Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam invoked a colonial-era-law that has allowed her to ban face masks. Lam, speaking at a news conference, said a ban on face masks would take effect on Saturday under the emergency laws that allow authorities to "make any regulations whatsoever" in whatever they deem to be in the public interest. International Edition’s Steve Miller spoke with Hong Kong-based reporter Justin Solomon to learn more about the ban and how the community is reacting to it.
US President Donald Trump continues asserting he did nothing improper when asking Ukraine and China to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. On Thursday, Federal Election Commission Chair, Ellen Weintraub retweeted her June 13th message stating it was "illegal for any person to solicit, accept, or receive anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a US Election." The House plans to meet with the Intelligence Community Inspector General today about the allegations brought forward in the whistleblower complaint, while the White House is expected to formally oppose the impeachment inquiry. International Edition’s Steve Miller speaks with Associate Professor of Political Science at Agusta University, Craig Albert.
The European Union has reacted with skepticism to new proposals from Britain for a deal to leave the bloc. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined the plans earlier this week, which aims to break the impasse over the future of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland which becomes an external EU frontier after Brexit. Britain is due to leave the EU at the end of the month. London-based reporter Henry Ridgwell joins us to explain where this puts the process now.
Ebola is back and again spreading quickly in several African countries, with the Democratic Republic of Congo in particular peril. VOA's Plugged In traveled with US health officials in mid-September to the epicenter of the outbreak, along the country's remote northeast border. The US-led delegation brought hope and medicine to the region, but serious challenges remain. Mil Arcega was on the trip and reports from the DRC.
Iraqi security forces opened fire on anti-government protesters gathering in Baghdad Friday for a fourth day of demonstrations against unemployment, poor public services, and corruption. At least 53 people have been killed in protests since Tuesday and hundreds of others have been wounded.
