One expert on Europe’s economy blames the current crisis on Greece and 16 other nations using a single currency without a “single and fully well-coordinated policy.” In a VOA interview, Robert Hockett of Cornell University says Greece was able to borrow substantial sums “because it was part of this shared common currency.” He says Greece […]
Karzai Rules Out Resumption of Taliban Talks
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 4:45 pm (UTC-5)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ruled out further talks with the Taliban, saying “we cannot keep talking to suicide bombers.” After a summit meeting Tuesday with his Pakistani counterpart, Asif Ali Zardari, and Turkish President Abdullah Gul, in the Turkish city of Istanbul, Mr. Karzai said his government would instead continue to talk with Pakistan […]
IAEA Raises New Concerns About Iran, North Korea Nuclear Programs
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 4:10 pm (UTC-5)
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has raised new concerns about Iran’s and North Korea’s nuclear programs in his annual report to the United Nations General Assembly. Yukio Amano, IAEA’s director general, reaffirmed Tuesday his agency’s recent reports that Iran “is not providing the necessary cooperation to his agency” to prove that all […]
Israel OKs New Jewish Settlements in Palestinian Territory
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 4:10 pm (UTC-5)
Israel’s prime minister has ordered the building of 2,000 new housing units in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, one day after UNESCO recognized the Palestinian Authority’s political status and granted it full membership. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday said the accelerated construction includes settlements he believes would remain in Israel following any future peace […]
World Stocks Plunge on Call for Greek Debt Plan Vote
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 3:05 pm (UTC-5)
World stock markets plummeted Tuesday on Greece’s call for a referendum on the European debt-relief agreement, while the continent’s leaders scrambled about how to react to the surprise development. Asian indexes fell sharply, and European stocks plunged. Markets in Paris and Frankfurt slid five percent, with U.S. indexes falling more than two percent in afternoon […]
Palestinians Preparing Membership Bids for More UN Agencies
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 2:00 pm (UTC-5)
Palestinian officials say they are preparing to apply for membership to 16 other United Nations organizations following their admission to the U.N. cultural agency on Monday. Members of the Palestinian U.N. delegation in Geneva said Tuesday UNESCO’s vote approving the Palestinians’ membership has “opened the door” to similar bids at other U.N. agencies based in […]
Kenya to Probe Civilian Deaths in Somalia
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 1:55 pm (UTC-5)
Kenya says it is investigating reports of civilian deaths stemming from the country’s military campaign in Somalia. The probe comes days after aid group Doctors Without Borders said five people were killed when Kenyan airstrikes hit a camp for internally displaced people in the southern Somali town of Jilib. Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said […]
UN Experts Demand End to Chinese Crackdown on Tibetan Monasteries
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 1:40 pm (UTC-5)
Human rights investigators appointed by the United Nations are calling on China to stop its ongoing crackdown on Tibetan Buddhists at monasteries in southwestern China. The crackdown, reported by scores of witnesses and Tibetan activists through much of 2011, has included the arrests or disappearances of hundreds of monks at the Kirti monastery and other […]
Karzai Rejects More Talks with ‘Suicide Bombers’
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 1:35 pm (UTC-5)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday rejected further talks with the Taliban, saying “we cannot keep talking to suicide bombers.” President Karzai told reporters in Turkey that his government would instead continue to talk with Pakistan about finding solutions to the insurgency-related violence. The Afghan leader’s comments followed a meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali […]
Kandahar Lawmakers to International Forces: Don’t Leave
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 1:20 pm (UTC-5)
Lawmakers from Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province are asking for international forces to stay put, at least for time being. Speaking Tuesday in Kabul and flanked by other members of the Afghan parliament representing Kandahar, Khalid Pashtun said Monday’s deadly attack in the province’s capital is proof NATO troops are still needed. The combined assault and […]
