A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency is set to visit Japan this week to help expedite the cleanup near a nuclear power plant that began leaking radiation after a massive earthquake and tsunami earlier this year. Officials in Tokyo and at IAEA headquarters in Vienna say the 12-member team will visit […]
IAEA to Help Japan with Nuclear Decontamination
New Jersey Governor Again Declines Presidential Bid
The governor of the U.S. state of New Jersey has reportedly decided against running for president, despite pleas from prominent Republican party members and supporters. Sources close to Chris Christie tell U.S. media the Republican governor will formally announce his plans at a news conference later Tuesday. Christie has repeatedly rejected the idea of a […]
Tutu: South African Government Worse Than Apartheid Regime
South African archbishop Desmond Tutu says the country’s government is worse than the old apartheid regime for failing to issue a travel visa to the Dalai Lama. Tutu made his comments Tuesday, soon after the Dalai Lama said South Africa’s failure to give him a visa had forced him to cancel plans to attend this […]
Afghanistan Says Pakistan Not Cooperating in Rabbani Probe
Afghanistan’s intelligence agency says Pakistan is refusing to cooperate with a probe into the killing of top Afghan peace envoy and former President Burhanuddin Rabbani. The deputy head of Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security, Mohammad Yasin Zia, told reporters on Tuesday that the agency received a message from the Pakistani embassy saying Pakistan could not […]
Apple Fans Await New iPhone
The technology company Apple is expected to announce the launch of a new iPhone Tuesday, but has not said exactly what to expect. The company last week emailed invitations to an event at Apple’s Cupertino, California, headquarters. The invitations said “let’s talk iPhone,” but provided few details. Apple is notoriously secretive about its new products. […]
Bahrain Sentences Pro-Reform Activists to Prison
A Bahraini court has sentenced 26 activists, including six Shi’ite opposition party members, to prison for their roles in pro-reform protests. The security court announced the sentences on Tuesday, a day after it imposed terms of up to life in prison on 35 people for activities linked to the demonstrations earlier this year. The state-run […]
Key European Banks Face Greek Debt Worries
Key European banks are facing new financial worries over their Greek debt holdings, with the Belgian-French bank Dexia struggling to avoid collapse. Shares of Dexia stock plummeted Tuesday to an all-time low of less than one euro , even as two of its owners — the Belgian and French governments — pledged their continued support […]
Fed Chair Warns US Congress on Spending
The chairman of the U.S. central bank is warning lawmakers not to cut government spending too sharply too soon, saying it could further harm the economy. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testified before Congress Tuesday, telling members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate the U.S. recession was deeper than the Fed initially […]
US Official Confident of Free, Fair Elections in Liberia
The U.S. ambassador to Liberia says she believes the country’s election officials will be able to hold a free and fair vote in polls scheduled for next week. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told VOA she is confident Liberians will choose voting over violence. But the envoy said the U.S. is concerned about possible unrest. She urged political […]
Unrest in Southern Somali Town Suspends Flow of Aid
The United Nations says fighting in southern Somalia has forced aid groups to halt operations in a town that is key to the famine relief effort. The U.N. refugee agency says humanitarian operations have been put on hold in Dobley because of fierce clashes between opposing armed groups. Spokesman Adrian Edwards said Tuesday the fighting […]