https://www.masoodfarivar.comRSS Feed for Masood FarivarenTue, 11 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.voanews.com/a/the-roosevelt-hotel-a-window-into-new-york-city-history/8006811.htmlThe Roosevelt Hotel, a New York City landmark for over a century, once again faces an uncertain future. Last month, city officials announced plans to stop using it as a migrant shelter and processing center beginning this summer.Opened in 1924 to cater to passengers using the nearby Grand Central Terminal, the iconic hotel has weathered Prohibition, the Great Depression, a World War and 9/11.The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, however, forced the hotel to close its doors to guests due to financial lo...Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.voanews.com/a/the-roosevelt-hotel-a-window-into-new-york-city-history/8006811.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/fort-knox-is-gold-there-/7991126.html“Is the gold there?” As the decades-old question about the legendary Fort Knox makes headlines again, U.S. President Donald Trump is on the hunt for answers. “We're actually going to Fort Knox to see if the gold is there, because maybe somebody stole the gold. Tons of gold,” Trump said Monday. His demand for an audit is echoing widely, with public figures like his cost-cutting czar Elon Musk and Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky joining the chorus in recent weeks. “Who is confirming that...Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.voanews.com/a/fort-knox-is-gold-there-/7991126.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/amid-rising-worldwide-populism-america-s-premier-conservative-conference-goes-global/7984267.htmlThis week, thousands of conservative politicians, activists and influencers convened outside Washington for the Conservative Political Action Conference, the premier annual gathering of the American right. The four-day event, hosted by the American Conservative Union since 1974, features U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, among other high-profile speakers from around the world. Dubbed the "Woodstock for conservatives," CPAC was once the go-to event for conservative Republic...Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.voanews.com/a/amid-rising-worldwide-populism-america-s-premier-conservative-conference-goes-global/7984267.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/why-is-trump-pausing-us-anti-bribery-law-/7976000.htmlU.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week pausing almost all enforcement of a decades-old U.S. anti-bribery law. The law, known as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, makes it illegal for both U.S. firms and foreign companies with a U.S. connection to bribe foreign officials. Transparency advocates have credited the U.S. Justice Department's vigorous enforcement of the law over the past two decades with curbing foreign corruption. Critics, including business leaders, however...Sat, 15 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.voanews.com/a/why-is-trump-pausing-us-anti-bribery-law-/7976000.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/how-pause-in-us-foreign-aid-is-impacting-south-central-asia/7971248.htmlIn Kabul, Afghanistan, a major midwifery program — girls' only higher education option — has closed. Across Pakistan, dozens of development programs have ground to a halt. In Bangladesh, a health research center has laid off more than 1,000 employees. The fallout comes two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump's administration suspended foreign aid amid a widespread review, leaving thousands of development programs in limbo. "I'm in shock," said a student at the USAID-funded midwifery school i...Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.voanews.com/a/how-pause-in-us-foreign-aid-is-impacting-south-central-asia/7971248.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/how-the-oldest-known-hebrew-book-landed-in-a-washington-museum/7949998.htmlIn 2016, Herschel Hepler was browsing Google Images to practice his paleography — the study of historical writing systems — when he stumbled upon an eerily familiar photo that would lead to a groundbreaking discovery. “I recognized it immediately and said, 'That’s a manuscript in our collection,'” Hepler, a curator at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, recalls. The museum had recently acquired the manuscript — a rare Jewish prayer book — believing it to be part of the famous Cairo Geniza, a...Sat, 25 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.voanews.com/a/how-the-oldest-known-hebrew-book-landed-in-a-washington-museum/7949998.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/how-carter-s-covert-aid-to-afghan-rebels-redefined-his-foreign-policy-record/7926876.htmlPresident Ronald Reagan is often credited with defeating the Soviet Union, in part by helping Afghan rebels, but it was the administration of President Jimmy Carter that laid the groundwork. Considered a foreign policy novice by many when he entered the White House, Carter made the early decision to provide covert aid to Afghan insurgents months before the Soviet invasion. The move offers a window into one of the defining issues of his presidency, showing a president unafraid to confront the So...Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.voanews.com/a/how-carter-s-covert-aid-to-afghan-rebels-redefined-his-foreign-policy-record/7926876.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/how-carter-s-covert-aid-to-afghan-rebels-redefined-his-foreign-policy-record/7926876.htmlPresident Ronald Reagan is often credited with defeating the Soviet Union, in part by helping Afghan rebels, but it was the administration of President Jimmy Carter that laid the groundwork. Considered a foreign policy novice by many when he entered the White House, Carter made the early decision to provide covert aid to Afghan insurgents months before the Soviet invasion. The move offers a window into one of the defining issues of his presidency, showing a president unafraid to confront the So...Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.voanews.com/a/how-carter-s-covert-aid-to-afghan-rebels-redefined-his-foreign-policy-record/7926876.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/how-carter-s-covert-aid-to-afghan-rebels-redefined-his-foreign-policy-record/7926876.htmlPresident Ronald Reagan is often credited with defeating the Soviet Union, in part by helping Afghan rebels, but it was the administration of President Jimmy Carter that laid the groundwork. Considered a foreign policy novice by many when he entered the White House, Carter made the early decision to provide covert aid to Afghan insurgents months before the Soviet invasion. The move offers a window into one of the defining issues of his presidency, showing a president unafraid to confront the So...Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.voanews.com/a/how-carter-s-covert-aid-to-afghan-rebels-redefined-his-foreign-policy-record/7926876.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/how-carter-s-covert-aid-to-afghan-rebels-redefined-his-foreign-policy-record/7926876.htmlPresident Ronald Reagan is often credited with defeating the Soviet Union, in part by helping Afghan rebels, but it was the administration of President Jimmy Carter that laid the groundwork. Considered a foreign policy novice by many when he entered the White House, Carter made the early decision to provide covert aid to Afghan insurgents months before the Soviet invasion. The move offers a window into one of the defining issues of his presidency, showing a president unafraid to confront the So...Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.voanews.com/a/how-carter-s-covert-aid-to-afghan-rebels-redefined-his-foreign-policy-record/7926876.htmlhttps://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/in-historic-shift-american-muslim-and-arab-voters-desert-democrats/7857534.htmlBy Masood Farivar In a historic shift, Muslim and Arab Americans broke with two decades of Democratic loyalty, splitting most of their votes between President-elect Donald Trump and third-party candidates in Tuesday’s presidential election, according to preliminary findings of two prominent advocacy groups. The exodus, fueled by anger over the Biden administration’s handling of the war in Gaza, helped Trump win key battleground states, especially Michigan, as he defeated Vice President Kamala Ha...Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/in-historic-shift-american-muslim-and-arab-voters-desert-democrats/7857534.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/indian-americans-show-shifting-political-loyalties-ahead-of-presidential-election/7849306.htmlAt a recent Diwali gathering in Denver, software architect Salil Gaonkar asked his Indian American friends to raise their hands: Would they vote for Trump or Harris in the presidential race? The response — from about 45 tech professionals and business owners who had overwhelmingly backed Joe Biden in 2020 — stunned him. Former President Donald Trump edged out Vice President Kamala Harris, albeit by a narrow margin. "I was shocked," Gaonkar, a progressive Democrat who is supporting Harris, said....Sun, 03 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://www.voanews.com/a/indian-americans-show-shifting-political-loyalties-ahead-of-presidential-election/7849306.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/muslim-candidates-surge-in-local-u-s-elections/7828101.htmlAs the United States prepares for a presidential election next month, the idyllic New York suburb of Teaneck, New Jersey, is gearing up for elections that reflect a broader trend in U.S. politics. Two Muslim women are running for local office in Teaneck, a town of 41,000 residents with a significant Muslim population. They are among hundreds of Muslim candidates in local, state and federal elections around the country. Teaneck once had a Muslim mayor but never a Muslim woman on its city council....Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/muslim-candidates-surge-in-local-u-s-elections/7828101.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/analysts-expect-strong-israel-reaction-to-iran-attack-uncertain-of-wider-conflict-/7807226.htmlIran's brazen missile attack on Israel has heightened tensions across the Middle East, with some analysts predicting a powerful Israeli response. What is less certain is whether this will be a one-off exchange or ignite a series of tit-for-tat strikes that could engulf the entire Middle East in conflict. "It could go either way," said Shaan Shaikh, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "At every exchange, the actors – Iran and Israel – have options to escalate or de-esc...Wed, 02 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/analysts-expect-strong-israel-reaction-to-iran-attack-uncertain-of-wider-conflict-/7807226.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/bangladesh-at-crossroads-as-it-pursues-sweeping-constitutional-reform-/7803698.htmlAs Bangladesh pursues constitutional reform, international legal experts say a consensus-based process is vital for creating an enduring charter and ensuring political stability in South Asia’s third most populous nation. The ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August pushed her Awami League party out of power, raising concerns that a key player could be excluded from a process shaping Bangladesh's future. In response, the nine-week interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus,...Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/bangladesh-at-crossroads-as-it-pursues-sweeping-constitutional-reform-/7803698.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/deadly-mob-violence-underscores-bangladesh-s-security-breakdown/7793384.htmlA brutal mob lynching at Bangladesh’s oldest university has put a spotlight on the country's crumbling law and order, just as its fledgling interim government tries to assert control and push through sweeping institutional reforms. Late Wednesday, Tofazzal Hossein, a man known for struggling with mental health issues and roaming around the 102-year-old University of Dhaka, wandered into a residential hall. Accusing him of theft, a mob of students grabbed and savagely beat him over the course of...Sat, 21 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/deadly-mob-violence-underscores-bangladesh-s-security-breakdown/7793384.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/kyrgyzstan-follows-regional-trend-takes-taliban-off-terrorist-list/7775060.htmlShunned by the West for over three years, Afghanistan's Taliban scored a diplomatic victory of sorts this week when the small Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan quietly removed the group from its list of banned terrorist organizations. The move underscores warming ties between the Taliban, in power since August 2021, and the countries of Central Asia. While the United States has led an international campaign to deny the Taliban government legitimacy, over a dozen regional countries, led by China...Sat, 07 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/kyrgyzstan-follows-regional-trend-takes-taliban-off-terrorist-list/7775060.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/how-families-in-south-asia-confront-the-enforced-disappearance-of-loved-ones/7766380.htmlThey’ve been waiting for years, sometimes decades, desperate to learn the fate of their loved ones — victims of enforced disappearances in South Asia. With husbands neither dead nor alive, their wives are sometimes known as “half widows.” The ambiguity gnaws at them, yet it also keeps them going. Every rumored sighting, every whisper of hope, becomes a lifeline in their endless search for closure. Farzana Akhtar’s husband, Parvez Hossain, was taken by Bangladeshi security forces 11 years ago. A...Sat, 31 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/how-families-in-south-asia-confront-the-enforced-disappearance-of-loved-ones/7766380.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/us-presidential-election-energizes-fast-growing-indian-american-community-/7713671.htmlU.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' meteoric rise to the top of the Democratic Party's presidential ticket has energized many Indian Americans, raising the fast-growing community's political profile and sparking widespread excitement. Harris, who is of Indian and Jamaican descent, appears set to become the first female presidential nominee of color after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race on Sunday. But the fervor isn't solely about her nomination. Many Indian Americans, regardless of po...Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/us-presidential-election-energizes-fast-growing-indian-american-community-/7713671.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/in-south-asia-trump-shooting-is-used-to-push-political-narratives/7706116.htmlSouth Asia, long a breeding ground for conspiracy theories, faced an avalanche of disinformation triggered by the recent assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump. Social media in the region is still buzzing with wild claims, from Chinese involvement to an anti-Taliban group ordering the hit, highlighting how nefarious actors exploit global events to push ideological narratives and political agendas. “The truth is that we see this happening everywhere in the world simultaneousl...Sat, 20 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/in-south-asia-trump-shooting-is-used-to-push-political-narratives/7706116.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/a-look-at-high-profile-politician-assassinations-across-south-asia/7701766.htmlThe recent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump marks a rare event in U.S. history but shines light on a more common global phenomenon. Political assassinations have long been a part of human history, often occurring in countries with limited political competition and strong polarization and fragmentation, according to research by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. These conditions can lead to a decline in political legitimacy and increased violence, especiall...Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/a-look-at-high-profile-politician-assassinations-across-south-asia/7701766.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/south-asia-s-youth-bulge-masks-aging-population-/7695022.htmlZahirul Islam, a 52-year-old cafe manager in Dhaka, Bangladesh, has worked all his life supporting his family, with little to save for old age. Facing retirement at 59, Islam expects to work for another seven or eight years before holding down a job becomes unfeasible. "Then, it may not be possible to continue working," he said in an interview with VOA. In eight years, Islam turns 60, joining Bangladesh's growing population of older people. With little savings and no pension plan, he plans to re...Fri, 12 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/south-asia-s-youth-bulge-masks-aging-population-/7695022.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/once-a-rallying-cry-radical-islamic-terrorism-fades-from-trump-rhetoric/7670050.htmlIn 2016, Donald Trump's presidential campaign echoed with a frequent vow to crush "radical Islamic terrorism." Fast forward to today, as he seeks a second chance in the White House, Trump rarely mentions the phrase, his erstwhile rhetoric about Islamist terrorism eclipsed by a focus on immigration, crime and other domestic issues. The shift came into sharp relief on Sunday when a coordinated terrorist assault on a police station, churches and synagogues in southern Russia left at least 20 peop...Tue, 25 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/once-a-rallying-cry-radical-islamic-terrorism-fades-from-trump-rhetoric/7670050.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/anti-muslim-hate-groups-in-us-surge-back-into-spotlight-/7654021.htmlOnce seemingly fading into obscurity, anti-Muslim hate groups in the United States have surged back into the spotlight in recent months, reinvigorated by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Many of these groups, such as Jihad Watch and ACT for America, emerged in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. and thrived on public fears of terrorism. But as those fears waned in recent years, so did the groups’ sway. Some disbanded, while others gravitated to other hot-button issues. From a peak of 114...Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/anti-muslim-hate-groups-in-us-surge-back-into-spotlight-/7654021.htmlhttps://www.voaturkce.com/a/gazzedeki-savas-musluman-amerikalilarin-oy-verme-davranisini-nasil-etkileyecek/7646549.htmlGazze'deki savaş, Kasım ayında yapılacak ABD başkanlık seçimleri öncesinde Müslüman Amerikalılar’ın siyasi bağlılıklarını sarsıyor. Başkan Joe Biden'ın İsrail'e verdiği destek sonrası hayal kırıklığına uğrayan ve bir zamanlar Biden’a destek veren Demokrat eğilimli Müslümanlar’ın çoğu, şimdi desteklerini geri çekme sözü veriyor. Bir zamanlar tercih ettikleri adayı desteklemeyi bırakanlar sadece Müslüman Demokratlar değil. Bazı Müslüman Cumhuriyetçiler de kendi partilerinin İsrail'e verdiği dest...Fri, 07 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voaturkce.com/a/gazzedeki-savas-musluman-amerikalilarin-oy-verme-davranisini-nasil-etkileyecek/7646549.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/muslim-drift-to-republican-party-stalls-amid-gaza-conflict/7641906.htmlThe war in Gaza is shaking Muslim Americans’ political loyalties ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November. Disenchanted by President Joe Biden’s embrace of Israel, many Democratic-leaning Muslims who once backed him are now vowing to withdraw their endorsement. But it’s not just Muslim Democrats abandoning their once-preferred candidate. Some Muslim Republicans are also wavering amidst their own party's support of Israel. Mo Nehad, a Pakistani American Republican activist in Fort Bend...Tue, 04 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/muslim-drift-to-republican-party-stalls-amid-gaza-conflict/7641906.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/us-watchdog-documents-hundreds-of-india-election-rallies-targeting-muslims/7621513.htmlIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stirred controversy with his anti-Muslim remarks since Indians began casting ballots in the country's parliamentary elections last month. But it's not just Modi trafficking in controversial rhetoric about Muslims; top members of his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been echoing similar sentiment as the party seeks a historic third term in power. In the four weeks since the polls opened on April 19, Hindutva Watch, a U.S.-based watchdog, has docum...Tue, 21 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/us-watchdog-documents-hundreds-of-india-election-rallies-targeting-muslims/7621513.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/what-does-it-mean-to-be-asian-in-america-/7606688.htmlMore than two decades into her American journey, Shamarukh Mohiuddin navigates the crossroads of culture and identity. A Washington-area business consultant by day, Mohiuddin supports Asian American causes, performs with a dance group at the capital's annual Fiesta Asia and checks "Asian" on forms. Yet, the label doesn't quite fit. She prefers "Bangladeshi American," a term that resonates more deeply with her and her Bangladeshi friends. "Most of my friends, when they hyphenate their heritage, t...Sat, 11 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/what-does-it-mean-to-be-asian-in-america-/7606688.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/three-immigrants-three-journeys/7593039.htmlNilufar Akhror, a nurse anesthesiologist from Uzbekistan, and her husband came to the United States through the so-called “green card lottery” program. Ashish Jain, an Indian tech executive, arrived on a student visa. Gharzai Oryakhail, an Afghan former military interpreter, won a special immigrant visa. Akhror, Jain and Oryakhail immigrated to the U.S. during the last two decades, part of a growing wave of migration from South and Central Asia. Recent Census Bureau data show that the number of...Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/three-immigrants-three-journeys/7593039.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/undocumented-indian-migrants-chart-new-path-to-us-via-canada/7564143.htmlIn recent years, the United States has seen an unprecedented surge in undocumented migrants from India, most slipping in through Mexico. But as the U.S.-Mexico border faces growing pressure, many are turning to a less conventional path: crossing the expansive and lightly guarded border with Canada. In fiscal year 2023, U.S. border agents encountered nearly 97,000 undocumented Indian migrants nationwide, including more than 30,000 at the northern border, according to data from the Customs and Bo...Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://www.voanews.com/a/undocumented-indian-migrants-chart-new-path-to-us-via-canada/7564143.html