A major oil union in Nigeria says it will go on strike beginning Sunday if the continent’s top oil-producing country does not restore a popular consumer fuel subsidy. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association said Thursday it would be forced to take “the bitter option” of shutting down oil and gas production if […]
Nigeria Oil Union Threatens Strike in Fuel Subsidy Showdown
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 11:55 am (UTC-5)
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Killing of Iranian Scientist Fuels Anger in Tehran
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 11:55 am (UTC-5)
The killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist this week has provoked a wave of anger in Tehran, which blames Israel and the United States for the attack. A hardline Iranian newspaper called on Thursday for retaliation against Israel, which Iranian authorities say orchestrated Wednesday’s bomb blast. An editorial in the Kayhan newspaper called for assassinations […]
Burma Signs Cease-Fire with Karen Rebel Group
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 11:50 am (UTC-5)
The Burmese government has signed a cease-fire with the ethnic Karen rebel group, in an apparent move toward ending one of the world’s longest-running insurgencies and meeting a key condition for improved ties with the West. The two sides signed the deal Thursday after a series of meetings in Pa-an, the capital of Karen state […]
US Defense Chief Condemns Alleged US Abuse of Taliban Corpses
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 11:45 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has condemned a video that appears to show U.S. Marines urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban fighters. Panetta said Thursday he has seen the video, calling it “utterly deplorable.” He vowed those responsible will be held fully accountable. The defense secretary also ordered the U.S. Marine Corps and the […]
More Arab League Observers Reportedly Leaving Syria
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 11:40 am (UTC-5)
A Syrian rights group says more Arab League observers are leaving the country to protest the Syrian government’s deadly crackdown on a 10-month opposition uprising. Mousab Azzawi of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told VOA 11 observers are expected to soon depart from Syria. He said the group of seven Iraqis, two Kuwaitis […]
European Central Bank Leaves Key Interest Rate Unchanged
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 11:35 am (UTC-5)
The European Central Bank left its key interest rate unchanged at a record-low 1 percent on Thursday, as signs emerged that the continent’s governmental debt crisis may have eased for the moment. The continent’s central bank had cut the benchmark borrowing rate by a quarter percentage point in each of the last two months in […]
Bosnian Parliament Votes in New PM
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 11:35 am (UTC-5)
The parliament of Bosnia-Herzegovina has voted in ethnic Croat economist Vjekoslav Bevanda as its new prime minister, some 15 months after the last general elections. Thursday’s move ends months of political wrangling among lawmakers from Bosnia’s three main communities — Muslims, Serbs and Croats. In a speech before the vote, Mr. Bevanda said his priorities […]
Suspected US Missile Strike Kills 4 in Pakistan
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 11:05 am (UTC-5)
Pakistani officials say a U.S. drone strike has killed four suspected militants in the country’s northwest near the Afghan border. Intelligence sources say the missiles hit a vehicle driven by rebels Thursday in the North Waziristan tribal region. This marks the second drone strike in the region this week. Late Tuesday, U.S. missiles killed four […]
Taliban Says Ready for Afghan Peace Talks
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
The Taliban says its political wing is ready to enter peace talks to end the war in Afghanistan, but that it will not give up its armed struggle against international forces. A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, said the insurgent group has stepped up its efforts to bring about peace in the troubled nation. But he […]
US Defense Chief Condemns US Video of Taliban
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has condemned a video that appears to show U.S. Marines urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban fighters. Panetta said Thursday the online video is “utterly deplorable.” The NATO security force in Afghanistan also condemned the actions depicted in the video by a small group of U.S. Marines who apparently […]
