The Norwegian right-wing militant who admitting to killing 77 people in attacks last July has pleaded not guilty in court to terror and murder charges, saying he was acting in self-defense. After rejecting the court’s authority, Anders Behring Breivik Monday admitted to setting off a car bomb in Oslo and committing a shooting massacre at […]
Norway Gunman Breivik Admits Massacre But Pleads Not Guilty
Posted April 16th, 2012 at 5:50 am (UTC-5)
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U.S. Ambassador Calls for Release of Chinese Activist
Posted April 16th, 2012 at 5:45 am (UTC-5)
Washington’s ambassador to China is calling for Beijing to release disabled human rights lawyer Ni Yulan and her husband, who were imprisoned last week on charges of causing a disturbance and committing fraud. A Beijing court sentenced the 51-year-old lawyer on Tuesday to two years and eight months in prison. Her husband, Dong Jiqin, was […]
Sierra Leone Ruling Party Dismisses Arms Intimidation Concerns
Posted April 16th, 2012 at 5:20 am (UTC-5)
The secretary-general of Sierra Leone’s ruling party has dismissed suggestions that a shipment of arms may be used to intimidate political opponents, and says President Ernest Bai Koroma is committed to holding fair elections in November. Victor Foe told VOA the arms are necessary to equip Sierra Leone’s growing police force, which has swelled from […]
China, Analysts Debate Importance of Kim Jong Un Speech
Posted April 16th, 2012 at 5:10 am (UTC-5)
China’s state media is urging the world to positively encourage change in North Korea, citing an unprecedented public speech by new leader Kim Jong Un as a sign that the reclusive Stalinist state is interested in engagement. The Communist Party-affiliated Global Times says in a commentary Monday that engagement, rather than resistance, may be more […]
East Timorese Vote in Presidential Runoff
Posted April 16th, 2012 at 4:05 am (UTC-5)
East Timor residents voted in a presidential runoff Monday, choosing between two former leaders of the nation’s independence war. The winner will replace outgoing president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta, who ran third in the first round of presidential balloting. The presidency is largely ceremonial, but the incumbent holds significant moral influence. The […]
Syrian Clashes Continue as UN Monitors Begin Mission
Posted April 16th, 2012 at 4:05 am (UTC-5)
An advance team of six United Nations observers will begin monitoring a shaky cease-fire in Syria, as activists said government troops continue to shell rebel neighborhoods in the opposition stronghold, Homs, and clashes persisted elsewhere. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Monday that security forces shot dead two people in the central city, […]
US, Philippines Launch Military Exercise Amid Tensions With China
Posted April 16th, 2012 at 3:20 am (UTC-5)
U.S. and Philippines forces on Monday opened 12 days of military exercises amid growing maritime tensions with China. Commanders from the two sides launched the drills with a formal ceremony in Manila, where the Philippine chief of staff, Jessie Dellosa, warned vaguely of the threat posed by “certain international issues.” “But in spite of the […]
Australia, Norway, Ease Burma Sanctions
Posted April 16th, 2012 at 2:40 am (UTC-5)
Australia announced Monday that it will lift some sanctions against Burma in response to government reforms of the past year. Speaking from London, Foreign Minister Bobb Carr told Australian radio that travel restrictions on President Thein Sein and more than 200 other officials will be lifted. However restrictions on travel and financial dealings will remain […]
West African Bloc to Mediate Guinea-Bissau Coup Crisis
Posted April 16th, 2012 at 1:40 am (UTC-5)
The West African regional bloc ECOWAS is sending a delegation to Guinea-Bissau Monday in a bid to help resolve the country’s political crisis. The international community has strongly condemned last week’s military coup and called for a return to civilian rule. ECOWAS external relations director Abdel-Fatau Musah told VOA that nobody is going to allow […]
UN Security Council Said Ready to Condemn Pyongyang Missile Launch
Posted April 16th, 2012 at 1:30 am (UTC-5)
U.N. diplomats say they expect to announce a Security Council statement Monday denouncing North Korea’s attempt to launch a long-range rocket last week. Unidentified diplomats are quoted as saying council members have reached agreement after three days of talks behind closed doors. They say the statement will be released Monday morning in New York unless […]
