Pakistan’s military has formally rejected the findings of a U.S. inquiry into last year’s NATO air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers along the Afghan border. The military said it does not agree with a U.S. claim that American forces acted in self-defense and with appropriate force after being fired upon. It said that trying […]
Pakistan Rejects US Probe Into Deadly Border Attack
Tensions High, Death Toll Rises in Northern Nigeria City
Tensions are high and security has been tightened in Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria, where police on Monday discovered 10 car bombs and hundreds of other unexploded devices as the death toll from Friday’s coordinated attacks continues to rise. Authorities now say at least 184 people, the vast majority of them civilians, died […]
Major US Banks Reach Deal on Deceptive Foreclosures
Five major U.S. banks and legal officials from all 50 states have reached a tentative $25 billion settlement in a case alleging that mortgage lenders engaged in deceptive practices when they took control of houses because homeowners could no longer afford to make loan payments. Millions of Americans have lost their homes to bank foreclosures […]
Gadhafi Supporters Attack Libyan Town, 4 Dead
Heavy fighting broke out Monday in the Libyan town of Bani Walid, as supporters of ousted leader Moammar Gadhafi attempted to capture the city, killing at least four fighters loyal to the country’s new government. Residents said both sides fought with rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank weapons. The clashes are said to have begun when Gadhafi […]
Italian, Mexican Writers Win Palme Prize
Italian journalist Roberto Saviano and Mexican journalist Lydia Cacho have won the 2011 Olof Palme Prize, an international award for promoting peace and combating discrimination. The Olof Palme Memorial Fund said Monday the two writers are co-winners of the prize for their efforts to expose criminal networks despite great personal risk. Saviano won for his […]
Reports: Chinese Police Open Fire on Tibetan Protesters
Witnesses and Tibetan advocacy groups say police in southwestern China opened fire on several thousand Tibetan demonstrators Monday, killing at least one person and wounding many others. An exiled monk who spoke by phone Monday with witnesses told VOA the confrontation took place in western Sichuan province . He said the wounded are being sheltered […]
Russia Hands Over Nuclear Submarine to India
Russia on Monday handed over a nuclear-powered submarine to India at a ceremony near the port of Vladivostok in the country’s Far East. The transfer ceremony was attended by Russian and Indian officials, but was closed to journalists. Moscow offered the Russian-built Nepra submarine to the Indian Navy on a 10-year lease at a cost […]
US: Republican Candidates Debating Again in Florida
The race for the Republican U.S. presidential nomination is now focused on Florida, a sprawling southern state set to host the 18th debate between the remaining candidates on Monday night. The two apparent leaders in the contest to pick a nominee to oppose President Barack Obama, a Democrat, in the national election in November are […]
EU Bans Iranian Oil, Freezes Central Bank Assets
The European Union has banned new purchases of Iranian oil and frozen the assets of Iran’s central bank as part of a Western campaign to pressure Tehran to suspend controversial parts of its nuclear program. EU foreign ministers agreed to the new sanctions Monday in Brussels. Their decision allows member nations with existing contracts for […]
France Votes on Genocide Bill, Turkey Warns More Sanctions
The French Senate has begun debating a bill that makes it illegal to deny as genocide the mass killings of Armenians during Turkey’s Ottoman era nearly a century ago — despite Turkey’s threat of more sanctions. French senators were to vote on the legislation late Monday. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters ahead of […]