French Far-Right Leader Charged Over Islamic State Tweets

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been charged for tweeting brutal images of Islamic State violence. The move by a court in the Paris suburb of Nanterre comes after the National Assembly voted in November to strip the National Front chief of her parliamentary immunity over the three photos posted on Twitter in 2015.  …

White House Faces Rumors About Top Security Aide’s Exit

The White House on Thursday faced fresh speculation about the future of national security adviser H.R. McMaster, with officials sending mixed messages about his possible departure. Amid a stream of staff leaving Donald Trump’s White House, NBC reported that the three-star general tasked with running White House security policy would, within months, be headed for …

Turkey’s Global Anti-Gülen Crusade Puts Tbilisi in Diplomatic Bind

Mustafa Emre Çabuk is out of prison but not out of trouble. The Turkish national, who for the past 15 years ran a Gülen school in the Georgian capital, Tblisi, is the latest international educator caught up in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s anti-Gülenist campaign. Çabuk is at home under security services protection after nine …

Gorgeous Orchids Showcased at US Botanic Garden

Orchids are among the world’s most beautiful flowers. Although the blossoms come in different shapes, sizes and colors, they all belong to one of the largest and oldest families of flowering plants on earth. The U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington is showcasing some of the thousands of different orchid varieties in a spectacular exhibit that …

Ending Ugly Campaign, Italy Prepares for Difficult Vote

Italian voters go to the polls Sunday to vote in a race driven by growing anti-immigrant sentiments and rising eurosceptic movements. The major contenders are the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the populist Northern League, an alliance created by former, disgraced prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, 81. None of those vying for power appear likely to …

Students Return to Florida High School for First Time Since Mass Shooting

Students who survived one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history are returning to school Wednesday, as federal and state lawmakers continue to debate how to prevent young people from losing their lives in what they all agree should be the safe confines of the nation’s schools. There have been no classes at Marjory …

Russia Accuses Syrian Rebels of Blocking Humanitarian Plan While Fighting Continues

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday rebels in the eastern Ghouta area of Syria are blocking aid deliveries and preventing people from leaving during what Russia has called a daily “humanitarian pause” in its military operations. The Russian plan is meant to give a five-hour window for people to get help or get out …

Ghani Offers Unconditional Talks, Legitimacy to Afghan Taliban

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani has offered unconditional peace talks to the Taliban, as well as the chance of recognizing them as a legitimate political party and withdrawing their names from international sanctions lists, if they agreed to join a peace process and give up violence. Addressing the second Kabul Process conference Wednesday morning, Ghani said …

Boris Nemtsov Plaza Unveiled In Washington

Family and friends of slain Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov unveiled a street sign renamed in his honor in front of the Russian Embassy in Washington D.C. on February 27. Members of the U.S. Congress and D.C. Council officials also attended the ceremony. (Reuters) …

Botswana Urges Congo’s Kabila to Step Down

The southern African nation of Botswana has taken the unusual step of directly criticizing Congolese President Joseph Kabila, saying his refusal to hold long overdue elections is driving deadly violence and a growing humanitarian emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Botswana’s Foreign Ministry declined VOA’s request to elaborate on the statement, saying the words …