WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is creating a new process aimed at cutting the time it takes to decide the fates of newly arrived migrants in immigration courts from years to roughly six months at a time when immigration is increasingly a concern among voters. Under the initiative announced Thursday, single adult migrants who have just entered the country and are going to five specific cities would have their cases overseen by a select group of judges with the aim of having them decided within 180 days. Читать дальше...
Ahead of the inauguration of Taiwanese President-elect Lai Ching-te, residents and analysts share their expectations for the new administration and the challenges ahead. As Taiwan’s fifth directly elected president, Lai will face growing pressure from China at a time when the world is increasingly divided. VOA’s William Yang has more from Taipei.
Voters in the Spanish region of Catalonia this week gave a clear victory to supporters of union with Spain after years of separatist tensions. Ricardo Marquina in Barcelona looks at the reasons behind this turnaround. Jonathan Spier narrates his report. Videographer Alfonso Beato contributed to this report.
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Gaza’s southern city of Rafah and many more are on the move as fighting between Israel and Hamas intensifies near the border with Egypt. Palestinian families say they have no safe place to flee to, and no aid available when they get there. VOA’s Heather Murdock reports from Istanbul with Nedal Hamdouna, Amjed Tantesh and Enas Tantesh in Rafah, Gaza. (Camera: Enas Tantesh)
WASHINGTON AND TAIPEI, TAIWAN — The U.S. military has warned that China is moving forward with development of floating nuclear reactors in the South China Sea to bolster its claim to disputed maritime territory. Analysts say the plan to build ships with mobile nuclear power sources would raise tensions with its neighbors and pose risks to the environment. Chinese media reports described the marine nuclear power platforms as small plants inside ships that would act as mobile “power banks" at sea for stationary facilities and other ships. Читать дальше...
Islamabad — Pakistan’s popular former Prime Minister Imran Khan appeared before the Supreme Court via video link from prison Thursday in connection with a lawsuit he has filed against disputed amendments to the country’s anti-corruption laws. It was Khan's first court appearance since his arrest in August 2023. The 71-year-old former Pakistani prime minister has since been prosecuted inside the prison near the capital, Islamabad. Khan has been sentenced on highly controversial charges of graft... Читать дальше...
PENTAGON — The U.S. military says a temporary pier is now anchored to the shore of Gaza, the final step in completing a sea route to distribute aid to 2 million Gazans affected by the Israel-Hamas war. "This morning, just a few hours ago, the pier was successfully affixed to the beach in Gaza. In the coming days, we will commence the delivery of aid," U.S. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper told reporters Thursday. Cooper said about 500 tons of humanitarian assistance have been loaded onto ships, with... Читать дальше...
U.S. voters have several ways to cast their ballots in a presidential election, including by mail. Many Democrats have embraced mail-in voting, and now Republicans are being urged by party leaders, including former President Donald Trump, to use all voting options in the 2024 general election. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias has the details. Salome Ramirez and Yeny Garcia of VOA’s Spanish Service contributed.
A 2023 Transparency International report found that most African nations have shown little progress in the fight against government corruption. Civil society groups in Ghana, however, are taking up the challenge to expose corruption and push for action. Isaac Kaledzi has more from the capital, Accra.
YAOUNDE, CAMEROON — Chad's constitutional council was expected on Thursday to declare final results of the May 6 presidential election and name transitional president General Mahamat Idriss Deby as the winner. This despite calls for annulment of the polls due to what the opposition says was massive fraud. Analysts say uncertainty lies ahead as tensions remain high. Residents of N'djamena, say that since Wednesday night, there has been a massive deployment of troops on streets and what they call... Читать дальше...
Washington — President Joe Biden has asserted executive privilege over audio of his interview with special counsel Robert Hur that's at the center a Republican effort to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress, the Justice Department told lawmakers on Thursday. It comes as the House Oversight and Accountability Committee and the Judiciary Committee are each expected to hold a hearing to recommend that the full House refer Garland to the Justice Department for the contempt... Читать дальше...
Copenhagen, Denmark — Fifteen EU states have demanded a further tightening of the bloc's asylum policy, making it easier to transfer undocumented migrants to third countries, including when they are rescued at sea. The demand, sent in a letter to the European Commission that AFP received on Thursday, comes less than a month before European Parliament elections, in which far-right anti-immigration parties are forecast to make gains. The letter asks the European Union's executive arm to "propose... Читать дальше...
In India, 18 million first time voters in the country’s ongoing general elections include millions of college students. Anjana Pasricha speaks to some students in New Delhi and finds out that many support Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but they want more focus on issues like development and jobs and less on religious issues that have dominated the campaign so far.
Noumea, France — Days of unrest in the Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia has left five dead and hundreds injured, prompting French authorities to declare a state of emergency. Here is what you need to know about the crisis: What's going on? Thousands of people have taken to the streets in three nights of protest, rioting and looting. Five people are dead, including two police officers. A state of emergency has been declared and the French military is being deployed to restore order and... Читать дальше...
MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine group leading a civilian supply mission in the South China Sea delivered food and fuel to Filipino fishermen despite being shadowed by Chinese vessels, its officials said Thursday, calling it a "major victory." Atin Ito (This is Ours) said a 10-member team sailed to the Scarborough Shoal a day before the civilian flotilla, composed of five commercial vessels and 100 small fishing boats, began its voyage. "The mission achieved a major victory when its advance... Читать дальше...
NEW DELHI — As India holds a phased election, Pavni Mishra, an undergraduate student at Delhi University, would prefer to watch the country’s leaders focus on issues relevant to young voters like her, but she fears those issues are getting lost in the din of a polarized campaign. "We should have a healthy competition in our politics rather than talking about religion," said Mishra. "We should talk about education, we should talk about employment, about how to empower our women and enlarge the startups... Читать дальше...
General public gets to visit White House grounds in spring and fall
