VOA — Iran’s football federation threw its weight behind former national team captain Mehdi Mahdavikia Wednesday after he faced criticism for wearing a jersey bearing an Israeli flag during a friendly game.... Read more »

VOA — Researchers in South Africa have discovered that people who have been infected with the omicron variant of the coronavirus develop enhanced immunity to the older delta variant. The conclusion is... Read more »

VOA — NEW YORK — U.S. health officials on Monday cut isolation restrictions for Americans who catch the coronavirus from 10 to five days, and similarly shortened the time that close contacts... Read more »

VOA — MIAMI, FLORIDA — U.S. authorities on Sunday were monitoring dozens of cruise ships hit by COVID-19 cases while sailing in the country’s waters, with several of them reportedly denied port... Read more »

VOA — NEW YORK — Worried that a new COVID-19 wave could overwhelm understaffed U.S. hospitals, federal officials on Thursday loosened rules that call on health care workers to stay out of... Read more »

BBC — The autumn school term that has just ended in the United States was marked by a shortage of teachers and support staff. The pandemic has heightened the long-running problem –... Read more »

VOA — The Occupational Health and Safety Administration said Saturday that it would not issue citations tied to its coronavirus vaccination mandate before Jan. 10, so that companies have time to adjust... Read more »

VOA — Shaghayegh Bapiri, an Iranian handball player who defected to Spain this week, told VOA Persian on Thursday that she saw no future for women handballers in Iran if conditions for... Read more »

VOA — NEW YORK — Can your pet get COVID-19? Yes, pets and other animals can get the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, but health officials say the risk of them spreading it... Read more »