A top North Korean diplomat described the first session of talks with U.S. officials Thursday as “constructive and interesting.” Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan, the head of a North Korean delegation, spoke briefly as he headed to lunch after a morning meeting at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. Special envoy Stephen Bosworth […]
US Congress Set To Vote On Debt Issue
Posted July 28th, 2011 at 11:55 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. House of Representatives is to vote Thursday on a plan by Republican House Speaker John Boehner to raise the debt ceiling and cut spending. Boehner’s plan has attracted criticism from the ultra-conservative Tea Party faction of the Republican party, and opposition from Democrats. Conservatives say it cuts too little spending, Democrats complain Boehner’s […]
Libyan Rebels Advance in Western Region
Posted July 28th, 2011 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
Libyan rebels say they have seized the western town of Ghezaia, after launching an offensive in the region on Thursday. Medical officials say at least two rebels have been killed in fighting with forces loyal to leader Moammar Gadhafi in the area, which is near the Tunisian border. Mr. Gadhafi’s forces have used the town […]
US Stocks Advance in Early Thursday Trading
Posted July 28th, 2011 at 10:30 am (UTC-5)
U.S. stock indexes moved slightly higher in early trading Thursday. Both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the broader S & P 500 index are up one-tenth of a percentage point, while the NASDAQ index is ahead two-tenths of a percent. Stocks are falling in afternoon trading in Europe. London’s Financial Times index is down […]
Taliban Attacks Government Buildings in Southern Afghanistan
Posted July 28th, 2011 at 8:20 am (UTC-5)
Afghan authorities say suicide bombers attacked government buildings in the volatile southern province of Uruzgan Thursday, killing at least 17 people and wounding 37 others. Officials say the attackers targeted the governor’s house and police headquarters in Tarin Kot with explosives and gunfire. They say the casualties include civilians, among them at least one child […]
New Al-Qaida Chief Hails Syrian Protesters
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 9:20 pm (UTC-5)
Al-Qaida’s new leader is claiming solidarity with Syria’s pro-democracy movement, while urging protesters there to direct their anti-government uprising also against the United States and Israel. In a video message posted on Islamist websites Wednesday, Ayman al-Zawahri directly addressed the Syrian demonstrators who have risen up against President Bashar al-Assad’s rule despite a bloody government […]
Britain Recognizes Libyan Rebel Council; Gadhafi Deadline Expires
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 7:55 pm (UTC-5)
Britain has granted diplomatic recognition to Libya’s opposition ruling council while the group’s leadership withdrew an offer for leader Moammar Gadhafi to stay in the country if he ceded power. British Foreign Secretary William Hague Wednesday said his government also expelled all of Libya’s diplomats and invited the rebel Transitional National Council to replace them. […]
WFP Begins Food Airlifts to Somalia
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. World Food Program has begun emergency airlifts of food to the drought-stricken Horn of Africa. A WFP official has confirmed to VOA that the first plane, carrying more than 14 tons of food, landed Wednesday in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. This is believed to be the first airlift of food to Somalia since […]
US Stocks Fall
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
U.S. stock market indexes fell sharply in Wednesday’s early trading as investors worried that partisan bickering in Washington might eventually result in a default on U.S. obligations. The Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated 1.1 percent, the S&P 500 fell 1.5 percent and the NASDAQ lost 2.1 percent. European stock markets were lower in afternoon trading. […]
Indian, Pakistani Foreign Ministers Call for New Cooperation
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 9:40 am (UTC-5)
The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan have hailed a “new era of cooperation,” after meeting for the first time since peace talks resumed earlier this year. While Wednesday’s talks in the Indian capital, New Delhi, produced no major breakthroughs, Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna said relations were on the right track. Pakistan’s newly-appointed foreign […]
