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Ethiopians Report Dire Conditions in Saudi Jails

Posted June 21st, 2012 at 1:25 pm (UTC-5)
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Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia say about 1,700 of their countrymen are being held in dire conditions at prisons in the Saudi city of Jazan. VOA’s Horn of Africa Service spoke by phone to four of the prisoners this week. The prisoners said they lack sufficient food, water and medical treatment, and that eight Ethiopian inmates […]

Tags: , , Posted in Africa

Euro Finance Chiefs Weighing Greek Debt Relief

Posted June 21st, 2012 at 1:15 pm (UTC-5)
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Eurozone finance chiefs are weighing whether to ease the terms of Greece’s latest bailout. Meeting in Luxembourg, finance ministers from Germany, the Netherlands and Finland are likely to balk at easing austerity measures Athens pledged to adopt earlier this year when it secured a $168-billion international rescue package. It was Greece’s second bailout in two […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in Economy

Norway Killer’s Prosecutors Ask for Insanity Ruling

Posted June 21st, 2012 at 12:45 pm (UTC-5)
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Norwegian prosecutors trying confessed killer Anders Behring Breivik say they want him to undergo compulsory psychiatric treatment instead of prison. But if the court decides that Breivik is guilty, prosecutors asked for the maximum penalty of 21 years in prison, a sentence that can be extended as long as Breivik is considered a danger to […]

Tags: , , Posted in Europe

Indonesian Court Sentences Bali Bomber to 20 Years

Posted June 21st, 2012 at 12:25 pm (UTC-5)
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An Indonesian militant accused of helping build a car bomb used in the deadly 2002 Bali nightclub attacks that killed 202 people has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Umar Patek, dubbed “Demolition Man” by Indonesian media, was charged with premeditated murder and several other counts, including bomb making and illegal firearms possession. An […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in East Asia Pacific

US Commerce Chief Resigns After Car Accidents

Posted June 21st, 2012 at 12:20 pm (UTC-5)
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The U.S. commerce secretary has resigned after he was involved recently in two car accidents that he blamed on a seizure. In a letter to President Barack Obama this week, John Bryson said he was concerned that his health condition “could be a distraction.” He said the commerce department, which promotes U.S. business interests throughout […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Economy

Violence in Syrian City Blocks Evacuation of Wounded

Posted June 21st, 2012 at 12:10 pm (UTC-5)
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Aid teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Red Crescent said Thursday that violence has forced them to halt attempts to evacuate wounded civilians from the western Syrian city of Homs. The ICRC had announced Wednesday it was ready to move trapped and wounded citizens from Homs. It said opposition […]

Tags: , , Posted in Middle East

Aung San Suu Kyi Addresses British Parliament

Posted June 21st, 2012 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
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Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi made a historic addresses to Britain’s parliament Thursday, following an earlier meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron. The Nobel laureate’s speech at the historic 11th century Westminster Hall came during her first trip to Britain since leaving the country 24 years ago to lead Burma’s pro-democracy movement. Aung […]

Tags: , , , , , , , Posted in East Asia Pacific

Boat Carrying Refugees Capsizes Near Australia’s Christmas Island

Posted June 21st, 2012 at 11:50 am (UTC-5)
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A boat carrying about 200 asylum seekers has capsized off the coast of Australia’s remote Christmas Island, and authorities say it is likely many of them have drowned. Officials from Australia’s Maritime Safety Authority say 110 people have been rescued. Western Australia state police commissioner Karl O’Callaghan said initial reports suggest at least 75 people […]

Violence in Syrian City Blocks Evacuation of Wounded

Posted June 21st, 2012 at 11:45 am (UTC-5)
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Aid teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Red Crescent said Thursday that violence has forced them to halt attempts to evacuate wounded civilians from the western Syrian city of Homs. The ICRC had announced Wednesday it was ready to move trapped and wounded citizens from Homs. It said opposition […]

Tags: , , Posted in Middle East

Aung San Suu Kyi Addresses British Parliament

Posted June 21st, 2012 at 11:40 am (UTC-5)
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Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi made a historic addresses to Britain’s parliament Thursday, following an earlier meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron. The Nobel laureate’s speech at the historic 11th century Westminster Hall came during her first trip to Britain since leaving the country 24 years ago to lead Burma’s pro-democracy movement. Aung […]

Tags: , , , , , , , Posted in East Asia Pacific