Somalia’s parliament has elected a new speaker, taking a major step in a U.N.-backed plan to create a stronger and more permanent government. Mohamed Osman Jawari won the speaker’s post in a vote by legislators in Mogadishu Tuesday. Jawari held a significant lead after the first round of voting, and was named speaker after his […]
Somali Parliament Elects Speaker for New Gov’t
Posted August 28th, 2012 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
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Tropical Storm Stalls Start of Republican Convention
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 5:55 pm (UTC-5)
High winds and lashing rains are wrecking havoc on the schedule of this week’s U.S. Republican national convention in Tampa, Florida. Republicans are expected to formally nominate Mitt Romney and his vice presidential running mate, Paul Ryan, as their candidates to face Democratic President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in the November election. […]
Ethiopian Leader Meles Dies at 57
Posted August 21st, 2012 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has died at the age of 57, after months of speculation about his health. State television announced his death Tuesday, saying he died from a sudden infection late Monday at a hospital abroad. Speaking with VOA (Somali Service), government spokesman Bereket Simon would not say where Mr. Meles died, or […]
Syria’s Assad Makes Rare Public Appearance for Eid Prayers
Posted August 19th, 2012 at 11:45 am (UTC-5)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has visited a Damascus mosque for Eid al-Fitr prayers, making his first public appearance since a July bombing that killed four of his top security chiefs. Syrian state media showed a smiling Mr. Assad wearing a suit and tie and sitting cross-legged at the al-Hamad mosque in the capital, Sunday, surrounded […]
Mali Moves Ahead With Plan to Form Unity Government
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 1:55 pm (UTC-5)
Mali’s transitional leadership continues moving toward a larger unity government, although no date for its establishment has been set. Thursday marks the final day for candidates to submit applications for posts in the new government, including that of a newly created commissioner charged with overseeing the situation in the north. Islamist militants with ties to […]
US Jobless Rate Improves For Some
Posted August 2nd, 2012 at 5:40 pm (UTC-5)
/// re-issuing to fix wording in graf 3 /// U.S. unemployment has stayed stubbornly high for the past couple of years, and is expected to remain at around 8.2 percent on Friday when government experts publish new data showing the jobless rate for July. While the job picture in the overall economy seems stalled, a […]
Netanyahu: Threats Not Convincing Iran to Stop Developing Nuclear Weapons
Posted August 1st, 2012 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says U.S. and Israeli warnings of a military strike have not convinced Iran that they are “serious about stopping” Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. “Right now the Iranian regime believes that the international community does not have the will to stop its nuclear program. This must change and it must […]
Russian Opposition Activist Faces Theft Charges
Posted July 31st, 2012 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
Russian authorities have charged prominent opposition activist Alexei Navalny with theft — the latest development as the Kremlin cracks down on dissent. Investigators said in a statement Tuesday they suspect Navalny played a part in a scheme to steal assets from a state timber company — totalling about $500,000 — while he was advising a […]
U.S. Secretary Clinton Begins Africa Tour
Posted July 31st, 2012 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton travels to Senegal on Tuesday, the first leg of a 10-day trip to Africa to promote economic growth and democracy. The State Department says Clinton will meet Wednesday with Senegal’s new president, Macky Sall, and highlight the country as an example of the resilience of democratic institutions. Mr. Sall […]
Mali’s Interim President Addresses Fractured Nation
Posted July 29th, 2012 at 8:10 pm (UTC-5)
Mali’s Interim President Dioncounda Traore has announced plans to overhaul his transitional government and request foreign help in retaking the country’s north from Islamist militants. In a televised speech to the nation Sunday, Mr. Traore said he will lead an interim government with two vice presidents until new elections can be held. He said the […]
