Yemeni officials say government troops have recaptured the last major al-Qaida stronghold in southern Abyan province. It is the third militant bastion to fall in a week during an all-out U.S.-backed offensive. Friday’s rout of Islamist fighters from the port town of Shaqra comes just days after Yemeni forces regained control of Abyan’s provincial capital, […]
Yemeni Army Retakes Last al-Qaida Bastion in South
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
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International Criminal Court Swears in New Prosecutor
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 10:50 am (UTC-5)
Gambian lawyer Fatou Bensouda has been sworn in as the new chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. The 51-year-old Bensouda took the oath of office Friday at a ceremony in The Hague, six months after ICC member states selected her as prosecutor. “I, Fatou Bensouda, solemnly undertake that I will perform my duties and […]
Tensions Simmer in Anxious Egypt; Presidential Runoff Election to Proceed
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 10:40 am (UTC-5)
Tensions are high in Cairo where protesters are gathering one day after a court ruling cast doubts over the future of Egypt’s popular revolt. Demonstrators began massing in the city’s Tahrir Square late Friday, expressing outrage over the decision by Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court to dissolve the Islamist-led parliament and allow Hosni Mubarak’s former prime […]
US Defense Secretary Pays Tribute to Gays in Military
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 10:35 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has released a video message honoring gay and lesbian service members, as the Pentagon marks gay pride month for the first time. Nine months ago the U.S. military formally ended its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that allowed gays to serve only if they did not reveal their sexual orientation. […]
India’s Ruling Coalition Nominates Finance Minister for President
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 10:30 am (UTC-5)
India’s ruling coalition has nominated the country’s finance minister to serve as the next president. The coalition, led by the Congress Party, on Friday chose Pranab Mukherjee as its candidate. The election will be next month, if opposition parties have a candidate to run against him. In India, the president’s post is largely ceremonial and […]
Financial, Political Uncertainty Grips Europe
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
Financial and political uncertainty is gripping Europe, with new evidence of its economic slump and contentious parliamentary elections Sunday in Greece centered on its fate in the euro currency bloc. The chief of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, warned Friday that the 17-nation eurozone faces “serious downside risks,” mostly because of “heightened uncertainty.” He […]
Tibetan Man Self-Immolates in Protest of Chinese Rule
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
A Tibetan nomad has died after setting himself on fire in a remote region of northwestern China in protest of Chinese rule. The Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy says the man self-immolated Friday in front of a Chinese military compound in Qinghai province. A friend of the man who set himself on fire […]
International Criminal Court Swears in New Prosecutor
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 8:30 am (UTC-5)
Gambian lawyer Fatou Bensouda has been sworn in as the new chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. The 51-year-old Bensouda took the oath of office Friday at a ceremony in The Hague. Bensouda is the first woman and the first African to be chief prosecutor at the ICC, which some observers have criticized for […]
US Refuses to Discuss African Surveillance Report
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 7:15 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. military has confirmed it runs “broad ranging” intelligence operations in Africa, though it stopped short of verifying a report that it has set up small air bases across the continent to keep watch on terrorist groups. A statement issued Friday said the U.S. military “routinely” works with African partner nations to “counter” those […]
Syrian Forces Sexually Assaulting Detainees: Report
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 6:15 am (UTC-5)
Human Rights Watch says Syrian government forces are using sexual violence to torture men, women, and boys detained during the country’s 15-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. The New York-based rights group Friday released a statement saying soldiers and pro-government armed militias are also sexually abusing women as well as girls as young as 12 […]
