Ukraine, US weigh critical minerals agreement
Ukraine’s vast reserves of critical minerals give it the potential to be a strategic supplier for the West. President Donald Trump is considering a deal that would continue U.S. support for Ukraine in the war against Russia in exchange for…
At Munich conference, Vance warns European allies of ‘threat from within’
U.S. Vice President JD Vance warned European leaders at the security conference in Munich, Germany, of the “threat from within,” arguing that their governments are censoring far-right speech and failing to control migration. His remarks came amid allies’ alarm over…
Experts cautious on Russia-Ukraine peace talks
After U.S. President Donald Trump launched a diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine, VOA Russian spoke to a range of experts who remain cautious about the prospects of peace talks, saying little detail is available about each side’s…
IAEA confirms drone attack damaged outer wall of Chernobyl dome
The U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed Friday that a drone attack damaged an outer wall of the protective dome containing the remains of the damaged Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine, starting a fire. The 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident…
Taiwan pledges chip talks and investment in bid to ease Trump’s concerns
TAIPEI — Taiwan President Lai Ching-te pledged on Friday to talk with the United States about President Donald Trump’s concerns over the chip industry and to increase U.S. investment and buy more from the country, while also spending more on…
Strike on Chernobyl: ‘No room for complacency’ says atomic energy watchdog
Russia has denied any responsibility for the attack. The head of the UN-backed international atomic energy watchdog, IAEA – which has a team based at the former Soviet nuclear site in Ukraine – issued a statement confirming that the strike had…
UN rights office condemns continuing Israeli military operation in West Bank
Since the start of the offensive on 21 January, Israeli forces have killed at least 44 Palestinians, including five children and two women, in Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas governorates, and four refugee camps in those areas, according to OHCHR. Many…
DR Congo displacement, health crisis worsens amid dwindling aid access
“The crisis is worsening as people flee to areas where humanitarian aid cannot reach due to insecurity,” UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Eujin Byun told reporters in Geneva. The development comes a day after the top UN aid official in…
Sudan, ‘the most devastating humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world’
1) The war: 2023 Khartoum clashes herald end of peace process By the end of 2022, there were hopes that a UN- backed peace process would finally lead to a civilian administration in Sudan, after a tumultuous period which saw…
Belarus: Violations remain ‘widespread and systematic’, says independent expert group
The Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus established in 2024, was tasked with investigating alleged violations since 2020 – when a disputed election saw President Alexander Lukashenko returned to power for a sixth term –…