The United States says a top leader in the Haqqani network militant group who played a central role in attacking coalition forces has been killed in Pakistan. A U.S. official said Janbaz Zadran, also known as “Jamil”, was killed Thursday near the Haqqani stronghold of Miranshah in North Waziristan. He said Zadran is the most […]
Top Haqqani Leader Confimed Killed in Pakistan
UN Chief “Following Closely” Release of Political Prisoners in Burma
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is following closely the release of political prisoners by Burma’s government as part of the amnesty granted by President Thein Sein. In a statement Thursday, Mr. Ban said he welcomes the release of a number of prominent figures. However, he expressed hope that the government will ensure the […]
Obama Says Iran to Face Toughest Possible Sanctions
U.S. President Barack Obama has warned Iranian officials they would face the “toughest sanctions” possible for their complicity in a suspected plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to the United States. Mr. Obama, speaking Thursday in Washington said officials at the “highest levels” of the Iranian government must be held accountable for the bizarre plot, […]
Senate Confirms Obama’s Choice for South Korea Envoy
The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Barack Obama’s choice for a new ambassador to South Korea. Lawmakers unanimously approved career diplomat Sung Kim Thursday. The first Korean-American to hold the post, he will replace Ambassador Kathleen Stephens. Kim’s June nomination was supposed to be confirmed before Congress adjourned for the summer in August. He had […]
Food Prize Honors Former Ghanaian, Brazilian Leaders
This year’s top prize honoring achievements in the battle against hunger has gone to two former presidents of developing countries whose policies cut their nations’ hunger rates dramatically. John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil were awarded the World Food Prize Thursday evening during a ceremony in Des Moines, […]
Plane Crash in Papua New Guinea Kills 28, 4 Survivors
Two pilots are among the four people who have survived a plane crash on Papua New Guinea’s north coast that killed 28 people. A small plane crashed Wednesday evening in dense forest, near the mouth of the Gogol River, about 20 kilometers south of the resort center of Madang. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs […]
South Korean President Addresses US Congress
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has addressed a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, highlighting the two country’s strong economic and defense ties. During his speech to lawmakers Thursday, Mr. Lee thanked Congress for passing a major trade agreement with South Korea, Earlier, Mr. Lee and President Obama hailed the U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement, […]
Clashes Between Syrian Troops, Defectors Kill 20
Syrian rights activists say clashes between government security forces and armed men believed to be army defectors have killed at least 19 people as the European Union imposed sanctions on the country’s biggest state bank. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday’s fighting in northern Idlib province killed 10 civilians when government troops stormed […]
2 Aid Workers Kidnapped Near Kenya-Somalia Border
Kenyan authorities say they suspect the Somali militant group Al Shabab is behind the kidnapping of two European aid workers Thursday, the third kidnapping of foreigners near the Kenya-Somali border in the past month. Police spokesmen said gunmen seized the two aid workers from a huge Somali refugee complex in northern Kenya. So far, there […]
La Scala Names Barenboim As New Music Director
Milan’s world-famous opera house la Scala has announced Israeli conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim will take over as its new music director in December. Barenboim will replace the post long vacated by Italian conductor Riccardo Muti who left in 2005 following a dispute. La Scala said in a statement Thursday that Argentine-born musician will help […]