Election observers from the Carter Center say Liberia’s presidential run-off this week was credible and met international standards for democratic elections. In a statement Thursday, the U.S.-based monitoring group said democracy in Liberia still faces “important challenges.” But the Carter Center dismissed as “unsubstantiated” claims by the opposition that the election process was seriously flawed. […]
Monitor: Liberia Elections Democratic
12 Killed in Syria Violence, Opposition Stages General Strike
A Syrian rights group says at least 12 people were killed Thursday in the government’s ongoing crackdown on anti-government protests as opposition groups called for a nationwide general strike. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says security forces killed one civilian in the northwestern province of Idlib and several others, including an 8-year old girl, […]
Monitor: Liberia Elections Democratic Despite Opposition Claims
Election observers from the Carter Center say Liberia’s presidential run-off this week was credible and met international standards for democratic elections. In a statement Thursday, the U.S.-based monitoring group said democracy in Liberia still faces “important challenges.” But the Carter Center dismissed as “unsubstantiated” claims by the opposition that the election process was seriously flawed. […]
Rescuers Search for Survivors After Deadly Turkey Quake
Rescue workers in Turkey are again searching for survivors of an earthquake less than three weeks after a 7.3-magnitude quake hit the Van region that killed around 600 people and left thousands homeless. A 5.7-magnitude earthquake shook Van late Wednesday, collapsing at least 25 buildings. Officials say all but three were empty after being evacuated […]
India, Pakistan Expect Closer Ties from Future Talks
The prime ministers of India and Pakistan say they expect the next round of formal talks to continue bringing the two sides closer together. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Thursday the countries have wasted a lot of time on “acrimonious debates,” and that while much progress has been made in the past year, more […]
Warplanes Bomb South Sudan Refugee Camp; Sudan Suspected
Officials say suspected Sudanese warplanes have bombed a refugee camp in neighboring South Sudan, causing injuries and deaths. A local journalist tells VOA that planes bombed the Yida refugee camp in South Sudan’s Unity state Thursday afternoon. He says up to 20 people were killed, with many others wounded. There has been no independent confirmation […]
Suicide Bombers Attack Afghan Government Office
Suicide bombers have attacked a district governor’s office in eastern Afghanistan, killing three Afghan police officers. A provincial government spokesperson says three attackers detonated their explosives outside the Samkani district center building in Paktia province Thursday, while two other militants tried to storm the building. The attack sparked a gunbattle with police. Three officers were […]
Venezuelan Major League Baseball Player Kidnapped
Venezuelan national and U.S. Major League Baseball player Wilson Ramos has been kidnapped from a home in Venezuela, where he was playing for a local team during the offseason. Ramos had been visiting with family at a private home in the city of Valencia on Wednesday when several men broke in, snatched him and took […]
Red Cross Appeals for Aid in Vietnamese Flooding
The Red Cross is asking for $1.2 million in international aid to help 42,000 people affected by the serious flooding that has plagued Vietnam for weeks. In a statement Thursday, the aid organization said its main goal is to provide the victims with cash, household kits, safe water, hygiene items, medicine and shelter. A top […]
South Africa’s ANC Ousts Controversial Youth Leader
South Africa’s ruling party has fired the controversial leader of its youth league after finding him guilty of sowing division and damaging the party’s reputation. The African National Congress also handed Julius Malema a five-year suspension during a disciplinary hearing in Johannesburg on Thursday. The chairman of the disciplinary panel, Derek Hanekom, said the 30-year-old […]