U.S. President Barack Obama called on Congress Tuesday to extend and increase a payroll tax cut for American workers that expires next month. The payroll tax provides money to help fund government pensions for older Americans. It was cut by two percentage points this year, putting about $1,000 more in the pocket of the typical […]
Obama Calls for Extension of Payroll Tax Break
Posted November 22nd, 2011 at 2:50 pm (UTC-5)
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Pakistani Officials: No Peace Talks With Taliban
Posted November 22nd, 2011 at 2:05 pm (UTC-5)
Pakistan’s army has denied media reports that it is holding peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban or its affiliated militant groups. An army spokesman Tuesday said the reports are “concocted, baseless and unfounded.” Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik also said the government is not in formal peace talks with the Taliban. He told reporters in […]
Pakistani Ambassador to US Resigns
Posted November 22nd, 2011 at 2:00 pm (UTC-5)
Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States has stepped down following claims he appealed for Washington’s help in reining in Pakistan’s powerful military. Ambassador Hussain Haqqani resigned Tuesday following a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and army and intelligence officials in Islamabad. The prime minister’s spokesman said Haqqani was asked to step down […]
Violence in Southern Somalia Kills 11
Posted November 22nd, 2011 at 1:50 pm (UTC-5)
An unidentified fighter jet has bombed a rebel-held town in Somalia, killing one person, while a blast in the capital, Mogadishu, has killed at least 10. Residents say the warplane struck the al-Shabab-controlled village of Yaqle on Tuesday. The village is located in Somalia’s Gedo region near the Kenya border. Separately Tuesday, a roadside bomb […]
Egypt’s Military Agrees to Form New Government
Posted November 22nd, 2011 at 1:20 pm (UTC-5)
Egypt’s military rulers have agreed to form a new government and promise to transfer power to a civilian body by July. Politicians say the agreement was made during a crisis meeting on Tuesday as tens of thousands of Egyptians protested in the streets against continuing military rule. They say negotiators also agreed to start holding […]
Latest Kosovo-Serbia Talks End With Little Progress
Posted November 22nd, 2011 at 1:10 pm (UTC-5)
A second day of European Union-mediated talks between Kosovo and Serbia has ended with little progress on resolving a long-running customs dispute. The two sides concluded talks Tuesday in Brussels with an agreement to mutually recognize each others’ university diplomas — a key issue for ethnic Albanians living in Serbia, many of whom have diplomas […]
Greece, Spain Face New Debt Pressures
Posted November 22nd, 2011 at 1:10 pm (UTC-5)
Greece and Spain faced new pressure Tuesday from the European debt crisis. The European Union bluntly told the Athens government it would not receive its next $11 billion installment from last year’s bailout unless its fractious political leaders sign a written statement committing to new austerity measures to cut the country’s debt. Greece needs the […]
South Korea Passes Trade Agreement With The US
Posted November 22nd, 2011 at 12:50 pm (UTC-5)
South Korea’s parliament has ratified a free trade agreement with the United States, in a contentious vote that erupted in violence in the parliament chamber and on the streets of the capital. The bill passed on a vote of 151-7 during a special parliamentary session Tuesday. Outnumbered opposition lawmakers reacted angrily to the move to […]
At Least 4 Killed in Syria As Pressure Mounts on President
Posted November 22nd, 2011 at 12:25 pm (UTC-5)
The death toll continues to mount in Syria where President Bashar al-Assad faces increased pressure to resign. Activists say gunfire from security forces killed at least four people in the central Homs region on Tuesday, including two children. Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Mr. Assad to step down. In a televised […]
Afghan Delegation Arrives in Pakistan for Rabbani Probe
Posted November 22nd, 2011 at 12:25 pm (UTC-5)
A high-level Afghan delegation arrived in Pakistan Tuesday to probe the assassination of peace envoy and former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani. Diplomatic sources told VOA the nine-member delegation will spend two days in Pakistan and share the findings of their investigation with Pakistani officials. Afghan defense and interior ministry officials are part of the delegation. […]
