United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon arrived in Lebanon on Friday for talks on a U.N.-backed tribunal probing the death of the country’s former leader and the ongoing bloodshed in neighboring Syria. The U.N. secretary-general is also expected to discuss attacks against U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon and the weapons stockpile of militant group Hezbollah. Mr. […]
U.N. Chief Arrives in Lebanon To Talk Syria and Hezbollah
Posted January 13th, 2012 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
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Turkey Detains 32 in Crackdown on Suspected Kurdish Rebel Supporters
Posted January 13th, 2012 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
Turkish police have detained at least 32 people in a nationwide crackdown on suspected supporters of a Kurdish rebel group that is fighting for autonomy in the country’s largely Kurdish southeast. The operation is part of an investigation into alleged ties between Kurdish activists and separatist militants. It targeted the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party […]
Obama Calls for Merging Trade, Commerce Agencies
Posted January 13th, 2012 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama is set to ask Congress to allow him to merge the country’s sprawling foreign trade and commerce agencies to speed the government’s transactions with businesses and consumers. A senior government official told news agencies Friday that Mr. Obama would lay out his plans in a White House speech. The official said […]
Prominent Dissidents Freed from Burmese Jails in Wide-Ranging Amnesty
Posted January 13th, 2012 at 10:50 am (UTC-5)
Hundreds of Burmese political prisoners walked free Friday, part of a mass amnesty that could signal more political reforms are on the way. Officials and democratic activists said the 651 prisoners had been locked away under the rule of the country’s military junta. But Burma’s new military-backed government has been reaching out to the West […]
UN Aid Coordinator Says Somalia Still in Crisis
Posted January 13th, 2012 at 10:35 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Somalia says international aid has helped improve conditions in the drought-stricken Horn of Africa, but says the region still faces a crisis situation. Mark Bowden spoke to VOA in Washington Friday. He said distribution of seed in the Horn has gone well, so farmers can take advantage of recent rains. […]
Thousands Rally in Syria as Arab League Chief Warns of Civil War
Posted January 13th, 2012 at 10:30 am (UTC-5)
The chief of the Arab League warned Friday that Syria may be heading towards a civil war as thousands of Syrians took to the streets in support of an armed rebel group. Arab League head Nabil Elaraby made the comments in interviews with The Associated Press and an Egyptian television station while anti-government protesters voiced […]
Pakistan PM Looks to Bolster Democracy Amid Tensions
Posted January 13th, 2012 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
Pakistan’s prime minister has told lawmakers they must choose between democracy or a dictatorship, amid growing tensions between the country’s civilian government and the military. Yousuf Raza Gilani addressed the National Assembly Friday. He told lawmakers democracy must survive, regardless of the outcome of an investigation concerning a controversial unsigned memo that sought U.S. help […]
57 Killed in Tribal Clashes in South Sudan
Posted January 13th, 2012 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
Officials in South Sudan say 57 people have been killed in renewed fighting between two rival tribes. The officials said Friday the clashes broke out Wednesday when armed members of the Murle tribe attacked villages of the Lou Nuer tribe in Jonglei state. About 6,000 men from the Lou Nuer attacked the town of Pibor […]
US Trade Gap Widened in November
Posted January 13th, 2012 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. says its trade deficit, a perennial problem for the world’s largest economy, widened in November for the first time in five months. The Commerce Department said Friday the trade gap jumped more than 10 percent to nearly $48 billion, with imports rising to an all-time high of nearly $226 billion. The record import […]
US Trace Marines in Urination Video to Camp LeJeune
Posted January 13th, 2012 at 9:25 am (UTC-5)
U.S. investigators believe they have identified and questioned at least two of the four Marines seen on video urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban fighters. Senior Marine officials with knowledge of the investigation say the four were members of a 1,000-man battalion from Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. The battalion recently completed a combat tour […]
