Britain’s foreign minister on Tuesday said Iranian tanker Adrian Darya 1 had sold its crude oil to the Assad regime in Syria, breaking assurances it had given not to sell crude to the country. The vessel, formerly named Grace 1, was seized by British Royal Marine commandos on July 4 on suspicion of being en … continue reading -> “Britain Accuses Iran of Selling Adrian Darya 1 Tanker Oil to Syria”
President Donald Trump dismissed three Republican challengers to his 2020 re-election as “the Three Stooges” on Monday and expressed doubt about ever agreeing to meet them on a debate stage. “They’re a joke. They’re a laughing stock,” Trump told reporters when asked whether he would agree to debate them during the 2020 nominating contest. Three … continue reading -> “Trump Labels Republican Presidential Challengers ‘the Three Stooges’”
Hundreds of Guatemalan soldiers were deployed on Monday to an area near the border with Honduras and Mexico, home to long-standing social conflicts, in a bid to improve security after three soldiers were gunned down by suspected drug runners. Defense Minister Luis Miguel Ralda told reporters that 2,000 soldiers had been sent as part of … continue reading -> “Guatemala Deploys 2,000 Troops After Deadly Attack on Soldiers”
Coast Guard rescuers pulled four trapped men alive from a capsized cargo ship Monday, drilling into the hull’s steel plates to extract the crew members more than a day after their vessel overturned while leaving a Georgia port. All four were described as alert and in relatively good condition and were taken to a hospital … continue reading -> “Final Crewman Pulled Alive from Capsized S. Korean Ship in Georgia”
A divisive fight over the future of a crude-oil pipeline across Minnesota is pinning presidential candidates between environmentalists and trade unions in a 2020 battleground state, testing their campaign promises to ease away from fossil fuels. Progressive candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have condemned a Canadian company’s plan to replace its old and deteriorating … continue reading -> “Minnesota Oil Pipeline Fight Highlights Democratic Dilemmas”
President Donald Trump’s rally in North Carolina will serve as a measure of his clout in trying to elect a Republican to the House in a closely watched special election that’s seen as a tossup race. It will be his first campaign rally since a tough end of summer that saw slipping poll numbers, warning … continue reading -> “Trump’s North Carolina Rally to Be Test For his Clout, GOP”
Pope Francis visited the Indian Ocean nation of Mauritius on Monday to celebrate its diversity, encourage a more ethical development and honor a 19th century French missionary who ministered to freed slaves. Thousands of Mauritians waved palm branches as Francis arrived in his popemobile to celebrate a Mass honoring the Rev. Jacques-Desire Laval. While Catholics … continue reading -> “Pope Honors Mauritius Diversity, Urges Ethical Development”
Mark Sanford, the former South Carolina governor and congressman, joined the Republican race against President Donald Trump on Sunday, aiming to put his Appalachian trail travails behind him for good as he pursues an admittedly remote path to the presidency. “I am here to tell you now that I am going to get in,” Sanford … continue reading -> “Ex-South Carolina Gov. Sanford Adds Name to GOP Long Shots Against Trump”
Todd Phillips’ dark comic book film “Joker” won the Golden Lion Award at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on Saturday and cemented its place as a legitimate contender for the rest of the awards season. Jury president Lucretia Martel announced the winners of the prestigious award during a ceremony on the Lido. The Golden … continue reading -> “Dark ‘Joker’ Wins Top Venice Film Festival Prize”
Sudan’s first Cabinet since the ouster of president Omar al-Bashir was sworn in Sunday as the African country transitions to a civilian rule following nationwide protests that overthrew the autocrat. The 18-member Cabinet led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, which includes four women, took oath at the presidential palace in Khartoum, an AFP correspondent reported. … continue reading -> “Sudan’s First Post-Bashir Cabinet Sworn In”
China urged U.S.-led foreign troops Saturday to withdraw from Afghanistan in an “orderly and responsible” manner if a prospective peace deal is signed with the Islamist Taliban to end the 18-year war. U.S. negotiators are in the final stage of their yearlong bilateral dialogue with the insurgent group. The peace process, being hosted by Qatar, … continue reading -> “China Calls for ‘Responsible’ Foreign Troop Exit From Afghanistan”
Former top officials of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are assailing the agency for undermining its weather forecasters as it defends President Donald Trump’s claim that Hurricane Dorian had threatened Alabama. They say NOAA’s action risks the credibility of the nation’s weather and science agency and may even risk lives. The critics … continue reading -> “NOAA Assailed for Defending Trump’s Hurricane Dorian Claim”
Thousands of displaced people are living in “rapidly deteriorating” conditions in the worst-hit parts of the Bahamas six days after Hurricane Dorian made landfall, the U.N. World Food Program warned Saturday. The warning came as aid groups rushed emergency aid to the storm-ravaged islands and officials warned that an official death toll of 43 … continue reading -> “‘Rapidly Deteriorating’ Conditions Plague Storm-Battered Bahamas”
A senior Iranian nuclear official said Saturday that the clock was ticking for other parties to salvage a 2015 nuclear deal and that it had the capacity to raise its uranium enrichment beyond 20%, although it had no plans to do so for the time being. “We have started lifting limitations on our Research and … continue reading -> “Official: Iran Can Raise Uranium Enrichment Beyond 20% “
Anyone who has tried booking interesting and affordable accommodations in New York City knows how difficult it is. Renting a room for less than $30 a night sounds impossible. But it’s true, even if the accommodations are a bit… unconventional. Elena Wolf has the story narrated by Anna Rice. …
An Iraqi resort is welcoming visitors again after years of war, terrorism and chaos kept families away. Habbaniya Lake was once one of Iraq’s most popular tourist destinations. Now, managers say they plan to restore it in the next couple of years. VOA’s Jim Randle narrates our report. …
A new U.S. Congress opened in Washington on January 3 with a historic class of new legislators, many without political experience. The racially diverse class has set some records, including the most women elected to Congress, the first Native American and Muslim women, the first U.S. Army Green Beret. Voice of America is following the … continue reading -> “Climbing the Hill: New Legislators Are Sworn In”
Officials said Friday Taliban militants conducted an overnight attack on the western Afghan city of Farah, the capital of Farah province. There was no immediate word about casualties among Afghan forces or the Taliban. On Thursday, the NATO-led military alliance said an American soldier and a Romanian soldier were killed “in action” in Kabul, Afghanistan, … continue reading -> “Taliban Conduct Attacks in Afghanistan Amid Peace Negotiations”
WAGGA WAGGA, Australia — After the horrors of fleeing to Sinjar Mountain in northern Iraq to escape Islamic State fighters in 2014, several hundred Yazidi refugees are starting new lives in the Australian outback. Members of the minority religious group have been resettled in a handful of regional centers, like Wagga Wagga, to relieve pressure on … continue reading -> “Persecuted Yazidis Find Sanctuary in Australia”
The government on Thursday ordered Michigan State University to make sweeping changes and pay a $4.5 million fine after determining that it failed to adequately respond to sexual assault complaints against Larry Nassar, a former campus sports doctor who molested elite gymnasts and other female athletes. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced the penalty after the … continue reading -> “Michigan State University Fined $4.5 Million in Nassar Sex Abuse Case”
Zimbabwe’s government doctors are on strike, demanding a salary increase to cover the soaring cost of living. The strike began on Tuesday. The doctors, like many government workers, say inflation has made it impossible to meet basic needs. Columbus Mavhunga has the story for VOA from Harare. …
A peculiar form of body art is gaining popularity in New York city – It’s protest body art where people paint their bodies, not with pictures and innocent images, but slogans aimed at fighting divisiveness. Nina Vishneva has the story narrated by Anna Rice. …
People in the Bahamas are running out of ways to describe the devastation left by Hurricane Dorian. Words including “apocalyptic,” “shock” and “looking like a bomb went off” have been used, but just about any description seems too weak to describe conditions on Abaco and Grand Bahama Island. Dorian spent nearly two days parked on … continue reading -> “Help Rushed to the Hurricane-Ravaged Bahamas “
The Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Wednesday subpoenaed the Department of Homeland Security for documents that could shed light on President Donald Trump’s alleged offer of pardons to officials implementing U.S. immigration policy. The committee, which is considering whether to recommend impeachment against Trump, cited press reports that the president offered pardons to … continue reading -> “US House Panel Seeks DHS Papers in Alleged Trump Pardon Offers”
A number of technology companies including Facebook Inc., Alphabet’s Google, Microsoft Corp. and Twitter Inc. met with representatives of the U.S. government Wednesday to discuss security strategies related to the 2020 U.S. election, Facebook said in a statement. The security teams of the companies met with representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office … continue reading -> “Social Media, Tech Companies Meet With US Intelligence on 2020 Election Strategy”