The Albanian parliament has elected a new president on a fourth try. Former interior minister Bujar Nishani received 73 votes from the 140-seat parliament. The main opposition Socialists boycotted the vote Monday. The three previous attempts failed because parties could not agree on a consensus candidate. Mr. Nishani replaces President Bamir Topi, whose five-year term […]
Spanish Bank Rescue Euphoria Fades on World Markets
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 1:45 pm (UTC-5)
The initial euphoria on world financial markets about Europe’s $125 billion bailout of Spanish banks faded quickly Monday as investors reconsidered the terms of the rescue package. Stock indexes in Tokyo and Hong Kong surged more than 2 percent, and markets in London, Frankfurt and Paris followed suit with sharp gains in their first hours […]
NATO Agrees to Restrict Airstrikes on Afghan Homes
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 1:30 pm (UTC-5)
NATO says it has agreed to restrict the use of airstrikes in Afghan residential areas following last week’s deadly strike in the east that Afghan officials say killed 18 civilians. Coalition officials told reporters Monday that troops would continue to conduct operations against insurgents who hide in residential compounds but that “when there is concern […]
Nobel Laureates to Receive Less Money
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 12:50 pm (UTC-5)
This year’s Nobel prize winner will receive 20 percent less prize money than past winners. The Nobel Foundation announced Monday that it is decreasing the winners’ purse to $1.12 million because of the global economic crisis. Past winners received $1.40 million. The capital that forms the base for the awards was donated in the will […]
US Pulls Negotiators from Pakistan on Supply Routes
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 12:15 pm (UTC-5)
The United States is pulling its negotiators from Pakistan, after talks with Pakistani officials on the reopening of NATO supply lines into Afghanistan stalled. Pentagon spokesman George Little told reporters Monday that some members of the negotiating team left Pakistan in recent days and that others will follow shortly. He said “we will continue to […]
Troops, Riot Police Patrol NW Burma after Deadly Rioting
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 11:45 am (UTC-5)
A tense calm settled over Burma’s western Rakhine state Monday, as riot police intervened to curtail a week of deadly violence between Muslims and Buddhists, and the United Nations began evacuating workers from the region. Ethnic Rohingya Muslims, speaking to VOA’s Burmese service, described scenes of devastation and fear in the border town of Maungdaw. […]
Pakistan, India Hold Talks on “World’s Highest Battlefield”
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
Pakistan and India are holding talks on whether to demilitarize the Siachen glacier, known as the world’s highest battlefield. The two-day meeting that began Monday in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi is the 13th round of talks and the first time both sides have met on the issue since April, when an avalanche buried 140 […]
Syrian Troops Pound Rebel Strongholds
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
Syrian forces are continuing to attack rebel-held areas across the country as international envoy Kofi Annan voices deep concern about the latest violence, citing the shelling of Homs and reports of mortars, helicopters and tanks in Latakia province. Annan’s spokesman says there are “indications a large number of civilians are trapped in those towns.” Activists […]
ECOWAS Losing Patience with Rebels in Northern Mali
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 10:30 am (UTC-5)
An official with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says the regional bloc is running out of patience with rebels in northern Mali to relinquish control of key areas. Abdel Fatau Musah, ECOWAS director for external communications, told VOA the bloc may employ “all other measures, including the use of force” if rebels […]
Seizure Blamed for Commerce Secretary Car Accidents
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 10:25 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. Commerce Department says agency head John Bryson suffered a seizure in connection with two separate hit-and-run car crashes in southern California. A department spokeswoman said Bryson was taken to the hospital and remained overnight for observation, and has been released. Officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department say he faces felony hit-and-run […]
