U.S. lawmakers are set to hold a hearing into the attack last month on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which left the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans dead. Ahead of the hearing Wednesday by the Republican-led House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, senior State Department officials gave reporters a detailed account of the […]
Toyota Recalls 7.4 Million Cars for Faulty Power Window Switch
Posted October 10th, 2012 at 3:45 am (UTC-5)
Toyota is recalling more than 7.4 million vehicles worldwide because of a fire hazard caused by a faulty power window switch in over a dozen models. The Japanese automaker said Wednesday the switch for the driver’s side window did not have grease applied evenly during production, creating friction and sometimes smoke. No crashes or injuries […]
McGrady Becomes Latest NBA Star to Play in China
Posted October 10th, 2012 at 3:20 am (UTC-5)
Seven-time National Basketball Association All-Star Tracy McGrady is the latest U.S. player to spend the twilight of his career shooting hoops in China. The 15-year NBA veteran wrote in a blog post on Tuesday that he is excited to play for the Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles, who have offered him a one-year contract. The 33-year-old is […]
China’s Central Banker Pulls Out of IMF Meeting in Tokyo
Posted October 10th, 2012 at 12:20 am (UTC-5)
China has decided not to send its most senior finance officials to this week’s meeting of the International Monetary Fund in Tokyo, as a territorial dispute continues to strain diplomatic relations between the two Asian powers. The IMF said Wednesday that People’s Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan is canceling his appearance due to what […]
Polls: Presidential Race Tied
Posted October 9th, 2012 at 5:45 pm (UTC-5)
With exactly one month to go until the U.S. presidential election, polls show the race between President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney essentially tied. The Pew Research Center gives Mr. Romney a four percentage point lead while Gallup puts the president in front by three points. Mr. Romney closed the gap in the polls […]
French Police Fire Tear Gas at Labor Protesters in Paris
Posted October 9th, 2012 at 5:00 pm (UTC-5)
French riot police fired tear gas Tuesday at hundreds of protesters trying to storm a Paris auto show, during nationwide protests over mounting job losses in a moribund economy with 10 percent unemployment. Thousands of other demonstrators marched in Lyon, while operations the ports of Le Havre and Marseille were disrupted. The protests, organized by […]
Death Toll Rises in US Meningitis Outbreak
Posted October 9th, 2012 at 4:40 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. federal health officials say 11 people have now died from a rare fungal meningitis outbreak linked to steroid injections. Updating its figures Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 119 cases of meningitis associated with the deadly outbreak. The CDC says 13,000 people in 23 states may have been injected with the […]
French Police Fire Tear Gas at Labor Protesters in Paris
Posted October 9th, 2012 at 4:40 pm (UTC-5)
French riot police fired tear gas Tuesday at hundreds of protesters trying to storm a Paris auto show, during nationwide protests over mounting job losses in a moribund economy with 10 percent unemployment. Thousands of other demonstrators marched in Lyon, while operations the ports of Le Havre and Marseille were disrupted. The protests, organized by […]
Netanyahu Orders Early Elections in Israel
Posted October 9th, 2012 at 3:55 pm (UTC-5)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ordering early parliamentary elections to be held as soon as possible. Mr. Netanyahu said Tuesday he was being forced to form a new government because the current coalition was not able to agree on a budget for 2013. The next elections were scheduled for next October, but will now […]
NATO Ready to Defend Turkey, But No Action Planned
Posted October 9th, 2012 at 3:50 pm (UTC-5)
NATO’s secretary general says the alliance is prepared to defend Turkey against attacks from Syria if necessary. VOA’s Al Pessin reports from Brussels. Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance is prepared to act, but he hopes it will not have to do so. “We have all plans in place to protect and defend […]
