Malawi is set to bury late president Bingu wa Mutharika, who died of a heart attack earlier this month. Several African presidents are in Malawi for Monday’s funeral in Mr. Mutharika’s home district, including the leaders of Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Malawi’s information minister, Moses Kunkuyu, told VOA that the leaders of many political […]
Witnesses, Official Say Sudan Bombs South Sudan
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 3:55 am (UTC-5)
Witnesses and a South Sudanese official say Sudanese warplanes have carried out airstrikes on a border area of neighboring South Sudan, killing at least one person. The deputy head of South Sudan’s military intelligence called the bombings Monday near Bentiu a “serious escalation” and a “clear provocation.” Reporters who witnessed airstrikes said the attack killed […]
Burmese Democracy Party Skips Parliament Opening
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 3:35 am (UTC-5)
Burma’s parliament reopened Monday with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and 42 other members of her National League for Democracy party refusing to take their seats in a dispute over the oath of office. Party officials confirmed Sunday the NLD contingent will not take their seats until the oath is changed so that they […]
North Korea Threatens ‘Special Action’ Against South
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 3:00 am (UTC-5)
North Korea is threatening “special action” against the South that Pyongyang says will wipe out the government of President Lee Myung-bak in three or four minutes. Monday’s threat is just the latest in a series of vitriolic messages aimed at the South, but seems more serious and specific than previous warnings since Kim Jong Un […]
Florida Teenager’s Killer Released on Bail
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 2:15 am (UTC-5)
The neighborhood watch volunteer charged with the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin has been released from a Florida jail after posting bail. George Zimmerman left the facility around midnight Sunday, staring straight ahead as he walked past a group of photographers and into a waiting car. His destination is being kept secret as he […]
Afghanistan, US Finalize Strategic Partnership Agreement
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 2:05 am (UTC-5)
Afghanistan and the United States have finalized the initial draft of a strategic partnership agreement outlining their relationship following the 2014 withdrawal of Western combat troops from the country. No details were released about the content of the draft agreement, which will now be reviewed by the U.S. and Afghan presidents, the U.S. Congress and […]
Boy’s Soccer Ball Lost in Tsunami, Found in Alaska
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 1:30 am (UTC-5)
A 16-year-old Japanese boy will soon be reunited with his cherished soccer ball, which has been found on an island in Alaska after being washed across the Pacific by last year’s devastating tsunami. Misaki Murakami lost his home and all its contents when massive waves crushed his hometown of Rikuzentakata in Japan’s northeast. After a […]
French Socialist Outpolls President Sarkozy in First-Round Voting
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 1:30 am (UTC-5)
Socialist Francois Hollande has emerged as the front runner in France’s presidential election after edging incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy in Sunday’s first round. With counting nearly complete, Hollande had more than 28 percent of the vote and the conservative Mr. Sarkozy 27 percent. They will meet again in a runoff on May 6. Eight other candidates […]
Syria Fighting Kills 17; UN Monitors Expand Visits
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 1:00 am (UTC-5)
Attacks by Syrian government and rebel forces have killed at least 17 people across the country as a small U.N. team visited more towns to monitor a tenuous cease-fire that has failed to end 13 months of violent conflict. The Local Coordination Committees, a Syrian activist group, said Sunday’s deaths included six people in the […]
Afghanistan, US Finalize Strategic Partnership Agreement
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 12:20 am (UTC-5)
Afghanistan and the United States have finalized the initial draft of a strategic partnership agreement outlining their relationship following the 2014 withdrawal of Western combat troops from the country. No details were released about the content of the draft agreement, which will now be reviewed by the U.S. and Afghan presidents, the U.S. Congress and […]
