Section: Voice of America (USA)
Pope Condemns IS ‘Persecution’ of Minorities
Pope Francis condemned the “brutal persecution” of minorities by Islamic State insurgents in his Christmas message on Thursday and urged people not to be indifferent to the suffering of so many around the world. Christmas is one of the holiest days for Christians, who on Thursday celebrate the birth of Jesus. Tens of thousands of people turned...
After Kenyatta Setback, ICC Struggles to Move Ahead
The International Criminal Court was created to pursue some of the world’s most heinous crimes in places unable to deliver justice. No perpetrator is too powerful to face charges at the Hague-based tribunal. Or that was the idea. But the collapse of the case against Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and other setbacks are fueling a...
Ukraine Warns of More Power Cuts if Mild Weather Fades
Ukraine will be forced to implement more power cuts if the weather gets sharply colder, Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Wednesday. Kyiv had already temporarily cut off electricity to Crimea. Ukraine used to be self-sufficient in electricity, but months of fighting a pro-Russian uprising has disrupted coal supplies to thermal power plants,...
Russian Official: NATO Turning Ukraine into ‘Frontline of Confrontation’
Russia said on Wednesday NATO was turning Ukraine into a “frontline of confrontation” and threatened to sever remaining ties with the Atlantic military alliance if Ukraine’s hopes of joining it were realized. The Kyiv parliament’s renunciation of Ukraine’s neutral status on Tuesday in pursuit of NATO membership has outraged...
Ukraine, Rebels Set for Fresh Peace Talks
Ukraine’s government is set to meet with pro-Russian rebels Wednesday for a fresh round of talks aimed at ending the separatist war in the east. The talks in Belarus will include representatives from Ukraine, the eastern rebels, Russia, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). A representative of the OSCE, which...
Eurasian Economic Union on Shaky Ground at Outset
The Eurasian Economic Union is headed for a rough start. Officials from members of the economic alliance, which was modeled on the European Union and officially comes into effect January 1, met Tuesday in Moscow under the pain of Russia’s collapsing economy and the absence of Ukraine. Western sanctions over Ukraine and a drop in the price...
Russia’s Prime Minister Warns of ‘Deep Recession’
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says the country would plunge into a “deep recession” if the government abandoned its spending plans. Speaking Tuesday in Moscow before leading officials of the ruling United Russia party, Dmitry Medvedev said the government will stay focused on its strategic aims and social spending to avoid the...
Ukraine’s Parliament Drops Non-Aligned Status
Ukraine took a further step toward seeking NATO membership Tuesday, when the country’s parliament passed a law abolishing Kyiv’s neutral, non-aligned status. Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to do away with the non-aligned status. It was adopted in 2010 under Russian pressure and prevented Kyiv from making military alliances. Ukrainian...
CPJ: Number of Journalists Killed Rises in 2014
A press freedom group says at least 60 journalists have been killed this year while doing their job, with members of the international press making up a particularly high percentage of the dead. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists issued its annual report Tuesday documenting journalist deaths in 21 countries in 2014. It says local...
Russia’s Financial Crisis Hits Ordinary Citizens
The collapse of the Russian currency has led to increased mortgage payments for some ordinary Russians who are paying off loans based on foreign currency. Analysts predict that Russia will enter recession sometime next year as a result of declining energy prices and western sanctions against Moscow for its interference in eastern Ukraine. Zlatica...
