At least 22 people have been killed in Syria, following confrontations between security forces and anti-government demonstrators . Activists say at least 10 of the deaths on Friday occurred in the northwestern province of Idlib. State-run news reports say an armed group in the provincial city of Maaret al-Numan attacked security forces and set several […]
Former NSA Employee Pleads Guilty in Leak Case
Posted June 10th, 2011 at 1:30 pm (UTC-5)
A former U.S. spy agency employee has pleaded guilty to unauthorized access of a government computer, as part of a plea agreement over a leak of classified documents. Thomas Drake faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine for the misdemeanor offense. As part of the deal, the government said it will […]
Karzai Urges Pakistan Role in Afghan Peace Process
Posted June 10th, 2011 at 1:00 pm (UTC-5)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai is calling on Pakistan to help his country achieve stability. Mr. Karzai arrived in Islamabad Friday for a meeting with his counterpart Asif Ali Zardari. Following talks, both presidents told reporters that Afghanistan-Pakistan relations remain strong, with both countries sharing the common goal of peace and prosperity. The Afghan leader said […]
Somali Official: Female Suicide Bomber Kills Interior Minister
Posted June 10th, 2011 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
A Somali government official says a female suicide bomber has killed Interior Minister Abdi Shakur Sheikh Hassan Farah. Information Minister Abdulkarim Hassan Jama confirmed the death during an interview with VOA on Friday. The official said the attack happened inside the minister’s home in the capital, Mogadishu on Friday. A witness who lives at the […]
Nigeria Looking to Lock-Up Bankole Pending Trial
Posted June 10th, 2011 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency wants to keep the nation’s former House speaker in jail until he can face trial for corruption. Dimeji Bankole is facing 16 counts for misappropriating an estimated $60 million from the government’s coffers. He appeared in court for a bail hearing Friday and will remain in jail until Monday when the hearing […]
Jordanians Rally for Government Reforms
Posted June 10th, 2011 at 12:50 pm (UTC-5)
Protesters have rallied in cities across Jordan, where some demonstrators called for government reforms while others called for the resignation of Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit and his cabinet. The demonstrators took to the streets after midday prayers on Friday, with some waving signs and anti-government slogans. The country’s state-run Petra news agency said at a […]
Russian Colonel Gunned Down in Moscow
Posted June 10th, 2011 at 12:35 pm (UTC-5)
A former Russian army colonel convicted in 2003 of killing an 18-year-old Chechen woman has been gunned down on the streets of Moscow. Officials say Yuri Budanov was shot in the head four times in what appeared to be a contract-style killing. He died at the scene Friday. The pistol and getaway car were found […]
Pakistan Orders Probe into Military Killing
Posted June 10th, 2011 at 12:35 pm (UTC-5)
Pakistani leaders have ordered a probe after a video surfaced showing paramilitary soldiers shooting and killing an unarmed young man. The video, broadcast on Pakistani television, shows members of the paramilitary Rangers opening fire on the man as he pleads for his life in the southern city of Karachi. The man, later identified as Sarfaraz […]
Italy Recalls Its Ambassador to Brazil After Release of Fugitive
Posted June 10th, 2011 at 12:35 pm (UTC-5)
Italy has recalled its ambassador to Brazil in an escalating dispute over the South American country’s decision not to extradite Italian fugitive Cesare Battisti. Foreign Minister Franco Frattini recalled Ambassador Gherardo La Francesca to Rome on Friday to discuss Italy’s options, saying the court’s decision was a political decision, not a legal one. Brazilian authorities […]
UN AIDS Conference Wrapping Up Friday
Posted June 10th, 2011 at 12:30 pm (UTC-5)
A high-level conference on the global AIDS response is wrapping up at the United Nations, with world leaders agreeing to a political declaration on intensifying efforts to eliminate HIV and AIDS. Member states are expected to sign the declaration Friday at the close of the New York conference. Among other commitments, the document sets a […]
