Month: January 2024

White House Urges Congress to Fund Ukraine Fight

Russia and Ukraine rang in 2024 by attacking each other, as Ukraine continues its quest to push invading Russian forces out. But much of the drama around this conflict is centered in Washington, where Republicans are reluctant to grant President Joe Biden’s increasingly urgent request for tens of billions in funding for Ukraine. VOA’s Anita Powell reports from the White House. …

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Extreme Cold Grips Nordic Countries as Floods Hit Western Europe

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Europe experienced stark weather contrasts on Wednesday, with extreme cold and snowstorms disrupting transportation and closing schools in Scandinavia while strong winds and heavy rain in western Europe caused flooding and at least one death.  Temperatures fell below minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Nordic region for a second consecutive day Wednesday. In Kvikkjokk-Årrenjarka in Swedish Lapland, the mercury dropped to minus 43.6 C (minus 46.5 F) the lowest January temperature recorded in Sweden in 25 years, Sweden’s TT news agency reported.  Extremely cold temperatures, snow and gale-force winds disrupted transportation throughout the Nordic …

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Top UN Court to Hear Genocide Case Against Israel Next Week

The Hague — The United Nation’s top court will hear submissions next week from South Africa and Israel after Pretoria opened a case for what it called Israel’s genocidal acts in Gaza. South Africa wants the International Court of Justice to urgently order Israel to suspend its military operations in Gaza, in a case that Israel rejected “with disgust.” The United States on Wednesday criticized South Africa for bringing a genocide case, rejecting accusations against Israel over its war in Gaza. “This submission is meritless, counterproductive and completely without any basis in fact whatsoever,” White House National Security Council spokesman John …

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Turkey Opens First Major Trial Into Earthquake Deaths

ISTANBUL — Turkey on Wednesday opened the first major trial linked to the construction of buildings that crumbled in two massive earthquakes that claimed more than 50,000 lives in February 2023. The hearing in the southeastern city of Adiyaman involves 11 defendants accused of “conscious negligence” while overseeing the construction of the Isias Hotel. Five of the 11 defendants, including the hotel’s owner, have been arrested and charged with crimes that could see them jailed for more than 20 years each. The hotel’s collapse killed 24 children from Northern Cyprus who had flown to Turkey to attend a students’ volleyball tournament. …

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