U.S. government programs that provide pensions and medical care to the elderly face a deficit, and might have to eventually reduce benefits unless Congress makes some changes. The programs cover tens of millions of Americans. Later Monday, government experts will publish a report on the financial status of the pension program, called Social Security, and […]
Eritrean Government Dismisses Reports that President is Ill
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 12:10 pm (UTC-5)
The government of Eritrea is denying opposition reports that President Isaias Afewerki is seriously ill. In an interview with VOA on Monday, Eritrean Information Minister Ali Abdu said the president is “healthier than ever.” One media report claimed President Afewerki was in Kuwait for medical treatment. The government spokesman said the Eritrean leader toured three […]
Chinese President Meets N. Korean Delegation, Vows to Advance Ties
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 12:10 pm (UTC-5)
Chinese President Hu Jintao vowed on Monday to bolster ties with North Korea, saying the two countries should work toward strengthening peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. Mr. Hu’s comments, quoted by the official Xinhua news agency, were directed at a visiting North Korean delegation. They come 10 days after a North Korean rocket […]
France’s Sarkozy Appeals to Far Right Following First-Round Defeat
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 12:05 pm (UTC-5)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is courting the country’s far-right voters, following his second-place finish in Sunday’s first-round presidential elections. Mr. Sarkozy received 27 percent of the vote, and was edged out by Socialist Francois Hollande with 28 percent. But far-right candidate Marine Le Pen finished a surprising third with more than 18 percent, the best […]
9 Killed in Syria as UN Monitors Check Cease-fire
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
Syrian activists say government forces killed at least nine people Monday in a flashpoint city, a day after international observers visited the region. Activists say Syria’s military opened fire on civilians in the city of Hama’s Arbaeen neighborhood. They say dozens of people were wounded by the assault. The latest deaths come as U.N. monitors […]
Dutch PM Resigns After Budget Talks Fail
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 11:30 am (UTC-5)
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has submitted his government’s resignation following a collapse in talks on reducing the country’s budget. Queen Beatrix was reported to have accepted the resignation, but asked all ministers to continue with matters of state for the time being. The resignation had been widely expected since Saturday, when Geert Wilders far-right […]
Malawi Buries Late President
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 11:30 am (UTC-5)
Malawians have buried late president Bingu wa Mutharika, who died of a heart attack earlier this month. Several African presidents attended the funeral Monday in Mr. Mutharika’s home district , including the presidents of Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Tanzania. New Malawian President Joyce Banda said she would try to build on her predecessor’s record of economic […]
Obama: Technology Must Not be Used to Abuse Rights
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 11:20 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama has issued an executive order that for the first time will allow U.S. authorities to impose sanctions on foreign entities who help authoritarian governments use modern technologies to commit human rights abuses. Mr. Obama made the announcement Monday at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, specifically naming the governments of Iran and […]
Sudan’s Bashir: No More Talks with South
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir says there will be no further talks with South Sudan, defying international calls to settle their differences through dialogue and avert a full-scale war. Mr. Bashir made the comments to soldiers Monday during a visit to the oil-producing area of Heglig, which the Sudanese army regained from southern forces on Friday. […]
Pakistan Inspects Planes Following Deadly Crash
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
Aviation authorities in Pakistan have begun inspecting private passenger planes following last week’s deadly crash outside Islamabad. The Bhoja Air Boeing 737 was en route from the southern port city of Karachi to the the capital when it went down Friday during a thunderstorm. All 127 people on board were killed. The cause of the […]
