Australian lawmakers remain deadlocked over the divisive issue of asylum seekers, after the Senate rejected a bill Thursday that would have allowed Australia-bound migrants to be sent offshore for processing. The bill had narrowly passed the House of Representatives Wednesday following an emotional debate amplified by two deadly sinkings of asylum seeker boats in less […]
Australian Lawmakers Reject Asylum Seeker Bill
Posted June 28th, 2012 at 6:10 am (UTC-5)
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European Leaders Beginning Two Day Economic Summit in Brussels
Posted June 28th, 2012 at 4:45 am (UTC-5)
Leaders of Spain, Italy and France are arriving at the start Thursday’s European Union summit in Brussels with a common concern, urging Germany to do more to ease the financial hardships of the currency bloc’s weaker governments. German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with French President Francois Hollande in Paris Wednesday ahead the summit. Merkel is […]
US Supreme Court to Rule on ‘Obamacare’
Posted June 28th, 2012 at 4:35 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. Supreme Court will announce its highly-anticipated decision Thursday on the legality of the contentious health insurance reform law pushed by President Barack Obama. The major focus of the nine-member court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act is the provision mandating that all Americans obtain health insurance by 2014 or face a financial penalty. […]
New York Times Launches Chinese-Language Website
Posted June 28th, 2012 at 3:05 am (UTC-5)
The New York Times has launched a Chinese-language news website aimed at China’s massive online population. The paper said in a statement the site, (www.cn.nytimes.com) which went active Thursday, hopes to draw readers from China’s “growing number of educated, affluent citizens.” China has an estimated 500 million Internet users, making it the world’s largest online […]
Mongolians Decide Fate of Mineral Wealth in Parliamentary Election
Posted June 28th, 2012 at 2:00 am (UTC-5)
Mongolians are heading to the polls Thursday to elect a new parliament that will be tasked with how to best use the country’s massive influx of mineral wealth to help its still poor population. The resource-rich country boasts the world’s fastest growing economy, thanks to a jump in revenue from its still largely untapped gold, […]
US ‘Deeply Concerned’ About Conviction of Ethiopian Journalists, Opposition Members
Posted June 28th, 2012 at 12:05 am (UTC-5)
The United States says it is “deeply concerned” about the Ethiopian government’s conviction of 24 people, including several journalists and opposition members, on terrorism related charges. Journalist Eskinder Nega and opposition member Andualem Arage were among those found guilty Wednesday of charges including the encouragement of terrorism and high treason. The men, 16 of whom […]
US Condemns Attack on Pro-Assad Syrian TV Station
Posted June 27th, 2012 at 8:00 pm (UTC-5)
The United States has condemned a deadly attack by gunmen on a Syrian pro-government television station and said it hopes an upcoming meeting of world powers in Geneva will be a turning point in resolving Syria’s 15-month conflict. Militants attacked the headquarters of the al-Ikbariya satellite channel near Damascus with guns and bombs before dawn […]
Stockton, California to Declare Bankruptcy
Posted June 27th, 2012 at 7:40 pm (UTC-5)
Stockton, California will be the latest and largest U.S. city to seek federal bankruptcy protection. The city council voted 6 to 1 to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 9 of the federal bankruptcy code, under which a judge would decide how the city would pay off its debts. Some city residents appealed to the council […]
Clashes in N. Mali Kill 20
Posted June 27th, 2012 at 7:30 pm (UTC-5)
(new info grafs 2-3, edits throughout)) Witnesses in northern Mali say at least 20 people were killed Wednesday in clashes between Islamist militants and rebels fighting for a separate Tuareg state in the region. A VOA reporter said the al-Qaida-linked group MUJAO (The Unity Movement for Jihad in West Africa) seized control of a key […]
Raging Wildfires Spread in Colorado, Threaten the State’s Second Largest City
Posted June 27th, 2012 at 6:05 pm (UTC-5)
Flames are spreading quickly across Colorado where firefighters are battling to save homes and lives. Officials said Wednesday the Waldo Canyon Fire had doubled in size to more than 6,200 hectares. They said the flames are so intense that it is difficult to assess the damage. The fire has forced some 32,000 people to evacuate […]
