Afghan officials say two blasts have rocked the Afghan capital near compounds run by the British government. Authorities say the explosions were heard early Friday in Kabul. There were no immediate reports of casualties. On Thursday, authorities say a roadside bomb ripped through a minibus in western Afghanistan, killing at least 21 people. That explosion […]
Asian Stocks Slumping in Midday Trading
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 11:40 pm (UTC-5)
Asian stock markets have sustained massive losses during Friday’s trading session, a day after stocks plunged on U.S. and European exchanges. Japan’s Nikkei index lost over two percent by midday, while indexes in both Hong Kong and Sydney lost nearly two and one-half percent. Seoul’s Kospi index had plunged well over four percent by midday. […]
US Special Rep: Pakistan Cooperating with FBI in Search for Kidnapped American
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 11:15 pm (UTC-5)
The U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan says the Federal Bureau of Investigation is working with Pakistani authorities in the search for a kidnapped American. Ambassador Marc Grossman told VOA Thursday the FBI had received “excellent cooperation” from Pakistani officials, “especially the authorities in Punjab” in the hunt for development expert Warren Weinstein. Punjab […]
3 Killed in Australia Helicopter Crash
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 11:15 pm (UTC-5)
A three-man news team from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was killed Thursday night, when their helicopter crashed in a remote Outback area. Veteran reporter Paul Lockyer, his cameraman John Bean and pilot Gary Ticehurst died when their aircraft went down near Lake Eyre in South Australia state. It took police hours to reach the crash […]
Blasts Rock Libyan Captial as Rebel Gains Continue
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 10:40 pm (UTC-5)
At least seven loud explosions rocked the Libyan capital, Tripoli, early Friday as bombs fell in the vicinity of leader Moammar Gadhafi’s main compound and several areas in the west of the city. Opposition forces are now closing in on the capital from the west and the south, while NATO controls the seas to the […]
Israeli Air Strikes Hit Gaza After Attack Near Sinai
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 9:50 pm (UTC-5)
Israeli fighter jets have bombed the Gaza Strip, killing a teenager and wounding at least five others in further retaliation for attacks along the Egyptian border in which eight Israelis were killed and 40 wounded. Palestinian officials and residents say three blasts shook Gaza early Friday, including one that killed a 13-year-old boy. The Israeli […]
US & European Stocks Plunge; Gold Surges
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 9:50 pm (UTC-5)
Stock prices opened sharply lower in Asia Friday, a day after stocks plunged on U.S. and European exchanges. Japan’s Nikkei index was down about 2 percent in early trading Friday while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was down nearly 2.7 percent. On Thursday, the DAX index in Germany fell almost 7 percent at one point, […]
Muslim Militant Urges Followers to Kill US Television Host
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 9:41 pm (UTC-5)
A U.S.-based intelligence monitoring group says a Muslim militant has urged his Islamic followers to kill U.S. talk show host David Letterman. The SITE Monitoring Service said the death threat was posted Tuesday on a Website used by Muslim extremists, after the militant became upset by a joke Letterman made on his show about the […]
US Provides Emergency Flood Aid To North Korea
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 9:36 pm (UTC-5)
The United States says it will provide North Korea with up to $900,000 in emergency flood aid, in the latest sign of an easing of tensions between the countries. The U.S. State Department said Thursday it will contribute relief supplies to North Korea’s Kangwon and North and South Hwanghae provinces. It said that the provision […]
US, Allies Urge Syria’s Assad to Leave Power
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 9:20 pm (UTC-5)
The United States and its European allies have called on Syria’s leader to step down. And U.S. President Barack Obama accused him of “torturing and slaughtering” his own people in what U.N. officials say could be crimes against humanity. Mr. Obama released a statement Thursday saying the time had come for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad […]
