U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says the “stepped-up security crackdown” by the Syrian government is leading to “massive violations of human rights” by both sides of the conflict. In a report to the U.N. Security Council Friday, Mr. Ban said the presence of unarmed U.N. observers is “having a calming effect” but the overall level […]
Ban Decries ‘Massive’ Violation of Rights in Syria
Private Spacecraft Docks with ISS
A privately-owned spacecraft has for the first time reached the International Space Station. The Dragon capsule, created by the U.S. corporation SpaceX, docked Friday at the space station, where astronauts there were able to receive it. The astronauts used the station’s robotic arm to grab the capsule and are scheduled to open it on Saturday. […]
50 Syrians Killed in Anti-Assad Clashes
More than 50 people, including 13 children, have been killed in the town of Houla in Homs province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The killings came as Friday prayers ended in Syria, and protesters spilled on to streets in major cities including Damascus and Aleppo, calling for the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad. […]
VOA Reporter Detained in Ethiopia
A Voice of America reporter has been detained in the Ethiopian capital while trying to cover a demonstration Friday. Witnesses to the arrest told VOA that reporter Peter Heinlein and his translator Simegineh Yekoye were detained while seeking to interview protesters during a Muslim demonstration following Friday prayers in Addis Ababa. Another Western reporter said […]
Rights Activists Detained Ahead of Eurovision Finals in Azerbaijan
Police in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, have arrested dozens of anti-government protesters who took to the streets ahead of a European song contest to draw attention to the human rights situation in the country. Up to 30 people were reportedly picked up by police Friday as the former Soviet republic prepared for the finals of the […]
VOA Reporter Detained in Ethiopia
A Voice of America reporter has been detained in the Ethiopian capital while trying to cover a demonstration Friday. Witnesses to the arrest told VOA that reporter Peter Heinlein and his translator Simeginesh Mekoya were detained while seeking to interview protesters during a Muslim demonstration following Friday prayers in Addis Ababa. Another Western reporter said […]
Islamist Candidate Likely to Face Former PM in Egypt Runoff
(New headline, new information throughout )) Egypt’s presidential race appeared headed on Friday to a decisive and polarizing runoff between the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate and another with strong ties to former President Hosni Mubarak’s regime. Preliminary counts from Egypt’s first free presidential race show the Brotherhood’s Mohammed Morsi in the lead and former prime […]
US Condemns Mali Violence
The United States has strongly condemned this week’s violence in Mali and called on coup leader Amadou Sanogo and his allies to stand aside and allow for the restoration of civilian rule. A State Department spokeswoman said Friday that the U.S. calls on Mali’s soldiers to return to their roles as defenders of the constitution. […]
Private Spacecraft Docks with ISS
The commercial SpaceX Dragon spacecraft made history Friday, becoming the first privately-owned vehicle to reach the International Space Station. Astronauts aboard the ISS used the station’s robotic arm to grab and dock the capsule. Station crew members will open it on Saturday. This is the first time a private company has launched a spacecraft to […]
Greek PM Says European Creditors Expect Austerity Compliance
Greece’s caretaker prime minister says the country’s European neighbors want it to stay in the euro currency zone, but that Athens must also adhere to the austerity spending plan it agreed to in exchange for billions of dollars in new rescue funds. Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos met with other European heads of state earlier this […]