is…
UK infected blood scandal victims to start receiving final compensation
Britain’s government said Tuesday that thousands of victims of the U.K.’s decades-long infected blood scandal will start receiving final compensation payments this year. The scandal, which lasted between the 1970s and the early 1990s, is seen as the deadliest episode…
Biden releasing 1 million barrels of gasoline from Northeast reserve in bid to lower prices at pump
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration said Tuesday that it is releasing 1 million barrels of gasoline from a Northeast reserve established after Superstorm Sandy in a bid to lower prices at the pump this summer. The sale, from storage sites…