Ireland began voting in a general election Saturday, with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar hoping to secure a new term on the back of Brexit but voters likely to judge him more on his domestic record.Polls opened across the country at 0700 GMT, although a small number of islands off the west coast voted Friday to allow for rough seas that could disrupt the transport of ballots by boat.About 3.3 million people are eligible to vote to elect 159 members of the Dail, the lower chamber of parliament in Dublin.Varadkar’s Fine Gael party has been in power since 2016 but polling suggests they are trailing center-right rivals Fianna Fail and republicans Sinn Fein.On Monday, Sinn Fein, the former political wing of the IRA paramilitary group, were out in front with 25%, Fianna Fail with 23% and Fine Gael with 20%.“This election is wide open,” Varadkar said at his final campaign stop in the western town of Ennis on Friday. “It’s a three horse race, three parties, all within shouting distance of each other.”A ‘Brexit election’Varadkar launched his campaign after successfully helping to broker a deal cushioning Britain’s EU exit, Jan. 31, by avoiding a hard border with British-run Northern Ireland.An open frontier was a key requirement of the 1998 peace agreement that largely ended three decades of violence over British rule in the north, which left more than 3,000 dead.Varadkar has warned voters that Brexit is “not done yet,” as London prepares for talks with Brussels to secure a longer-term trade deal in record time before the end of this year.Failure to do so could present an “existential threat” to the Irish economy, he said.But experts suggest he may have miscalculated the public mood with surveys indicating Brexit was a low concern among the electorate.Issues closer to homeOther parties have hammered Fine Gael over failings in health care, housing and homelessness. Varadkar acknowledged he understood that Friday.“You want us over the next three years to focus on issues like health and housing with the same passion and intensity that we’ve focused on Brexit in the past three years,” he said.Varadkar is Ireland’s first mixed race and openly gay premier who has come to represent a more socially progressive Ireland after years of dominance by the Roman Catholic church.But despite Brexit, and landmark votes to overturn strict abortion laws and introduce same-sex marriage, some predict he could be on his way out.“Varadkar is young, he’s gay, he looks like part of the new Ireland,” Eunan O’Halpin, of Trinity College Dublin, told AFP. “Yet his personal popularity appears to have dipped, and that of his party has dipped very significantly.”NegotiationsPolls close at 2200 GMT and votes start being counted at 0900 GMT Sunday.A three-way race led by left-wing Sinn Fein is a new dynamic for the Republic, where governments have been historically dominated by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.Since 2016 Fianna Fail have propped up Fine Gael in government with a confidence and supply arrangement that could implicate them in the perceived failings of the government.“(Young people) blame the current government and coalition of parties in government for this mess,” said O’Halpin about the housing shortage.Despite its opinion poll lead, Sinn Fein, which wants to unite Northern Ireland with the Republic, is only fielding 42 candidates and cannot form a majority government even if they all win.Both Varadkar and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin are adamant they will not form a coalition with Mary Lou McDonald’s party.On Friday, Martin said Sinn Fein, which was once led by Gerry Adams, “have not cleaned themselves from their bloody past.”“The only party who can lead an alternative government is Fianna Fail,” he said in his home city of Cork.
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President Donald Trump on Friday ousted Gordon Sondland, his ambassador to the European Union, who delivered damaging testimony during the impeachment inquiry. Sondland said in a statement that Trump intended to recall him effectively immediately.  The action came hours after Alexander Vindman, the decorated soldier and national security aide who played a central role in the impeachment case, was escorted out of the White House complex. His attorney said Vindman was asked to leave in retaliation for telling the truth.'' The truth has cost Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman his job, his career and his privacy,” David Pressman, the attorney, said in a statement. Twin brother also dismissedThe Army said in a statement that Vindman and his twin brother, Lieutenant Colonel Yevgeny Vindman, who also was asked to leave his job as a White House lawyer on Friday, have been reassigned to the Army. Alexander Vindman’s lawyer issued a one-page statement that accused Trump of taking revenge on his client. He did what any member of our military is charged with doing every day: he followed orders, he obeyed his oath and he served his country, even when doing so was fraught with danger and personal peril,'' Pressman said.And for that, the most powerful man in the world — buoyed by the silent, the pliable and the complicit — has decided to exact revenge.” The White House did not respond to Pressman’s accusation. We do not comment on personnel matters,'' said John Ullyot, spokesman for the National Security Council, the foreign policy arm of the White House where Vindman was an expert on Ukraine. FILE - Then-National Security Council aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Nov. 19, 2019.Vindman's status had been uncertain since he testified that he didn't think it wasproperfor Trump todemand that a foreign government investigateformer Vice President Joe Biden and his son's dealings with the energy company Burisma in Ukraine. Vindman's ouster, however, seemed imminent after Trump mocked him Thursday during his post-acquittal celebration with Republican supporters in the East Room and said Friday that he was not happy with him. I’m not happy with him,” Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House. You think I'm supposed to be happy with him? I'm not. ... They are going to be making that decision.'' Vindman, a 20-year Army veteran, wore his uniform full of medals, including a purple heart, when he appeared late last year for what turned out to be a testy televised impeachment hearing. Trump supporters raised questions about the Soviet Jewish immigrant's allegiance to the United States and noted that he had received offers to work for the government of Ukraine — offers Vindman said he swiftly dismissed. I am an American,” he stated emphatically. Trump loyalists cheerTrump backers cheered Vindman’s removal, while Democrats were aghast. The White House is running a two-for-one special today on deep state leakers,'' Representative Paul Gosar, an Arizona Republican, wrote on Twitter. A Twitter account used by the president's reelection campaign, #TrumpWarRoom, claimed Vindman leaked information to the whistleblower, whose complaint about Trump's call ignited the investigation, andcolluded with Democrats to start the partisan impeachment coup. Former Trump NSC official Tim Morrison testified that others had brought up concerns that Vindman might have leaked something. Vindman, in his own congressional testimony, denied leaking any information. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the firing was another example of how theWhite House runs away from the truth. Lieutenant Colonel Vindman lived up to his oath to protect and defend our Constitution,Schumer said in a statement.This action is not a sign of strength. It only shows President Trump’s weakness.” At last fall’s hearing, when the senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Devin Nunes, addressed him as Mr. Vindman,'' the Iraq War veteran replied:Ranking member, it’s Lieutenant Colonel Vindman, please. Defense secretary pledges protectionDefense Secretary Mark Esper was asked what the Pentagon would do to ensure that Vindman faces no retribution.We protect all of our service members from retribution or anything like that,Esper said.We’ve already addressed that in policy and other means.” Alexander Vindman is scheduled to enter a military college in Washington, D.C., this summer, and his brother is to be assigned to the Army General Counsel’s Office, according to two officials who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Pressman said Vindman was among a handful of men and women who courageously put their faith in country ahead of fear'' but havepaid a price.” There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House,'' Pressman said.Lieutenant Colonel Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth. His honor, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful.” 
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Syria’s civil war, which has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced millions since it started in 2011, has drawn in several foreign powers to the country, including the United States, Russia, Iran and Turkey. Here is a map of where the four main foreign players are in the Syrian territory.   
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Jorges Yances art evokes a mysterious interplay between past and present, reality and fantasy a style called magical realism.
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Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has gotten a boost after a four-day visit to Washington where he met with President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials. It’s been a year since the United States and other Western nations threw their support behind Guaido with little success in pushing Nicolas Maduro from power. VOA’s Ardita Dunellari reports on Guaido’s latest diplomacy push to gain new momentum for his opposition movement
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Hollywood’s award season reaches its extravagant finale at the Oscars on Sunday, with war epic “1917” tipped to dispatch a brigade of winners to the stage at the movie industry’s biggest night.Impeccably dressed A-listers and upstart documentary filmmakers will brush shoulders on the red carpet at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, as months of campaigning for 24 gold statuettes boil down to a single night.The event comes as Hollywood mourns the death of Kirk Douglas, one of cinema’s greats, who died Wednesday aged 103.Sam Mendes’s “1917” launched a late assault on this year’s Academy Awards — it was first shown to voters barely two months ago — but experts predict it could outflank all rivals.The World War I odyssey about two soldiers crossing no-man’s-land — filmed to appear like one continuous shot — has conquered nearly all in its path in the award shows building up to Sunday.It is the favorite for multiple Oscars from best director to cinematography, and the frontrunner for best picture, the night’s top prize.”It falls into traditional Hollywood — it’s what the Oscars like,” Variety awards editor Tim Gray told AFP.”It’s big, it’s epic, but it’s hardly a formula film. It really is a knockout… it’s just filmmaking at its best.”The unique ballot system for best picture — which involves voters ranking films — makes it somewhat tough to predict, and could create an opening for an unlikely candidate.Despite the best efforts of star filmmakers Martin Scorsese (“The Irishman”) and Quentin Tarantino (“Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”), Mendes’ main rival appears to be Bong Joon-ho.The charismatic South Korean director has become Hollywood’s darling in recent weeks, drawing unrivalled crowds at campaign events for his black comedy “Parasite.”The film about a poor family infiltrating a wealthy household looks to be a shoo-in for best international feature — but could also triumph in some of the top categories. ‘No scenario’ The Oscars in the acting categories — usually a subject of agonizing deliberation for industry pundits — appear settled, with the same four stars sweeping up rave reviews and awards all season.Joaquin Phoenix and Renee Zellweger are believed to be far ahead of the competition for best actor and best actress.Phoenix underwent a striking transformation to portray the title comic book supervillain in “Joker” — as did Zellweger to play legendary Hollywood diva Judy Garland in “Judy.”Actor Brad Pitt attends a special screening of “Ad Astra” at the National Geographic Museum, Sept. 16, 2019, in Washington.Tinseltown favorites Brad Pitt and Laura Dern have their fingertips on the supporting acting prizes, for their work as a laid-back stuntman (“Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”) and a cutthroat divorce lawyer (“Marriage Story”).”I see no scenario where any one of them loses,” Deadline awards columnist Pete Hammond told AFP.”People will say ‘there’s always an Oscars surprise’… but I think those four are going to win it,” agreed Gray.More fiercely contested will be the awards for best screenplay, editing and visual effects, with movies from Nazi satire “Jojo Rabbit” to period drama “Little Women” and even superhero epic “Avengers: Endgame” all in the mix.#OscarsAsUsual The ceremony will go on without a host for a second consecutive time, after last year’s batch of bright guest presenters caused a trend-bucking uplift in TV ratings.This year’s presenter lineup is equally star-studded: Tom Hanks, Jane Fonda and Diane Keaton will appear alongside previous winners Brie Larson, Olivia Colman and Rami Malek.Elton John, tipped to win the best original song Oscar for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from “Rocketman,” will perform, as will big Grammys winner and upcoming James Bond songstress Billie Eilish.In a possible tip to the ongoing controversy over the lack of female nominees, Irish maestro Eimear Noone will become the first woman to conduct a segment of music during an Oscars telecast.Still, diversity among guest hosts and performers is unlikely to assuage anger over this year’s nominations.Cynthia Erivo arrives at the 92nd Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon at the Loews Hotel on Jan. 27, 2020, in Los Angeles.Cynthia Erivo was the only non-white acting nominee, for anti-slavery biopic “Harriet,” and no women made the best director list.”I wouldn’t call it #OscarsSoWhite but I’d say it’s #OscarsAsUsual,” said Hammond.”A British picture comes in at the end and wins a traditional kind of win, four white actors again… It looks like the Oscars could have been 30 years ago.” 
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Hiring jumped at the beginning of the year as U.S. employers added 225,000 jobs, bolstering an economy that faces threats from China’s viral outbreak, an ongoing trade war and struggles at Boeing.The Labor Department also said Friday that a half-million people streamed into the job market in January, though not all of them found jobs. That influx meant more people were counted as unemployed, and it boosted the jobless rate to 3.6%, from a half-century low of 3.5% in December.The report suggested that businesses remain confident in the economy, with the pace of job growth accelerating from a year ago. Solid consumer spending is offsetting drags from the trade war and declining business investment.Still, hourly pay is up just 3.1% from a year earlier, below a peak of 3.5% reached last fall.  Unusually warm weather likely played a role in strengthening job gains, with construction companies adding 44,000 jobs in January, the most since last year. Better winter weather allows more construction projects to proceed.Manufacturers shed jobs for the third time in four months, cutting 12,000 positions, mostly because of layoffs in auto plants.On Friday, the government also issued its annual revisions of estimated job growth. The revisions showed that hiring was slower in 2018 and early last year than previously estimated. Employers added 2.3 million jobs in 2018, down from a previous estimate of 2.7 million.China’s deadly viral outbreak has sickened thousands and shut down stores and factories in that country. But its impact likely came too late in the month to affect Friday’s U.S. jobs report.Factory hiring, however, might have been slowed by Boeing’s decision to suspend production of its troubled aircraft, the 737 MAX. The aerospace industry last year added about 1,500 jobs a month but will likely shed jobs for at least the first few months of this year.One Boeing supplier, Spirit Aerosystems, has said it will cut 2,800 jobs. Those layoffs occurred after the government’s survey for last month.In the meantime, consumers remain confident about the economy and are spending steadily, benefiting such industries as restaurants, hotels, health care and banking.Manufacturing also grew in January after five months of contraction, according to a survey of purchasing managers by the Institute for Supply Management. Even so, while orders and production grew, factories were still cutting jobs, the survey found. American companies as a whole have cut back sharply on investment and expansion, in part because of Trump’s trade conflicts. That pullback in spending may continue to hamper manufacturers.Still, Americans are buying more homes, buoyed by lower borrowing costs that stem in part from the Federal Reserve’s three interest rate cuts last year. Home construction surged in December to its highest level in 13 years.All told, economists have forecast that the economy will expand at a roughly 2% annual rate in the first three months of this year, roughly the same as its 2.1% annual growth in the final three months of last year.
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Nearly 150,000 homes and businesses in the southeastern United States were without power early Friday after a powerful storm raked the region. At least five people were killed.
    
Florida bore the brunt of the power outages, with nearly 75,000, according to poweroutages.us. The Carolinas, Georgia and Virginia also reported outages, and tornado watches and warnings were in effect Thursday night from northern Florida up through North Carolina.
    
The National Weather Service advised early Friday that the storm system was strengthening in the mid-Atlantic region, bringing snow, ice and rain northward.
    
The weather destroyed mobile homes in Mississippi and Alabama, caused mudslides in Tennessee and Kentucky and flooded communities that shoulder waterways across the Appalachian region. Rain kept falling over a path of splintered trees and sagging power lines that stretched from Louisiana into Virginia. School districts canceled classes in state after state as bad weather rolled through.
    
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency Thursday evening because of heavy rains and extreme flooding. More than 500 people in southwestern Virginia were displaced by flooding and needed rescue from their homes, he said in a statement.
   
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Valley Authority warned that people residing near rivers and lakes should prepare for rapidly changing water levels. The TVA is managing rising water behind 49 dams to avert major flooding, but with more rain expected next week, the agency may have to release water downstream, said James Everett, senior manager of the TVA’s river forecast center in Knoxville, Tennessee.
    
Authorities confirmed five storm-related fatalities, in Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee.
    
One person was killed and another was injured as high winds destroyed two mobile homes near the town of Demopolis, Alabama, the Storm Prediction Center reported. The victim, Anita Rembert, was in one of the homes with her husband, child and two grandchildren, said Kevin McKinney, emergency management director for Marengo County. A man was injured but the children were unhurt, he said.
    
High winds there left roadsides strewn with plywood, insulation, broken trees and twisted metal. The National Weather Service was checking the site for signs of a tornado.
    
Weather-related crashes left at least four people dead and numerous authorities pleaded with motorists to avoid driving where they couldn’t see the pavement.
    
A driver died in South Carolina when a tree fell on an SUV near Fort Mill, Highway Patrol Master Trooper Gary Miller said. The driver’s name wasn’t immediately released.
    
In North Carolina’s Gaston County, Terry Roger Fisher was killed after his pickup truck hydroplaned in heavy rain, plunged down a 25-foot (8-meter) embankment and overturned in a creek, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said, according to news outlets.
    
An unidentified man died and two others were injured Thursday when a car hydroplaned in Knoxville, Tennessee, and hit a truck, police said in a news release.
   
And in Tennessee, 36-year-old teacher Brooke Sampson was killed and four people were injured when a rain-soaked tree fell on a van carrying Sevierville city employees, officials said. The crash, though still under investigation, appeared to have been weather-related according to preliminary information, said Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Bill Miller.
    
Flooding, meanwhile, forced rescuers to suspend their search for a vehicle missing with a person inside it in north Alabama’s Buck’s Pocket State Park. The vehicle quickly disappeared Wednesday in waters too dangerous for divers to search.
    
“As the car started shifting because of the water we noticed what appeared to be an arm reaching out,” witness Kirkland Follis, who called 911, told WHNT-TV.
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In just one day, the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in China grew by almost 4,000 and the death toll climbed by nearly 75.  As the virus continued to spread Thursday, the World Health Organization said it’s still too early to tell if the virus outbreak has peaked, even though on Wednesday the overall number of new cases dropped for the first time.  VOA correspondent Mariama Diallo has more
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