U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has formally declared the end of the war in Iraq, at a ceremony at the airport in Baghdad. After the U.S. command’s flag was lowered and the “Last Post” was played Thursday, Panetta told troops that a lot of American and Iraqi blood was spilled, but that the mission of […]
US Formally Ends Military Mission in Iraq
Posted December 15th, 2011 at 9:00 pm (UTC-5)
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Russia Proposes UN Resolution on Syria
Posted December 15th, 2011 at 8:10 pm (UTC-5)
Russia has proposed a new United Nations resolution calling for an end to violence and loss of life in Syria, but refraining from a call for sanctions. Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, announced a draft resolution Thursday to the 15-member U.N. Security Council. “With regard to the need to stop violence, with […]
Stricken Russian Fishing Ship Sends Distress Call in Antarctic Waters
Posted December 15th, 2011 at 7:55 pm (UTC-5)
New Zealand authorities say it may take up to five days for rescue vessels to reach 32 crew members of a troubled Russian fishing ship that is taking on water near Antarctica and has sent out a distress call. The 55-meter ship, the Sparta, sent the call early Friday about 3,700 kilometers southeast of New […]
US Defense Bill Passes in Senate
Posted December 15th, 2011 at 7:30 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. lawmakers have approved a $662 billion defense bill that contains a provision that President Barack Obama has opposed regarding the handling and detainment of terrorist suspects. The Senate Thursday voted 86-13 in favor of the bill, which now will go to President Obama to be signed into law. The House of Representatives passed the […]
US Envoy Urges Afghans to Work On Reconciliation, Peacetime Economy
Posted December 15th, 2011 at 6:30 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman is urging Afghanistan to work on reconciliation and start preparing for a peacetime economy. Grossman told VOA that the international community is committed to continuing engagement and investment in Afghanistan, as stated in the final document at the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan earlier this month. But […]
US Justice Department Says Arizona Sheriff Violated Civil Rights Laws
Posted December 15th, 2011 at 5:35 pm (UTC-5)
The U.S. Justice Department says an Arizona sheriff and his deputies violated civil rights laws by engaging in racial profiling of Latinos and making unlawful arrests. In a report released Thursday, the Justice Department said the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office under Joseph Arpaio showed a pattern of unlawful stops, detentions and arrests of Latinos, punishing […]
Russia Pledges $10 Billion in Eurozone Aid
Posted December 15th, 2011 at 4:55 pm (UTC-5)
VIDEO: WEB: TYPE: CN )) Russia says it is ready to commit more than $10 billion to the International Monetary Fund to help support the struggling eurozone economy. President Dmitry Medvedev made the pledge Thursday in Brussels during the biannual EU-Russia summit. His economic adviser, Arkady Dvorkovich, earlier said $10 billion would be the minimum […]
Italy Calls For Parliamentary Vote of Confidence on Austerity Package
Posted December 15th, 2011 at 4:35 pm (UTC-5)
The Italian government has called for a parliamentary vote of confidence on an austerity package aimed at helping the European Union’s third largest economy survive its debt crisis and get its finances under control. The lower house of parliament is expected to vote on the $39-billion austerity package on Friday, with the upper house set […]
China Defends US Car Tariffs
Posted December 15th, 2011 at 4:35 pm (UTC-5)
China has defended its decision to increase tariffs on some U.S. car imports. Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming says the duties on imported automobiles are normal trade remedies and not a form of protectionism. He says if anyone begs to differ the best solution is to ask WTO experts to rule on it. Chen spoke […]
Obama Guarantees Wage Protection for US Home Care Workers
Posted December 15th, 2011 at 4:20 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama is guaranteeing minimum wage and overtime protection for the nearly two million in-home workers who help the elderly and infirm (weak in body). In a speech Thursday in Washington, President Obama said his administration will make sure in-home workers get paid fairly for a service that many older Americans cannot live […]
