U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern Wednesday for the well-being of three Tibetan activists who launched a hunger strike more than three weeks ago in front of U.N. headquarters in New York. Mr. Ban, in a statement released by a spokesman, said he “affirms the right of all people to peaceful protest.” However, he said […]
UN Chief Voices Concern for Tibetan Hunger Strikers
Posted March 14th, 2012 at 1:05 pm (UTC-5)
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Panetta: Civilian Shooting Deaths Will Not Undermine US-Afghan Relations
Posted March 14th, 2012 at 1:00 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says recent violence in Afghanistan — including a deadly shooting spree allegedly by a U.S. soldier — will not deter the United States from carrying out its mission in the country. Pentagon spokesman George Little said Wednesday Panetta met with Afghan provincial officials while touring Afghanistan. Little said Panetta told […]
Congolese Warlord Found Guilty in ICC’s First Verdict
Posted March 14th, 2012 at 12:35 pm (UTC-5)
The International Criminal Court has found Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga guilty of sending children into battle, in the court’s first verdict since it was established a decade ago. Presiding Judge Adrian Fulford said the court unanimously found the evidence, including video footage and witness testimony, proved that Lubanga and his co-perpetrators knowingly conscripted children 15 […]
Obama: US Making ‘ Very Real Progress’ in Afghanistan
Posted March 14th, 2012 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama says the United States is making “very real progress” in Afghanistan, despite new tensions following the shooting deaths of 16 Afghan civilians allegedly by a U.S. soldier. Mr. Obama spoke at a joint White House news conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron Wednesday. The president said the “tragic events” of […]
Serbia, Bosnia Embark on ‘New Era’
Posted March 14th, 2012 at 11:10 am (UTC-5)
Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are pushing ahead with closer ties and more cooperation, putting aside deep-seated anger and animosity that highlighted relations during the 1992-to-1995 Bosnian war. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told reporters “there are no more obstacles,” following a meeting Wednesday with Bosnian Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija in Belgrade. The two ministers promised a […]
EU Withdraws Sanctions Against Son of Burmese Tycoon
Posted March 14th, 2012 at 11:10 am (UTC-5)
The European Union’s highest court has ruled that economic and travel sanctions should be lifted against a prominent Burmese businessman with links to the country’s former military government. A ruling published Tuesday by the European Court of Justice says there is not sufficient evidence to link tycoon Pye Phyo Tay Za to the erosion of […]
3 Killed in Blast Outside Somali Presidential Palace, Al-Shabab Claims Attack
Posted March 14th, 2012 at 10:45 am (UTC-5)
The Somali government says a former government worker carried out the suicide attack outside the presidential palace in Mogadishu that killed the bomber and two others. Government spokesman Abdirahman Omar Osman told VOA Wednesday the attacker once worked at the presidential palace. Former colleagues say the bomber, identified as Omar Mohamed Dhiblawe, had worked as […]
Rights Report Details Torture of Detainees in Syria
Posted March 14th, 2012 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
As diplomatic efforts to end Syria’s crackdown continue, an international rights group says Syrians detained during the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad have been subjected to torture. Amnesty International says the treatment of detainees in Syria amounts to crimes against humanity. The group issued a report Wednesday based on interviews with 25 Syrians who said […]
Russia Considers Lending Base for NATO Afghan Operations
Posted March 14th, 2012 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
U.S. and NATO troops and military supplies could soon be making stopovers in Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed Wednesday the details of a draft proposal that would give the United States and other NATO members use of an air base in the city of the Ulyanovsk. NATO forces would be able to use […]
Obama Hosts British PM for Talks on Afghanistan, Mideast
Posted March 14th, 2012 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama is hosting his closest ally, British Prime Minister David Cameron, at the White House for talks on Afghanistan, Syria, and global economic matters. Mr. Obama hosted an elaborate arrival ceremony Wednesday morning for the official visit. He called the relationship between the United States and Britain “one of the greatest alliances […]
