The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday tightening sanctions against Belarusian officials for their bloody year-long crackdown on anti-government protesters. The bill expands the list of Belarusian officials subject to a visa ban and financial penalties. It demands freedom for all political prisoners. It also calls on the International Ice Hockey Federation to […]
US House Expands Sanctions Against Belarus
Posted December 20th, 2011 at 9:40 pm (UTC-5)
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Biden Urges Iraqi Leaders to Settle Differences While Iraqi VP Faces Terror Charges
Posted December 20th, 2011 at 8:50 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is urging Iraqi leaders to settle their political differences with the country’s Sunni Muslim vice president facing charges that he plotted to kill other government officials. The White House says Biden telephoned Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and the speaker of the Council of Representatives, Osama al-Nujaifi. It says Biden […]
India’s Cabinet Approves Controversial Anti-Graft Bill
Posted December 20th, 2011 at 8:40 pm (UTC-5)
India’s Cabinet has approved a landmark anti-corruption bill that was the focus of nationwide demonstrations earlier this year. The Cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday approved the bill, which would create a nine-member ombudsman office to investigate and prosecute senior politicians and civil servants suspected of graft. The bill will be introduced […]
Winter Storm Leaves 6 Dead in US
Posted December 20th, 2011 at 7:35 pm (UTC-5)
The U.S. National Weather Service says a massive winter storm blamed for at least six deaths has worked its way deeper into the central United States and made highways impassable in five states. The weather service said Tuesday that blizzard conditions caused hotels to fill up quickly along major roadways from eastern New Mexico to […]
Spanish Parliament Approves New Conservative Prime Minister
Posted December 20th, 2011 at 7:25 pm (UTC-5)
Spain’s parliament has voted to approve conservative Mariano Rajoy as the new prime minister, one month after his Popular Party ousted the Socialists in an election dominated by the economy. Mr. Rajoy will introduce his new government after King Juan Carlos swears him in on Wednesday. He says conditions in Spain will be difficult, but […]
Company, 3 South Koreans Indicted for Illegal Arms Exports to South Korea
Posted December 20th, 2011 at 7:10 pm (UTC-5)
A South Korean company and three South Korean nationals have been indicted in the United States for illegal defense technology exports to South Korea. The U.S. Deparment of Justice issued a statement Tuesday saying that a federal grand jury in Ohio has returned an indictment charging EO System Company and three South Koreans with knowingly […]
Clinton: North Korea Should Follow ‘Path of Peace’ Following Kim’s Death
Posted December 20th, 2011 at 6:25 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is urging North Korea’s new leadership to choose what she calls the “path of peace,” following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. Clinton on Monday said she hopes North Korea will be committed to “improving relations with its neighbors and respecting the rights of its people.” […]
Attacks Across Syria Kill Dozens
Posted December 20th, 2011 at 6:05 pm (UTC-5)
Syrian human rights activists say government troops killed at least 49 civilians and dozens of army defectors Tuesday in one of the bloodiest days since anti-government unrest began in March. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights tells VOA the army surrounded civilians in the Idlib province village of Kafruwed early Tuesday. The rights group says […]
DRC President Pledges Unity Following Disputed Election
Posted December 20th, 2011 at 6:05 pm (UTC-5)
Newly inaugurated Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has pledged to unify his country, even though opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi argues he is his country’s rightful leader. Mr. Kabila took the oath of office Tuesday in Kinshasa, following last month’s election that international observers say had many irregularities, during voting and counting. ”On November […]
British PM Visits Troops in Afghanistan
Posted December 20th, 2011 at 5:25 pm (UTC-5)
British Prime Minister David Cameron has vowed that his country will not extend its military involvement in Afghanistan after the 2014 deadline. Mr. Cameron made his comments Tuesday during a previously unannounced visit to greet British forces in southern Afghanistan. He spoke in Kandahar province after canceling plans to tour neighboring Helmand province because of […]
