There were words of welcome Wednesday from across the world for Joe Biden as he was sworn in as America’s 46th president. They were mixed with parting shots from some leaders aimed at his predecessor, Donald Trump, who left Washington hours before the swearing-in.     As the inauguration has been atypical — with no crowdsRead more

President Joe Biden signed three documents in the President’s Room at the U.S. Capitol shortly after his swearing-in ceremony, his first official act as the 46th president.    Biden signed the Inauguration Day Proclamation and documents for nominations to Cabinet and sub-Cabinet administration positions.    The signings were part of his campaign promise to reverseRead more

Student loan debt in the U.S. accounts for over $1.7 trillion, a figure higher than the GDP of countries like Canada, Russia, and South Korea. Now, students at one of the United States most prestigious universities say they will withhold their tuition payments unless the school meets their demands. VOA’s Keith Kocinski in New YorkRead more

Vice president-elect Kamala Harris made history when she became the first woman ever to win election on a presidential ticket.  VOA’s Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson reports on the path that brought Harris to the second most powerful position in the U.S. government.Camera: Adam Greenbaum Producers: Katherine Gypson,  Jesse Oni   …Read more

The COVID-19 pandemic has now killed more than 400,000 people in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. The tragic milestone was marked by a solemn nighttime ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., where 400 lights that lined the iconic reflecting pool at the front of the memorial were turned on toRead more

Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump issued pardons to 73 people and commuted the sentences of 70 others, the White House announced early Wednesday, hours before the end of his term. The pardons included one for Trump’s former campaign manager and senior adviser Steve Bannon, who was charged with defrauding thousands of investors who believed they were giving moneyRead more

While running for president, Joe Biden stated that once elected, he would take “immediate steps to renew our own democracy and alliances,” including organizing a global Summit for Democracy during his first year in office. Former Canadian justice minister Irwin Cotler speaks to the media during a press conference in Jerusalem, Dec. 30, 2009.He creditedRead more

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s foreign policy team is vowing to work with like-minded partners around the world to take on pressing challenges, ranging from receding democracy to the growing rivalry with China, Russia and other authoritarian states.  Tuesday, Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations at his confirmation hearing thatRead more