Parts of Syria’s capital were under siege Thursday, with pitched fighting reported between Syrian government forces and rebels. Activists report shelling and house-to-house raids in Daraya, on the edge of Damascus, as well as clashes in the city’s Hajar al-Aswad district. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said rebel fighters killed or wounded 10 […]
Heavy Rain, Floods Kill 24 in Pakistan
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 8:35 am (UTC-5)
Authorities in northern Pakistan say heavy rains and flooding have killed at least 24 people and destroyed hundreds of homes. In Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, disaster management official Raja Sajjad Khan told VOA on Thursday that 1,000 families have been affected by the flooding and moved to higher ground. He says 750 homes have been damaged. At […]
Turkish Soldiers Kill 16 Rebels After Deadly Attack
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 5:35 am (UTC-5)
Turkish troops have killed 16 Kurdish rebels in southeastern Turkey in clashes that followed an attack on a military convoy. Turkish officials said rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) detonated roadside bombs Wednesday in Hakkari, near the border with Iraq and Iran, killing five soldiers and wounding seven others. The army responded with […]
Heavy Fighting in Damascus, as UN Warns of Humanitarian Crisis
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 5:30 am (UTC-5)
Syrian government forces battled rebels in Damascus Thursday, as the government of President Bashar al-Assad fights to drive out opposition forces from the capital city. Activists reported fighting in several neighborhoods, including a campaign of shelling and house-to-house raids in Daraya, on the southwest edge of the city. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights […]
Senegal, AU Finalize Plan to Try Chad’s Habre
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 4:25 am (UTC-5)
Senegal and the African Union have finalized a deal to create a special court to put former Chadian President Hissene Habre on trial for war crimes charges. The agreement comes a month after the United Nations’ highest court ordered Senegal to either prosecute Mr. Habre or extradite him. A Chad truth commission says Mr. Habre […]
New Book to Discuss Killing of Osama bin Laden
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 4:05 am (UTC-5)
A member of the special U.S. military team that killed terrorist leader Osama bin Laden has written a book about the mission, raising concerns among U.S. officials about potential leaks of classified information. U.S. publisher Dutton says the book was written by a Navy SEAL member writing under the fictitious name of Mark Owen, in […]
S.Korea to Return Japan’s Protest Letter Amid Island Dispute
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 3:30 am (UTC-5)
A simmering territorial dispute between South Korea and Japan continued Thursday, with Seoul saying it would return a protest letter sent by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. Prime Minister Noda sent the letter to protest South Korean President Lee Myung-bak’s recent visit to a group of rocky islands controlled by Seoul but claimed by both […]
Rights Group Urges Bangladesh to Protect Rohingya Refugees
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 3:00 am (UTC-5)
Human Rights Watch says Bangladesh’s restriction on international aid groups is contributing to a worsening humanitarian emergency for ethnic Rohingya Muslims fleeing sectarian violence in Burma. Bangladesh last month ordered three charity groups to stop providing assistance to Rohingya because it said they were encouraging more refugees to cross the border. Doctors Without Borders, Action […]
Abortion Issue Casts Shadow Over Republicans
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 2:05 am (UTC-5)
Democrats are trying to take advantage of the controversial remarks of a Republican U.S. Senate candidate on abortion, but presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is seeking to refocus the campaign debate on the sluggish economy. U.S. Representative Todd Akin, who is running for a Senate seat in Missouri, started a firestorm of controversy this […]
UN Chief to Visit Iran
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 1:45 am (UTC-5)
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plans to travel to Iran next week for a meeting of non-aligned nations, amid objections from the United States and Israel which say the visit sends a bad signal. Mr. Ban’s spokesman, Martin Nesirky, announced the trip Wednesday. He says the U.N. chief will convey the international community’s concerns and […]
