Section: Voice of America (USA)
President Obama ‘Impressed’ By ‘Clout’ of China’s Leader
President Barack Obama says he is impressed by the clout possessed by his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, likening his quick consolidation of power to that of Deng Xiaoping, who led China from 1978 to 1992. Obama, speaking to The Business Roundtable in Washington Wednesday, also said he is “less optimistic” about the prospects of improving...
Governments Grow Bolder in Blocking Online Freedom, Study Says
A growing number of nations are increasingly censoring parts of the Internet and passing laws to allow for greater surveillance of what people do and say online, according to a new report issued by Freedom House. The report released Thursday and titled “Freedom of the Net 2014,” is an annual survey of 65 governments and their policies regarding...
Russia’s Ex-Economy Minister Sees Fundamental Problems
Russia’s currency, the ruble, this week fell to its lowest value in a quarter century. Oil prices also fell as finance officials changed their economic forecast for next year from slight growth to recession. Russia’s economy is taking a beating from Western sanctions over Ukraine, and foreign investment is fleeing the country. But...
BREAKING: Explosion, Heavy Fighting Reported in Grozny, Chechnya
A loud explosion and sounds of heavy fighting have been reported in Chechnya’s capital of Grozny, according to sources on Twitter and some media outlets in the region. Multiple sources on Twitter are reporting that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s motorcade has been seen pulling into the Kremlin in the middle of the night, around...
Obama Offers Blunt Assessment of US Ties with China, Russia
U.S. President Barack Obama has offered his views about the United States’ relations with China and Russia, voicing optimism about U.S. links with Beijing but pessimism about increasingly antagonistic exchanges with Moscow. Obama made his comments Wednesday in an expansive question-and-answer session in Washington with the Business...
Landmine Casualties Fall Significantly to 15-Year Low
Fewer people were killed or wounded by landmines over the past year than at any time since recordkeeping began in 1999, and production of the weapons has almost stopped, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines said in a new report on Wednesday. The drop in casualties caused by landmines, victim-activated explosive devices and unexploded...
Draft: EU, US to Stand United on Ukraine Sanctions, Energy Plan
U.S. and European Union leaders will on Wednesday pledge to work together on sanctions and on strengthening the energy security of Europe and Ukraine, as they seek to present a united front to Russia, a draft document said. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz are in Brussels for talks after a year in which the...
NATO Chief: Tensions With Moscow Could ‘Spiral Out of Control’
NATO’s new secretary general says increased tensions with Russia and military activity on both sides could “spiral out of control,” and he called on Russia to take steps to end the crisis. At a meeting in Brussels, Jens Stoltenberg also said he expects the situation, sparked by Russia’s annexation of Crimea and involvement in eastern...
Russia Predicts 2015 Recession
Russia is predicting it will slide into a recession next year. Moscow’s economic development ministry said Tuesday it is forecasting the Russian economy will contract eight-tenths of a percent in 2015, down from an earlier projection of a 1.2 percent advance. Russia’s economic fortunes are being buffeted by falling revenues on oil...
New Cease-fire for Ukraine’s Luhansk Region
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe says Ukraine’s military and pro-Russian separatist forces in the Luhansk region have agreed “in principle” to a new cease-fire effective Dec. 5. The OSCE said Monday the cease-fire would bring a truce include the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the area starting December...
