Former U.S. Senator Jesse Helms, a conservative icon and opponent of U.S. foreign aid, died Friday at the age of 86. A spokesman says the former lawmaker died of natural causes in his home state of North Carolina. VOA's Kent Klein reports from Washi...
Data from the first flyby of the planet Mercury in January of 2008 by the spacecraft MESSENGER are reported in eleven papers this week in the journal Science. The findings reveal new details about the solar system's smallest planet 77 million kilome...
American Steve Marino has a one-stroke lead over four other players after the first round of the ATT National golf tournament. As VOA's David Byrd reports from Bethesda, Maryland, Marino shot a five-under-par 65 on the Congressional Country Club Cou...
Ex-hostage Ingrid Betancourt received a joyful welcome in France, where she arrived Friday after spending more than six years as a hostage of Colombian rebels. Lisa Bryant has more on a homecoming of sorts for Betancourt, who has dual French-Colombi...
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is downplaying speculation in the media he may be headed to North Korea for a short visit. Speaking in his native South Korea, the U.N. chief did call on North Korea to improve its human rights, and urged...
The State Department says it is overjoyed by the Colombian military rescue of 15 hostages - including three U.S. military contractors - held captive for years by FARC guerrillas. U.S. officials say the operation Wednesday reflects broader gains by t...
Turkey's ruling AK Party Thursday defended itself in the country's constitutional court against charges it is undermining the secular state. The party is facing dismantling, and dozens of its leaders, including the prime minister and president, a po...
While one former Congolese warlord has been ordered released by the International Criminal Court at The Hague, proceedings are just beginning against another one. One analyst says the ICC needs to be more careful about the timing of such cases, espe...
The U.S. military is about to begin construction on a new state-of-the-art medical facility in the Washington, D.C. suburbs. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports President Bush officiated at the official ground-breaking ceremony. The Army is shutting down it...
One month before the Beijing Olympics, union members and other labor rights activists are pushing sportswear makers to improve working conditions in the industry. Activists urge global companies and the International Olympic Committee to help stop l...
In India, half a million women work as scavengers removing human waste from the streets with only bowls and brooms. Born into the lowest caste in society, these women face discrimination, but one non-governmental organization is helping them to crea...
As July 4th approaches, Americans look to the skies. Throughout the country, fireworks will be launched in celebration of the nation's independence. But what goes up must come down. Reporter Eric Libby looks at the environmental issues surrounding f...
A senior U.S. Congressman visiting India says time is running out for New Delhi to finalize a civilian nuclear deal with the United States. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi that India's Congress Party-led coalition government indicated it will...
The price of oil has hit an all-time high in London, rising above $146 a barrel, with New York crude prices not far behind. Tendai Maphosa reports for VOA from London analysts do not see an end to the price increases anytime soon. Oil well pumps The...
The newly-appointed commander of U.S. forces in South Korea says he is confident an upcoming transfer in command control from Washington to South Korea will leave the two countries' alliance stronger. VOA's Kurt Achin has more from Seoul. N. Korean...
