World

WASHINGTON – A sharply divided Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for a second time this year while saying it’s prepared to continue doing what it deems necessary to sustain the U.S. economic expansion. The Fed’s move will reduce its benchmark rate — which influences many consumer and …

NAIROBI – Kenya has exported its first shipment of oil, worth about $12 million, under a deal with the Chinese petrochemical company, ChemChina. Members of a civil society group are demanding transparency, calling on the Kenyan government to show how the Chinese firm won the bid to buy the oil …

WASHINGTON – In the United States, the growing political divide along ethnic lines, along with President Donald Trump’s racially charged rhetoric, are renewing debate over what it means to be an American.   The growing divide and rising ethnic tensions come amid a time of rapid demographic change in the …

WASHINGTON – Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb, National Security and Katherine Ahn of VOA’s Persian Service contributed to this report. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is traveling Wednesday to Riyadh to discuss with Saudi officials the attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities that U.S. officials say they believe originated from …

Police in Britain have arrested a second man in connection with the theft of a solid-gold toilet that was part of an art exhibit at the birthplace and home of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The 18-carat toilet, titled “America,” was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. It was …

AUSTIN, TEXAS – The crowds of 10,000-plus that Elizabeth Warren has attracted lately in places like Seattle, Minneapolis and Manhattan don’t happen by accident. They are the result of the careful collection of information on would-be supporters and a multi-step process to turn that data into rally attendees who often …

RIO RANCHO, NEW MEXICO – President Donald Trump is making a rare visit to California, a Democratic stronghold where he is expected to rake in millions of dollars during a series of fundraisers for his reelection effort that are almost certain to be met with jeering protests. Trump has routinely …

ACCRA, GHANA – African Americans are being encouraged to visit Ghana to mark 400 years since the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade. In the capital, Accra, one returnee chef is awaiting U.S. visitors to give them a taste of home in the homeland. At her roadside cafe in Accra, …

PHNOM PENH – The Cambodian government summoned three human rights organizations to meetings in Phnom Penh to examine research they published and comments one of them gave to the media, a move the NGOs described as attempts at intimidation.  The organizations are Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT),  Licadho and Transparency International (TI).    TI …

CAIRO – Egypt says Ethiopia has “summarily rejected” its plan for key aspects of operating a giant dam the East African nation is building on the Nile, while dismissing Ethiopia’s own proposal as “unfair and inequitable.” The comments in a note circulated to diplomats last week show the gap between …