Two South Africans kidnapped 20 months ago by pirates off the Somali coast have been freed. Somali Defense Minister Hussein Arab Isse told reporters Thursday the pair were rescued by security forces during an early morning raid. However, a security source told VOA that a ransom was paid to win their release. The couple, Deborah […]
South Africans Freed From Somali Pirate Captivity
Posted June 21st, 2012 at 11:30 am (UTC-5)
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Euro Finance Chiefs Weighing Greek Debt Relief
Posted June 21st, 2012 at 11:10 am (UTC-5)
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 EU rescue package. It was Greece’s second bailout in two […]
US Puts 3 Boko Haram Members on Terrorist List
Posted June 21st, 2012 at 11:05 am (UTC-5)
The United States has placed three members of the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram on its list of designated terrorists. The U.S. State Department announced Thursday it was adding Abubakar Shekau, Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid al-Barnawi to the terrorist list. A statement described Shekau as the “most visible leader” of Boko Haram. It said […]
Pakistan’s PM Nominee Faces Arrest
Posted June 21st, 2012 at 10:25 am (UTC-5)
One of the people poised to become Pakistan’s next prime minister now faces an arrest warrant in connection to a scandal dating from his time as the country’s health minister. Shortly after Makhdoom Shahabuddin filed his nomination papers Thursday to replace ousted Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, an anti-narcotics judge ordered his arrest in connection […]
Euro Finance Chiefs Weighing Greek Debt Relief
Posted June 21st, 2012 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
Finance chiefs from Europe’s currency bloc are in Luxembourg to start weighing whether to ease the terms of Greece’s latest bailout. Some European officials have acknowledged debt-ridden Greece will need more leeway to advance its economy, now in the fifth year of a recession, and achieve a budget surplus. But finance ministers from Germany, the […]
Syrian Fighter Pilot Defects in Jordan
Posted June 21st, 2012 at 8:30 am (UTC-5)
Jordan’s information ministry says a Syrian fighter pilot has landed at a military base in Jordan and asked for political asylum, in a high-profile defection from the armed forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syrian state media reported earlier Thursday that the military had lost contact Colonel Hassan al-Hamade while he was flying a Russian-made […]
Boat Carrying Refugees Capsizes Near Australia’s Christmas Island
Posted June 21st, 2012 at 7:25 am (UTC-5)
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. The vessel sank about 220 kilometers north of Christmas Island Thursday. Officials said 40 people spotted from an Australian military plane appeared to be standing on the […]
Karzai Asks Afghan Lawmakers to Help Fight Corruption
Posted June 21st, 2012 at 7:10 am (UTC-5)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called for lawmakers to help fight corruption, appealing for reforms before a conference next month aimed at getting international aid for the country’s development. Mr. Karzai said in his address to a special session of parliament that corruption in Afghanistan “has reached a peak.” He said he hopes donors at […]
Indonesian Terror Suspect to Receive Verdict in Bali Bombings Case
Posted June 21st, 2012 at 7:00 am (UTC-5)
An Indonesian court is set to issue a verdict in the trial of an Islamic militant accused of helping build a car bomb used in the deadly 2002 Bali nightclub attacks that killed 202 people. Prosecutors have asked for a life sentence rather than the death penalty for Umar Patek, who expressed remorse for the […]
Syrian Troops Shell Homs as Aid Group Waits
Posted June 21st, 2012 at 6:35 am (UTC-5)
Residents and Syrian rights activists say government troops have shelled Homs, killing two people, as aid teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross stood ready to evacuate trapped and wounded citizens from the city. Activists also reported shelling Thursday in the southern town of Inkhil, in Daraa province, that killed at least nine […]
