World

WASHINGTON – The parents of an American journalist who has been missing in Syria for the past seven years told VOA in an interview that they are convinced he is still alive and that the U.S. government should do what it can to reveal his whereabouts and ensure his safe …

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ office announced that a special envoy would be sent to Bolivia to support a “peaceful resolution” to its current crisis after military leaders called on the Bolivian president to resign over election irregularities.  Former U.N. special envoy to Colombia Jean Arnault will act as the U.N. …

BEIJING/WASHINGTON/CHICAGO – Beijing lifted a nearly five-year ban on imports of U.S. poultry meat on Thursday, a move the U.S. Trade Representative said would lead to more than $1 billion in annual shipments to China. China’s decision comes as the world’s two largest economies are trying to finalize a limited …

ANKARA – Turkey is willing to purchase U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems but will not agree to disposing of the Russian S-400 system it has already bought, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday. Speaking to reporters on board his plane on his way back from a meeting with Donald …

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalized 833,000 people – an 11-year high in new oaths of citizenship – in fiscal year 2019, which ended September 30. This fiscal year, USCIS administered the Oath of Allegiance to 60 of America’s newest citizens, from 51 different countries, during a …

U.S. President Donald Trump became the third president in modern U.S. history to face open impeachment hearings Wednesday. Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives called two key State Department witnesses to begin making the case that Trump abused the power of his office by allegedly pressing Ukraine for information …

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo: Reuters COVENTRY/LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday promised he would end the “unbearable” uncertainty around Brexit if he wins a December 12 election, saying that political paralysis was affecting investment decisions in the country. On a campaign trip to central England, Johnson …

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – Tennessee’s top election officials say Michael Bloomberg has requested a petition that would require securing 2,500 signatures from registered voters in less than a month if he wants to qualify for the state’s Democratic presidential primary ballot. The secretary of state’s office confirmed Wednesday that Bloomberg requested …

DHAKA – Some 25 people, many members of Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League party, were charged with murder Wednesday over the brutal killing last month of a university student who criticized the government on social media. The battered body of 21-year-old Abrar Fahad was found in his dormitory hours after he …

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that while Israel does not want escalation in the latest clashes with Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, it will “respond to every attack.” Speaking at the start of a Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Islamic Jihad has the choice to either “stop these …