Hundreds of journalists in Bangladesh are protesting an attack on their colleagues at one of the country’s leading online news outlets. A group of men wielding machetes broke into the offices of bdnews24.com in the capital late Monday — seriously wounding at least two people and slashing other staff members. A photograph of the scene […]
Journalists Protest Machete Attack in Bangladesh
Obama Controls Secret al-Qaida ‘Kill List’ – N.Y. Times
A published report in the United States says President Barack Obama personally oversees a top-secret process for placing al-Qaida suspects on a list of targets to be killed. The New York Times reported Tuesday that dozens of top U.S. officials and former advisers have confirmed the Obama administration maintains a “kill list” of al-Qaida suspects […]
Sudan, South Sudan Resume Peace Talks
Sudan and South Sudan have begun their first direct peace talks since cross-border clashes erupted last month. The African Union-led talks started in Addis Ababa on Tuesday. The two countries are locked in bitter disputes stemming from South Sudan’s independence last year, mostly involving borders and oil. Speaking to VOA Tuesday, South Sudan’s chief negotiator, […]
Aung San Suu Kyi Arrives in Bangkok on First International Trip in Over Two Decades
Burma’s long-time democracy icon and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has arrived in Thailand’s capital, marking her first international trip in 24 years and ending an era of isolation in her home country. The plane carrying the Nobel laureate touched down in Bangkok late Tuesday evening following a brief flight from Rangoon. Aung San […]
160 Girls Poisoned in Northern Afghanistan
Afghan officials say 160 students from a girl’s school suffered symptoms of poisoning and had to be rushed to a hospital Tuesday, in the second such incident in a week. Authorities in the northern province of Takhar have launched an investigation, saying blood samples from the affected girls and four teachers have been sent to […]
Kenyan Warships Shell on Al-Shabab Stronghold in Somalia
Kenya’s military says its warships have shelled the port of Kismayo in Somalia, the largest town still held by al-Shabab militants. Witnesses told VOA that two warships began firing at Kismayo overnight Tuesday. The attack continued after sunrise, with one shell hitting a house and wounding a child. Kenyan military spokesman Cyrus Oguna told VOA […]
Somali President Survives Ambush
Somalia President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has survived an assassination attempt by the militant group al-Shabab. Gunmen opened fire on the president’s convoy Tuesday in the Alamada area of southern Somalia. A VOA reporter traveling with the convoy says the president was unharmed, but a bodyguard was killed and seven other people were wounded. Somali […]
Powerful Earthquake in Italy Kills 15
A powerful earthquake in northern Italy has left at least 15 people dead, striking after another deadly quake hit the same region earlier this month. The U.S. Geological Survey says the 5.8 magnitude quake struck early Tuesday about 40 kilometers north-northwest of Bologna in the Emilia-Romagna region. The quake was felt across much of central […]
Annan Urges ‘Bold Steps’ on Syria, West Expels Envoys
With deaths mounting and the West expelling Syrian diplomats, international peace envoy Kofi Annan told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that the U.N.’s six-point peace plan “cannot succeed without bold steps to stop the violence.” According to a U.N. spokesman, Mr. Annan in Damascus conveyed to Mr. Assad the international community’s concern about the bloodshed, including […]
Philippines Senators Find Top Judge Guilty of Corruption
The Philippine senate has voted to fire the country’s top judge for failing to disclose millions of dollars in wealth in what is being seen as a boost for President Benigno Aquino’s anti-corruption campaign. Some 20 out of 23 judges found Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona guilty Tuesday of betraying public trust and violating […]