Headlines- Two days after catastrophic flash flood struck the border between China and Nepal, rescue workers have resumed searching for hundreds of people who are still missing.
- At least 538 people killed and another 1,300 went missing on Wednesday after landslides caused by a glacial collapse unleashed a torrent of mud and water across Nepal and China's autonomous region of Tibet.
- Iran's President Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf met with Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister to discuss ongoing efforts to defuse the situation in the region.
- According to Iran's security chief, Moshen Rezaei, his country is preparing together a list of conditions to submit to the United States in order to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- In an attempt to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America," US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, further escalating his conflict with Canada and its prime minister.
- Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the now-dissolved Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has been named presidential advisor by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Month: May 2020
To Halt COVID Spread, Senegal Launches...
In Senegal, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the majority-Muslim population normally rushes to bakeries to buy bread for breaking the daily fast. The coronavirus raised the risk of crowds at bakeries spreading the virus, which has more than 1,270 confirmed infections and at least 13 deaths in the West African nation. To halt the pandemic, the government banned the sale of bread at shops and launched a delivery assistance program called “Sell Me Your Bread.”
Day of Prayer on May 14...
The confusing situation, especially in the Mon and Rakhine States – where the army has rejected the truce – makes it difficult to attribute responsibility for civilian deaths to rebels or government soldiers
Lesotho Prime Minister Agrees to Process...
Thabane says his age and energy level were factors in deferring to the law to decide the process for him stepping down as leader of the small South African country
Trump’s VOA Criticism Shows US-Funded News...
During the 2001 dispute involving the Mullah Omar interview, more than 100 journalists at VOA spoke out, signing a petition urging the agency to resist the pressure. VOA ended up airing segments from the interview and released a statement defending the coverage to its critics. “The people in Afghanistan are tuning into us because they trust us, and we tell the whole story,” the statement said in part
French Restaurants Cook Up Pro-Bono Response...
France will slowly begin unwinding a two-month lockdown next week, but not for its restaurants. A new poll finds the coronavirus pandemic may put nearly one-third of French restaurants out of business – a tragic development if it happens for France, known worldwide for its fine cuisine. From the Paris suburb of Rueil-Malmaison, Lisa Bryant takes a industry’s dilemma — and a pro-bono movement born from the crisis~VOA NEWS
Deaf Indonesian Woman Makes Clear Face...
Along with people in many parts of the world, Indonesians have been wearing face masks outdoors to stem the spread of COVID-19. This has proven difficult for people who are deaf or hard of hearing — and that includes an estimated 20,000 Indonesians. To help, one resident in Jogjakarta on the island of Java has created a transparent mask using a sheet of plastic
UN Appeals for Billions in Coronavirus...
The increased appeal includes adding nine countries to the list of those most vulnerable: Benin, Djibouti, Liberia, Mozambique, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, Togo and Zimbabwe
Face Masks Make A Political Statement...
That resistance is fueled by some of the same people who object to other virus restrictions. The push back has been stoked by President Donald Trump — he didn’t wear a mask during a Tuesday appearance at a facility making them — and some other Republicans, who have flouted rules and questioned the value of masks. It’s a development that has worried experts as Americans are increasingly returning to public spaces.
Botswana to Begin Lifting Lockdown to...
Vice President Slumber Tsogwane said that based on the government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak and the current trajectory of the disease, the administration decided to open the economy albeit incrementally, while observing the disease patterns