Climate change continues leaving its mark on the world’s oceans.  Water levels are rising along with temperatures.  Warmer waters supercharge some marine life’s reproduction rates, putting other species’ very survival at risk. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi takes us under the sea. …

The American Express “Green Card” is turning 50, topping off half a century of being everywhere its card members wanted to be.   Launched in 1969, the Green Card gave travelers a sense of importance they didn’t feel carrying travelers’ cheques.   For many, it was their first AmEx card. Over time, however, the Green … continue reading -> “Iconic AmEx ‘Green Card’ Turns 50, Gets Needed Revamp”

The International Red Cross has warned of an imminent “humanitarian catastrophe” at an overcrowded makeshift migrant camp on Bosnia’s border with Croatia and asked for urgent relocation of its occupants to a safer area. In a statement Thursday, it said the Vucjak camp, which has been named “The Jungle” by migrants living there, has no … continue reading -> “Red Cross Warns of Humanitarian Crisis in Bosnian Camp”

The European Parliament on Thursday awarded the Sakharov Prize for human rights to Uighur intellectual Ilham Tohti, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment in China for “separatism”. The outspoken former professor of economics at a Beijing university was sentenced in 2014 by Chinese courts in a trial that provoked an outcry from foreign governments … continue reading -> “Jailed Uighur Tohti Wins European Parliament Sakharov Rights Award”

Two small helicopters collided Wednesday over a ranch in South Texas, and two men were killed, authorities said.  Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Nathan Brandley said the helicopters struck in midair near Hebbronville, a community about 160 miles (260 kilometers) south of San Antonio.    Brandley said one helicopter was able to land but the other crashed after the collision, … continue reading -> “Helicopters Collide Over Texas Ranch, Killing 2 People “

Israel’s former military chief Benny Gantz was tasked Wednesday with forming the next government, but he has few options after last month’s elections left him in a near tie with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu was given the first opportunity to form a government after assembling a large right-wing bloc but announced this week that … continue reading -> “Former Top General Gets a Shot at Forming Israeli Government”

A second U.S. resident has pleaded guilty this week to federal charges stemming from an elaborate visa fraud scheme to bring Armenians to the United States under the guise of being folk dance performers. Armenian national and California resident Hrachya Atoyan, 32, took part in an illegal transnational network that told U.S. immigration authorities the … continue reading -> “Second Guilty Plea in Visa Fraud Ring for Armenian ‘Dancers’”

A top U.S. Census Bureau official says the agency has pivoted away from verifying addresses and is now kicking off a campaign to recruit and hire as many as a half million temporary workers to help with the largest head count in U.S. history next spring. Timothy Olson, the agency’s associate director for field operations, … continue reading -> “Census Bureau Pivots from Verifying Places to Recruiting”

Iran will not be allowed to participate in any international judo competitions until it allows its athletes to face Israelis. The International Judo Federation (IJF) on Tuesday issued an indefinite ban “until the Iran Judo Federation gives strong guarantees and prove that they will respect the IJF Statutes and accept that their athletes fight against … continue reading -> “Iran Banned from World Judo Over Refusal to Face Israelis”

Boeing is replacing the head of its commercial-airplanes division as it struggles with a crisis created by two deadly crashes of its newest airliner. Boeing said Tuesday that Kevin McAllister is out as chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. He is being replaced by Stanley Deal, leader of Boeing’s services division. The shake-up in Boeing’s … continue reading -> “Boeing Replaces Executive Who Oversaw 737 Max, Other Planes”

The king of Thailand has stripped his royal consort of her titles less than three months after they were bestowed upon her. An announcement in the Royal Thai Government Gazette said 34-year-old Sineenat Bilaskalayani was stripped of all her titles and military ranks for being “ambitious” and trying to “elevate herself to the same state … continue reading -> “Thai King Strips ‘Ambitious’ Consort of all Titles”

Canadian news outlets are predicting that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party will win a second term in office, but will have to do so as a minority government.   As of late Monday night, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said Trudeau’s Liberals were either elected or leading in 146 of 338 legislative districts, versus just … continue reading -> “Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party Projected to Win Parliamentary Elections”

Iran says it has given the U.S. a list of detained Iranians whom it wants to be freed in a prisoner swap, drawing a vague public response from U.S. officials who have sought to discuss the issue with Tehran. Speaking to reporters Monday in Tehran, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Iran had provided … continue reading -> “US Mum as Iran Says it Provided List of Detained Iranians for Prisoner Swap”

A senior Israeli official attended a maritime security conference in Bahrain on Monday in another sign of Gulf Arab nations and Israel transcending longtime enmities to focus on a perceived common threat from Iran. Israel, which regards Sunni Muslim Gulf states as natural allies against Shi’ite Muslim Iran, has formal diplomatic relations with only two … continue reading -> “Senior Israeli Official Attends Bahrain Security Meeting Focusing on Iran”

Sudanese activists are calling for mass protests in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere across the country to demand the disbanding of former President Omar al-Bashir’s National Congress Party.   The Sudanese Professionals’ Association, which spearheaded the uprising against Bashir’s rule, says Monday’s protests will also renew demands to step up an independent investigation into the … continue reading -> “Sudan Activists Call for Protest to Disband old Ruling Party”

The Duke and the Duchess of Sussex said in a joint interview with ITV news filmed during their tour in Africa earlier this month and aired Sunday, that they would not let British tabloids destroy their life. Prince Harry told ITV that most of what is published in the British tabloids is not true, adding … continue reading -> “Sussexes Determined Not to Let British Tabloids Destroy Their Life”

Three U.S. soldiers were killed and three others injured in the state of Georgia Sunday in an accident involving the armored combat vehicle they were in, the military said in a statement. The army provided no details on the nature of the accident, which is under investigation, except to say it occurred during an exercise … continue reading -> “3 US Soldiers Killed in Training Accident”

Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney on Sunday defended his claim that President Donald Trump did not withhold nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine in order to get Kyiv to undertake investigations of Democratic rivals and the 2016 election. Mulvaney told reporters last week there was such a” quid pro quo” … continue reading -> “White House Aide Mulvaney Reiterates, No Ukraine Money Link to Political Investigations”

Influential Iraqi Shi’ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr has given his supporters the green light to resume anti-government protests, after the movement was interrupted following a deadly crackdown. Protests shook Iraq for six days from October 1, with young Iraqis denouncing corruption and demanding jobs and services before calling for the downfall of the government. The protests … continue reading -> “Firebrand Cleric Green-Lights Fresh Protests in Iraq”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants Syrian government forces to move out of areas near the Turkish border so he can resettle up to 2 million refugees there, his spokesman told The Associated Press on Saturday. The request will top Erdogan’s talks next week with Syria’s ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin.  Arrangements along the Syrian-Turkish … continue reading -> “Turkey Wants Syrian Forces to Leave Border Areas, Erdogan Aide Says”

Yazidi families would not feel safe returning to their homes in Iraq until Islamic State militants accused of atrocities against the religious minority face justice, according to a doctor awarded Saturday for his work with Yazidi women and children. Mirza Dinnayi, a Yazidi activist named the winner of the Aurora humanitarian prize for helping 1,000 … continue reading -> “Doctor Honored for Helping Yazidis Calls for Justice”

Swiss voters elect their parliament this weekend, a challenge for the populist right that has been dominant until now and an opportunity for green parties as environmental concerns have swept up much of Europe this year.  Political analyst Pascal Sciarini of the University of Geneva cited a “great unknown” in the vote: Will young Swiss who … continue reading -> “Swiss to Elect New Legislature, as Polls Suggest Green Gains “

Chile’s president declared a state of emergency in Santiago Friday night and gave the military responsibility for security after a day of violent protests over increases in the price of metro tickets. “I have declared a state of emergency and, to that end, I have appointed Major General Javier Iturriaga del Campo as head of … continue reading -> “Chile President Declares State of Emergency After Violent Protests”

Seasonal rains have brought relief from the haze that blanketed much of Malaysia and Singapore. The toxic air disrupted life for tens of millions of people. Face masks were a common site across Malaysia in September as people tried to protect themselves. (D. Grunebaum/VOA) Face masks were in common usage as people tried to protect … continue reading -> “Malaysians Unclear if Significant Steps Will be Taken to Prevent Toxic Haze”

 The world’s first female spacewalking team made history high above Earth on Friday, floating out of the International Space Station to fix a broken part of the power network.   As NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir emerged one by one, it marked the first time in a half-century of spacewalking that a woman … continue reading -> “World’s First Female Spacewalking Team Makes History”