Trump pressures Russia to end Ukraine war as Kremlin shrugs off sanction threats
Just days into his presidency, Donald Trump is intensifying pressure on Russia to begin peace talks with Ukraine. On Thursday, Russia dismissed Trump’s threats of new sanctions and tariffs on the Kremlin if it refused to end the war. VOA’s…
US lawmakers seek to end China’s special trade status, import exemption
WASHINGTON — U.S. lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill on Thursday that would revoke China’s preferential trade status with the United States, phase in steep tariffs and end the “de minimis” exemption for low-value Chinese imports. The bill, introduced by John…
With US pushing for war’s end, Ukraine’s displaced look to rebuild lives
With the new U.S. administration pushing for a quick end to the war in Ukraine, many of the country’s 3.5 million internally displaced hope to return to their homes. Many of those homes have been destroyed and for many people,…
UK watchdog targets Apple, Google mobile ecosystems with new digital market powers
London — Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS are facing fresh scrutiny from Britain’s competition watchdog, which announced investigations Thursday targeting the two tech giants’ mobile phone ecosystems under new powers to crack down on digital market abuses. The Competition and…
UN to strengthen cooperation with League of Arab States
Briefing ambassadors, Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, highlighted the League’s vital role in promoting stability in a region marked by persistent conflicts, from the fragile ceasefire in Gaza to the crises in Syria, Yemen, Sudan, and…
‘We must be there for them now,’ says UN relief chief, highlighting plight of Gaza’s children
“Today marks one of the rare times we are able to highlight positive developments, albeit amid catastrophic humanitarian needs in Gaza,” Mr. Fletcher began. He noted that the recent ceasefire has provided a much-needed reprieve from relentless hostilities, allowing for…
UN scales up humanitarian response in Gaza as ceasefire offers respite
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Wednesday that large volumes of aid continue to flow into Gaza through the Erez and Zikim crossings in the north, and Kerem Shalom in the south – reaching…
Middle East crisis: Updates for 23 January, UN relief chief says ‘we can save more lives’ if Gaza ceasefire holds
Following the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners on Sunday, the UN Security Council is meeting in New York to hear from the Secretary-General and foreign ministers from the Middle East and beyond. UN chief António Guterres told the…
Afghanistan: ICC seeks arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over gender-based persecution
On Thursday, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan applied for arrest warrants for two senior Taliban officials: Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani. They are accused of crimes against humanity on the grounds of gender-based persecution…
Georgia: Malaria-free certification ‘a huge milestone worth marking’
It now joins 45 countries and one territory that have achieved this milestone. “Today we congratulate the people of Georgia for their decades of targeted and sustained actions to eliminate malaria, one of the world’s leading killers,” said Tedros Adhanom…