At least three Yemeni soldiers were killed on Friday after an explosion in the southern port city of Aden. The blast in Aden’s free-trade zone came after Yemeni security forces opened fire on thousands of people gathered nearby for a funeral, killing at least one person. The violence wounded at least six other people Friday. […]
Pakistan’s Military Rejects Phone Report on Bin Laden’s Links
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 3:50 pm (UTC-5)
Pakistan’s military has rejected a U.S. media report that says a cell phone found during the raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan contained contacts to a militant group that has “strong ties” to Pakistan’s intelligence agency. A military spokesman called The New York Times news report Friday part of a “smear […]
US Markets Decline
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 1:15 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. stock market indexes fell sharply in Friday’s midday trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost eight-tenths of a percent, the S&P 500 dropped one percent, while the NASDAQ lost 1.2 percent. European stock markets were mixed at the close of trading. London’s Financial Times 100 index advanced four-tenths of a percent to end at […]
Protesters, Security Forces Face Off in Syria; 3 Dead
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 10:35 am (UTC-5)
Thousands of protesters took to the streets across Syria Friday in another round of demonstrations aimed at overthrowing President Bashar Assad. Activists report at least three people were killed when security forces fired on protesters in a suburb of Damascus. The demonstrators gathered throughout the north and around the capital, Damascus, despite a heavy military […]
Senegal Drops Bid to Change Constitution After Protests
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 6:55 pm (UTC-5)
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade has abandoned efforts to change the constitution as clashes erupted between riot police and opposition supporters in the capital, Dakar. Thousand of protesters, some throwing stones, gathered outside Senegal’s parliament, where lawmakers were meeting Thursday to debate the proposed changes. Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators. […]
US Stocks Decline
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 2:05 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. stock market indexes fell sharply in Thursday’s midday trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated 1.2 percent, the S&P 500 lost 1.1 percent, and the NASDAQ dropped two-tenths of a percent. European stock markets were lower at the close of trading. London’s Financial Times 100 index lost 1.7 percent to close at 5,674. The […]
Obama’s Troop-Withdrawal Plan May Be Risky, US Commander Says
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 12:15 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama has told the American people he is withdrawing 33,000 troops from Afghanistan, and he is delivering the same message to U.S. soldiers Thursday. He told VOA in an interview broadcast worldwide, including in Afghanistan, that the United States is not abandoning the country by withdrawing troops. He said U.S. forces will […]
US First Lady To Visit Prison Where Mandela Was Jailed
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 10:05 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama will visit Thursday the Robben Island prison where former South African President Nelson Mandela was jailed for 18 years. The first lady met with Mr. Mandela at his home in Johannesburg Tuesday, at the beginning of her two-nation tour of southern Africa. On Wednesday, Mrs. Obama delivered an emotional address […]
EU Agrees to Expand Syria Sanctions
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 9:35 pm (UTC-5)
European Union diplomats say the 27-nation bloc has agreed to expand sanctions against Syria, adding seven individuals, including three Iranians, linked to a Syrian crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising. The diplomats said Wednesday the seven individuals will be added to a list of 23 people and entities already under an EU asset freeze and travel […]
Obama Expected to Announce Plans to Withdraw ‘Surge’ Troops from Afghanistan
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 5:50 pm (UTC-5)
President Barack Obama is expected to announce plans for the withdrawal of some 30,000 American troops sent to Afghanistan in a surge announced in 2009. The president is to lay out his plans for Afghanistan in an address to the nation Wednesday, nearly a decade after the war began. In the evening speech from the […]
