Pope Arrives in Croatia, Expresses Support for EU Bid

Posted June 4th, 2011 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Pope Benedict arrived in Croatia Saturday for a two-day visit, reiterating his support for that country's bid to join the European Union.

On the plane to the Croatian capital, Zagreb, the pope told reporters that EU membership for Croatia is “logical, just and necessary.” But he acknowledged that a fear of joining the EU is understandable, describing it as a fear of an overly strong “centralized bureaucracy” and a “rationalistic culture.”

He encouraged Croatia to work against that and reintroduce into the EU the richness of diverse cultures that Christianity represents.

Pope Benedict was welcomed at the airport by Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, who said it is because of the Croatian people's Christian roots that he is convinced most of them will support EU membership.

Croatia is expected to be the next country to join the 27-member bloc, possibly as early as 2013.

This is Pope Benedict's first visit to Croatia, which is nearly 90 percent Roman Catholic.

The pontiff will take part in several religious celebrations, including the National Day for Croatian Catholic Families, and the Sunday Mass in Zagreb.

The late pope John Paul visited Croatia three times after its independence in 1991, and the Vatican was one of the first institutions to recognize Croatia's independence.

Yemen’s Government Denies Reports President Is in Saudi Arabia

Posted June 4th, 2011 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

The Yemeni government is denying reports that President Ali Abdullah Saleh is among a group of high-level officials who have gone to Saudi Arabia for treatment for wounds suffered in a rocket attack on the presidential compound Friday.

A government official said Saturday that Mr. Saleh is undergoing treatment at a military hospital in the capital, Sana'a. However, state-run media reports say the country's prime minister and at least four other high-ranking officials have sought treatment in the neighboring country.

Meanwhile, clashes continued on Saturday in Sana'a, where forces loyal to the president have been shelling homes of anti-government leaders.

The home base of dissident tribesman Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar is among those targeted. He is a leader of what Mr. Saleh has called “a gang of outlaws” who carried out Friday's attack on the presidential compound.

Thousands of residents continue to flee Sana'a in the face of the fighting, clogging area roads.

The ongoing conflict between forces loyal to Mr. Saleh and anti-government rebels has led to to fears the country may be on the brink of civil war. Mr. Saleh has three times over the past several weeks defied the Gulf accord that would end his 33-year reign.

Nearly 400 people have been killed since the popular uprising against Mr. Saleh began in January.

Washington, DC Hosts ‘Race for the Cure’

Posted June 4th, 2011 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

The U.S. National Mall in Washington, DC was like a sea of pink t-shirts and hats Saturday, as thousands of people gathered for a high-profile race to collect money for breast cancer research.

Organizers of the so-called “Race for the Cure” said they expected 40,000 people to run or walk the 5-kilometer race course that passed by a number of national monuments and ended a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol.

The annual event is replicated in other cities across the nation and in other parts of the world. It has made the color pink a globally recognized symbol for breast cancer research and treatment.

Event founder Nancy Brinker has said the funds raised in each race are used locally to support community health programs, including breast screenings and diagnostic tests for low-income or uninsured women. Money also goes to research on a vaccine for the disease.

Race organizers say 34 diplomatic agencies and embassies in the nation's capital participated in the race in Washington. Princess Margriet of the Netherlands was participating on a team representing her country.

A number of members of the U.S. Congress were among 36 teams from government entities.

Obama to Host Africa’s Bongo, Jonathan Next Week

Posted June 4th, 2011 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

U.S. President Barack Obama is set to meet with two African leaders next week, while his wife and daughters prepare to travel to the continent later this month.

The White House announced Saturday that Mr. Obama will meet newly sworn-in Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday. The statement said the two leaders will discuss the latest “regional and global developments” and their nations' “strong partnership.”

On Thursday, Mr. Obama will meet with Gabon's President Ali Bongo, who is heading the United Nations Security Council for June. It said Mr. Obama and Mr. Bongo will “advance” the partnership between their two countries on a range of critical regional and global issues.

Earlier this week, the White House announced that first lady Michelle Obama will visit Botswana and South Africa from June 21-26 to promote youth leadership, education, health and wellness. Her two young daughters and her mother will accompany the first lady.

The statement said the trip is part of the Obama administration's effort to expand ties with African nations “based upon mutual respect, mutual responsibility and shared interests.”

Mr. Jonathan's visit to Washington is less than two weeks after he was inaugurated, and as his country faces recovers from renewed violence.

Although Nigeria's recent elections were praised as the fairest in Nigeria's history, the post-election violence was the worst ever. More than 800 people died in violence after Mr. Jonathan was declared the winner of the April presidential election. A series of explosions following his swearing-in ceremony killed at least 16 more people.

Many from northern Nigeria's majority Muslim population believed someone from their region should be the next leader, after Mr. Jonathan's predecessor, a Muslim, died before completing his term.

Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic Party has a tradition of rotating its presidential nominations between Muslims from the north and Christians from the south, like Mr. Jonathan. The country of 140 million is split almost evenly between the two religious groups.

Egypt’s Former Finance Minister Sentenced

Posted June 4th, 2011 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Egypt's former finance minister has become the latest high-ranking official who served in former President Hosni Mubarak's government to be convicted of corruption.

An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced Youssef Boutros Ghali to 30 years in prison on charges that include misusing public funds. Investigators say Ghali used cars waiting in customs for his personal use and misused his position to personally benefit from finance ministry funds.

Ghali was convicted in absentia. He is believed to have fled the country and is being sought by Interpol.

Egypt's interim military rulers have been bringing a series of former officials to trial, including former President Mubarak himself. On Wednesday, the government announced that the trial for Mr. Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, will begin August 3.

The three face charges of fraud and orchestrating the killings of demonstrators in the anti-government protests that led to Mr. Mubarak's February resignation.

New Bombings Target NATO Troops, Afghan Students

Posted June 4th, 2011 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

A series of bombings rattled Afghanistan Saturday, increasing the death toll in the troubled country.

In eastern Afghanistan, four NATO troops were killed in what the coalition said was a roadside bombing.

Earlier, NATO said two of its members were killed in separate attacks on Friday in southern Afghanistan.

At least 220 foreign troops have been killed in Afghanistan this year.

The continuous bombings are also taking a toll on the civilian population.

Officials at Kandahar University said two students died and at least two people were injured following bombings there Saturday.

Witnesses said the first bomb was hidden on a motorcycle and that the second blast went off after a crowd started to gather around the victims.

Afghan police say one of the victims was a student who also served as the secretary to Kandahar's chief of police.

The U.S. commander of foreign troops in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, warned last month of a tough summer ahead as insurgents bid to show they are still a potent force amid what he said was crucial progress made by the international coalition.

The Taliban announced the start of its spring and summer fighting season at the end of April.

Drone Strike Kills Top Pakistani Terrorist

Posted June 4th, 2011 at 8:50 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

One of the most wanted terrorist leaders in Pakistan is dead, killed in a suspected U.S. drone strike.

Pakistani intelligence sources Saturday said that senior al-Qaida leader Ilyas Kashmiri died in an attack on a location in South Waziristan, along with eight other militants.

Kashmiri's own militant group, Harakat-ul-Jihad al-Islami , also confirmed his death in a fax to news organizations. HUJI said Kashmiri was “martyred” on Friday.

The United States had designated Kashmiri a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist.” It had put up a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.

The U.S. blames the group for the March 2006 bombing of the U.S. consulate in Karachi that killed four people and wounded 48 others. A U.S. grand jury indicted Kashmiri in 2010 in connection with a plot to attack a Danish newspaper.

HUJI vowed to take revenge against the U.S. for Kashmiri's death. His killing comes about a month after U.S. special forces entered Pakistan and killed al-Qaida mastermind Osama bin Laden in his hideout near Islamabad.

Thousands Attend Funerals in Syria Following Protest Crackdowns

Posted June 4th, 2011 at 8:40 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Thousands of people have turned out Saturday for the funerals of anti-government protesters killed in unrest in Syria.

Syrian rights groups say at least 63 people died Friday as protesters continued to demand the departure of President Bashar al-Assad.

Those groups say the vast majority of deaths were reported in Hama, a city about 300 kilometers north of Damascus. Witnesses say security forces used live ammunition to try to disperse tens of thousands of protesters who took to the streets in Hama after Friday prayers.

Demonstrations also took place in Damascus and other cities, following a call by opposition groups to denounce a growing number of casualties among children in recent weeks of the uprising against Mr. Assad.

Despite official denials, protest organizers say at least 25 children have died. The victims include a 13-year-old boy who was reported to have been tortured and killed by security forces – an accusation that Syrian authorities dispute.

Pope Benedict Arrives in Croatia

Posted June 4th, 2011 at 7:40 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Pope Benedict has arrived in Croatia for a two-day visit.

He was welcomed at the airport in the capital, Zagreb, by Croatian President Ivo Josipovic.

This is the pope's first visit to Croatia, which is nearly 90-percent Roman Catholic.

The pontiff will take part in several religious celebrations, including the National Day for Croatian Catholic Families, and the Sunday Mass in Zagreb.

Pope Benedict, who has long backed Croatia's bid to become a member of the European Union, will try to allay fears that the country will sacrifice parts of its independence and religious identity by joining the EU. Croatia is expected to be the next country to join the 27-member bloc, possibly as early as 2013.

The late pope John Paul visited Croatia three times after its independence in 1991, and the Vatican was one of the first institutions to recognize Croatia's independence.

US Defense Secretary Arrives in Kabul

Posted June 4th, 2011 at 7:00 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

The outgoing U.S. defense secretary is in Afghanistan on a previously unannounced farewell visit.

Robert Gates arrived in Kabul Saturday where he is expected to meet with senior Afghan officials, as well as visit the U.S. troops.

Earlier in the day at a security conference in Singapore, Gates said there could be peace talks with the Taliban within a year.

He said the talks would be a result of NATO's ground advances in Afghanistan that have put pressure on the insurgents.

The defense secretary said if the international coalition can sustain its successes, then the possibility of political talks and reconciliation might be “substantive enough” to offer some “hope of progress.”

However, Secretary Gates stressed the Taliban will have to cut ties with al-Qaida and surrender all arms if the Taliban is to have any role in the future of Afghanistan.

The U.S. has set next month as the start date for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. U.S. and NATO forces are scheduled to transfer security responsibilities to Afghan forces by the end of 2014.

It has been nearly 10 years since U.S.-led forces invaded Afghanistan to topple the Taliban government, which sheltered al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

Bin Laden, who orchestrated the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S., was killed last month by U.S. commandos who raided his hideout in Pakistan.

Calendar

March 2024
M T W T F S S
« Jan    
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Archives

Categories