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. […]
US Defense Secretary Pays Tribute to Gays in Military
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 10:35 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment
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 […]
US Calls on Cuba to Release Jailed American Contractor
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 5:25 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. State Department is calling on Cuba to immediately release imprisoned American contractor Alan Gross, saying his health has worsened and that he can no longer walk. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland says Gross, who was arrested more than two-and-a-half years ago, has lost 45 kilograms in detention and is no longer able to […]
Aung San Suu Kyi Resumes European Tour after Brief Illness
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 5:25 am (UTC-5)
Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has attended a session of the Swiss parliament, after a brief illness forced her to cancel a Swiss state dinner on Thursday evening. The democracy icon excused herself from a news conference on Thursday, saying she was exhausted and disoriented by the long flight and time change. The […]
Syrian Forces Sexually Assaulting Detainees: Report
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 4:45 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 […]
