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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.

With five months until the November election and no diplomatic solution in sight for wars in Ukraine and Gaza, President Joe Biden, who in 2020 ran on a campaign to end "forever wars," is shifting voters’ attention away from American entanglements abroad by focusing on domestic priorities. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara has the story.

Israel’s tanks advanced to the heart of Rafah for the first time on Tuesday, pressing its offensive in Gaza's southern city despite international condemnation of an attack Sunday that sparked a blaze in a tent camp for the displaced, killing at least 45 people. Ireland officially recognized a Palestinian state on Tuesday, joining Norway and Spain and defying Israel, which had condemned the plan. Scotland First Minister John Swinney said on Tuesday that the UK must also recognize Palestinian statehood. And using coffee grinds to make concrete stronger and more earth friendly.

The White House described an Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Rafah as “heartbreaking,” but it made no move to limit military assistance to Israel or shift its policy supporting the country's right to conduct operations in Gaza. Anita Powell reports from the White House.

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.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — U.N. development specialist Garry Conille was named Haiti's new prime minister Tuesday evening, nearly a month after a coalition within a fractured transitional council sought to choose someone else for the position. The long-awaited move comes as gangs continue to terrorize the capital of Port-au-Prince, opening fire in once-peaceful neighborhoods and using heavy machinery to demolish several police stations and prisons. Council member Louis Gérald Gilles told The Associated Press that six out of seven council members with voting power chose Conille earlier Tuesday. He said one member, Laurent St. Cyr, was not in Haiti and therefore did not vote. Conille has been UNICEF's regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean since January 2023 and previously served as Haiti's prime minister from October 2011 to May 2012 under then President Michel Martelly. He replaces Michel Patrick Boisvert, who was named interim prime minister after Ariel Henry resigned via letter in late April. Henry was on an official trip to Kenya when a coalition of powerful gangs launched coordinated attacks Feb. 29, seizing control of police stations, shooting at Haiti's main international airport and storming the country's two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates. Henry was locked out of the country by the attacks, with the airport in the capital Port-au-Prince remaining shuttered for nearly three months. Gang violence is still surging in parts of Haiti's capital and beyond as Conille takes over the helm of the troubled Caribbean country awaiting the U.N.-backed deployment of a police force from Kenya and other countries. Conille studied medicine and public health and helped develop health care in impoverished communities in Haiti and helped coordinate reconstruction efforts after the devastating 2010 earthquake. He worked for several years at the United Nations before Martelly designated him as prime minister in 2011. Conille resigned less than a year later after clashes with the president and his cabinet over an investigation into government officials who have dual nationality, which is not allowed by Haiti's constitution. Conille has an arduous task ahead of him, having to quell rampant gang violence while helping lift Haiti out of deep poverty, with inflation reaching a record 29%, according to the latest data available. In recent years, gangs that control at least 80% of Port-au-Prince have forced more than 360,000 people from their homes, and they continue to control key routes from the capital to Haiti's northern and southern regions, often paralyzing the transportation of critical goods. The selection of Conille as prime minister comes just weeks after former Haitian sports minister Fritz Bélizaire was chosen for the post in late April by a four-member coalition within the nine-member transitional council in a surprise announcement that angered many. Critics said proper procedure was not followed as dictated by the framework that established the council, so a new process was started to choose a prime minister, with dozens of names submitted for the post. The drawn-out process has been criticized by many, including the Montana Accord, a Haitian civil society group that has a representative on the council. In a statement Tuesday, the group accused the council of not taking any "consequential measures" since being installed as "the suffering of the people is getting worse, while the gangs are taking control of more territory and committing more crimes." It also accused the council of not being transparent while choosing a new prime minister, saying it did not publicly share the criteria used or the names submitted, among other things. Liné Balthazar, president of the Tet Kale party, called on the council to be transparent in an interview Monday with Magik9, a local radio station, and said the selection of a prime minister appeared improvised. In addition to selecting a new prime minister, the nine-member council, of which seven have voting powers, also must appoint a provisional electoral commission, a requirement before elections can take place. The council's nonrenewable mandate expires February 7, 2026, at which date a new president is scheduled to be sworn in. In addition to picking a new prime minister, the council also is responsible for selecting a new Cabinet and holding general elections by the end of next year. The council members are Emmanuel Vertilaire for Petit Desalin, a party led by former senator and presidential candidate Jean-Charles Moïse; Smith Augustin for EDE/RED, a party led by former Prime Minister Claude Joseph; Fritz Alphonse Jean of the Montana Accord; Leslie Voltaire for Fanmi Lavalas, the party of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide; Louis Gérald Gilles for the December 21 coalition that backs former Prime Minister Ariel Henry; Edgard Leblanc Fils for the January 30 Collective, which represents parties including that of former President Michel Martelly; and Laurent Saint-Cyr for the private sector.  

Seoul, South Korea — North Korea appears to have made good on its threat to float feces-carrying balloons into South Korea, according to local media reports.  The Yonhap news agency reported that South Korea's military early Wednesday detected about 90 balloons, some of which carried apparent propaganda leaflets and other items that were scattered in two South Korean border provinces.  "It was reported that some of the balloons that fell had sewage hanging in bags, which although difficult to confirm, was presumed to be feces due to its dark color and odor," Yonhap reported. Earlier this week, North Korea vowed "tit for tat action" after a prominent human rights activist launched balloons carrying anti-North Korea pamphlets and USB flash drives filled with South Korean pop culture content into the North.  "Mounds of wastepaper and filth will soon be scattered over the border areas and the interior of the ROK, and it will directly experience how much effort is required to remove them," said Kim Kang Il, North Korea's vice minister of national defense, in comments published in state media on Sunday. Early Wednesday, text message alerts warned some South Korean residents in border provinces to refrain from outdoor activities because of unknown objects presumedly from North Korea. The notification, which did not mention feces, advised residents to contact their local government if they find any of the objects.  It is not the first time North Korea has sent balloons carrying feces into the South. In 2016, South Korean residents near the border reported finding balloons containing cigarette butts, compact discs, and used toilet paper, among other things. North Korea's totalitarian government has for years complained about South Korean activists who float anti-Pyongyang materials and other items into the North. The leaflets often criticize North Korea's human rights record or mock North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and are sometimes packaged with items of value, such as dollar bills or USB flash drives. Earlier this month, Park Sang-hak, a North Korean defector and outspoken human rights activist, sent about 20 large balloons into the North. It was Park's first launch since South Korea's Constitutional Court struck down a law banning such launches.  South Korean officials have cited national security considerations to prohibit or outlaw the launches. In 2014, North Korean border guards tried to shoot down some of the balloons, resulting in an exchange of gunfire with the South.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abuja, Nigeria — Representatives from more than 80 civil society and rights organizations in Nigeria held a moment of silence May 28 to remember some 9,000 people who have died in the last year due to various forms of violence.  The annual National Day of Mourning initiative was launched seven years ago to pay tribute to victims of attacks and demand the government restore security in the country.  "These incidents of violence have reduced citizens’ rights to life and dignity,” said Lois Auta of the nonprofit Cedar Seed Foundation, one of the event's organizers. “The frequency of these atrocities have kept Nigerians in a state of perpetual fear and uncertainty, and is impacting social cohesion, the economy and education across the country. All Nigerians suffer the manifested consequences of food insecurity and economic hardships resulting from hindrances imposed by perennial insecurity."  Nigeria is struggling to reduce multiple forms of widespread insecurity, including kidnappings, communal clashes, terrorism, extrajudicial killings and secessionist violence.  The coalition said more than 30,000 people have died in the last six years as a result.  This year’s commemoration coincides with the one-year anniversary of President Bola Tinubu taking office.   Tinubu pledged to improve security and boost the economy if elected president. But one year later, critics such as Frank Tietie, founder of Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights, say Tinubu has not only failed on his promises, but the situation has gotten worse.   "His primary responsibility is to protect the Nigerian people. If nobody has told President Tinubu that he's failing at this point, at the celebration of his one-year anniversary in government, we are telling him that he has not only failed [but] he has exhibited gross irresponsibility,” Tietie said. “Nigerians are suffering, there's hardly any family that has not been touched by this level of insecurity."  According to a security tracker by Nigerian-based Beacon Security and Consulting Limited, incidents of attacks increased from 5,500 between 2022 and 2023 to 7,800 between 2023 and 2024.  The number of fatalities and abductions were also higher during the same period.  Security analyst Kabiru Adamu said despite the government making an effort, poor accountability and unwise appointments in the security sector pose major hurdles. "It's very obvious that the government is committed to addressing the security challenges as indicated in policy imperatives and those policy imperatives are very clear. As an expert, if they're implemented, I believe they'll reduce or even eliminate the security challenge,” Adamu said. “But the major challenge has been one of implementation, especially due to the absence of capability by some of the security sector leadership."  Last Friday, a local district head in Nigeria's Niger state said gunmen made tea and cooked food as they terrorized villagers, killing 10 and abducting 160 others.   Adamu said one year is not enough time for the insecurity issues to be fully addressed by a new administration, but that authorities should be able during 12 months to show a positive trajectory towards addressing the problem.  But for now, rights groups and families of the victims will be reminding the president about the promise he made to keep their loved ones and the country safe.

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.