Section: Voice of America (USA)
Romania’s Health Care Exodus
Sonia Papiu started her first year of residency as a psychiatrist in the Romanian city of Cluj in January, but she plans to move abroad within the year, seeking better learning opportunities and hospital conditions. She will not be alone. “I don’t think any of my colleagues are planning to stay,” she said. “I think I could...
Kremlin Denies Violating Nuclear Arms Pact With US
The Kremlin on Thursday rejected U.S. claims of Russian violations of a landmark nuclear arms treaty, saying it has respected the pact and will continue to do so. The controversy over the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty adds another thorn in the side for U.S. President Donald Trump’s declared goal of improving ties with...
US Accuses Russia of Deploying Missile in Violation of Arms Control Treaty
The United States has publicly accused Russia for the first time of deploying a cruise missile in violation of a 30-year-old arms control agreement. Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman General Paul Selva confirmed on Capitol Hill the deployment of the land-based missile violates the “spirit and intent” of the 1987 Intermediate-range...
Russia’s Hallowed October Revolution Now Seen as a ‘Communist Coup’
For decades, the Soviet Union celebrated the October Revolution, which brought the communist Bolsheviks to power in Russia. Nowadays, there’s much less celebration. The October Revolution, which took place in November 1917 under the modern Gregorian calendar, led to the rise of the Soviet Union and created the world’s first communist...
Ukraine Envoy: US Supports Kyiv Against ‘Russian Aggression’
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin says U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has assured him that Washington will continue to support Kyiv in its standoff with Russia. Klimkin spoke to reporters after meeting at the State Department Tuesday with Tillerson, the former ExxonMobil CEO who now serves as President Donald Trump’s top...
Russian Officials Cautious on How to Mark 1917 Revolution Centenary
Russia this year is marking 100 years since the Russian Revolution ended the country’s monarchy, an event that led to the creation of the Soviet Union, a communist regime that for much of the 20th century ruled an empire. Despite the significant anniversary, Russian authorities have been cautious about how to observe it, apparently fearful...
$74 Million Fraud Case Reaches Kyiv Court
A Kyiv court set bail Monday for the former head of Ukraine’s tax service who had recently been named a suspect in a major corruption case involving the embezzlement of approximately $74 million. The case against Roman Nasirov is seen by some as the first real test of the country’s new National Anti-Corruption Bureau...
Russian State Media Tries to Link Georgia’s EU Visa Waiver to Refugee Camps
Last week, just days after the southern Caucasus nation of Georgia celebrated its newly awarded visa-free travel access to 30 EU countries, Russian news outlets began reporting a different story. Georgia’s visa liberalization wasn’t the result of Tblisi’s successful, long-planned reforms targeting European integration, Russian...
Russia’s Monarchy a Sensitive Issue as February Revolution Centenary Marked
On March 8, 100 years ago, a revolution erupted in Saint Petersburg that ended the monarchy in Russia and set up a provisional government that was overthrown by the Bolsheviks just months later. That led to the rise of the Soviet Union and the spread of communism globally. But there are still Russians today who defend the monarchy as sacred, and...
EU Clears Russian Nuclear Reactor Project in Hungary
European regulators on Monday cleared Hungary to expand its Paks nuclear plant, approving a project that will extend Russia’s influence over the energy policy of a state that has actively promoted its interests within the EU. Budapest signed a 12 billion euros ($12.7 billion) deal for two new reactors with Russia in 2014, to be built by...
