Isabela Cocoli/VOA News Pope Francis is calling for priests to absolve women of the “sin of abortion” during the upcoming «Holy Year of Mercy,» a move that breaks with the traditional stance of the Roman Catholic Church. In a letter published Tuesday by the Vatican before the Jubilee year starting in December, the pope said he […]readmore
JOHANNESBURG—The recent killing of Zimbabwe’s beloved Cecil the lion, at the hands of an American hunter, has ignited a firestorm of controversy in neighboring South Africa, a top destination for hunters looking to bag exotic trophies like lions, leopards and the like. South Africa’s hunting industry is a hugely profitable one, bringing in hundreds of […]readmore
China’s Defense Ministry Thursday accused the United States of «militarizing» the South China Sea by staging patrols and joint military drills there, leading to raised tensions in the disputed region. China Defense spokesman Yang Yujun said Beijing has been angered by U.S. Navy and Air Force forays through waters it claims as its own, strengthened […]readmore
More details are emerging about the role Turkey has allegedly been playing in assisting Iran to dodge international sanctions involving the trading of gold by an Iranian businessman that Turkey’s president once dubbed a philanthropist. Ministers and associates of the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s family are alleged to have been paid off with substantial bribes […]readmore
As Ukraine is struggling to reform and survive during war, it is relying on a cohort of accomplished foreigners for leadership. For example, foreign-born ministers are negotiating a way out of Ukraine’s debt burden, and former statesmen from Georgia are at the forefront of Ukraine’s fight against corruption. Ukraine has an ancient tradition of being […]readmore
WASHINGTON—The U.N. Security Council has unanimously endorsed the agreement Iran and a group of six world powers struck last week to limit the Iranian nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The 15-member Council quickly voted Monday morning. The five permanent, veto-holding Council members are signatories to the agreement, so the resolution was expected to […]readmore
A senior Greek official confirmed on Thursday that banks would reopen on Monday and said the government was looking into allowing people to bunch 60 euro withdrawals over several days. «From Monday, the services offered will be widened,» Deputy Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas told ERT television. «All the banks everywhere will be open.» A senior […]readmore
If the newly-reached accord between Iran and major world powers works as designed, it will keep Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon for the next decade and beyond. Some analysts say another way to judge the deal reached Tuesday in Vienna is whether it keeps Arab governments, many of whom view Iran as a main […]readmore
LONDON—Greece’s government on Tuesday submitted tough new bailout legislation to parliament, with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras pressing lawmakers to support reforms demanded by European creditors in exchange for badly needed cash. The bill specifies new taxes, pension reforms, tighter supervision of government finances and the sell-off of 50 billion euros’ worth of public sector assets. […]readmore
Iraq announced Monday the start of an offensive to recapture its western Anbar province from Islamic State militants who control large areas including the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah. The televised statement said the operation included Iraqi troops as well as Shi’ite and Sunni fighters. Iraq’s government has made Anbar a priority since the Islamic […]readmore