Minority Votes Speak to Congressional Battle in Texas

The U.S. Supreme Court stepped into Texas’ congressional redistricting debate this week, temporarily halting a lower court order to correct two districts found to be drawn with racially discriminatory intent. The Supreme Court’s stay is the latest turn in a contentious six-year battle over accusations of racially motivated redistricting in Texas. Given Texas’ sizable congressional …

Houston Mosques Open Doors to Flood Victims

Floodwaters may be slowly receding in Houston, but many freeways and neighborhoods near dams and reservoirs are still under water. Many flood victims are staying in shelters. There are several mosques that have opened their doors to the larger community. The volunteers and temporary residents in one west Houston mosque learned something they didn’t expect. …

White House Defends Trump’s Proposal to Cut Disaster Relief Budget

Administration officials are defending the president’s proposal to cut federal emergency funds even as the southern state of Texas struggles with the aftermath of the worst flooding in its history. The White House said Thursday that adequate relief funds would be available for disasters under President Donald Trump’s proposal. The White House also announced that …

Tajik Law Appears To Target Hijab-Wearing Women

Tajikistan has passed a law that urges citizens to wear traditional clothes. Though the recommendation is vague and carries no penalties, authorities appear to have a specific goal in mind: discouraging women from wearing the Islamic hijab. (RFE/RL’s Tajik Service) …

US Pressure or Not, UN Nuclear Watchdog Sees No Need to Check Iran Military Sites

The United States is pushing U.N.nuclear inspectors to check military sites in Iran to verify it is not breaching its nuclear deal with world powers. But for this to happen, inspectors must believe such checks are necessary and so far they do not, officials say. Last week, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley …

Britain’s May to Appeal to European Leaders as Brexit Talks Deadlock

British Prime Minister Theresa May is planning to appeal to her counterparts in the European Union to try to break an impasse in Brexit talks. After four days of negotiations, the third round of formal exit discussions between London and Brussels, the two sides are as wide apart on the key issues as they were …

Explosions Rock Flooded Houston-Area Chemical Plant

A Houston-area chemical plant that lost power after Harvey engulfed the area in extensive floods was rocked by two explosions early Thursday, the plant’s operator said. Arkema Inc. said in a statement on its website that the Harris County Emergency Operations Center reported two explosions and black smoke coming from the plant at about 2 …

US Sends Extra Fighters to Police Baltic Skies During Russian Exercise

The United States has sent a reinforced detachment of fighter planes to police the skies over NATO members Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia during a major Russian military exercise in the Baltic region next month. The Zapad war games, set for September 14-20 in Belarus, western Russia and Russia’s exclave of Kaliningrad, have caused unease in …

Men May Suffer if Marital Rape Becomes Crime, India Government Says

Criminalizing marital rape could “destabilize” marriages and make men vulnerable to harassment by their wives, said India’s government in response to a plea in the capital’s high court. Victims and rights groups are seeking to change the law on marital rape, but the government said husbands risked being falsely accused of rape if the change …

Climate to Push Forest-eating Beetles to Northern US, Canada, Scientists Predict

Forests in the northeastern United States and southern Canada could be ravaged by tree-killing beetles in coming decades as a warming climate expands the pest’s habitat, a study has found. Over the next 60 years, southern pine beetles could infest forests in new areas of the United States and Canada, disrupting industries and ecosystems alike, …

Iran Rejects US Demand for Inspection of Its Military Sites

Iran on Tuesday dismissed U.S. demands for the inspection of Iranian military sites by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, shrugging off a request by America’s ambassador to the U.N. as only a “dream.” Iran’s government spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht told reporters that the demand by Ambassador Nikki Haley wasn’t worth any attention. Iran will not accept …

Government: Colombia’s 50,000 Disappeared Should Become ‘National Cause’

Seeking the fate of nearly 50,000 Colombians who disappeared during the country’s civil war should become a “national cause,” a top presidential adviser said Tuesday as the government faces criticism that it is failing to do enough to find them. Government efforts to increase searches and offer compensation to relatives of those who disappeared during …