New data released in the United States shows that birth rates in the country have declined for a third year in a row. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention says its provisional count of births in the United States for 2010 was just over 4 million. That is down 3 percent from the […]
Pakistan Denies Arresting Army Major for CIA Help
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 5:10 pm (UTC-5)
Pakistan’s military has denied reports that one of its officers had been detained for helping the United States track down and kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, calling them “false and totally baseless.” Pakistani Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas on Wednesday rejected the story that first appeared in The New York Times. But another […]
Attackers Raid French News Agency’s Jordan Office
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 5:05 pm (UTC-5)
Assailants armed with clubs stormed into the Jordan office of the French news agency late Wednesday, destroying furniture and equipment in a rare attack on the international media in the kingdom. Agence France Presse reporter Kamal Taha, who was on duty at the time, said 10 men broke into AFP’s reception area, but that he […]
Obama Administration Defends Legality of Libya Conflict
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 5:00 pm (UTC-5)
The Obama administration is defending the legality of its actions in the Libya conflict, saying President Barack Obama did not exceed his powers in ordering the action. In a report delivered to Congress Wednesday, the White House said U.S. military action in Libya does not require congressional authorization because American forces are now playing a […]
Pirate-Hijacked Cargo Vessel Burning of Somali Coast
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 5:00 pm (UTC-5)
A Panamanian-flagged cargo ship that has been under pirate control in Somalia for more than six months is burning. Andrew Mwangura, a local maritime reporter, told VOA the MV Orna caught fire Wednesday evening. The ship, which is owned by the United Arab Emirates, was in the Indian Ocean just north of the pirate stronghold […]
Obama Administration Defends Legality of Libya Conflict
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 4:55 pm (UTC-5)
The Obama administration is defending the legality of its actions in the Libya conflict, saying President Barack Obama did not exceed his powers in ordering the action. In a report delivered to Congress Wednesday, the White House said U.S. military action in Libya does not require congressional authorization because American forces are now playing a […]
Oil Prices Plunge
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 4:40 pm (UTC-5)
Here are the prices of some key commodities traded in New York on Wednesday: Crude oil prices dropped nearly $5 to close at $94.81 a barrel. Coffee futures fell 7 cents to finish at $2.63 per pound. Copper prices lost 3 cents to end at $4.12 a pound. Cocoa futures declined $27 to $2,987 a […]
US Stocks Fall
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 4:25 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. stock market indexes fell sharply in Wednesday’s trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.5 percent to close at 11,897. The S&P 500 fell 1.7 percent to end at 1,265 and the NASDAQ lost 1.8 percent to hit 2,631. European stock prices were sharply lower at the close of trading. London’s Financial Times index […]
US Agents: Gun Sting Operation Allowed Flow of Weapons to Mexico
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 4:13 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. firearms agents say they were ordered by superiors to stand aside while gun buyers purchased weapons that would go to Mexican drug cartels. Agents for the federal agency in charge of monitoring firearms testified before the House of Representatives Oversight Committee that they were told not to arrest the buyers, but instead track where […]
Papandreou to Form New Government in Greece
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 4:12 pm (UTC-5)
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou says he will form a new government Thursday and immediately ask for a vote of confidence in parliament, after coalition talks with the opposition fell apart. Mr. Papandreou made his announcement on television Wednesday following a day of violent protests against plans for more spending cuts and tax hikes. The […]
