The European Central Bank says it is ready to buy the government bonds of the continent’s debt-ridden countries, a move that could ease the rising borrowing costs of financially troubled Spain and Italy. Bank President Mario Draghi did not disclose the size of the bond purchases, but said Thursday it would be sizeable enough for […]
Europe’s Central Bank to Buy Bonds of Debtor Nations
Posted August 2nd, 2012 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
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Afghan Forces Thwart Attack on Kabul
Posted August 2nd, 2012 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
Authorities say security forces have thwarted a major attack on the Afghan capital, after killing five insurgents in an early morning gunbattle. Intelligence agency spokesman Latifullah Mashal said Afghan forces Thursday raided a compound in eastern Kabul, where the insurgents linked to the militant Haqqani network had gathered to prepare for an attack. He said […]
Top US Commander Sees “Progress” in US-Pakistan Relations
Posted August 2nd, 2012 at 8:30 am (UTC-5)
The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan discussed border coordination with Pakistan’s army chief Thursday during his first visit to Pakistan since it ended its seven-month blockade of NATO supplies. A joint statement released after the meeting quoted General John Allen as saying he is pleased with the “upward spiral” in the U.S.-Pakistan […]
Spain Arrests 3 Suspected al-Qaida Members
Posted August 2nd, 2012 at 8:05 am (UTC-5)
Spanish authorities say they have arrested three suspected members of al-Qaida. Spanish Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz told reporters Thursday that there was a “clear indication” that those detained could have been planning an attack in Spain or Europe. Authorities accuse the men of storing explosives that the minister said would be especially damaging with […]
Egypt’s Defense Minister Keeps Post in New Cabinet
Posted August 2nd, 2012 at 8:00 am (UTC-5)
Egyptian Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi will keep his post as defense minister in the country’s first government since former President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation last year. Officials announced on Thursday that Tantawi would be part of the new Cabinet chosen by Prime Minister Hisham Qandil. Tantawi, a hold-over from the Mubarak era, also ruled the […]
Bangladesh Orders Aid Groups to Suspend Services to Rohingya Refugees
Posted August 2nd, 2012 at 7:50 am (UTC-5)
Bangladesh is ordering international humanitarian groups to stop providing aid to ethnic Rohingya refugees who have fled deadly communal violence in neighboring Burma. Diderik Van Halsema, a spokesperson for Doctor’s Without Borders, (MSF) tells VOA his organization is one of three groups that have reportedly been ordered to suspend their services to the Rohingya along […]
Rebels Turn Tank on Syrian Forces
Posted August 2nd, 2012 at 6:30 am (UTC-5)
Syrian rebels stepped up an offensive against government troops Thursday, using a captured tank to bomb a military air base in the commercial capital Aleppo as regime forces in the capital, Damascus, unleased new raids against them. President Bashar al-Assad’s troops retaliated in Aleppo by pounding the strategic Salaheddine district with tank and artillery fire […]
US House Approves Extension of All Bush-Era Tax Cuts
Posted August 2nd, 2012 at 6:20 am (UTC-5)
The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that will maintain tax cuts for all Americans regardless of income, setting up an election-year standoff with President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats. The measure approved Wednesday by a vote of 256-to-171 would extend the breaks passed during tenure of former President George W. Bush. The […]
UN: Tens of Thousands Without Drinking Water in N.Korea
Posted August 2nd, 2012 at 6:05 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations says a series of devastating floods has left tens of thousands of North Korean families without clean water and at risk of a disease outbreak. In a report Thursday, the U.N. and several aid agencies said two weeks of torrential rains have caused floods that have contaminated drinking water wells and washed […]
Egypt to Swear In New Cabinet
Posted August 2nd, 2012 at 5:20 am (UTC-5)
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi is set to swear in the country’s new Cabinet on Thursday, forming Egypt’s first government since he succeeded ousted leader Hosni Mubarak. The Cabinet chosen by new Prime Minister Hisham Qandil includes the outgoing finance and foreign affairs ministers. Mr. Qandil himself served as irrigation minister in the outgoing military-backed government. […]
