Trump says he will create an ‘External Revenue Service’ agency to collect tariff income
Washington — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced plans to create a new agency called the External Revenue Service to collect tariffs and other revenues from foreign nations. “We will begin charging those that make money off of us with…
Despite international concerns, doctors say China flu-like virus is no COVID-19
China says HMPV infections in the northern part of the country are declining. News of increased respiratory illnesses in China kindled international concerns about another potential pandemic. But, as VOA’s Dora Mekouar reports, medical experts say HMPV is nothing like…
Syria emergency: Four children a day killed or injured by leftover explosives
icardo Pires, UNICEF Communication Manager for Emergencies, told journalists from Damascus that in the last nine years, at least 422,000 incidents involving unexploded ordnance – or UXO – were reported in 14 governorates across Syria, “with half estimated to have…
Haiti: spiralling gang violence has left more than one million displaced
Latest data from the International Organization for Migration indicates that more than one million people have been displaced across Haiti so far, up from the 315,000 recorded on 20 December 2023. “The most concrete data we have is that around…
US: UN rights expert welcomes court ruling reaffirming sex-based protections in education
Independent rights expert Reem Alsalem hailed the landmark 9 January decision by the Kentucky court declaring the US Department of Education’s regulations implementing the Title IX legislation as unlawful. The ruling extends nationwide. Title IX is a 1972 law to…
UN pledges continued humanitarian support to Ukraine, as war enters fourth year
More than 12.7 million people inside Ukraine require aid, as do the more than 6.8 million Ukrainian refugees worldwide. On Tuesday, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher visited the Kharkiv region, located in the east. Support in frontline areas He…
UK’s antitrust regulator to investigate Google’s search services
LONDON — Britain’s antitrust regulator said on Tuesday it would investigate Google’s search services using its new powers to see how they impact consumers and businesses, including advertisers, news publishers and rival search engines. The Competition and Markets Authority, which…
German defense minister visits Ukraine in show of support
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius visited Ukraine on Tuesday in a show of support for the country in its fight against the Russian invasion that began nearly three years ago. German officials said the visit was aimed at reassuring Ukraine…
Bezos’ Blue Origin calls off New Glenn launch again, eyes Thursday
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Jeff Bezos’ rocket company Blue Origin moved the launch of its New Glenn rocket from Tuesday to Jan. 16, further pushing back its inaugural attempt to reach orbit and compete with SpaceX in the satellite launch…
Premier of separatist Moldova region says gas cutoff shattered foreign trade
CHISINAU, MOLDOVA — The prime minister of Moldova’s separatist Transniestria region said Monday that the abrupt curtailment of Russian gas supplies that plunged the region into an energy crisis has also shattered both its exports and imports. The cutoff, prompted…