The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan is apologizing for a coalition airstrike that Afghan officials say killed 18 civilians in the country’s east. U.S. General John Allen flew to Logar province on Friday to personally offer his regrets and condolences to families of those killed in Wednesday’s airstrike. It was NATO’s first […]
NATO Apologizes For Afghan Civilian Deaths in Airstrike
Annan Meets Clinton, Syria Violence Kills 17
Syrian activists say violence nationwide killed 17 people Friday as international envoy Kofi Annan called for additional pressure on the Syrian government as he met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington. Speaking tersely while standing next to Clinton, Mr. Annan said the two diplomats will discuss how to move his stalled peace […]
European Officials Say Spain Nearing Bailout Request
European officials say Spain is poised to seek billions of dollars in bailout money from other countries in the euro currency bloc to rescue its distressed banks. Spain has yet to ask for help from its European neighbors, but several officials said Friday they expect Madrid will seek a bailout when key political and financial […]
UN Program Feeds Thousands of Displaced in DRC
The United Nations World Food Program is stepping up aid to thousands of people fleeing violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The WFP said Friday it provided a monthly food ration to nearly 20,000 newly-displaced people in the city of Beni, and warned that demand may grow if violence continues. The agency also […]
Euro 2012 Football Championship Kicks off Friday
Fans are filing into the 100,000-seat National Stadium in Warsaw, as Poland and Greece prepare to kick off Friday in the Euro 2012 football championship series. Poland and Ukraine are co-hosting the 16-nation championship, which will be decided on July 1 in Kyiv. Russia and the Czech Republic will square off in the other match […]
Syrian Violence Kills 17
Syrian activists say violence across the country killed 17 people Friday. The head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights told VOA Friday that a blast in front of a police station in the northwestern city of Idlib killed two security forces and three civilians. Another explosion that shook a Damascus suburb killed two […]
Malawi Cancels AU Summit Over Bashir Controversy
Malawi says it will not host an upcoming African Union summit, after the AU insisted on inviting Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes. Speaking on state radio, Malawi Vice President Khumbo Kachali said the cabinet met Friday and decided not to host the summit. He said ministers based their decision on […]
Bus Bomb Kills 19 in Northwest Pakistan
Officials in northwestern Pakistan say a bomb blast has ripped through a bus, killing at least 19 people, including six women. Authorities say some 35 people were wounded in the attack Friday in the city of Peshawar, near Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal region, along the Afghan border. The bus was carrying government employees and other passengers […]
UN Program Feeds Thousands of Displaced in DRC
The United Nations Food Program is increasing aid to thousands of displaced people fleeing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The WFP said Friday it fed nearly 20,000 more people from the DRC and host families in the city of Beni over the past month, and the agency expects the demand to grow if […]
Japan’s Prime Minister Calls for Reopening of Nuclear Plant
Japan’s prime minister has called for the reopening of an idle nuclear plant, saying Japan cannot do without atomic energy. At a news conference Friday, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda called for all operations to resume at the Ohi nuclear plant in western Japan. He said two reactors should be restarted to support people’s lives, but […]