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This is VOA News. I'm Joe Ramsey.
Three U.S. defense officials told VOA an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen has caused fatalities on a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden. It's the first fatal strike by Iran-backed Houthi militants, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, since the onslaught on international shipping lanes began in mid-November. "At least three are either missing or presumed dead at this point. There are six injuries, at least four of those are critical. It's, it's a very scary time and things are still evolving." :VOA's Carla Babb. Hear more on VOA's international edition. Efforts to get desperately needed humanitarian aid to war-wracked northern Gaza are gaining momentum. The European Union increased pressure on Wednesday for the creation of a sea route from Cyprus to Gaza, and British Foreign Minister David Cameron is saying Israel's allies are losing patience. While aid groups say all of Gaza is mired in crisis, the situation is largely isolated in the north and stands out. United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk on Wednesday called the international community for action to help Haiti. "I urge the international community to act swiftly and decisively to prevent Haiti's further descend into chaos." Haiti's prime minister landed in Puerto Rico on Tuesday, clearing uncertainty around his whereabouts since a trip to Kenya. But questions on how and when he will return to Haiti still linger as gangs back home push for his ouster. Haiti's government declared a state of emergency on Sunday after inmates escaped in two major prison breaks, halting businesses, including airports, which have seen heavy gunfire take place near them in recent days. This is VOA News. Georgia's president on Wednesday urged the United States to unblock arms deliveries to Ukraine while Europe is working on building capacities for military aid to Kyiv. With Russia's offensive in Ukraine in its third year, Ukraine has warned it desperately needs more military and financial assistance while a fresh $60 billion package of U.S. aid remains stalled in Congress. On the front lines, its soldiers are outgunned and outnumbered, and ammunition shortages are being felt. Former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley ended her campaign on Wednesday, leaving former President Donald Trump as the last major Republican candidate. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. It may not have been what Nikki Haley's supporters were hoping to hear as she took the stage in her home state. "The time has now come to suspend my campaign." Haley losing big on Super Tuesday, only winning Vermont, telling supporters she wanted to give Americans a chance to have their voices heard and she did that. "I have no regrets." One announcement that did not come an endorsement of Donald Trump. "It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him, and I hope he does that." Haley did congratulate Trump on becoming the presumptive Republican nominee and said the "country is too precious to let (our) differences divide us." I'm Julie Walker. More than 350 delegates from governments, research institutions and seed production companies are gathering in Kenya this week to address challenges in getting good quality seeds to African farmers. Experts say the lack of good seeds is hampering food production and contributing to the hunger crisis in many countries. Mohammed Yusuf reports. According to U.N. agencies, more than 280 million people in Africa are food insecure, with over a billion unable to afford healthy diets. One of the problems is that quality seeds are inaccessible to many African farmers, leading to higher rates of crop failure. Kenya approved the use of genetically modified organisms after a 10-year ban. However, the lifting of the ban has worried its neighbors who were skeptical of the GMO seeds and products. Tanzania stated that it would monitor its border to prevent any such food from Kenya from entering the country. Mohammed Yusuf, VOA News, Nairobi. The Senegalese government has announced March 24 as the new date for the country's delayed presidential election. President Macky Sall said in early February he was postponing an election for 10 months. But Senegal's highest election authority, the Constitutional Council, rejected that move and ordered the government to set a new election date as soon as possible. I'm Joe Ramsey, VOA N... |