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Mount Hampden, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwean authorities responded swiftly to the recent decline in the new gold-backed currency by apprehending illicit moneychangers and closing the bank accounts of businesses accused of exclusively dealing in U.S. dollars. On Monday, Zimbabwe business owners pleaded with parliamentary committees to ask the government to stop arresting moneychangers and re-open the bank accounts of companies accused of only accepting foreign currency. "This is an inception process of a monetary policy shift," said Sekai Kuvarika, the chief executive officer of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries. "So, let's give ourselves time. Let's give the market time. Let's give the policymakers time to iterate how the policy is going to work in our markets. But we definitely do not support that we accompany our policies with the police.” Last week, police arrested several people it said were fueling the black market where Zimbabwe’s new currency, called ZiG, introduced earlier this month, is trading at around 20 ZiG for one U.S. dollar.  The government’s official exchange rate is 13 ZiG to a dollar.  Owen Mavengere, with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe, said  arresting moneychangers causes panic. “The parallel market and those dealers in the streets are a symptom of the problem,"  Mavengere said. "Sending the police doesn't inspire confidence. So, we would rather have a situation where we handle the root cause. And use a soft approach." He said the government, and government-related services, should be the first to move from the dollar. "There must be deliberate effort to make sure that the government starts to take the ZiG,” Mavengere said. The government said for now, commodities like fuel and import duties will still be paid with U.S. dollars.   Parliament had summoned Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor John Mushayavanhu to explain how the ZiG currency rollout would work, but for unspecified reasons neither attended.  Last week, Mushayavanhu announced a shift in the central bank’s policies — vowing to restore confidence in an institution that has failed to stabilize the nation’s currency. Ngonidzashe Mudekunye, chairman of Parliament’s Industry and Commerce Committee said he was happy to hear from business owners about the new currency. “We want to get feedback regarding the new policy, whether it’s working, whether the industry has new suggestions that may be helpful, to ensure that this new monetary policy works," he said. "We all want a stable currency. Everyone is crying for it. We got so many views; the market wants a stable currency. This is what we are going to suggest to them.” The next stage for ZiG — introducing physical notes and coins to the public — is set for April 30.

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Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said that the United States is looking into allegations of human rights abuses by Israel in its operations against Hamas in Gaza. Two people were seen being taken into custody during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Columbia University on Monday. A prosecutor told jurors that Donald Trump tried to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election by preventing damaging stories about his personal life from becoming public. The statement came Monday at the start of the former president’s historic hush money trial. And on Earth Day a ship which emits no pollution as it sails the seas.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to China this week for talks with senior officials in Shanghai and Beijing to discuss a range of issues, including Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Middle East crisis, the South China Sea, and human rights. State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching has more.

NEW YORK — Columbia University held virtual classes Monday on the sixth continuous day of student protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict.  University president Nemat “Minouche” Shafik sent an email to the Columbia community announcing that classes would be held virtually.  “The decibel of our disagreements has only increased in recent days,” Shafik wrote. “These tensions have been exploited and amplified by individuals who are not affiliated with Columbia who have come to campus to pursue their own agendas. We need a reset.” More than 100 students were arrested at the school April 18, after the university’s president authorized police to clear away protesters. Some of the students also received suspension notices from the school.  Columbia’s action prompted an onslaught of pro-Palestinian demonstrations at other universities and responses from faculty and politicians. The arrests occurred after students calling themselves Columbia University Apartheid Divest erected dozens of tents on a lawn at the center of the campus, establishing it as the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment." Following the arrests and the demolition of the original encampment, another pro-Palestine encampment sprung on an adjacent lawn. Students aren’t the only demonstrators experiencing tensions on campus and with the university administration. Monday morning, Business School assistant professor Shai Davidai was denied entry to the university for an attempted pro-Israel counter-protest on the occupied lawn after he refused to comply with the university’s counter-protest policies.  “I am a professor here; I have every right to be everywhere on campus. You cannot let people who support Hamas on campus, and me, a professor, not on campus. Let me in now,” he said after Columbia COO Cass Halloway stopped him and other pro-Israel protesters at the entrance gates. He has repeatedly called student protesters “violent maniacs” and “pro-Hamas terrorists.” A petition calling for Davidai’s dismissal has amassed nearly 9,000 signatures as of last Thursday night; additional grievances have been shared on social media and with the university. Some Jewish students at Columbia say that many criticisms of Israel are antisemitic and make them feel unsafe. Since the arrests, many student groups and Columbia affiliate groups have released statements condemning the university’s decision to arrest students, citing discriminatory enforcement of rules that limit students' freedom of speech.  Monday, hundreds of faculty members from across Columbia and Barnard staged a rally and walkout to urge the university to reverse the students’ suspensions. Some faculty members wore their graduation regalia and sashes reading “We support students.” The backlash from the protests has even reached the ear of U.S. President Joe Biden. When asked about the recent events at the university by reporters Monday, Biden said, “I condemn the antisemitic protests. That’s why I have set up a program to deal with that. I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.” Other campuses, such as Yale, Stanford, and New York University have also rallied around the Palestinian cause, calling for their universities to divest from companies with ties to Israel and for a ceasefire in Gaza. Many have put up tent encampments on their campuses. About 50 students were arrested at Yale in New Haven, Connecticut, Monday after they refused to leave their encampment. Student protesters at Columbia have urged organizers of rallies outside the campus to “remember what we are protesting for” and focus on the war in Gaza, rather than just expressing solidarity with protesters.  Some information for this report was provided by Reuters and the Associated Press.  

Farmers in rural Malawi are learning to move away from over-dependence on maize, the country’s primary staple crop. A local charity Never Ending Food is teaching farmers about 200 types of food crops they can grow and eat. Lameck Masina reports from Lilongwe.

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Istanbul/Washington — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and his delegation last weekend in Istanbul amid growing criticism in Turkey of his government's stance on the Israel-Hamas war. There was no news conference after the meeting.  Erdogan’s office released a statement on the topics discussed with Haniyeh, who lives in exile in Qatar. According to the statement, Erdogan and the Hamas leader talked about "Israel's attacks on Palestinian territory, especially Gaza, what needs to be done to ensure adequate and uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and a fair and lasting peace process in the region." Erdogan also emphasized the importance of Palestinians acting in unity, which he called "the most robust response to Israel and the way to victory go through unity and integrity." In another statement, Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) revealed that a Hamas delegation, including key members of the militant group, was present in the meeting. Haniyeh's visit came at a time when Erdogan's stance on the Israel-Hamas war and his support for the Palestinian people were questioned by the Islamist New Welfare Party, which came in third nationally in the local elections last month. On April 9, Turkey's Trade Ministry announced export restrictions of several product groups to Israel as a response growing calls in Turkey for a boycott. Some analysts think that Erdogan's meeting with Haniyeh is to consolidate his base. "AKP and Erdogan have been very worn out recently regarding the Palestine issue after it was revealed that there was trade with Israel," Erhan Kelesoglu, an Istanbul-based Middle East expert, told VOA. "Meeting with Hamas leaders actually provides President [Erdogan] with the opportunity to refresh his image before the public. It shows that he is behind the Palestinian cause and Hamas," Kelesoglu added. On April 17, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan went to Doha, Qatar, where he met Haniyeh. Later in a joint news conference with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Fidan said that Hamas has accepted the establishment of a Palestinian state with the 1967 borders. "They have told me that following the establishment of the Palestinian state, Hamas would no longer need an armed wing and they would continue as a political party," Fidan said. Some experts view Ankara’s recent involvement with Hamas as its intent to play a mediator role. “Turkey intends to reassert its influence in the region by playing a mediator role, particularly as Qatar’s mediating capacity reaches its limits, and Turkey has recently emerged as one of the intermediary countries in relations with Iran,” Evren Balta, a non-resident scholar at Middle East Institute (MEI) in Washington, wrote in an analysis for MEI’s blog.  “However, it is unlikely that either Israel or the United States will agree to the role that Turkey wishes to play or see the dissolution of the military wing of Hamas as a sufficient move to engage with the organization,” Balta added.   Israel's reaction Following the meeting on April 20, Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz shared a photo of Erdogan shaking hands with Haniyeh on his X account. "Erdogan, shame on you," Katz wrote in a post in Turkish. He also listed his allegations of "rape, murder, and the desecration of corpses" committed by "the Muslim Brotherhood." Hamas shares the Islamist ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood, which Erdogan's AKP also backed in the past. Oncu Keceli, Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, reacted to Katz's statement on X, saying, "It is the Israeli authorities who should be ashamed. They have massacred nearly 35,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children." "Türkiye's priority is to bring the massacre in Gaza to an end, and the establishment of a Palestinian state to ensure lasting peace in our region," Keceli added. More than 34,000 people have been killed, Palestinian health authorities say, since the beginning of the war in Gaza last October. Comparison with Turkish militia On April 17, in his ruling AKP's parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan accused critics of his handling of the Israel-Gaza war of slandering him, his party, his government, and the Turkish Republic. "Some of our steps may not be visible. We may not be able to explain some of what we do. However, those who question our sensitivity on Palestine will sooner or later be embarrassed and disgraced," Erdogan said. "I say it very clearly and openly: Hamas is the same as Kuva-yi Milliye in Turkey during the war of independence," Erdogan added. He also called Hamas "a group of mujahideen waging a battle to protect its lands and people" in the past after the Oct. 7 attack. Mujahideen is an Arabic word meaning those who fight for Islam. The U.S., the U.K. and European Union have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. Kuva-yi Milliye, founded in 1918, is the name of the Turkish militia forces that fought in the early period of Turkey's War of Independence and was later organized under the command of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. Erdogan's statement stirred a debate in Turkey as the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) rejected such a similarity between Turkish national forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. "Identifying Hamas with Kuva-yi Milliye means 'the Palestinian cause started with Hamas.' However, everyone knows very well that the [Palestinian] struggle is a struggle that has lasted for decades. And it certainly did not start with Hamas," Oguz Kaan Salici, CHP's Istanbul deputy and a Turkish Parliament's Commission of Foreign Affairs member, told VOA. CHP calls for a two-state solution between the Israelis and Palestinians.

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Marijuana is a rare consensus issue in politically divided America, with polls showing that 88 percent of Americans support at least partially legalizing the drug. But cannabis advocates say neither of the leading presidential candidates are capitalizing on shifting attitudes. VOA Correspondent Scott Stearns has our story.

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united nations — The head of the U.N. children's agency, UNICEF, said Monday that 3 million Haitian children impacted by rampant gang violence need humanitarian assistance, including thousands who are at risk of death from severe malnutrition.   "Each day, children are being injured or killed," Catherine Russell told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council. "Some are being recruited, or they are joining armed groups out of sheer desperation."   The murder rate in Haiti has soared this year, with 2,505 people killed or injured in violence between January and March — a 53% increase over the final three months of 2023. Recent UNICEF data indicate between 30% and 50% of Haiti's gangs have children in their ranks.   Nearly half the population, almost 5 million people, is acutely food insecure, as gangs block major roads from agricultural areas to the capital, food prices rise, and the country's main airport has been closed since March 3 because of gang activity around it. The country relies on imports for half of its food.   "Recent findings from the IPC analysis indicate an alarming 19% increase in the number of children projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in Haiti this year," Russell said, referring to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a U.N.-backed food analysis index. "The analysis also showed that 1.64 million people are facing emergency levels of acute food insecurity, which increases the risk of child wasting and malnutrition."   She said the growing insecurity in the capital, Port-au-Prince, has made it nearly impossible for critical health and nutrition supplies to reach at least 58,000 children suffering from severe wasting – the most life-threatening form of malnutrition.   "The Martissant road, the only humanitarian corridor from Port-au-Prince to the southern regions, remains blocked, leaving an estimated 15,000 children suffering from malnutrition at risk of death," she said.   As services break down and clean water becomes less available, cholera has returned and the numbers are growing, with 80,000 suspected cases.   "The situation in Haiti is catastrophic, and it grows worse by the day," Russell said. Aid workers are continuing to deliver when they can, despite insecurity and a massive funding gap.   Haiti's U.N. envoy said the situation "is going from bad to worse."   On top of hunger and violence, Ambassador Antonio Rodrigue told the Security Council that gangs are looting private companies, especially medical companies.   "This has resulted in a serious shortage of medicines and medical products, hospital beds and blood products, including in the capital," he said. "Movement restrictions due to insecurity and improvised roadblocks are serious obstacles to the delivery of urgent medical equipment and medicines."   He called for the rapid deployment of the multinational support force that the council authorized in October 2023 to support Haiti's police. Kenya has offered to lead the non-U.N. force and several countries have offered to contribute personnel, including Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, Jamaica and Suriname.   The force has been beset with delays, including court challenges in Kenya and a shortage of funding.   In a positive development, Haiti's political process appears to be moving forward, with the publication on April 12 and 16 of executive decrees establishing the Transitional Presidential Council and appointing its members. An interim prime minister and government still need to be appointed and the Provisional Electoral Council members nominated. However, gang leaders have threatened to violently disrupt the nascent political process.   Haiti has been in turmoil since the July 7, 2021, assassination of President Jovenel Moise at his home in the Port-au-Prince suburb of Petion-Ville. Armed gangs now control much of the capital and have spread to other parts of the country, where they have carried out massacres, kidnappings, human trafficking and sexual violence. 

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washington — The White House is weighing ways to provide temporary legal status and work permits to immigrants in the U.S. illegally who are married to American citizens, three sources familiar with the matter said on Monday, a move that could energize some Democrats ahead of the November elections. Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups have pressured President Joe Biden to take steps to protect immigrants in the country illegally as Biden simultaneously considers executive actions to reduce illegal border crossings. Immigration has emerged as a top voter concern, especially among Republicans ahead of the Nov. 5 election pitting Biden, a Democrat, against his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump. Trump has said Biden's less restrictive policies have led to a rise in illegal immigration. The White House in recent months has considered the possibility of executive actions to block migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border if crossings reach a certain threshold, sparking criticism from some Democrats and advocates. The Biden administration also has examined the possible use of "parole in place" for spouses of U.S. citizens, the sources said, requesting anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The temporary status would provide access to work permits and potentially a path to citizenship. No actions are imminent or finalized, the sources said. A White House spokesperson said the administration "is constantly evaluating possible policy options" but declined to confirm discussions around specific actions. "The administration remains committed to ensuring those who are eligible for relief can receive it quickly and to building an immigration system that is fairer and more humane," the spokesperson said. The Wall Street Journal first reported the possible moves. An estimated 1.1 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally are married to U.S. citizens, according to data by advocacy organization FWD.us. A group of 86 Democrats sent a letter to Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last year urging them to protect spouses of U.S. citizens and create a family reunification process for those outside the country. Speaking at an advocacy press conference in Washington on Monday, Philadelphia resident and U.S. citizen Allyson Batista said her Brazilian-born husband still lacks legal immigration status after 20 years of marriage. Batista and her husband have three children together and run a construction company, she said, pleading with Biden to act. "Year after year, we continue to live in trauma and fear of separation," she said, "especially if an unfriendly administration takes over again."

LAVAL, Quebec — Members of a family in Quebec are searching for answers after discovering that their father's remains didn't make it to Canada from Cuba, where he died while on vacation, and that they instead received the remains of another man. Funerals for Faraj Allah Jarjour were scheduled for Sunday and Monday. Instead, his daughter Miriam Jarjour had been desperately calling and emailing as many officials as she can, trying to find his body. “Up until now we have no answers,” Jarjour said. “Where is my father?” Jarjour said she was swimming with her 68-year-old father in the ocean near Varadero, Cuba, during a family vacation on March 22 when he suddenly had a heart attack and died. Because there were no medical facilities, his body was covered and left on a beach chair in the hot sun for more than eight hours until a car arrived to take it to Havana, Jarjour said. After that, it’s not clear what happened. Jarjour said she followed the directions given to her by the Canadian consulate and paid $10,000 Canadian (US $7,300) to have the body returned home to the family.  However, the casket that arrived late last week contained the body of a Russian man who was at least 20 years younger than Jarjour’s father. Unlike her father, the body also had a full head of hair and tattoos. Jarjour said the stranger’s body has been sent to his country, but she and her family don't know where her father is. 'I'm honestly destroyed' When Jarjour contacted Canada's consular authorities in Cuba, they blamed the company in the island that coordinates the return of the remains. Since then, she said, she has been emailing other government officials, including her Member of Parliament, who has agreed to reach out to Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly. “I’m honestly destroyed,” said Jarjour. “Up until now we have no answers. We’re waiting. I don’t know what to tell you.” Jarjour described her father as an active man who didn’t smoke or drink. The Syrian-born family man was “always smiling,” she said. The ordeal has left her mother exhausted, said Jarjour. She and her brother are struggling through their own grief while trying to get answers from authorities who all seem to deny responsibility. So far, the family has spent $25,000 Canadian (US $18,248), including $15,000 Canadian (US $10,950) for funeral services that have been put on hold. Global Affairs Canada said in an email that consular officials were working with Cuban authorities and the family to resolve the issue. But Jarjour doesn’t feel she is getting the answers she needs and is hoping Joly will personally intervene to pressure Cuban authorities. “What I want is someone to help me find my father,” she said.

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