Afghan officials say insurgents fired rockets toward a gathering of thousands of politicians, tribal elders and community leaders meeting in Kabul to discuss reconciliation with the Taliban and their country’s partnership with the United States. Officials said the attacks Thursday missed the site where the second day of the loya jirga, or grand council, was […]
Afghan Officials: Insurgents Fire Rockets at Jirga in Kabul
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 2:05 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment
World Powers Seek More Pressure on Nuclear Iran
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 1:50 pm (UTC-5)
World powers say they are increasingly worried that Iran is using its nuclear program to develop military weapons. The five permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany Thursday issued a resolution expressing “deep and increasing concern” about the issue. The resolution was put forward at a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. […]
US Job Market Improves Slightly
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 1:25 pm (UTC-5)
Economic reports published Thursday show the U.S. housing and job markets getting a little better. The Labor Department says 5,000 fewer Americans signed up for unemployment compensation last week, putting the nationwide total at 388,000. While that is the lowest level since last April, it is still above the level seen in a healthy economy. […]
Pakistani Ambassador to US Offers Resignation Over Controversy
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 1:20 pm (UTC-5)
Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States has offered to resign over reports that the Pakistani government sought American help in defusing a feared military coup. Ambassador Hussain Haqqani said he would step down in the interest of the nation. He has been summoned to Islamabad to discuss the situation. Haqqani has denied he was involved […]
At Least 5 Killed in Syria As Pressure Mounts on Government
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 1:05 pm (UTC-5)
Syrian rights groups say security forces killed five more people across the country Thursday, one day after an armed opposition group attacked a military base in an escalation of tensions over an eight-month government crackdown on protesters. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told VOA that security forces killed two people in and around […]
Key Locations in Occupy Wall Street Movement
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 1:00 pm (UTC-5)
Zuccotti Park — Epicenter of the Occupy protest movement. Demonstrators occupied the plaza in tents for nearly two months beginning in September before police dismantled their camp. Brooklyn Bridge — A national landmark and link between the New York boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn crossed by more than 120,000 vehicles a day. The bridge became […]
Europe’s Debt Crisis: Spain, France Face Higher Borrowing Costs
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
The long reach of the European debt crisis touched Spain and France Thursday, with both countries forced to pay more to finance their governments. Spain, Europe’s fourth biggest economy, paid its highest borrowing costs since 1997 to sell nearly $5 billion in bonds. Madrid was forced to pay almost 7 percent interest, the point at […]
Benetton Clothing Company Yanks Pope-Imam Kiss Ad
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
Italian clothing manufacturer Benetton has withdrawn a controversial ad showing Pope Benedict kissing a leading Islamic leader. The Vatican has said it will take legal action in connection with the ad, unveiled Wednesday and yanked shortly thereafter. The photo was one of a series of artificially created pictures in a campaign named “Unhate.” Other photos […]
Cambodia Genocide Suspect Ruled Unfit for Trial
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 12:40 pm (UTC-5)
Cambodia’s United Nation’s-backed tribunal has ruled that a former senior Khmer Rouge leader was unfit to stand trial for genocide charges and should be released from prison. Court appointed experts say 79-year old Ieng Thirith suffers from memory loss and dementia and would be unable to meaningfully participate in her defense. Ieng Thirith was the […]
Wall Street Protesters in Standoff With Police
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 12:30 pm (UTC-5)
Protests in New York City are intensifying as hundreds of anti-capitalist demonstrators push back against police and dismantle barriers around Wall Street. The Occupy Wall Street protesters have promised a major show of strength Thursday on the two-month anniversary of their movement. Demonstrators have vowed to shut down the city’s financial district with a rally […]
