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 […]
Syrian Rights Group: More Arab League Observers to Leave Syria
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 10:15 am (UTC-5)
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British Spies Will Not Face Torture Charges
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
Agents working for Britain’s spy agencies will not face criminal charges in connection with their alleged complicity in the mistreatment of foreign detainees. Police and Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service say there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against the agents who were working for the spy agencies MI5 and MI6. However, they say further investigation […]
Nigeria Oil Union Threatens Strike in Fuel Subsidy Showdown
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
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 […]
US Jobless Benefit Claims Jumped Last Week
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. government says that the number of workers making new claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week, largely because companies laid off employees they had hired to work during the holiday shopping season. The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of jobless workers seeking first-time assistance increased by 24,000 to 399,000. That’s the […]
Suspected US Missile Strike Kills 4 in Pakistan
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 9:35 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 […]
Suicide Bombing Kills Afghan District Chief
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 9:30 am (UTC-5)
Authorities in southern Afghanistan say a suicide car bomber has killed at five people, including a local district chief. Provincial officials say the governor of Kandahar province’s Panjwayi district was traveling in his car with his two sons when the bomber rammed a vehicle full of explosives into them. All three were killed in Thursday’s […]
Taiwan President In Tough Re-Election Fight
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 9:05 am (UTC-5)
Taiwan incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou says he is the only candidate in Saturday’s election who can continue Taipei’s strong and beneficial relationship with mainland China. Speaking to foreign journalists in Taipei Thursday, President Ma emphasized his success in the reconciliation effort that has changed the nature of Taiwan’s cross-strait relationship with China. “Cross-strait relations is […]
India Marks Milestone in Fight Against Polio
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 9:05 am (UTC-5)
The World Health Organization says India on Friday will have gone one year without a reported case of polio for the first time in the country’s history. WHO official Sona Bari welcomed the milestone, but said Thursday it is only the start of a process. She said the next few weeks will be critical as […]
China’s Inflation Slows to 4.1 Percent
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
New economic figures released by the Chinese government indicate inflation rose in December at its slowest pace in 15 months, setting the stage for Beijing to further ease credit restrictions to support the slowing economy. The National Bureau of Statistics said Thursday the consumer price index rose 4.1 percent in December compared to a year […]
Japanese, S. Korean Nuclear Envoys Hold N. Korea Talks
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 8:30 am (UTC-5)
Japanese and South Korean nuclear envoys held talks Thursday in Seoul, to explore further initiatives aimed at persuading North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program. The meeting between Japanese negotiator Shinsuke Sugiyama and South Korean counterpart Lin Sung-nam comes just days before the duo travels to Washington for high-level nuclear consultations next week. Last […]
