U.S. President Barack Obama has congratulated former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney on clinching the Republican presidential nomination. An Obama campaign spokesman said the president, a Democrat, and his challenger chatted briefly, the morning after Mr. Romney secured the nomination with a victory in Tuesday’s Republican primary election in Texas. Mr. Romney won about 88 of […]
Obama Congratulates Romney on Clinching Republican Nomination
Pakistani Doctor Jailed for Militant Ties, Not Helping CIA
The Pakistani doctor who helped the United States track down Osama bin Laden was jailed last week not for working with the CIA, but for ties to militants. A tribal court last week convicted Shakil Afridi to 33 years in prison. Afridi was accused of running a fake vaccination campaign to help the CIA obtain […]
UN Food Agency: Hunger, Malnutrition Must be Eliminated
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says sustainable development cannot be realized unless hunger and malnutrition are eliminated. In a report released Wednesday, FAO chief Jose Graziano da Silva said development cannot be called sustainable while nearly one out of every seven people in the world suffers from malnourishment. He called for increasing agricultural […]
Obama Reauthorizes Ex-Im Bank, Calls for More Action From Congress
U.S. President Barack Obama has praised Congress for passing legislation reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank, and called on lawmakers to take action on a number of other domestic priorities. In Washington Wednesday, Mr. Obama signed the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, saying American businesses and workers benefit from the bank. “By reauthorizing support for the Export-Import […]
A Look at the US Export-Import Bank
The Export-Import Bank of the United States provides loans and credit to help American companies sell goods and services overseas. The bank was established in 1934 during the Great Depression as a way to increase trade and boost the economy. Initially, it was designed to finance exports to the Soviet Union, and eventually expanded to […]
British Court Upholds Extradition of WikiLeaks Founder
Britain’s Supreme Court has ruled that Julian Assange, the Australian founder of the controversial website WikiLeaks, can be extradited from Britain to Sweden to face charges of sex crimes. Wednesday’s 5-2 decision by the high court upholds earlier decisions made by two lower courts to extradite the 40-year-old Assange, who is wanted in Sweden on […]
Mother of 3 Dies After Self-Immolating in Southwestern China
Exile groups say a mother of three young children in a largely Tibetan area of southwestern China has died after setting herself on fire, in an apparent protest against Chinese rule. The protester, identified as a 33-year-old named Rikyo, died Wednesday in front of the Jonang Dzamthang monastery in a prefecture known by Tibetans as […]
Europe Calls for Banking Union as Spain Struggles
The European Commission is calling for direct assistance for troubled banks in the euro currency bloc as Spain struggles to finance the takeover of one of its largest banks. The commission — the executive arm of the European Union — said Wednesday the 17-nation eurozone should consider creating a “banking union” that would share the […]
Sierra Leone: Taylor Sentencing Is ‘Justice Done’
The government of Sierra Leone says “justice has been done” with the sentencing of former Liberian president Charles Taylor. Government spokesman Sheka Tarawalie said Wednesday that Taylor’s 50-year prison sentence for war crimes and crimes against humanity was welcome news for victims who may now find some relief. Some Sierra Leonians expressed disappointment with the […]
Annan Leaves Syria Without Breakthrough
A U.N. official says international envoy Kofi Annan left Syria without securing any major steps from the Syrian government to implement his faltering peace plan for the country. Mr. Annan discussed the Syrian crisis with Jordanian officials in Amman, Jordan, after flying out of Damascus Wednesday. While in Syria, the U.N.-Arab League envoy made a […]