The former head of the United Nations will meet Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad in an attempt to end the ongoing violence in the Middle Eastern country. The U.N. said Friday that former secretary-general Kofi Annan will meet the Syrian leader during a stop in Damascus Saturday. Mr. Annan is going to the meeting as the […]
US Businesses Sharply Boosting Employment
Posted March 9th, 2012 at 1:55 pm (UTC-5)
Businesses in the United States boosted payrolls more than forecast in February, while the jobless rate remained unchanged from January’s 8.3 percent. In its closely watched monthly report, the U.S. Labor Department said Friday that employers hired 227,000 new workers last month. In addition, the report revised upward the number of people hired in January […]
ICC Dismisses Kenyans’ Bid to Have Charges Dropped
Posted March 9th, 2012 at 1:00 pm (UTC-5)
The International Criminal Court has rejected an appeal by four prominent Kenyans to have charges against them dropped. The decision means Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, lawmaker William Ruto, former civil service chief Francis Muthaura and radio executive Joshua arap Sang will be tried on charges of crimes against humanity. The four are accused of […]
UN: Syria Stalling on Humanitarian Aid
Posted March 9th, 2012 at 12:45 pm (UTC-5)
The United Nations says Syria is refusing “unhindered” access for humanitarian aid. U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said Friday that Syrian officials “asked for more time” to consider a deal that would allow the U.N. to help the victims of the ongoing government crackdown on dissent. Amos told reporters in Ankara that Syrian officials agreed […]
Greeks Strike Deal to End Financial Crisis
Posted March 9th, 2012 at 12:10 pm (UTC-5)
VIDEO: WEB: TYPE: CN )) Greece says the majority of the country’s private lenders, including financial institutions, have agreed to a bond swap deal to help it eliminate a $142-billion debt and avoid a default on its financial obligations later this month. Greece intends to use legislation to force the remaining holdouts to sign on […]
US, Afghanistan Strike Deal on Prison Handover
Posted March 9th, 2012 at 12:10 pm (UTC-5)
The United States has agreed to hand over control of the main U.S. military detention center in Afghanistan to Afghan authorities, paving the way for a strategic deal to be signed between both countries. Afghan Defense Minister General Abdul Rahim Wardak and top American military commander General John Allen signed a memorandum of understanding Friday, […]
3 Groups Receive First Ever US Innovation Award for Women’s Empowerment
Posted March 9th, 2012 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has presented awards of half-a-million dollars each to three organizations working to empower women and girls in India, Kenya and Tanzania. The three groups — Chintan, Samasource and KickStart — are the first ever recipients of the Secretary’s Innovation Award for the Empowerment of Women and Girls. The award […]
US Businesses Sharply Boosting Employment
Posted March 9th, 2012 at 11:45 am (UTC-5)
Businesses in the United States boosted payrolls more than forecast in February, while the jobless rate remained unchanged from January’s 8.3 percent. In its closely watched monthly report, the U.S. Labor Department said Friday that employers hired 227,000 new workers last month. In addition, the report revised upward the number of people hired in January […]
Pakistan Names New Spy Chief
Posted March 9th, 2012 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
Pakistan has appointed a new head of its powerful military spy agency. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday named Lieutenant-General Zaheer-ul-Islam as the new director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency, or ISI. Islam replaces Lieutenant-General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, who is retiring as chief of the ISI. Pasha was appointed to the post in 2008. […]
Netanyahu: No Israeli Strike on Iran in ‘Days or Weeks’
Posted March 9th, 2012 at 10:15 am (UTC-5)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will give international sanctions against Iran a chance to work, and is not planning an attack on its nuclear facilities in the coming “days or weeks.” Speaking to Israeli television on Thursday, Mr. Netanyahu said he prefers a peaceful solution of the dispute with Iran, but insisted that […]
