Feed aggregator

Washington — U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a stern, one-word warning to Iran on Friday as the world braced for Tehran to exact revenge for a deadly Israeli airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus, Syria. “Don’t,” Biden said to reporters following a speech on domestic policy at an event in New York City. “We are devoted to the defense of Israel,” the president said in response to questions from reporters. “We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel, and Iran will not succeed." Biden’s comments followed similar expressions of support from top U.S. defense and diplomatic officials over the past several days and come as the U.S. military takes steps to ensure growing hostilities between Israel and Iran do not engulf the Middle East in a wider war. "We are moving additional assets to the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts and increase protection for U.S. forces," a U.S. defense official told VOA Friday. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, declined to share additional details. Even as U.S. officials warned Iran against seeking revenge, a key Iranian proxy sprang into action. Lebanese Hezbollah late Friday fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel. The Israel Defense Forces said it detected about 40 rockets crossing from Lebanon into Israel, some of which were intercepted by air defense systems. The IDF also said it was able to intercept two explosive drones that Hezbollah militants had used to target Israel earlier Friday. It is unclear whether the rocket and drone attacks by Hezbollah were part of an effort by Iran to retaliate for the Israeli strike on Iran’s diplomatic compound earlier this month, which killed three senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders, including General Ali Reza Zahdi, who led Iran’s elite Quds force. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Wednesday that Israel "must be punished and will be punished” for the April 1 attack, days after one of his advisers said Israeli embassies are "no longer safe." U.S. diplomatic officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have been reaching out to counterparts in Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia, urging them to make clear to Tehran “that escalation is not in anyone’s interest,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Thursday. But the U.S. push for de-escalation has been accompanied by expressions of strong support for Israel in the face of potential Iranian aggression. “We are in constant communication with our Israeli counterparts about making sure that they can defend themselves,” White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters early Friday, describing Iran’s threat to retaliate as “very credible.” “We take our commitment to helping Israel with their self-defense very seriously,” Kirby said. “It is an ironclad commitment.” During a call Thursday with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also offered Washington’s backing to Israel. “Secretary Austin assured Minister Gallant that Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against Iranian attacks,” according to a Pentagon readout of the conversation. The U.S. statements and the movement of additional resources to deter Iranian aggression, however, have done little so far to ease growing concerns. “We are very worried about potential escalation in a situation that seems to be escalating on a daily basis,” said United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. “Our message, which has been sent publicly and privately, is to avoid any escalation and work toward de-escalation of the tensions,” Dujarric told reporters Friday. VOA’s Patsy Widakuswara and Margaret Besheer contributed to this report.

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.

Kagame is condoning and supporting a group that stands accused of serious human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The U.S. and the U.N., both of which have sanctioned the M23 militants, have accused Kagame’s government of supporting the group.

We explore innovative farming and experience Ethiopian wine.

Mike Sands leads ecologically farming at Bean Hollow Grassfed, in Flint Hill, Virginia. He uses regenerative agriculture methods to rejuvenate a run-down piece of land and establish a sustainable, profitable model that challenges conventional farming norms. Reporter| Camera | Producer: Zdenko Novacki, Additional Camera: Philip Alexiou    

Bean Hollow Grassfed operates as a self-service farm store, providing a diverse selection of animal welfare-approved, certified grass-fed meats. Customers have the freedom to select their cuts, weigh them, and make purchases through an honor system. Reporter| Camera | Producer: Zdenko Novacki, Additional Camera: Philip Alexiou     

Gize Negussie aims to introduce Ethiopian culture to Americans by offering the experience of Tej, known as honey wine. Reporter | Camera | Producer: Philip Alexiou

In Franconia, Virginia, the annual Pumpkin Hill tradition, spanning 30 years, showcases pumpkins of various sizes, gourds, and squash, presenting a colorful autumn display. Reporter | Camera | Producer: Philip Alexiou

The Seattle Japanese Garden is a 3.5-acre urban sanctuary in the heart of the city, and has been open to the public since 1960. Reporter | Camera | Editor: Gabrielle Weiss

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.

Animal rights groups and political leaders are honoring volunteers and activists who are saving animals affected by the war in Ukraine. Among those being recognized is Maria Vronska, who runs a Kyiv-area shelter that cares for more than 700 dogs and cats. Anna Kosstutschenko reports. Camera: Pavel Suhodolskiy. 

Israel prepares to be attacked by Iran and the FBI is concerned about a terrorist attack inside the United States. An update from Kyiv on Ukraine’s new military conscription law, and a look at the Japan-U.S.-Philippines summit and the plight of Sudanese refugees in need of health care.

WASHINGTON — The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted to reauthorize a controversial surveillance program Friday, in a major step toward keeping a key element of the United States' foreign intelligence-gathering operation in place. The House passed a bill reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in a 273-147 vote. The FISA bill now moves to the Senate, which is expected to give it bipartisan approval. Without congressional action, the program will expire on April 19. Approval came after the duration of the bill was changed to two years from a previous version of five years, as some Republicans had sought. FISA has attracted criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, who argue it violates Americans' constitutional right to privacy. The bill was blocked three times in the past five months by House Republicans bucking their party.   The White House, intelligence chiefs and top lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee have warned of potentially catastrophic effects of not reauthorizing the program, which was first created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The reauthorization was thwarted earlier this week when House Republicans refused to support the bill House Speaker Mike Johnson had put forward, which fell short of the changes they wanted.   "We will go blind on April 19" without the program, Representative Mike Turner, the Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee, told reporters Wednesday. Although the right to privacy is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, the data of foreign nationals gathered by the program often includes communications with Americans and can be mined by domestic law enforcement bodies such as the FBI without a warrant.   That has alarmed both hardline Republicans and far-left Democrats. Recent revelations that the FBI used this power to hunt for information about Black Lives Matter protesters, congressional campaign donors and U.S. lawmakers have raised further doubts about the program's integrity. A key issue has been an amendment which would require domestic law enforcement agencies to obtain warrants before searching the database. Executive branch officials argue that such a change would undermine the program's utility for agencies such as the FBI. The amendment barely failed in a 212-212 vote ahead of the vote on the bill's final passage. 

ROME — Italy's foreign affairs minister said Friday he spoke by telephone with his Iranian counterpart Friday to urge restraint amid fears of a strike on Israel from Tehran.  Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a statement that he had appealed to Iran's Hossein Amirabdollahian "for moderation."  "We cannot risk escalation at such an extremely volatile stage. All regional actors must show responsibility," Tajani said.  Tajani's appeal came amid fears that Tehran will retaliate after an Israeli strike earlier this month on Iran's consulate building in Syria killed seven members of its elite Revolutionary Guards.   Israel has stepped up strikes against Iran-linked targets in Syria since the war against Hamas militants in Gaza began.  The war began with Hamas' unprecedented October 7 terror attack against Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures.  Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,634 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry  The U.S. White House said Friday that the threat of violence from Iran remained "real."  Italy, which holds the rotating G7 presidency, is set to host a meeting of foreign ministers on the Italian island of Capri next week.  Tajani also called on Amirabdollahian "to exert a moderating influence on Iran's allies in the region," the statement said. 

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.

Islamabad — The recent detection of poliovirus in sewage water samples collected across 30 districts in Pakistan has reignited concerns about a potential surge in polio cases. Among those deeply troubled is Musal Khan, a polio survivor who navigates life in a wheelchair. Having represented Pakistan in wheelchair cricket at the global level, Musal Khan doesn't want others to endure the same hardships he has faced. Reflecting on his own experience, Khan, who contracted polio at age 2, told VOA, “My father didn't permit polio vaccination for me, leading to a lifetime confined to a wheelchair.” Khan urges all parents to give polio drops to their children and protect them from lifelong disabilities. His father, Awal Khan, carries a heavy burden of guilt for his son's condition. He joins Musal in urging parents not to obstruct polio workers and health officials from administering the vaccine to their children. Polio, a highly contagious viral illness primarily affecting children under 5, spreads through feces, oral transmission or contaminated food and water. While incurable, it can be prevented through vaccination. Health experts warn that the poliovirus is a persistent presence in Pakistan, particularly in urban centers such as Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar. Plan to eradicate polio Shahzad Baig, the coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Center, has outlined Pakistan's goal of eradicating imported strains of the poliovirus, particularly those originating from neighboring Afghanistan, by the end of 2024. To achieve this, he announced the implementation of eight comprehensive polio vaccination campaigns scheduled throughout the year. Despite concerted efforts, the recent emergence of two polio cases in Chaman and Dera Bugti underscored the challenges facing Pakistan. Moreover, alarming findings from the analysis of more than 83 sewage water samples collected across 30 districts have revealed the presence of the virus. Baig emphasized the importance of vaccination efforts considering these findings. He noted that even in areas where polio drops are administered, children remain susceptible to the virus due to deficiencies in the drainage infrastructure. Broken sewer lines contribute to the contamination of drinking water sources, facilitating the transmission of polio. Baig stressed the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address not only vaccination coverage but also the improvement of sanitation infrastructure to prevent the spread of poliovirus. This story originated in VOA’s Urdu Service.

WASHINGTON — German officials are interrogating an Iraqi couple who are suspected of committing crimes that may amount to genocide while they were associated with the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria between October 2015 and December 2017. The German federal public prosecutor general released a statement Wednesday saying “Twana H.S. and Asia R.A. are strongly suspected of genocide according to the German Code of Crime” against Yazidis, a religious minority that was targeted by the Islamic State militant group in 2014. The two, who were not further identified, were arrested this week in Regensburg and Roth County, Germany. In March, the investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice issued arrest warrants for them and ordered that “they be placed in pretrial detention.” It has been reported that the couple are originally from the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Prosecutors said the couple “held a then-5-year-old Yazidi girl; they enslaved a then-12-year-old Yazidi girl as well. Twana repeatedly raped both children. To this end, Asia prepared the room and put makeup on one of the girls.” Islamic State attacked Yazidis in the Sinjar region in Iraq on August 3, 2014, with a systematic plan to commit genocide against the Yazidis because it considered them to be religious infidels. According to Yazidi sources, the extremist group killed thousands of people and enslaved approximately 6,500 people, mainly women and children. Mirza Dinnayi, a founder of the nongovernmental organization House of Coexistence in Sinjar, told VOA there are still about 2,650 women and children missing. IS attacks in Sinjar displaced more than 375,000 people from their homes. After more than nine years, most of them still live in a dozen camps in Iraqi Kurdistan and northeastern Syria. More than 80 mass graves of Yazidis from Sinjar were found in the region. Half of them have not been exhumed. So far, the remains of 200 of the victims have been identified using DNA technology. The parliaments of several countries and international institutions, including the U.S., U.K., Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Armenia and Germany, have labeled the atrocities as genocide. It is not the first time a court in Germany will try IS members for genocide crimes against Yazidis. On November 30, 2021, a court in Frankfurt found 29-year-old Taha al-Jumailly, an Iraqi national, guilty “of involvement in the slaughter of more than 3,000 Yazidis and enslavement of 7,000 women and girls by IS jihadists in 2014-2015.” The court ruling included the murder of a 5-year-old girl the defendant had enslaved and chained to a window, leaving her to die in scorching heat. Irfan Ortach, chairman of the Central Council of the Yazidis in Germany, said after the German parliament recognized the “massacre of Yazidis by jihadists from the Islamic State in Iraq as genocide" in January 2023, the perspective of courts in Germany changed on the role of women in the atrocities committed in Iraq and Syria. Ortach told VOA that “prior to that there was an understanding in German courts that women had no role in the radical organization and its acts. But now they are equally subject of investigations and trials.” The Regensburg case will likely be similar to the Frankfurt case in terms of the nature of crimes and the ages of the victims. According to the German federal prosecutor’s office, before leaving Syria in November 2017, Twana H.S. and Asia R.A. handed the girls over to other IS members. Yazidi activists say both girls are now under German authorities’ protection. This story originated in VOA’s Kurdish Service.