The United States has condemned remarks by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad urging his security forces to “step up the fight” against rebels trying to push him from power. U.S. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said Wednesday that Mr. Assad calling on his armed forces to keep fighting while his own whereabouts remain unknown is “cowardly” […]
US Condemns Syrian Leader’s Message to Troops
Posted August 1st, 2012 at 10:10 pm (UTC-5)
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US Post Office Faces First-Ever Default on a Payment
Posted August 1st, 2012 at 6:40 pm (UTC-5)
The United States Postal Service says for the first time in history, it will default on a payment into fund for health benefits for future retirees. Postal officials say they do not have the $5.5 billion owed to the U.S. Treasury Thursday. Officials also say they will likely miss another $5.6 billion owed in September. […]
Syrian Rebels Execute Assad Loyalists in Aleppo
Posted August 1st, 2012 at 3:15 pm (UTC-5)
Syrian rebels have executed four men identified by activists as members of a pro-government tribe in the northern city of Aleppo. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says a video posted on the Internet shows the rebels executing the captured government loyalists on Tuesday. In the footage, fighters shouting “God is Great” shove the […]
US Central Bank Decides Against New Economic Stimulus
Posted August 1st, 2012 at 3:05 pm (UTC-5)
The U.S. Central Bank says the American economy slowed in the first half of the year, but has decided against any immediate policy changes. After a two-day meeting, Federal Reserve policy makers said they will “closely monitor” the country’s economic performance in the coming weeks and will adopt new stimulus measures if they conclude they […]
Clinton Urges African Leaders to Embrace Democracy
Posted August 1st, 2012 at 2:40 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned African leaders they must respect their people’s rights or be destined to lose power. Clinton spoke Wednesday at a university in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, her first stop on a 11-day African tour that will take her to at least six countries. The secretary noted Africans are demanding […]
China Trade and Investment Grows in Africa
Posted August 1st, 2012 at 2:25 pm (UTC-5)
Hillary Clinton’s visit to Africa this week comes against a background of rapidly rising Chinese trade and investment with the continent. Analysts say a major goal of the U.S. secretary of state’s trip is to make sure the United States is not left behind in the competition for trade and influence. China surpassed the United […]
Assad Urges Army to Intensify Fight, Fails to Appear in Public
Posted August 1st, 2012 at 1:30 pm (UTC-5)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has failed to appear in public to mark his country’s Armed Forces Day, instead issuing a written statement urging security forces to “step up the fight” against rebels trying to oust him. In the statement, Mr. Assad says his troops are engaged in what he calls a “heroic” battle whose outcome […]
Investors Await US Central Bank Decisions
Posted August 1st, 2012 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
Investors worldwide are watching U.S. central bank policy makers Wednesday to see whether they take new action to try to boost the sluggish American economy. Officials at the Federal Reserve were set to give their assessment of the world’s largest economy after poring over economic trends at a two-day meeting. But economists surveyed by financial […]
Netanyahu: Threats Not Convincing Iran to Stop Developing Nuclear Weapons
Posted August 1st, 2012 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says U.S. and Israeli warnings of a military strike have not convinced Iran that they are “serious about stopping” Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. “Right now the Iranian regime believes that the international community does not have the will to stop its nuclear program. This must change and it must […]
Madagascar Sets Presidential Election Date
Posted August 1st, 2012 at 12:40 pm (UTC-5)
Madagascar is set to begin presidential elections next May, a key step in ending the political crisis resulting from a 2009 coup. The election commission said Wednesday the first round of voting will take place May 8, 2013, with the second round taking place on July 3. The commission said parliamentary elections will also take […]
