Section: Voice of America (USA)
Reporter’s Notebook: Lives and Well-Being of Everyone Rest in Hands of All
For a country that thrives on sociability, life without bars and restaurants, and little social contact, is a test of will and a breaking of entrenched habits. While touring Italy in the early 1900s, American author Henry James noted that Italian life is street life. Now, with the unprecedented nationwide lockdown because of the coronavirus, life...
Coronavirus Fears Aside, Putin Pushes to Expand Power
Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated a nationwide vote on constitutional amendments that would open the door to extending his power might face delays because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, which has affected Russia little but ravaged other parts of the globe.“I really am counting on people to show up on April 22 and support the...
Putin Formally Signs Off on Constitutional Changes That Allow Him to Extend Power
Vladimir Putin has formally signed off on constitutional amendments that would allow the Russian leader to run again for president in 2024, the Interfax news agency reported on March 14.The announcement comes a day after it was reported that all of Russia’s regional parliaments had voted in favor of the measures.In January, Putin announced...
Putin Approves Law That Could Keep Him in Power Until 2036
Vladimir Putin has formally signed off on constitutional amendments that would allow the Russian leader to run again for president in 2024.His approval comes a day after it was reported that all of Russia’s regional parliaments had voted in favor of the measures.In January, Putin announced a major shake-up of Russian politics and a...
Trump to skip St. Patrick’s Day Hill luncheon, blames Pelosi
Irish eyes at the U.S. Capitol will not smile on President Donald Trump on St. Patrick’s Day.Trump is skipping an annual bipartisan luncheon with House and Senate lawmakers celebrating the ties that bind the U.S. and Ireland, a White House spokesman said.Trump blamed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.“Since the speaker has chosen to tear this...
Families of MH17 Victims Stage Protest Ahead of Trial
Relatives of the victims of the MH17 plane crash set up 298 empty chairs outside the Russian embassy in the Netherlands, a day before four individuals will stand trial at the Hague over their alleged involvement in the downing of the passenger jet.The Malaysian air flight crashed over territory in Ukraine held by pro-Russia separatists in July of...
Trump Names Meadows as New White House Chief of Staff
In the midst of managing the country’s coronavirus outbreak and preparing for the beginning of his presidential campaign, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a major personnel change at the White House.Representative Mark Meadows from North Carolina is the new White House chief of staff, replacing Mark Mulvaney who has been the acting...
Publisher Pushes Back Release Date for John Bolton’s Book
The publisher of John Bolton’s highly anticipated memoir has pushed back the release date from March 17 to mid-May. Simon & Schuster cited the ongoing government security review of the former national security adviser’s “The Room Where It Happened.” The new date is May 12, the publisher said in a news release....
Putin Says Oil Prices ‘Acceptable’ Ahead Of OPEC+ Meeting
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called current oil price levels “acceptable” in a possible sign that Moscow is willing to bend when the world’s biggest oil exporters gather this week in Vienna to discuss supply curbs as coronavirus effects pummel oil demand and prices.Putin also said Moscow was approaching a so-called OPEC+...
Apprehension of Chechens in Europe Mounts after Attack on Blogger
Chechen emigres in Europe are becoming increasingly apprehensive about their safety following a hammer attack last week by a would-be assassin on a trenchant critic of Chechnya’s Kremlin-backed leader, Ramzan Kadyrov.They say the attack, foiled when popular Chechen blogger Tumso Aburakhmanov confronted his assailant, is part of a violent...
