Father of one fighter criticizes decision to give long jail terms to young people he described as 'brainwashed'
A court in Belgium has handed down jail sentences to 45 members of an Islamist group convicted of arranging for young men to travel to Syria to fight for jihadist groups. Most of those sentenced were absent from court, presumed to be fighting or to have been killed in Syria. It’s the latest in a series of prosecutions of European citizens who have joined terror groups in Syria. VOA's Henry Ridgwell reports.
At least 29 people have frozen to death trying to cross the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy over the past few days, spurring renewed calls for the European Union to resume large-scale search and rescue missions in the area. Henry Ridgwell reports from on board an EU patrol vessel off Sicily.
Recent deaths prompt renewed calls for humanitarian patrols as EU search-and-rescue operations struggle to cover vast maritime region
Leaders from France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia due to meet in Minsk on Wednesday in latest attempt to reach a peace deal in Ukrainian conflict
Japan’s role on the world stage has been brought into sharp focus by the executions of two Japanese nationals by the Islamic State terror group in Syria. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to change the country’s pacifist stance and take a more proactive role in global security. But many Japanese disagree. Henry Ridgwell reports for VOA.
PM Shinzo Abe wants to change country’s pacifist stance, take more proactive role in global security, but many Japanese disagree
Release of Peter Greste should not distract from basic rights violations still taking place, says Nicholas Piachaud of Amnesty International
Relations between Russia and the West are set to become even more strained amid an inquiry in London into the murder of a former Russian spy. Lawyers at the inquiry accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of directing a "mafia state." Meanwhile, Royal Air Force fighters intercepted Russian bombers close to British airspace this week, prompting authorities to summon Moscow’s ambassador. Henry Ridgwell reports.
Some analysts say Russian Tu-95 bombers were flying near British airspace to warn Britain about an inquest into a murdered Russian spy
Greece’s youngest-ever prime minister, 40-year-old Alexis Tsipras, was sworn in Monday after his victorious far-left Syriza party entered a coalition with far right rivals. Tsipras says he will restore dignity to Greece by ending spending cuts. So begins a new chapter for the country at the epicenter of Europe’s economic crisis - a change that has sent tremors across the continent, as Henry Ridgwell reports from London.
Country's youngest ever PM Alexis Tsipras, 40, sworn in Monday and says he will restore dignity to Greece by ending spending cuts
Yemen's parliament is scheduled to hold an emergency session Sunday following the resignation of the president and the government. Armed Houthi rebels stormed the capital, Sanaa, earlier this week, plunging the country into further turmoil and triggering protests in the south. VOA's Henry Ridgwell reports.
Protesters gather in Sana'a after armed Houthi rebels stormed the Yemeni capital earlier this week, plunging the country into further turmoil
The Euro currency has fallen sharply after the European Central Bank announced a bigger-than-expected $67 billion-a-month quantitative easing program Thursday - commonly seen as a form of printing new money. Henry Ridgwell reports for VOA from London on whether the move might rescue the eurozone economy -- and what lessons have been learned from similar programs around the world.
Euro falls after European Central Bank announces a bigger-than-expected $67 billion-a-month quantitative easing program
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has accused Russia of deploying 9,000 soldiers and 500 tanks on Ukrainian soil — and is demanding that Moscow withdraw its forces and return to the so-called Minsk cease-fire agreement. The Ukrainian demand follows intense fighting in the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. VOA's Henry Ridgwell reports.
NATO official says alliance has seen Russian forces in eastern Ukraine for months, as well as a 'substantial increase' in heavy Russian military equipment
The combined wealth of the world's richest 1 percent will overtake that of the remaining 99 percent at some point in 2016, according to the anti-poverty charity Oxfam. Campaigners are demanding that policymakers take action to address the widening gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’, as Henry Ridgwell reports for VOA from London.
Report was released Monday ahead of annual World Economic Forum meeting this week in Davos, Switzerland
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