|
This is VOA news. I'm Marissa Melton.
Three House of Representatives panels have requested documents related to Rudy Giuliani's interactions with Ukrainian officials. AP correspondent Mike Gracia has the story. The House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight and Reform Committees have subpoenaed President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani for documents about his dealings with Ukrainian officials. The panels also requested information from three Giuliani associates. The subpoenas are part of the impeachment investigation prompted by a whistleblower complaint saying Trump tried to pressure the president of Ukraine to investigate the son of Democrat Joe Biden during a phone call in July. According to the complaint, in the days after the call Giuliani repeatedly communicated with advisers for Ukraine's president. Mike Gracia, Washington. At the United Nations today, North Korea complained about the United States and nuclear talks. That story by Ed Donahue. The complaints come from North Korean ambassador Kim Song. He says nuclear talks stalled because of U.S. "political and military provocations." Song says it's up to Washington whether this will be a "window of opportunity or an occasion that will hasten the crisis." Speaking in Washington, former national security adviser John Bolton, who's pessimistic Kim Jong Un will reach a deal with President Trump. "He may try to get relief from international sanctions, he may make some concessions, but under current circumstances, he will never give up the nuclear weapons voluntarily." Bolton added this is an unacceptable threat to the world. Ed Donahue, Washington. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his main rival Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah are both claiming victory in Afghanistan's presidential election held Saturday. Ghani's running mate told VOA's Pashto service that he and Ghani got 60 percent of the vote. Official results are not yet in. This is VOA news. Security sources say al-Shabab militants launched an attack on an airbase used by the U.S. military supporting Somali forces. AP correspondent Mike [Hemen] Hempen has that story. A Somali official says a suicide car bomber detonated a vehicle packed with explosives at the gate of a military airstrip that serves as a base for U.S. and Somali forces. A security official with the Lower Shabelle regional administration says after the bombing, gunfire was heard across the base, suggesting the base was being attacked. The Islamic extremist rebels, al-Shabab, have claimed responsibility. The U.S. military uses the airstrip to train Somali troops and as a base to launch drones that attack al-Shabab. I'm Mike Hempen. A Somali government statement said no U.S. or Somali forces were injured in the attack. The U.S. Africa Command conducted two airstrikes and used small arms fires to target the militants, killing ten of them. Southern Baptists say they are ready to put the spotlight on their denomination's sex-abuse crisis. AP correspondent Walter Ratliff. The Southern Baptist Convention has been entangled in a sex-abuse crisis for the past two years. Now it's preparing to host a high-profile conference on the topic that has kindled skepticism even among some of the scheduled speakers. The three-day Caring Well conference will open near Dallas on Thursday, drawing hundreds from the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. The program features victim advocates, attorneys, therapists and at least 10 survivors of sexual abuse. Some survivors say they have mixed feelings about the conference - hoping it represents a genuine desire for change. I'm Walter Ratliff. Thousands crowded in the central Moscow Sunday as protesters demanded the release [who were] of people who were jailed for participating in unsanctioned demonstrations. One of the chief organizers, Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, addressed the rally. "Well will make them release the political prisoners if there are a lot of us. Each of us has a strong weapon in our pockets - our phone. Write it on Instagram every day. Write it on Twitter every day. Any dialogue with any official should start with the word 'release.'" More than 2,000 protesters, including Navalny himself, have been jailed this year in recent months for participating in unsanctioned rallies. Several people have been [se se] sent up to four years in jail. Others have been prosecuted for crimes, such as violence against police officers. Unlike most of the previous protests, Sunday's rally was sanctioned by city authorities. U.S. Africa Command says a U.S. airstrike in Libya has killed seven Islamic State fighters. It's at least the fourth U.S. strike this month against the terror group, bringing the total number of militants killed to at least 36. I'm Marissa Melton. This is VOA news. |