Hundreds are fleeing the Syrian border town of Azaz after the Syrian military dropped bombs on the rebelled-controlled area. VOA reporter Scott Bobb reported from Azaz Thursday that the death toll from Wednesday’s attack stood at more than 50 people and that at least 25 others were missing amid the chaos to evacuate. “I saw […]
Afghan Helicopter Crash Kills 7 Americans, 4 Afghans
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 2:25 pm (UTC-5)
NATO says a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan has killed seven American service members and four Afghans. The coalition said three Afghan soldiers and one Afghan civilian interpreter died when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down on Thursday. Afghan authorities say the helicopter crashed in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province. The […]
South Africa Police Fire on Striking Miners, Deaths Reported
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 2:05 pm (UTC-5)
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine on Thursday, wounding and killing an unspecified number of people. Police fired water cannons and tear gas on the crowd before opening fire with automatic weapons at the Lonmin PLC mine. It is located about 120 kilometers northwest of Johannesburg. A spokesman with the […]
Mali Moves Ahead With Plan to Form Unity Government
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 1:55 pm (UTC-5)
Mali’s transitional leadership continues moving toward a larger unity government, although no date for its establishment has been set. Thursday marks the final day for candidates to submit applications for posts in the new government, including that of a newly created commissioner charged with overseeing the situation in the north. Islamist militants with ties to […]
WFP Airdrops Food to Refugees in South Sudan
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 1:40 pm (UTC-5)
((ADDS Available audio) The World Food Program has begun the first in a series of airdrops of food aid to refugees living on the border of Sudan and South Sudan. The airdrops were made Wednesday in Maban County in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state. The agency says the delivery consisted of 32 metric tons of […]
UN Security Council Ending Syria Observer Mission
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 1:25 pm (UTC-5)
The United Nations Security Council announced it is allowing the mandate for the U.N. observer mission in Syria to expire Sunday, but hopes to establish a political office in the battle-ravaged country. The council’s current president, French Ambassador Gerard Araud, said Thursday that members agreed the conditions for possibly extending the current mission had not […]
Ecuador Grants Asylum to Assange
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 1:05 pm (UTC-5)
Ecuador has granted asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, intensifying a political dispute involving Ecuador, Britain and Sweden. Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino announced the decision Thursday in Quito, saying Assange’s personal security was at risk. He said Assange would not receive a fair trial if he is eventually extradited to the U.S. Britain Foreign […]
Afghan Helicopter Crash Kills 7 Americans, 4 Afghans
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 12:45 pm (UTC-5)
NATO says a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan has killed seven American service members and four Afghans. The coalition said three Afghan soldiers and one Afghan civilian interpreter died when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down on Thursday. Afghan authorities say the helicopter crashed in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province. The […]
Militants Launch Deadly Assault on Pakistani Airbase
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 12:25 pm (UTC-5)
Militants armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades attacked a large air force base in northern Pakistan Thursday, setting off a fierce battle that ended with one soldier and nine militants dead. Pakistani officials say the pre-dawn assault at the Kamra base ended after a two-hour shootout that also wounded the base’s commander. One aircraft […]
Mali Hits Deadline in Plan to Form Unity Government
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 11:45 am (UTC-5)
Mali’s transitional leadership continues moving toward a larger unity government, although no date for its establishment has been set. Thursday marks the final day for candidates to submit applications for posts in the new government, including that of a newly created commissioner charged with overseeing the situation in the north. Islamist militants with ties to […]
