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Pope, imam make joint call to fight violence, protect planet
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Pope Francis and the grand imam of Southeast Asia’s largest mosque vowed Thursday to fight religiously inspired violence and protect the environment, issuing a joint call for interfaith friendship and common cause at the heart of Francis’ visit to Indonesia. In an encounter rich with symbolic meaning and personal touches, Francis traveled to Jakarta’s iconic Istiqlal Mosque for an interreligious gathering with representatives …
China’s envoy not expelled; he left because term ended, says US
washington — China’s consul general in New York left his post as scheduled after completing his posting last month, the State Department said on Wednesday, hours after New York’s governor said she asked for his expulsion in the aftermath of the arrest of a former aide who was accused of secretly acting as a Chinese agent. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters that Consul General …
US dismisses concerns indictment of Hamas leaders will complicate cease-fire talks
The United States on Wednesday dismissed concerns that criminal charges brought against Hamas leaders in connection with the October 7 attack in Israel would complicate talks on a Gaza cease-fire in return for the release of Hamas’ hostages. VOA White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara reports. Contributor: Guita Aryan. …
Africa needs strategic, disciplined approach with China, experts say
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA / WASHINGTON — China has been establishing closer cooperation with Africa, a relationship some view as fraught with debt burden while others hail as Africa leveraging its strategic importance globally. This week’s Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing carries benefits for both Africa and China, officials and African affairs experts say. Countries like Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya have been on the receiving …
Britain defends Israeli weapons export bans as Europe mulls sanctions
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended his government’s decision to suspend some arms shipments to Israel on Wednesday, saying the move was necessary to comply with international law. It could have wider consequences among European allies. Henry Ridgwell reports. Camera: Henry Ridgwell. …
Netanyahu calls for Israel to maintain military presence in Gaza
Jerusalem — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel must remain in a strip of land between the Gaza Strip and the Egyptian border to prevent Hamas from rearming. He spoke as the White House said Israel must withdraw at least partially from the area. The Israeli army published a picture Wednesday of the opening of the tunnel in Gaza where the bodies of six Israeli …
South Korea: North Korea again launches suspected trash-carrying balloons across border
Seoul — South Korea says it has detected suspected trash-carrying balloons launched by North Korea, in the latest round of a Cold War-style psychological warfare between the war-divided rivals. The metropolitan government of Seoul, South Korea’s capital, issued text alerts Wednesday saying that objects likely to be North Korean balloons were spotted in regions north of the city. It advised people to stay indoors and beware …
In Asia, pope urges Indonesia to live up to promise of ‘harmony in diversity,’ fight extremism
JAKARTA — Pope Francis urged Indonesia to live up to its promise of “harmony in diversity” and fight religious intolerance on Wednesday, as he set a rigorous pace for an 11-day, four-nation trip through tropical Southeast Asia and Oceania that will test his stamina and health. Despite the grueling itinerary, an energetic Francis joked and laughed his way through a packed first full day in Indonesia, …
Myanmar junta chief warns of ‘counterattacks’ in opponent-held areas
Yangon, Myanmar — Myanmar’s embattled junta chief has warned civilians in territory recently captured by ethnic minority armed groups to prepare for military counterattacks, state media reported on Wednesday. The military has lost swaths of territory near the border with China in northern Shan state to an alliance of armed ethnic minority groups and “People’s Defence Forces” battling to overturn the junta’s 2021 coup. The …
Israel continues large-scale operation in West Bank to root out Hamas infrastructure
Israel continues an almost weeklong assault on the northern West Bank to root out what it says is Hamas and Islamic Jihad infrastructure. Palestinians say at least 20 people have been killed and the Israeli operation has ripped up roads in Jenin. Israeli analysts say tensions are rising in the West Bank. Linda Gradstein reports for VOA from Jerusalem. Camera: Ricki Rosen …
Turkey releases 5 of 15 detained in assault of 2 US Marines
Washington — Turkey placed 10 people in pretrial detention Tuesday in connection with an assault of two U.S. Marines in Turkey’s western port city of Izmir. Several members of a Turkish nationalist group, Turkey Youth Union, or TGB, on Monday attacked two U.S. Marines from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, which docked in the city’s port on Sunday, according to the Izmir Governorate. Pentagon press …
Iran court upholds death penalty for Guard volunteer in protest killing
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s Supreme Court has upheld a death sentence imposed on a member of the all-volunteer wing of the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard who stormed a house during the 2022 protests over the death of Mahsa Amini and killed a 60-year-old man, a lawyer said Tuesday. The sentence imposed on the Basij member marks a rare moment for Iran to hold accountable …
Lebanon’s former central bank governor detained in corruption probe
BEIRUT — Lebanon’s controversial former central bank governor was detained Tuesday after being questioned in several corruption cases, according to three judicial officials. Riad Salameh served a 30-year term as central bank governor beginning in 1993. Although he was widely celebrated for his role in Lebanon’s economic recovery after a 15-year civil war, Salameh left his post last year under a cloud, with several European countries …
In South Korea, egg-freezing gains popularity, giving women more options
Seoul, South Korea — Lee Jang-mi, a 34-year-old Seoul office worker, laughs with a hint of embarrassment as she acknowledges fitting the stereotype of a single, childless South Korean woman. “I’m one of those people who doesn’t want kids,” says Lee with an exaggerated grin, rolling her eyes and gesturing toward herself. Though she’s currently in a relationship, Lee is unmarried and hesitant to start a …
Seeking reelection, Algeria’s Tebboune touts gains
Algiers, Algeria — Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who assumed Algeria’s presidency during mass pro-democracy protests, is touting his achievements as he seeks another term. Yet, five years after the movement faded, some say real change remains elusive. The Hirak protests, which led to the ousting of longtime autocratic president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019, aimed for a comprehensive political overhaul. Tebboune, a minister under Bouteflika, took over as president …