Leaders of the 27 nations that make up the European Union will gather in Brussels Wednesday for a summit aimed at solving the bloc’s debt crisis. The bloc’s focus has shifted from austerity to pro-growth policies since the election of Socialist Francois Hollande as president of France and the political stalemate in Greece, where voters […]
EU Leaders to Focus on Economic Growth at Brussels Summit
Posted May 23rd, 2012 at 8:30 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment
Pakistani Doctor Jailed for Helping CIA in Bin Laden Hunt
Posted May 23rd, 2012 at 8:20 am (UTC-5)
Government officials say the Pakistani doctor who helped the United States track down Osama bin Laden has been sentenced to 33 years in prison for treason. Shakeel Afridi was accused of running a fake vaccination campaign to help the CIA obtain DNA samples of the al-Qaida leader and members of his family to confirm his […]
US Envoy Warns North Korea Against Nuclear Test
Posted May 23rd, 2012 at 7:40 am (UTC-5)
A senior U.S. diplomat is urging North Korea not to go ahead with a nuclear test, warning that such a move would be “highly provocative.” Glyn Davies, the U.S. special envoy for North Korea, spoke Wednesday after meeting with Chinese officials in Beijing, where he discussed a range of issues, including Pyongyang’s nuclear program. “I […]
Polls Open for Egypt’s Historic Presidential Election
Posted May 23rd, 2012 at 7:35 am (UTC-5)
Millions of Egyptians stood in long lines Wednesday to cast ballots in the first presidential election since President Hosni Mubarak resigned last year amid massive protests. The buildup to the contentious election has largely pitted candidates representing the old guard tied to Mr. Mubarak against Islamists trying to form new coalitions. In all, 13 candidates […]
Gunmen Kidnap 5 Aid Workers in Afghanistan
Posted May 23rd, 2012 at 7:00 am (UTC-5)
Officials in northeastern Afghanistan say unidentified gunmen have kidnapped five aid workers, including two foreigners. A spokesman for the governor of Badakhshan province said Wednesday the kidnapping happened a day earlier as the group was traveling on horseback in the Yaftal area. The identities of the aid workers and their organization were not immediately identified. […]
Polls Open for Egypt’s Historic Presidential Election
Posted May 23rd, 2012 at 6:55 am (UTC-5)
Millions of Egyptians stood in long lines Wednesday to cast ballots in the first presidential election after President Hosni Mubarak’s resigned last year amid massive protests. The buildup to the contentious election has largely pitted candidates representing the old guard tied to Mr. Mubarak against Islamists trying to form new coalitions. In all, 12 candidates […]
Talks Between World Powers and Iran Underway in Baghdad
Posted May 23rd, 2012 at 6:50 am (UTC-5)
Talks between world powers and Iran have started in Baghdad in an effort to negotiate an agreement over disputes involving Iran’s controversial nuclear program. Wednesday’s meeting brings together Iran’s nuclear negotiator with representatives of the so-called P5+1: Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States plus Germany. At issue is Iran’s production of highly-enriched uranium that […]
Activists: Intense Shelling, 6 Deaths in Syria
Posted May 23rd, 2012 at 6:00 am (UTC-5)
Activists say Syrian forces pounded targets in the opposition stronghold of Rastan, and at least six people have died in anti-government related unrest elsewhere in the country. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights tells VOA intense government shelling took place early Wednesday in Rastan. The British-based group also says an explosion near Damascus left three […]
Philippines Accuses China of Sending More Boats to Disputed Island
Posted May 23rd, 2012 at 4:30 am (UTC-5)
The Philippines is accusing China of sending more government ships and fishing boats to a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, in a move Manila says is escalating a two-month long standoff. Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesperson Raul Hernandez said Wednesday there are nearly 100 Chinese vessels at the Scarborough Shoal. He said some were […]
Drone Strike Kills 4 Suspected Militants in NW Pakistan
Posted May 23rd, 2012 at 4:25 am (UTC-5)
Pakistani intelligence officials say a U.S. drone strike has killed four suspected militants in northwest Pakistan. The officials say two missiles hit a compound Wednesday near Miranshah, in the tribal belt near the Afghan border. Pakistani lawmakers have called for an end to U.S. drone strikes on Pakistani soil, but the United States says the […]
