Conservationists hail ruling as a victory, but Tokyo says it will submit revised plans for a whale hunt in 2015
As the debate over Scotland’s future in the United Kingdom enters its final stages ahead of a referendum Thursday, polls remain too close to call. Political leaders in London have made a last-minute offer of greater autonomy if Scottish voters reject independence. Henry Ridgwell reports from Scotland that a new group of voters could have a big say in the final outcome.
As 'Yes' and 'No' campaigners race to persuade those who have not yet made up their minds, one significant factor in the possible outcome is income
As world leaders try to forge a common response to the threat posed by Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, there is simmering tension over differing policies on paying ransoms. In the past month, the jihadist group has beheaded two Americans and one Briton. Both countries refuse to pay ransom money. As Henry Ridgwell reports for VOA from London, there is uncertainty in the approach of some other European nations.
There is simmering tension over differing policies on paying ransoms
The people of Scotland are preparing to vote on whether to become independent and break away from the rest of Britain, in a referendum being watched carefully in many other countries. Some see it as a risky experiment; while others hope a successful vote for independence might energize their own separatist demands. Foreign immigrants to Scotland have a front row seat for the vote. VOA’s Henry Ridgwell spoke to some of them in Edinburgh.
Some see it as a risky experiment; others hope it might energize their own separatist demands
Scots split on whether to remain part of United Kingdom
Christian communities that have fallen to IS have been forced to convert to Islam, pay a special tax, or be killed
There are lingering doubts over whether all sides will adhere to agreement
Russian official expresses confidence Paris will stick to $1.6B sale of vessels, despite announcement that delivery of first ship has been suspended
U.S. President Barack Obama has ruled out sending ground troops to Iraq to fight militants of the so-called Islamic State, or ISIS, despite officials in Washington describing the extremist group as the biggest threat the United States has faced in years. Henry Ridgwell reports from London on the growing uncertainty over whether the West’s response to ISIS will be enough to defeat the terrorist threat.
There is growing uncertainty over whether West’s response to ISIS is adequate
Security services are racing to identify the Islamic State militant who beheaded U.S. journalist James Foley in Syria. The murderer spoke English on camera with a British accent. It’s estimated that several hundred British citizens are fighting for the Islamic State, also called ISIL or ISIS, alongside thousands of other foreign jihadists. Henry Ridgwell reports for VOA from the center of the investigation in London.
It’s estimated that several hundred British citizens are fighting for Islamic State alongside other foreign jihadists
The United Nations has launched what it describes as one of the biggest aid operations in 30 years in northern Iraq, as hundreds of thousands of refugees flee the extremist Sunni militant group calling itself the Islamic State. As Kurdish and Iraqi forces battle the Sunni insurgents, the fighting has forced more people to flee their homes. Kurdish authorities say the international community must act now to avert a humanitarian catastrophe. Henry Ridgwell reports for VOA from London.
Move aims to help thousands of Iraqi religious minorities who fled their homes as Kurdish, Iraqi government forces battle Sunni insurgents
U.S. and British authorities have launched an investigation into an Islamic State video showing the beheading of kidnapped American journalist James Foley by a militant with a British accent. The extremist group, which posted the video on the Internet Tuesday, said the murder was revenge for U.S. airstrikes on militant positions in Iraq - and has threatened to execute another American journalist it is holding. Henry Ridgwell has more from London.
There are concerns heavily-armed Kurdistan Regional Government might seek to declare independence and cause break-up of Iraqi state
European Union Foreign Ministers have approved sending arms to Kurdish Peshmerga forces who are battling extremist Islamic State militants in northern Iraq. The United States says its air strikes against Islamic State positions have relieved the humanitarian emergency facing ethnic minorities sheltering on Sinjar mountain. As Henry Ridgwell reports for VOA, however, the West is determined not to get sucked in to another conflict in Iraq.
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