Unemployment in Greece has risen to a near-record high as workers prepare for a two-day general strike to protest plans to cut salaries and fire 30,000 government workers. The Greek government Tuesday said the jobless rate hit 16.5 percent in July, just a shade below the record set in May. Young workers were the hardest […]
Britain, Canada Freeze Assets Over Alleged Iranian Plot
Posted October 18th, 2011 at 5:20 pm (UTC-5)
Britain and Canada have joined the United States and frozen the assets of five men in connection with the alleged Iranian plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to the United States. U.S. authorities froze the assets of the five one week ago. Canada and Britain followed on Tuesday. The men include the two Iranians that […]
Kenyan Troops Advance in Somalia, Pursuing Al-Shabab
Posted October 18th, 2011 at 1:20 pm (UTC-5)
Kenyan forces have entered a second part of southern Somalia as part of operations against militant group al-Shabab. Officials and witnesses confirmed to VOA Tuesday that Kenyan troops, backed by helicopters, moved through the border town of El-Waq on Monday and are now in Somalia’s Gedo region. Kenyan troops have also been seen near the […]
EU Cancels Meeting With Ukranian President
Posted October 18th, 2011 at 11:20 am (UTC-5)
The European Union has postponed a meeting planned this week with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych because of concerns over judicial standards following the jailing of former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. A spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Tuesday that the meeting is postponed to when conditions will be more conducive to […]
US Stocks Mixed in Early Tuesday Trading
Posted October 18th, 2011 at 11:10 am (UTC-5)
U.S. stocks were narrowly mixed in Tuesday morning trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ composite index are both down a tenth of one percent, while the S&P 500 is up a tenth of a percent. European stock prices were lower in afternoon trading. London’s Financial Times index is off nine-tenths of a […]
Clinton in Libya for Unexpected Visit
Posted October 18th, 2011 at 7:10 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Libya for a previously unannounced visit with the country’s new rulers, while Libyan provisional government fighters launch an assault on one of the last remaining strongholds of former leader Moammar Gadhafi. Clinton arrived Tuesday in the capital of Tripoli, where she is expected to pledge millions […]
Hamas Frees Israeli Soldier in Prisoner Exchange
Posted October 18th, 2011 at 6:05 am (UTC-5)
Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit has returned to Israel after being freed by the Islamist Hamas movement in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli military said Shalit, who had been held since 2006, crossed into Israel Tuesday after Hamas transferred custody of him to Egypt earlier in the day. He was scheduled to undergo […]
Syrian Forces Kill 25; Government Accused of Targeting Doctors
Posted October 17th, 2011 at 8:00 pm (UTC-5)
Syrian security forces killed at least 25 people Monday when they attacked the opposition stronghold of Homs, while activists accused the government of intensifying its persecution of doctors who treat wounded protesters. Residents and activists say tanks firing heavy machine guns swept into Sunni Muslim districts of Homs, where large protests demanding the removal of […]
Top Israeli Court Green Lights Shalit Swap
Posted October 17th, 2011 at 7:00 pm (UTC-5)
Israel’s Supreme Court has upheld the government’s decision to exchange hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, setting the stage for the historic swap to begin early Tuesday. The high court rejected four petitions submitted by relatives of Israelis killed in Palestinian attacks, thwarting a last-minute attempt to block the deal with […]
Obama Begins Southern Tour to Urge Passge of Jobs Legislation
Posted October 17th, 2011 at 5:35 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama Monday began a campaign-style bus tour of two southern states to promote his economic policies and put pressure on Republicans in Congress to pass at least part of his $447 billion jobs bill The president is spending three days in North Carolina and Virginia, states that he won in 2008 and […]
