Francois Hollande has been sworn in as the new president of France. Mr. Hollande assumed office Tuesday morning during a modest ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris. The new president was greeted at the Elysee hours before his swearing-in by outgoing president Nicolas Sarkozy, who Mr. Hollande defeated early last month. Mr. Hollande is […]
EU Naval Force Strikes Pirate Base on Somali Coast
Posted May 15th, 2012 at 5:15 am (UTC-5)
The European Union’s anti-piracy naval force has carried out its first air attacks against a pirate base on the Somali coast. EU NAVFOR said in a statement Tuesday that initial reports show no Somalis were injured in what was described as the “focused, precise and proportionate” attack against “known pirate supplies” on the Somali shoreline. […]
Fallout Begins from Big JPMorgan Chase Loss
Posted May 15th, 2012 at 4:20 am (UTC-5)
The chairman and chief executive officer of U.S.-based JPMorgan Chase investment company, is expected to face tough questions from investors Tuesday about the company’s $2 billion trading loss. Jamie Dimon will appear at the company’s annual meeting in Tampa, Florida, just days after he announced the massive loss. JPMorgan’s stock price has declined well over […]
Palestinians Mark Naqba Day
Posted May 15th, 2012 at 4:05 am (UTC-5)
Palestinians and Arab Israelis are commemorating “Nakba” day to mark the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians after the state of Israel was established in 1948. Palestinians observe “Nakba”, which means “catastrophe,” with demonstrations every year on May 15, the day after the anniversary of Israel’s creation. Israel uses the Hebrew calendar and therefore […]
North Korea Stops Jamming GPS Signals: Seoul
Posted May 15th, 2012 at 3:20 am (UTC-5)
South Korean officials say they are no longer detecting GPS jamming signals that affected hundreds of civilian flights into and out of the country over a two-week period. South Korea’s transport ministry confirmed to VOA that the signals, which originated from the North Korean border city of Kaesong, have not been noticed since late Sunday. […]
Francois Hollande Takes Office in France
Posted May 15th, 2012 at 3:10 am (UTC-5)
Francois Hollande will be sworn in Tuesday as France’s new president, then head to Berlin for his first meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the European sovereign debt crisis. Mr. Hollande will arrive in at the Elysee Palace in Paris for a brief meeting with outgoing president Nicolas Sarkozy. After the swearing-in, Mr. […]
Seoul: Burma to Comply with UN Resolutions on Pyongyang
Posted May 15th, 2012 at 2:10 am (UTC-5)
South Korean officials say Burma has agreed to comply with U.N. resolutions targeting North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. The move was announced Tuesday by a spokesperson for South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who is on a landmark two-day visit to Burma. The official also said that Burma has agreed to release a North Korean defector […]
New Crewmembers Blast Off for ISS
Posted May 15th, 2012 at 1:30 am (UTC-5)
Three new crewmembers are heading to the International Space Station after blasting off from the Russian spaceport in Kazakhstan Tuesday. Russian astronauts Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin, along with American Joseph Acaba were launched into orbit aboard a cramped Russian Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonour Cosmodrome under clear skies. They are scheduled to join Russian […]
Australia FM Defends U.S. Military Ties While on China Trip
Posted May 15th, 2012 at 1:25 am (UTC-5)
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr is defending his country’s deepening military alliance with the United States as he makes his first official visit to China. Carr said Tuesday that his talks with Chinese officials have been dominated by concerns about Australia’s decision to host up to 2,500 U.S. troops as part of the Obama administration’s […]
Beijing Cracks Down on Illegal Foreigners
Posted May 15th, 2012 at 12:15 am (UTC-5)
Immigration authorities in Beijing on Tuesday began a 100-day crackdown on foreigners who illegally work and live in the Chinese capital. Officials say the campaign targets foreigners who overstay their visas and work without authorization – an increasing problem for China and its developing economy. Police say they will conduct random checks in areas frequented […]
