U.S. officials say they will no longer fund a $20 million initiative in Pakistan to develop a local version of the popular American television series Sesame Street. The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad would not elaborate on the decision to VOA, but Tuesday’s announcement to cancel funding for the educational children’s show comes after allegations of […]
US Ends Funding for Pakistan’s ‘Sesame Street’
Posted June 5th, 2012 at 1:40 pm (UTC-5)
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Japan Finance Chief: Europe Pledges ‘Speedy’ Debt Action
Posted June 5th, 2012 at 1:35 pm (UTC-5)
Japan’s finance chief says his European counterparts have pledged to take quick action to quell the deepening debt crisis in the 17-nation euro currency union. Financial officials from the Group of Seven world-leading economies conferred in a special conference call Tuesday about the plight of debt-ridden eurozone nations. Afterwards, Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi told […]
Libya’s Main Airport Reopens After Militia Raid
Posted June 5th, 2012 at 1:25 pm (UTC-5)
Libya’s main airport in Tripoli reopened Tuesday with the departure of an Austrian airliner, following a seizure of the facility by disgruntled militiamen. The Libyan government said it retook control of the airport late Monday, hours after militiamen from a central region stormed the runway to protest the disappearance of their leader. Pro-government militias initially […]
Ukraine’s Parliament Backs Language Bill Amid Protests
Posted June 5th, 2012 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
Thousands of demonstrators massed in Ukraine’s capital Tuesday, as parliament backed a controversial bill that would make Russian the country’s second language. An estimated 6,000 people gathered outside the parliament building in Kyev. The crowd was divided in half between those for and against the draft law. A VOA reporter on the scene, Ruslan Deynychenko, […]
US Drone Strike in Pakistan Targets Al-Qaida No. 2
Posted June 5th, 2012 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. officials say a drone strike in northwestern Pakistan targeted al-Qaida’s second in command, but they do not know if the militant leader was killed. The officials, speaking to U.S. media on condition of anonymity, said if confirmed, Abu Yahya al-Libi’s death would be a major blow to the terror group. Pakistani officials said missiles […]
New Syria Clashes, Government Expels Envoys
Posted June 5th, 2012 at 12:40 pm (UTC-5)
Fierce clashes between government troops and opposition forces in Syria’s western Latakia province are further dimming hopes that diplomats can salvage a cease-fire and end the bloodshed. The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the latest battles broke out Tuesday in the city of Haffeh and surrounding villages, where rebel forces had taken over […]
Avoiding Unsafe Airlines
Posted June 5th, 2012 at 12:40 pm (UTC-5)
The recent crash of an airliner in Nigeria heightened concern about passenger safety in Nigeria and some other developing nations. The head of the Flight Safety Foundation, Bill Voss, says Africa has a higher accident rate than other regions. The continent has just three percent of all airline traffic but a far larger share of […]
VOA Inks Deal with Burma on English-Language Programming
Posted June 5th, 2012 at 12:20 pm (UTC-5)
VOA director David Ensor has signed a deal with Burma under which Burmese state radio plans to start broadcasting short, VOA-produced English-language teaching programs. Ensor announced the groundbreaking agreement Tuesday from Burma’s administrative capital, Naypyitaw, where he is holding a series of meetings with senior members of the new, nominally civilian government. “(Burmese authorities) also […]
Nigerian Airliner Grounded Following Crash
Posted June 5th, 2012 at 12:10 pm (UTC-5)
The deadly crash of a Nigerian passenger plane is renewing concerns about aviation safety in the country and the rest of West Africa. Authorities say at least 157 people, including four on the ground, were killed when the Dana Airlines flight plowed into a Lagos residential neighborhood on Sunday. William Voss, the head of the […]
Cheering Crowds Celebrate Finale of Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee
Posted June 5th, 2012 at 11:55 am (UTC-5)
Cheering crowds lined the avenue towards Buckingham Palace for the grand finale to four days of celebrations across Britain and the Commonwealth marking Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. The 86-year-old monarch and her family waved to thousands of flag-waving Londoners from the palace balcony Tuesday, as Royal Air Force aircraft conducted a fly-past overhead. Prince Philip, […]
