The United States is urging Burma to cease hostilities in northern ethnic minority regions, as deadly clashes between government forces and rebels have forced many refugees to flee toward neighboring China. State Department spokeswoman Kelly McKellogg Thursday called on the Burmese authorities to start a dialogue toward reconciliation with opposition and ethnic minority groups. She […]
Japan Refusing to Extend Kyoto Pact
Japan is refusing to carry out its pledge to extend greenhouse gas emission cuts after the global treaty known as the Kyoto Protocol expires next year. Japanese delegates at U.N.-sponsored climate talks in Bonn, Germany say Japan will not promise more cuts unless a new broader agreement is put together. They say the 1997 treaty […]
Boehner, Obama Dispute Libya Mission
The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives is trading sharp words with the White House about the legalities of the U.S. military action in Libya. Speaker John Boehner and other lawmakers, both Democrats and fellow Republicans, say the president is legally required to seek congressional approval for the mission in Libya, but the White […]
EU to Increase Aid to Pakistan
The European Union says it is ready to increase its assistance to Pakistan despite the country’s struggles with terrorism and the slow pace of political and economic reforms. European Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs and German Development Minister Dirk Niebel arrived in Islamabad Thursday for a series of high-level meetings, including President Asif Ali Zardari and […]
Militants Launch More Attacks in Southern Yemen
Armed militants have renewed attacks against government buildings near the southern Yemeni town of Houta, which they had assaulted on Wednesday. Residents said the attackers in Thursday’s raid briefly took over a security headquarters and council offices in Masameer, which is close to Houta, before retreating. Also Thursday, Yemen’s Defense Ministry said two people were […]
Suicide Blast Hits Nigeria Police Headquarters
A suicide bombing outside Nigeria’s national police headquarters in Abuja has killed at least two people, including the bomber. The blast is believed to be the first suicide bombing in Nigeria. A spokesman for the Islamist radical group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the blast in an interview with VOA. The group is blamed for […]
EU Official: Eurozone to Agree on $17 Billion for Greece
European Union economic chief Olli Rehn says he is confident eurozone ministers will grant a $17 billion loan payment to Greece to prevent Athens from defaulting on its debt. Rehn spoke Thursday — another day of political and economic turmoil in Greece. Two ruling Socialist Party members of parliament quit to protest Prime Minister George […]
Mixed Close for Major US Stocks
The major U.S. stock indexes were mixed at the close of Thursday’s trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained a half-percent to end at 11,962. The S&P 500 Index rose two-tenths of a percent to close at 1,268. And the NASDAQ fell almost three-tenths of a percent to end at 2,624. European stock prices closed […]
Obama Discusses Troop Drawdown with his Afghan Commander
U.S. President Barack Obama has met with his top Afghanistan commander to discuss plans for the eventual withdrawal of U.S. troops. White House spokesman Jay Carney said General David Petraeus met with the president Wednesday. Carney said they discussed a “broad array” of options for the drawdown of troops. He did not provide any new […]