Section: Voice of America (USA)
Shrinking Country: Serbia Struggles With Population Decline
BLAGOJEV KAMEN, SERBIA — Uros Trainovic remembers when his small mining village in eastern Serbia was a vibrant home to 200 families, had a school of its own, a doctor and a shop.How times have changed. Now, 60-odd years later, it’s a ghost village with just eight residents.The transformation of Blagojev Kamen is not unique in a country...
Trump to Propose Cuts in Foreign Aid, Social Safety Nets in Budget, Officials Say
U.S. President Donald Trump will propose on Monday a 21% cut in foreign aid and slashes to social safety net programs in his $4.8 trillion budget proposal for fiscal 2021, according to senior administration officials.The budget will seek an increase in funds to counter developing economic threats from China and Russia, but will also raise funds...
Iran Launches Satellite But It Fails to Reach Earth’s Orbit
Iranian state television reports Sunday that Iran failed in an attempt to launch an Iranian-made Zafar satellite into the Earth’s orbit.Ahmad Hosseini, a spokesman for the Iranian Defense Ministry’s space program, told state TV that “the Zafar satellite did not reach orbit as planned” because it did not reach the necessary...
Zelenskiy Asks Pope for Help in Releasing POWs in Eastern Ukraine
Ukraine’s president has asked Pope Francis for help in securing the release of prisoners of war held by Russia and by Russia-backed separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy made the request after a meeting Saturday with the pontiff at the Vatican. “[The pope] does everything possible to achieve peace and harmony...
Democrats’ Debate in New Hampshire: Key Takeaways
Three days before the critical New Hampshire primary, seven Democratic presidential candidates debated, with many of them fighting to survive in the race to challenge President Donald Trump.Here are some key takeaways.Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks during a Democratic presidential primary...
Trump Ousts Two Who Testified in Impeachment Inquiry
President Donald Trump on Friday ousted Gordon Sondland, his ambassador to the European Union, who delivered damaging testimony during the impeachment inquiry. Sondland said in a statement that Trump intended to recall him effectively immediately. The action came hours after Alexander Vindman, the decorated soldier and national security aide who...
Trump’s Acquittal Confronts Dems With Election Year Choices
Donald Trump’s impeachment ended with a reminder of why House Speaker Nancy Pelosi resisted the idea for so long — an acquittal everyone saw coming, followed by a bombastic presidential victory lap and a bump in his poll numbers just as the 2020 campaign officially began.Now Democrats have to decide how to navigate the legislative and...
Trump Promotes ‘Religious Freedom’ Initiative Amid Criticisms Over Travel Ban
President Donald Trump highlighted his efforts to promote religious freedom at home and abroad during an unusually raucous appearance before the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday.“To protect faith communities, I have taken historic action to defend religious liberty, including the constitutional right to pray in public schools,” he told the...
US Protesters Denounce Impeachment Trial as ‘Sham’
Small numbers of protesters gathered in major U.S. cities following the acquittal by the Senate of President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial on Wednesday.After the Senate action, demonstrators gathered outside of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, condemning the vote and calling for Trump’s removal. They carried signs claiming the...
Selfies, Polite Applause Greet Acquittal Vote at Trump Hotel Bar
A smattering of applause briefly interrupted the chatter in the bar of the Trump International Hotel in Washington when the U.S. Senate voted against the first article of impeachment against President Donald Trump.The outcome had been expected. Mitt Romney was the lone lawmaker to break with his party as the Senate acquitted Trump on impeachment...
