Somalia’s new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, entered politics only recently after a career in academics and as a civic activist. The largely unknown candidate became a strong contender for the presidency after receiving support from lawmakers who were not content with the incumbent administration led by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. Lawmakers elected Mr. Mohamud Monday […]
New Somali President is Civic Activist, Teacher
Posted September 10th, 2012 at 3:30 pm (UTC-5)
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Witnesses: Mali Extremists Amputate Limbs of Suspected Thieves
Posted September 10th, 2012 at 3:05 pm (UTC-5)
Witnesses in northern Mali say Islamist militants have amputated the limbs of five suspected thieves. Sources told VOA Monday that the militants punished the men by amputating each one’s right hand and left foot in the northern city of Gao. The amputations were carried out in a public square on Monday. The amputees were then […]
Somali Lawmakers Elect New President
Posted September 10th, 2012 at 2:50 pm (UTC-5)
Somali lawmakers have elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the country’s new president. Mr. Mohamud defeated incumbent leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in a third-round run-off vote Monday. Speaker of parliament Mohamed Sheikh Osman said the new president won in a landslide. “Sharif Sheikh Amed got 79 votes. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud got 190 votes.” Another two […]
Somali Lawmakers Elect New President
Posted September 10th, 2012 at 2:25 pm (UTC-5)
Somali lawmakers have elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the new president of Somalia. Mr. Mohamud defeated incumbent leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in a third-round run-off vote in Mogadishu. The final tally was not immediately announced, but election watchers said Mr. Mohamud won by a comfortable margin. The election reflects a final step in a […]
Obama Edges Ahead of Romney in Latest Surveys
Posted September 10th, 2012 at 1:30 pm (UTC-5)
New political surveys in the U.S. show that President Barack Obama has, at least for the moment, edged ahead of Republican Mitt Romney as the two candidates enter the final eight weeks of the country’s presidential election campaign. The two candidates had been virtually tied in surveys a week ago after completion of Mr. Romney’s […]
Somalia Parliament Votes for New President
Posted September 10th, 2012 at 11:55 am (UTC-5)
Four candidates remain in Somalia’s presidential election, after parliament cast ballots in a first-round vote Monday. Incumbent President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed led the pack, followed by PDP party leader Hassan Sheikh Mahamud, incumbent Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and Abdulkadir Osoble Ali, a businessman and U.S. citizen. Parliament was due to go straight into the […]
Greece Struggling to Reach Austerity Deal with Lenders
Posted September 10th, 2012 at 11:40 am (UTC-5)
Greece is struggling to reach agreement with its international lenders on a new round of austerity spending measures aimed at unlocking more bailout money for the Athens government. Greek officials have resumed talks with financial inspectors for the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund about a plan to cut nearly […]
Mali Army Spokesman: Lone Soldier Killed 16 Islamic Preachers
Posted September 10th, 2012 at 11:25 am (UTC-5)
A Malian army spokesman says a lone soldier was responsible for the killing of 16 Islamic preachers at a checkpoint. Spokesman Idrissa Traore told VOA that the army was not to blame for the deaths. “It’s not the Malian army,” said Traore. “… It was one soldier. He was captured and the investigation continues.” The […]
US Transfers Bagram Prison to Afghanistan
Posted September 10th, 2012 at 11:10 am (UTC-5)
The United States has formally handed over control of a controversial prison to the Afghan government, despite a disagreement about the fate of some of its inmates. A small ceremony at Bagram prison outside Kabul marked the handover of more than 3,000 prisoners from U.S. to Afghan authorities. Afghan President Hamid Karzai hailed the transfer […]
US Transfers Bagram Prison to Afghanistan
Posted September 10th, 2012 at 10:50 am (UTC-5)
The United States has formally handed over control of a controversial prison to the Afghan government, despite a disagreement about the fate of some of its inmates. A small ceremony Monday at Bagram prison outside Kabul marked the handover of more than 3,000 prisoners from U.S. to Afghan authorities. Afghan President Hamid Karzai hailed the […]
