China “will not sit idly by” if the U.S. proceeds with a sale of advanced F-16V fighter jets to Taiwan, a Chinese general said, while warning of other potential countermeasures in addition to punishing foreign firms involved in the deal. Beijing considered the sale a violation of previous U.S. commitments to China regarding the island … continue reading -> “China ‘Will Not Sit Idly’ if US Sells Fighter Jets to Taiwan”

Experts are warning that a focus on alleged Islamist militant ties is hindering efforts to respond to insurgencies in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.   Local insurgent groups have claimed ties to Islamic State to increase their clout, but the groups operate autonomously, experts who study the regions say.   On April … continue reading -> “Misguided Focus Hinders Response to DRC, Mozambique Insurgencies, Experts Say”

Indonesia has arrested 34 people and cut internet access in its easternmost region of Papua to rein in violence after protesters torched buildings, a market and a prison over mistreatment of students and perceived ethnic discrimination. Police have flown in 1,200 more officers to quell sometimes violent protests since Monday in towns such as Manokwari, … continue reading -> “Indonesia Arrests 34, Blocks Internet in Papua to Curb Protests”

Iranian state media said the government showcased a domestically built long-range, mobile surface-to-air missile system on Thursday. The system’s unveiling came on Iran’s National Defense Industry Day and at a time of rising tension between Iran and the United States. Iran developed a large domestic arms industry in the face of international sanctions and embargoes … continue reading -> “Iran Showcases New Long-Range Missile System”

Zimbabwe rights activists are calling for Western sanctions against the country to remain in place, despite calls this week by the Southern African Development Community for them to be lifted.  Government supporters say the sanctions are hurting ordinary people.  But critics say it is the government’s policies, not sanctions, that are to blame for the poor economy, … continue reading -> “Zimbabwe Rights Activists Oppose Calls for Lifting Sanctions”

Liberian President George Weah has proposed reducing term lengths for members of the executive and legislative branches of government. Under his plan, the president and representatives would serve five years instead of six, while senators would sit for seven years rather than nine. The idea, says Presidential Press Secretary Smith Toby, is to push officials … continue reading -> “Liberian President Wants to Shorten Terms for Legislature, Executive”

Iranian women should be allowed to attend men’s World Cup qualifiers in the Islamic Republic later this year, a top Asian soccer official said Tuesday, ramping up pressure on Tehran to end a long-running ban. Iranian women have long been barred from watching men’s teams play, but Tehran relaxed the rule last year to allow … continue reading -> “Allow Iranian Women to Attend Matches, Says Asian Soccer Official”

Sudan on Tuesday completed the formation of an 11-member sovereign council that will run the country for a three-year transitional period until elections, a spokesman for the ruling military council told a news conference. The sovereign council will be led by Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who is the head of the transitional military council … continue reading -> “Sudan Forms 11-Member Sovereign Council, Headed by Military Leader”

Brazil said on Tuesday it had extradited to Chile a leftist guerrilla convicted of the murder of a Chilean politician allied with former dictator Augusto Pinochet. Mauricio Hernandez Norambuena, a member of leftist group Manuel Rodriguez Patriotic Front (FPMR), was convicted in Chile of the 1991 murder of Chilean Senator Jaime Guzman. Hernandez eventually fled … continue reading -> “Brazil Extradites Chilean Leftist Guerrilla Convicted of Murdering Pinochet Ally”

The United States is warning entities in the Mediterranean against working with an Iranian-flagged oil tanker now moving through the region after being freed from detention by Gibraltar. The U.S. State Department repeated allegations that the Adrian Darya 1 was “transporting illicit oil to fuel the Iranian regime’s and Syrian regime’s campaigns of terror and … continue reading -> “US Warns Against ‘Facilitating’ Freed Iranian Tanker”

An investment fund designed for animal rights advocates and environmentalists, the first of its kind according to financial experts, is set to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) next month. VEGN, as it will show on the NYSE’s floor, enters the fray of hundreds of funds that consider environmental, social or governance … continue reading -> “First Vegan Investment Fund Coming to New York Stock Exchange”

Russia’s Norilsk smelter complex and a town in South Africa’s eastern coal mining province have the highest sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions in the world, according to satellite data from U.S. space agency NASA. The NASA-compiled data published on Monday was commissioned by environmental group Greenpeace India and used the space authority’s satellites to track anthropogenic … continue reading -> “NASA Data: Russia’s Norilsk and S. African Coal Town Kriel Top SO2 Emissions Hot Spots”

Few people have turned up for an opposition protest in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city, on Monday as armed police maintained heavy presence on the streets and at a courthouse where the opposition is pressing to be allowed to hold the demonstration. Business in Bulawayo’s usually bustling downtown was subdued with the most traffic from police … continue reading -> “Few Demonstrators Turn Up for Zimbabwe Protest in Bulawayo”

The EU says European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has undergone a successful operation to remove his gallbladder but will not be able to attend this weekend’s Group of Seven meeting in Biarritz, France. EU spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud said Juncker’s doctors banned him from traveling in the foreseeable future and plans are still being formulated as … continue reading -> “Juncker has Successful Surgery; Will Miss G7 Biarritz Summit”

Authorities on Spain’s Canary Islands have confirmed the evacuation of more than 8,000 people Sunday and Monday as a massive wildfire swept across Gran Canaria. No fatalities have been reported, so far, but the fire is not yet under control. Canary Islands President Angel Victor Torres said 1,100 firefighters are battling to contain the flames, … continue reading -> “8,000 People Evacuated as Wildfire Sweeps Spain’s Canary Islands”

This story originated in VOA’s Serbian Service. Some information is from Reuters. WASHINGTON — U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer says an unresolved extortion investigation in North Macedonia could undermine prospects for the small Balkan nation’s long-awaited European Union accession talks. North Macedonia’s former chief Special Prosecutor, Katica Janeva, unexpectedly tendered her resignation … continue reading -> “US Diplomat: Unresolved Extortion Probe Could Undermine N. Macedonian Accession Talks”

Another scientific study has confirmed that trees can have a far-reaching effect in stemming global warming by removing large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. Tree-planting advocates say this is something they’ve known for decades, and the world is finally getting the message. Mike O’Sullivan has more from Los Angeles. …

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson about trade, next-generation 5G mobile networks and global security, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement on Friday. Trump told Johnson during a call on Thursday that he looked forward to meeting him at the G7 economic summit in France later this … continue reading -> “Trump, Britain’s Johnson Discussed Trade, Security, 5G -White House”

A powerful earthquake struck off the southern coast of Indonesia’s heavily populated Java island Friday, with the country’s disaster agency warning that it could generate a tsunami. The 6.8 magnitude quake struck offshore at a depth 42 kilometres (26 miles), some  150 kilometres (90 miles) from Labuan, southwest of the capital Jakarta, according to the … continue reading -> “Tsunami Warning as Powerful Quake Hits Southwest Indonesia”

The U.S.-China trade war intensified Thursday after President Donald Trump said he would impose an additional 10 percent tariff on some Chinese products, one day after the two superpowers agreed to continue trade talks next month. “Trade talks are continuing, and during the talks the U.S. will start, on September 1st, putting a small additional … continue reading -> “Trump to Impose 10% Tariff on $300 Billion of Chinese Goods”

Poland on Thursday scrapped its personal income tax for young employees earning less than $22,000 a year, as part of a drive to reverse a brain drain and demographic decline that’s dimming the prospects of a country that is otherwise experiencing strong economic growth. A new law by the right-wing government took effect Thursday, slashing … continue reading -> “Poland Waives Tax for Young Employees to Counter Brain Drain”

The heat wave that smashed high temperature records in five European countries a week ago is now over Greenland, accelerating the melting of the island’s ice sheet and causing massive ice loss in the Arctic. Greenland, the world’s largest island, is a semi-autonomous Danish territory between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans that has 82% of … continue reading -> “Walloped by Heat Wave, Greenland Sees Massive Ice Melt”

U.S. rapper A$AP Rocky is expected to give testimony in a Swedish court Thursday on the second day of his assault trial after he and two of his entourage were accused of punching and kicking a teenager. The 30-year-old performer, producer and model, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, pleaded not guilty to a charge … continue reading -> “US Rapper A$AP Rocky to Testify in Assault Trial”

The United States does not plan to make changes to a military drill with South Korea, a senior U.S. defense official said Wednesday, despite a series of North Korean missile launches intended to pressure Seoul and Washington to stop joint exercises. The U.S. and South Korean militaries are planning to stage a joint exercise in … continue reading -> “US Official: No Change to South Korea-US Military Exercise”

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Kelly Craft, a Republican donor who is currently ambassador to Canada, as ambassador to the United Nations, despite opposition from Democrats who criticized President Donald Trump’s nominee as not having sufficient experience for the post.  The Senate backed Craft 56 to 34, largely along party lines, moving to end seven months without a … continue reading -> “US Senate Confirms Craft as UN Ambassador”