Hong Kong pro-democracy demonstrations Saturday were smaller and less disruptive than recent massive rallies that shut down much of the city. The largest event on Saturday was a march that included thousands of protesters in the Mong Kok shopping district in Kowloon, across from the business and financial centers on Hong Kong Island. … continue reading -> “Smaller Hong Kong Protests Held Saturday”
VOA Connect Episode 91 – We learn that the transition to cleaner energy isn’t always about climate change, as coal miners in the American West are finding out. Yet those working in and running unprofitable mines are having to rethink their future, too, adapting their skills to survive. Also on the show this week, looking … continue reading -> “The Coal Industry, Composting and Art”
Connie Kim in Washington contributed to this report. When North Korea walked away recently from its first working-level nuclear talks with the United States in months, its negotiators cited what they referred to as U.S. inflexibility and hostile policies. In some ways, it was a classic North Korean negotiating tactic: citing long-standing complaints about Washington … continue reading -> “As Trump, Moon Face Domestic Woes, Kim Jong Un Sees a Chance”
As coal companies are shutting down in Gillette, Wyoming, workers in the coal industry have lost their jobs. We talk to some of the people most affected by all the coal plants shutting down. Reporter/Camera: Steve Baragona …
Igor Fruman and Lev Parnas, two foreign-born associates of U.S. President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, were charged Thursday with conspiring to influence U.S. politics with illegal campaign contributions. Prosecutors identified two other men, Andrey Kukushkin and David Correia, as conspirators in an alleged scheme that aimed to funnel $1 million in donations to … continue reading -> “Factbox: Who Are Giuliani Associates Charged With Trying to Influence US Elections?”
Sixteen-year old Faithwins Iwuh — who is sometimes referred to as Nigeria’s Greta Thunberg — wants Nigeria to contribute to the global fight against climate change. To achieve this, she started planting trees around her school and neighborhood, and recycles used plastic bags into shower caps. Iwuh says she has been concerned about the effects … continue reading -> “Nigerian Students Join Global Fight for Climate Action”
The Trump administration Thursday proposed a rewrite of rules for dealing with lead pipes contaminating drinking water, but critics say the changes appear to give water systems decades more time to replace pipes leaching dangerous amounts of toxic lead. Contrary to regulatory rollbacks in many other environmental areas, the administration has called dealing with lead … continue reading -> “EPA Seeks to Rewrite Rules on Lead Contamination in Water”
VOA’s Victoria Macchi contributed to this report. The Trump administration is touting a drop in enforcement actions along the U.S.-Mexico border for a fourth straight month as proof it is successfully reducing illegal immigration into the United States. “This administration’s strategies have brought about results — dramatic results,” Acting Customs and Border Protection [CBP] Commissioner … continue reading -> “Trump Administration Touts Drop in US Border Arrivals”
California power company Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) cut power Wednesday to millions of Californians due to high winds that could down power lines sparking wildfires. Utilities companies have warned for months that cutoffs were possible, but the power cut seems to have caught many by surprise. Twitter was buzzing with comments about the … continue reading -> “Power Cuts in California Take Residents by Surprise”
A woman who worked at NBC News claimed that Matt Lauer raped her at a hotel while on assignment for the Sochi Olympics, an encounter the former “Today” show host claimed was consensual. The claim outlined by Brooke Nevils in Ronan Farrow’s book, “Catch and Kill,” puts a name and details behind the event that … continue reading -> “Woman Accuses Matt Lauer of Rape; Former Anchor Denies Claim”
Chinese state media slammed the NBA for an “about-face” Tuesday after the body said it would not apologize for a tweet by the Houston Rockets General Manager supporting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. The US league has drawn fire for from Chinese broadcasters, sponsors and social media after Daryl Morey tweeted a message Friday saying, … continue reading -> “Chinese Media Slams NBA’s ‘About Face’ on Hong Kong”
A spree of attacks and threats against media outlets in Iraq has alarmed the United Nations, journalists and monitors, who demand the government prevent the “silencing” of journalists covering mass protests. Raids over the weekend carried out by unidentified gunmen have added to concerns for freedom of expression that were first flagged when authorities implemented … continue reading -> “‘Silencing’ of Iraq Protests Coverage Feared After Attacks”
People in Southeast Asia spend the most time in the world accessing the internet through mobile devices, according to a new study conducted in part by Google, which reported that the region’s internet economy has moved past the $100 billion mark this year. Southeast Asia Leads the World in Mobile Internet Use Thais use mobile … continue reading -> “Google Reports Highest Mobile Internet Use is in ASEAN Region”
U.S. gymnastics star Simone Biles clinched a record-extending 15th world championship gold medal Tuesday as the Americans won the women’s team title in Stuttgart. Biles, 22, collected her 21st medal at the championships to become the most decorated women’s gymnast, taking her one clear of Russia’s Svetlana Khorkina. She also moved to within two medals … continue reading -> “Biles Wins 15th World Title as US Claims Team Gold”
The Supreme Court says police investigated two suspicious packages found near the court just before the justices were to hear arguments over LGBT rights. Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg says the packages were found Tuesday near an intersection between the court, the Capitol and the Library of Congress. Police cleared the plaza and the sidewalk in … continue reading -> “2 Suspicious Packages Found Outside Supreme Court Building”
The International Organization for Migration reports fatalities from a shipwreck Monday off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa has pushed the migrant death toll on the Mediterranean Sea this year to 1071. The boat, which capsized seven miles from the coast of Lampedusa, reportedly departed from Tunisia with between 50 and 55 people … continue reading -> “Migrant Deaths in Mediterranean This Year Top 1,000”
With U.S. troops pulling out from the Syria-Turkey border following U.S. President Donald Trump’s Sunday announcement, Kurdish officials and experts say that Syrian Kurdish forces could turn to other powers for protection against a possible Turkish incursion into northeast Syria. The United States and the international coalition to defeat the Islamic State (IS) terror group … continue reading -> “With US Troop Pullout from Syria, What are the Options for Kurds? “
Researchers say Saturn has overtaken Jupiter as the planet in our solar system with the most number of moons. U.S. scientists announced Monday that 20 new moons have been found orbiting Saturn, bringing the total number of moons around that planet to 82. That beats Jupiter’s 79 moons. Researchers say the new moons were not … continue reading -> “Saturn Surpasses Jupiter as Planet with Most Moons”
The Democratic-led impeachment inquiry in the House of Representatives is expanding, but its fate in Congress and national political impact remain far from certain. VOA spoke with several legal and political commentators about how the high-stakes process is developing, its likelihood of removing the president from office, and impact on the 2020 national elections. — Thomas … continue reading -> “Gaming Out Political Impacts of Impeachment Probe”
Hong Kong struggled to recover on Monday, with the metro only partially functioning and infrastructure extensively damaged, after scores of protesters were arrested in violent clashes overnight that drew the first warning from the Chinese military. Tens of thousands of protesters marched peacefully through the center of the Chinese-ruled city on Sunday, wearing face masks … continue reading -> “Hong Kong Metro Partially Reopens, City Struggles After Violent Weekend”
As Rudy Giuliani was pushing Ukrainian officials last spring to investigate one of Donald Trump’s main political rivals, a group of individuals with ties to the president and his personal lawyer were also active in the former Soviet republic. Their aims were profit, not politics. This circle of businessmen and Republican donors touted connections to … continue reading -> “AP Sources: Trump Allies Pressed Ukraine Over Gas Firm”
A series of memes that have gone viral in Bolivia show President Evo Morales combating raging forest fires with a toy water gun or a flame-thrower, while others superimpose his image on the original cast of the “Ghostbusters” film. Many young Bolivians have used the memes to poke fun at South America’s longest-serving leftist leader … continue reading -> “Evo Morales Not Trending Among Bolivia’s Youth Ahead of Vote”
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Sunday he was seeking “non-aggression” agreements with Gulf Arab nations that do not formally recognize the country as a prelude to possible future peace deals. Details of the proposal were not made public, but it was the latest sign of Israel’s push to improve ties with Gulf Arab nations … continue reading -> “Israeli Minister Seeks ‘Non-Aggression’ Pacts with Gulf Arab Nations”
Iraq’s Cabinet issued a new reform plan early Sunday following a night of clashes in which security forces opened fire on protesters killing at least 19 people. The Cabinet met through the night Saturday in an effort to respond to five days of protests that have taken authorities by surprise and led to the deaths … continue reading -> “Iraq’s Cabinet Issues Reforms in Response to Deadly Protests”
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in central Kyiv on Sunday to protest broader autonomy for separatist territories, part of a plan to end a war with Russian-backed fighters. Protesters chanted “No to surrender!”, with some holding placards critical of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in the crowd, which police said had swelled to around 10,000 people. The country’s … continue reading -> “Thousands Protest Ukraine Leader’s Peace Plan”