After a thousand days of President Donald Trump in the White House, official Washington found itself consumed by the twin crises of impeachment and Syria this week. Even as the president is trying to fend off congressional Democrats moving toward impeachment, he also faces a fierce backlash from Democrats and many Republicans over his decision … continue reading -> “Tensions Running High in Washington Over Impeachment, Syria”
Amnesty International said in a report Friday that Turkish military forces and a coalition of Turkish-backed Syrian armed groups have shown a “shameful disregard for civilian life” during the offensive into northeast Syria. According to the account, the “serious violations and war crimes” include “summary killings and unlawful attacks that have killed and injured civilians.” … continue reading -> “Amnesty International Decries ‘Shameful Disregard For Civilian Life’ in Syrian Offensive”
Haiti’s embattled president was forced on Thursday to hold a private ceremony amid heavy security for what is usually a public celebration of one of the country’s founding fathers. Jovenel Moise and other officials appeared at the National Pantheon Museum in downtown Port-au-Prince as hundreds of armed police officers closed down the surrounding area … continue reading -> “Protesters Bar Haiti’s President from Visiting Historic Site”
Two people face human smuggling charges after U.S. border agents found dozens of Mexican and Ecuadorian nationals hidden inside a chilled semitrailer in the U.S. state of Arizona this week. The 31-year-old driver and a 30-year-old passenger, both U.S. citizens not named by border officials, were stopped at an immigration checkpoint Monday on Interstate 19, … continue reading -> “US Border Agents Find Dozens of Migrants Inside Produce Truck”
The Marine Corps has corrected the identity of another of the men who were photographed raising the American flag at Iwo Jima during World War II. The Marines said in a statement Thursday that after questions were raised by private historians who studied photos and films, they determined that Cpl. Harold P. Keller was among … continue reading -> “US Marines Correct ID of Second Man Who Raised Flag at Iwo Jima “
U.S. President Donald Trump’s Iran policy came under strong criticism at a Senate hearing in which Democrats and some Republicans accused him of emboldening Iran by pulling U.S. troops out of Syria. Trump’s Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, the sole witness at Wednesday’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, rebuffed the criticism of the president’s … continue reading -> “Trump’s Syria Pullout Boosts Iran, Say Democrats, Some Republicans at Senate Hearing”
A Cuban man who had sought asylum in the United States has died while being held at an immigration jail in Louisiana. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials confirmed Wednesday that Roylan Hernandez Diaz, 43, had died at a private detention facility of an apparent suicide. Hernandez Diaz applied for asylum at a border bridge … continue reading -> “Cuban Migrant’s Death in US Custody Ruled Suicide”
Barack Obama is urging Canadians to reelect Prime Minster Justin Trudeau, an apparently unprecedented endorsement of a candidate in a Canadian election by a former American president. Obama tweeted Wednesday that he was proud to work with Trudeau and described him as a hard-working, effective leader who takes on big issues like climate change. Obama … continue reading -> “Obama Backs Trudeau in Unprecedented Endorsement”
Protesters and police clashed late on Tuesday in Barcelona during rallies against the jailing of nine Catalan separatist leaders, with the unusually tense confrontations turning into a major challenge for Spanish and regional authorities. Protesters threw cans, stones and flares at riot police, and set garbage containers and cardboard on fire in the middle of … continue reading -> “Clashes Erupt in Barcelona as Catalan Separatists Protest Sentences for Leaders”
Rescue workers in Japan searched for the missing on Wednesday as the death toll from one of the worst typhoons to hit the country rose to 74, public broadcaster NHK said, many drowned by flooding after scores of rivers burst their banks. Public broadcaster NHK said 12 were missing and more than 220 injured after … continue reading -> “Japan Typhoon Death Toll Climbs to 74, Rescuers Search for Missing People”
China’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday that Beijing resolutely opposed new measures passed by the U.S. House of Representatives related to the Hong Kong protests and urged lawmakers to stop interfering. China’s relationship with the United States will be damaged should the legislation become law, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in a statement. The … continue reading -> “China Says US House Should Stop Interfering in Hong Kong”
Germany’s security services said Tuesday they’re seeking greater powers to fight the kind of far-right extremism behind last week’s synagogue attack, including requiring internet companies to report illegal hate speech to police. A 27-year-old German man previously unknown to police confessed to carrying out the attack in the eastern city of Halle in which two … continue reading -> “German Security Services Want More Powers to Fight Extremism”
Thousands of Hongkongers rallied this week to show support for the U.S. Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, up for a vote in Congress as early as this week. The Act, if passed, would require the U.S. to annually review Hong Kong’s special economic status and impose sanctions on officials who undermine its autonomy … continue reading -> “Thousands Pack Hong Kong Rally for US Support”
The toll of death and destruction from a typhoon that tore through central and northern Japan climbed Tuesday, as the government said it was considering approving a special budget for the disaster response and eventual reconstruction. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a parliamentary session that the number of deaths tied to Typhoon Hagibis had … continue reading -> “More Victims, More Damage Found in Japan Typhoon Aftermath”
Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign says she would not seek to revoke the tax-exempt status of churches or other religious entities that decline to perform same-sex marriages. The Massachusetts Democrat’s campaign spokeswoman addressed the issue after former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke said religious institutions should lose their tax exemption for opposing same-sex marriage – drawing criticism … continue reading -> “Warren Joins Buttigieg in Nixing Threat to Church Tax Status”
Spanish riot police have clashed with protesters outside Barcelona’s airport Monday after the Supreme Court sentenced nine former Catalan separatist leaders to lengthy prison terms for their attempt to declare independence from Spain in 2017. Witnesses say police with batons charged at the protesters who were blocking the entrance to El Prat airport. <!–[if IE … continue reading -> “Protests Erupt After Spain Sentences Catalan Separatists Leaders”
Sudan’s new transitional government met with rebel leaders on Monday, kicking off peace talks aimed at ending the country’s yearslong civil wars. The peace initiative was built into a power-sharing deal between Sudan’s army and its pro-democracy movement. That deal was reached after the overthrow of longtime autocrat President Omar al-Bashir in April. The transitional … continue reading -> “Sudan’s Government, Rebels Start Peace Talks in Juba”
American Simone Biles became the most decorated gymnast in world championship history on Sunday when she won the beam and floor finals to take her career tally to 25 medals. Soon after securing a convincing victory on the beam in Stuttgart to overtake Belarusian Vitaly Scherbo’s record tally of 23 world medals, the 22-year-old Biles … continue reading -> “Biles Dazzles on Floor to Win Record 25th World Championship Medal”
Parents of the British teen killed when his motorcycle collided with car allegedly driven by an American diplomat’s wife are on their way to the U.S. hoping to seek justice. Harry Dunn, 19, died in August in near the Croughton Royal Air Force base in Northhamptonshire, which is used by the U.S. Air Force as … continue reading -> “Teen’s Parents Fly to US Hoping to Meet Driver Who killed Him”
California has become the first U.S. state to ban all production and sale of animal fur products. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill that will make it illegal to make, sell and even donate any new item made using animal fur starting in 2023. The bill excludes used items, taxidemy products, fur taken with a … continue reading -> “California Becomes First US State to Ban Fur Products”
There are more than a dozen candidates running against U.S. President Donald Trump in the next presidential race, but one Democrat who is standing out in the Asian American community is entrepreneur, Andrew Yang. He may not be one of the top three candidates in the Democratic Party, but he is the first Asian American … continue reading -> “First Asian American Presidential Candidate Scrutinized by Asian Americans”
Banned Books Week happens every year as many children in America begin a new school year. In honor of the occasion, local libraries organize readings of Harry Potter, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, To Kill A Mockingbird and hundreds of other novels. Despite many of them being considered classical literature, they continue to be banned in … continue reading -> “Washington Celebrates Freedom to Read With List of Banned Books”
There are thousands of Venezuelans stranded at the border after the Ecuadorian government imposed new rules that bar people from entering the country without a visa. But many of the refugees are stuck because they can’t afford the $50 fee to get a visa. VOA’s Celia Mendoza reports from the Rumichaca International Bridge in Colombia. … continue reading -> “Ecuador Closes Border with Venezuela, Stranding Refugees”
Indian and Chinese leaders at an informal summit Saturday sidestepped their differences and said they will tackle a huge trade deficit that has been troubling India, and enhance measures to strengthen border security. In the coastal heritage town of Mamallapuram in southern India, where the two leaders met, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi … continue reading -> “Xi and Modi Meet, Focus on Trade, Border”
A second evacuation flight of 123 asylum-seekers from Libya landed in Rwanda late Thursday at Kigali International Airport. Most of the 123 are young Africans who were detained in Libya on their way to Europe. They have been taken to a transit facility in Gashora, where the United Nations refugee agency is providing them assistance. … continue reading -> “Second Group of African Libya Evacuees Arrives in Rwanda”