Europe

Russian forces bypass key stronghold to cut off supplies to Ukrainians

Russian troops are going around the vital logistics hub of Pokrovsk

VOA Russian: Pro-Kremlin media starting to lose audiences 

VOA Russian: Kremlin oligarchs still prosper despite Western sanctions

Patriarch of Russian Orthodoxy preaches ‘biblical battle’ between West, Russia, lies about WWI

World War I had a catastrophic impact on Russia, forcing its withdrawal before the conflict ended, resulting in significant territorial losses, including what is now Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. This was followed by a five-year civil war.

Ryanair calls for alcoholic drink limit at EU airports amid legal action against unruly passenger

Aviation agencies have long expressed concern over disruptive, in-flight incidents

Biden defends foreign policy record despite ongoing crises

In a rare State Department speech, outgoing president touts his administration's backing for Ukraine against Russia's 2022 invasion and for Israel's wars in Middle East

Biggest European allies to swiftly implement new NATO targets, Berlin says

Targets involve weapons and troop numbers which the alliance is about to agree upon, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced Monday

Russia says Iran's president will visit this week, sign partnership pact with Putin

The agreement on a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’ between the countries will be signed during Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Moscow on Friday, the Kremlin said

'Exhausted' Frenchman held in Iran since 2022 reveals identity

The other two French nationals currently held in Iran are teacher Cecile Kohler and her partner, Jacques Paris, who were detained in May 2022

South Korea says 300 North Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine

Zelenskyy says Ukraine will send captured North Koreans back home if Kim Jong Un arranges swap for Ukrainians held in Russia

Austrian woman kidnapped in Niger's Agadez city, authorities say

Local media and residents identified the woman as Eva Gretzmacher and said she is an aid worker who has lived in Agadez for more than 20 years