Peace Corps to have classes in Vietnam

Peace Corps to have classes in Vietnam

hanoi, vietnam

The United States and Vietnam have reached an agreement that will see the Peace Corps set up English-language training programs in the country’s two largest cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

As President Barack Obama continued a historic three-day visit to Vietnam today, officials from the two sides signed an agreement that will bring an initial group of about 20 Peace Corps volunteers to Vietnam starting next year.

The program, the first for the Peace Corps in Vietnam, is expected to expand in size in following years and grow to more cities.

The agreement was signed after about a decade of discussions.

Meanwhile, China is outwardly lauding the lifting of a U.S. arms embargo on Vietnam, saying it hopes “normal and friendly” relations between the U.S. and Vietnam are conducive to regional stability.

Official: Feds investigate governor

McLEAN, Va.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is a subject of a federal investigation looking at donations to his gubernatorial campaign, according to a U.S. law enforcement official.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation. CNN first reported the story Monday.

Marc Elias, a lawyer for McAuliffe’s campaign, said Monday that the governor, a Democrat, is unaware of any investigation.

French ship joins search for wreckage

CAIRO

A French ship joined the international effort to hunt for the black boxes and other wreckage of EgyptAir Flight 804 Monday, searching for clues to what brought the plane down, as Greek and Egyptian authorities diverged on what happened to the plane during the crucial final minutes before it crashed into the Mediterranean, killing all 66 people on board.

Five days after the air disaster, questions remain over what happened to the doomed jet before it disappeared off radar Thursday.

US inspectors find sick, dead animals at pet-dealer ranch

Federal inspectors found sick and dead animals, inadequate sanitation, untrained employees performing euthanasia and other deficiencies at a Pennsylvania small-animal dealer that supplied major pet retailers like Petco and PetSmart.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report on its January inspection of Holmes Chinchilla Ranch that said inspectors found dozens of animals in need of veterinary treatment for symptoms ranging from hair loss to eye abnormalities to lethargy.

USDA spent several days at Holmes after an animal-rights group shot video purporting to show substandard conditions at the dealer’s facility in Barto, about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia, where it keeps thousands of hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and other species.

Victims in attack: It was preventable

DENVER

Victims of a mass shooting at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic say more should have been done to prevent the attack, given the history of violence against the reproductive health organization.

A lawsuit filed Friday says the Colorado Springs clinic lacked armed security guards and adequate fencing during the November attack. Three people were killed and nine others injured.

Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Whitney Phillips declined comment on the suit. She says the organization believes its facilities are safe and inviting for patients and staff.

Associated Press