Ghana’s President John Atta Mills has met with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House, during which Mr. Obama praised the “good news” emerging from Ghana. Mr. Obama told reporters after the meeting that President Mills has shown a commitment to expose corruption and increase transparency, making the democratically run country a “wonderful economic […]
Syrian Official Defects, Joins Opposition
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 7:50 pm (UTC-5)
Syria’s deputy oil minister resigned Thursday to join the anti-government revolt, and U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan urged diplomacy rather than militarization to end the ongoing crisis. In a video posted on YouTube, minister Abdo Husameddine addressed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad directly, accusing him of vast crimes over the past year as government forces continue […]
British, Italian Hostages Killed in Nigeria Rescue Bid
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 6:35 pm (UTC-5)
Two hostages held in Nigeria have been killed in a rescue attempt by British and Nigerian forces. British Prime Minister David Cameron and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan jointly announced the hostages were killed by their captors before they could be rescued. President Jonathan blamed the Boko Haram militant group for the kidnappings, and said that […]
World Powers Urge Iran Towards Nuclear Talks
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 3:00 pm (UTC-5)
A group of six world powers has called on Iran to enter talks on its controversial nuclear program and allow international inspectors access to a military base amid reports Tehran may be cleaning it of evidence related to nuclear arms experiments. The group, known as the P5+1, voiced “regret” Thursday about Iran’s escalating campaign to […]
Greece Nears Debt Write-Off Goal
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 2:05 pm (UTC-5)
Greece is nearing its goal of getting the country’s private lenders to eliminate $142 billion of the country’s debt to help it avoid a default on its financial obligations later this month. A government official told news agencies in Athens Thursday that banks, pension funds and financial institutions holding three-quarters of the country’s debt had […]
British, Italian Hostages Killed in Nigeria Rescue Bid
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 1:45 pm (UTC-5)
Two hostages held in Nigeria have been killed in a rescue attempt by British and Nigerian forces. The British and Italian governments said Thursday the two hostages were apparently killed by their captors. The two hostages, Italian national Franco Lamolinara and British national Christopher McManus, were kidnapped in northern Nigeria in May of last year. […]
Pakistan Charges Bin Laden’s Wives With Illegal Entry
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 1:25 pm (UTC-5)
Pakistani authorities have charged Osama bin Laden’s three widows with illegally entering and living in the country. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik announced Thursday the charges were filed against the women earlier this week. It is not clear when they will go on trial. In the meantime, Malik said authorities have confined the women to […]
Burmese Democracy Leader Warns of Potential Vote Fraud
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 1:20 pm (UTC-5)
Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is warning of possible fraud in next month’s parliamentary polls, saying that government voter lists for the by-elections appear to include “a lot of dead people.” The Nobel laureate, whose National League for Democracy party is seeking legislative seats in the April 1 elections, made her comments Thursday […]
Women Honored for Fighting for World ‘As They Know it Should Be’
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 12:10 pm (UTC-5)
Ten of the world’s leading women activists are being honored for their efforts to improve the lives of women despite obstacles and threats to their safety. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. first lady Michelle Obama presented the 2012 International Women of Courage Awards during a ceremony in Washington Thursday. Secretary Clinton said […]
US Jobless Benefit Claims Edge Higher
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 12:05 pm (UTC-5)
The number of unemployed Americans making their first claims for jobless benefits edged higher last week, but remained at a level suggesting the country’s labor market is strengthening. The U.S. Labor Department said Thursday that 362,000 unemployed workers sought compensation. But the four-week average remained at about 355,000 — close to a four-year low. Economists […]
