Witnesses say Somali government forces are in control of Daynile, the last part of the Somali capital that was controlled by al-Shabab militants. A local journalist confirmed the takeover to VOA Thursday. Somali government troops and African Union forces attacked the district in northern Mogadishu at dawn and seized control of the area after brief […]
Al-Shabab Loses Last Mogadishu District
US Stocks Decline
U.S. stocks declined in Thursday’s early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 dropped one-tenth of a percent while the NASDAQ moved down nearly four-tenths of a percent. European stock prices declined in Thursday’s afternoon trading. London’s Financial Times index slid about eight-tenths of a percent, the CAC-40 in Paris was off […]
Greek Police Clash with Protesters Ahead of Austerity Vote
Greek police fired tear gas at protesters again on Thursday in Athens as the parliament prepared for a final vote on new austerity measures needed to secure more bailout funds for the government to avoid a default. At least 50,000 mostly peaceful, anti-austerity protesters gathered in Syntagma square outside parliament on the second day of […]
Thailand Bows to Flood Surge, Says Gates Must Open
Thai officials say they can no longer hold back the floodwaters that are bearing down on the capital. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who is facing her first crisis since taking office in August, said Thursday she has ordered officials to open Bangkok’s floodgates and let water pour through the city’s canals to the sea. Officials […]
Libyan NTC: Gadhafi Killed in Sirte
Senior Libyan provisional government officials say former leader Moammar Gadhafi has been killed by government troops who crushed remaining resistance by Gadhafi loyalists in his hometown of Sirte. Several National Transitional Council officials in Tripoli say NTC forces shot and killed Gadhafi and took custody of his body Thursday, during a final assault on his […]
NATO Moves to Tear Down Kosovo Barricades
NATO-led peacekeepers have confronted crowds of angry Serbs as they moved into Kosovo’s northern border area to try to remove a series of roadblocks that has been in place for almost three months. Peacekeepers in full riot gear moved into the area near Zubin Potok Thursday, accompanied by armored vehicles, trucks and bulldozers. NATO says […]
US Jobless Claims Fall Slightly
The number of Americans signing up for unemployment compensation dropped a bit last week. Thursday’s report from the Labor Department says first-time jobless claims fell by 6,000 to a nationwide total of 403,000. That continues a gradual improvement in the labor market that has seen claims fall by 25,000 since September. While policymakers will welcome […]
Somali Kidnappers of French Woman Demand Cash for Remains
France says the Somali kidnappers of a French woman, who died in captivity, are demanding cash for the return of her remains. Sixty-six year-old Marie Dedieu was kidnapped from her private beach home in northern Kenya on October 1. France said it learned of her death Wednesday. French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet says the kidnappers […]
Pakistani Nuclear Plant Leak Triggers Emergency
A leak prompted authorities to declare a seven-hour emergency at a nuclear power plant in southern Pakistan this week. The leakage of heavy water was reported at the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant, known as KANUPP, late Tuesday. Authorities say the emergency was declared immediately after the leak and the affected area was isolated. Officials said […]
‘Former Libyan Leader Gadhafi Dead’ – Provisional Government
Provisional government officials in Libya say former leader Moammar Gadhafi has died after being wounded during a battle for control of the town of Sirte. The reports have not been independently confirmed. Earlier Thursday, military leaders in the National Transitional Council said Mr. Gadhafi had been taken into custody, and that he was badly wounded. […]