Iranian state media report the Islamic republic has launched its second domestically built satellite. Iran’s Arabic language al-Alam television on Wednesday reported the launch and orbit of the satellite. It did not say when the liftoff took place. The Iranian report says the satellite, known as Rassad 1 (Observation), will be used for transmitting images […]
Iran Launches Second Domestically Built Satellite
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 2:05 pm (UTC-5)
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North, South Sudan Troops Clash in Disputed Abyei
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 1:55 pm (UTC-5)
Troops from northern and southern Sudan have reportedly clashed in the disputed Abyei region, as talks to ease tensions between the sides continue in Ethiopia. A southern army spokesman, Philip Aguer, says the sides exchanged fire Wednesday on the Bahr al-Arab River, also known as the Kiir River, when northern troops tried to cross a […]
Three US Men Plead Guilty to Trafficking Thai Workers
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 1:50 pm (UTC-5)
Three US men have pleaded guilty to human trafficking charges related to a company that recruited farm workers from Thailand. The U.S. Justice Department says between 2001 and 2007 the defendants brought some 600 Thai nationals to the United States under the federal agricultural guest worker program. The indictment says the men forced the Thai […]
US Lawmakers: Military Action in Libya Is ‘Illegal’
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 1:40 pm (UTC-5)
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has filed a legal challenge to President Barack Obama’s decision to take military action in Libya without formally seeking authorization from Congress. Ten members of the House of Representatives filed a lawsuit Wednesday. They included Ohio Democrat Dennis Kucinich and Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul of Texas. Kucinich said […]
UN Convention on Law of the Sea Defines Nations’ Rights, Responsibilities
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 1:40 pm (UTC-5)
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is an international agreement that defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of the world’s oceans and management of their natural resources. Nations participating in the third U.N. Conference on the Law of the Sea reached agreement on the treaty in 1982 […]
Gadhafi Forces Shell Libya Rebel Positions in Western Mountains
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 1:35 pm (UTC-5)
Forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi bombarded rebel positions in the Western Mountains region Wednesday, after rebels made advances toward the capital, Tripoli. Rebels say Libyan forces fired Grad rockets at towns in the region, but they have not confirmed casualties from these attacks. Rebels have made advances from the port city of Misrata […]
UN Rights Commissioner Calls for Syria Probe
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 1:25 pm (UTC-5)
The United Nations’ top human rights official has called for a thorough investigation into allegations of widespread abuses in Syria during the government’s crackdown on dissent. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay also renewed her call on Wednesday for Syria to grant access for a U.N. fact-finding mission. Her office has released a report […]
Gates, Mullen Discuss US Defense Cuts, Warn Against ‘Hollow’ Force
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 1:16 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is calling on Congress to support strategic cuts to the defense budget, while ensuring the military remains strong enough to respond to the threats facing the nation. Testifying before a Senate appropriations subcommittee Wednesday, Gates said the overarching goal is to preserve a U.S. military capable of meeting crucial national […]
Greek TV: PM Offers Unity Government With Opposition
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 1:00 pm (UTC-5)
Greek state television says socialist Prime Minister George Papandreou is offering to form a unity government with the conservative opposition to help win support for austerity measures demanded by international lenders. NET television says Mr. Papandreou made the offer in a meeting with opposition leader Antonis Samaras on Wednesday. Some conservative lawmakers are calling for […]
UN, AU Seek Cease-Fire in Southern Sudan
Posted June 15th, 2011 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
A joint U.N.-African Union mission is going to Sudan’s Southern Kordofan state Thursday in an effort to bring a halt to heavy fighting there. VOA correspondent Peter Heinlein reports the mission was announced Wednesday in Addis Ababa, where north and south Sudanese officials are in talks aimed at easing tensions ahead of south Sudan’s independence […]
