Month: August 2024

Russian hacker attacks target former US ambassadors, reveal prior penetration

Washington — Russian opposition politician Ilya Ponomarev says he saw no reason to be suspicious when he received what appeared to be an email from former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, a trusted contact with whom he communicates periodically. “This letter was visually no different from his other letters. I believed that it was his letter because it was visually no different from his other letters,” Ponomarev told VOA Russian in a Zoom interview. But this email from several months ago turned out to be one of numerous “phishing attacks” targeting U.S. diplomats and others that have been identified as …

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Понад 90 громадян Індії обманом відправили на війну проти України, восьмеро загинули

У липні під час візиту до Москви та зустрічі з російським лідером Володимиром Путіним прем’єр-міністр Індії Нарендра Моді порушував питання про демобілізацію індійців, які підписали контракти з військовими РФ …

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Ukraine’s first lady wants country’s kids to see themselves as ‘generation of winners,’ not war victims

Uzhhorod, Ukraine — Ukraine’s first lady wants her country’s children to view themselves not as a generation enduring a grinding war but rather as “a generation of winners.” On the sidelines of a day spent at a rehabilitation camp for Ukrainian children in the relatively safe western city of Uzhhorod, Olena Zelenska said Tuesday that working with the next generation was a moral obligation and a “strategic priority” for Ukraine’s future. Many of the children will return to front-line cities after spending a few weeks at the camp created by Voices of the Children charity, barely enough time to overcome the …

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Poland’s government plans record defense spending in 2025 budget

WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s budget proposal for 2025 includes record defense spending of 187 billion zlotys ($48.7 billion), officials said Wednesday.  Prime Minister Donald Tusk presented the main points of next year’s budget for the nation, which borders war-torn Ukraine and where security concerns are high. Tusk described the budget proposal as “generous” and supporting further economic growth.  “It is a great effort, but there is no turning back from it,” Tusk said at a news conference, referring to the defense sector funding.  Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski said that the defense spending proposal would constitute 4.7% of gross domestic product, compared …

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Pope finding strength to carry message of Catholicism to Asia, Oceania, on longest trip 

SINGAPORE  — Pope Francis will embark on the longest overseas tour of his papacy next week, as he visits four countries across Asia and Oceania on a grueling 11-day trip. The 87-year-old pontiff is scheduled to visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore on a journey emphasizing economic and religious diversity. The pope has faced recent health challenges and concerns and this is set to be his first overseas trip of 2024. Francis was forced to pull out of a visit to Dubai last November to recover from a bout of flu and lung inflammation. Ailing health has caused him …

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In drought-hit Greece, water trucks are keeping crops alive

NEA SILATA, Greece — Six weeks before harvest, there’s no water left in the ground for farmer Dimitris Papadakis’ olive grove in northern Greece, so he has started a new morning routine. Joined by his teenage son, he uses a truck to bring water from nearby areas. Using a small generator, he connects the vehicle to irrigation pipes to save what’s left of his thirsty crop. “Our boreholes have almost dried up … We now depend on tankers to irrigate our fields,” says Papadakis, who heads an agricultural cooperative in a village in Halkidiki, a three-fingered peninsula in northern Greece which …

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Germany’s far right targets renewable energy in bid for first election wins

CHEMNITZ-EUBA, Germany — Germany’s far-right AfD party, hoping to clinch its first wins in two east German state elections on Sept. 1, is trying to pick up countryside votes by making opposition to renewable energy projects a centerpiece of its campaign. It proposes tougher new planning rules on constructing turbines, imposing higher energy-storage requirements for renewable projects, and rolling back rules requiring that set proportions of land be used for wind energy. AfD candidates are also peppering their social media pages with posts about how renewable energy is driving up consumers’ energy bills. The message is resonating with rural communities frustrated …

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Ukraine deals with aftermath of massive air attack on infrastructure

In the wake of Russia’s massive air attacks across Ukraine Monday, Ukrainians are moving quickly to get power and transportation back online. Ukraine’s military says Russia launched more than 200 missiles and drones during the attacks, with more strikes on Tuesday. As Lesia Bakalets reports, cities are dealing with power outages, water supply interruptions and train delays. Camera: Vladyslav Smilianets …

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