(new info grafs 2-3, edits throughout)) Witnesses in northern Mali say at least 20 people were killed Wednesday in clashes between Islamist militants and rebels fighting for a separate Tuareg state in the region. A VOA reporter said the al-Qaida-linked group MUJAO (The Unity Movement for Jihad in West Africa) seized control of a key […]
130 Rescued from Capsized Refugee Boat Off Australia
Posted June 27th, 2012 at 2:20 pm (UTC-5)
Australian authorities have rescued most of the people on board a crowded refugee boat that overturned Wednesday in the Indian Ocean. Rescuers saved 130 people from where the ship capsized, about 200 kilometers north of Australia’s remote Christmas Island. Authorities say one body has been recovered, and several others could still be missing. The sinking […]
Gunmen Attack Pro-Assad Syrian TV Station
Posted June 27th, 2012 at 12:50 pm (UTC-5)
Syria says rebel gunmen have stormed the headquarters of a pro-government television station, killing seven employees, while international envoy Kofi Annan announced a ministerial-level meeting later this week in Geneva that aims to end the escalating violence. Wednesday’s developments came as United Nations investigators accused President Bashar al-Assad’s forces of committing rights violations on “an […]
Egypt’s President-Elect Considers New Government
Posted June 25th, 2012 at 8:50 pm (UTC-5)
Egypt’s Islamist president-elect Mohamed Morsi has started work on forming what he pledges will be an inclusive government, one day after becoming the country’s first democratically elected civilian president. In one of several steps on Monday, Mr. Morsi moved into the offices of the presidential palace, formerly occupied by ousted president Hosni Mubarak until a […]
Spain, Cyprus Seek Bailouts for Their Ailing Banks
Posted June 25th, 2012 at 6:11 pm (UTC-5)
Spain and Cyprus — one of the euro currency bloc’s biggest economies and one of its smallest — both sought eurozone bailouts Monday for their financially troubled banks. Spain asked for up to a $125 billion rescue for banks left holding bad real estate loans. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Margallo said details of the bailout […]
Turkey Toughens Response to Syria’s Downing of Military Jet
Posted June 25th, 2012 at 5:05 pm (UTC-5)
Turkey has toughened its response to Syria’s downing of a Turkish military jet last week, saying it will ask fellow NATO members to consider the incident a Syrian attack on the whole alliance. NATO envoys are due to meet Tuesday at Turkey’s request, to discuss a reaction to the attack on the Turkish reconnaissance aircraft […]
US Supreme Court Rejects Much of Arizona Immigration Law
Posted June 25th, 2012 at 12:25 pm (UTC-5)
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday struck down most of the state of Arizona’s tough immigration law but ruled that one of the more controversial elements of the statute could go forward. The court upheld the requirement that state police officers with “reasonable suspicions” check the immigration status of people they stop for other reasons. […]
Islamist Morsi Named Egypt’s President-Elect, Promises Unity
Posted June 24th, 2012 at 7:15 pm (UTC-5)
Egyptian Islamist Mohammed Morsi has been declared the winner of the country’s first free presidential election, and has promised to work for national unity and uphold international agreements. In his first speech as president-elect on Sunday, Mr. Morsi offered a vision of inclusion — a sharp contrast to the polarizing campaign from which he emerged […]
Western Powers Condemn Syria for Downing Turkish Military Jet
Posted June 24th, 2012 at 4:25 pm (UTC-5)
Western powers have condemned Syria for shooting down a Turkish military jet in a maritime border area, and have pledged to cooperate with Ankara in holding Damascus to account for Friday’s incident. In a statement issued Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the downing of the aircraft was a “brazen act” that reflects […]
Turkey Says Its Warplane May Have Crossed Syrian Border
Posted June 23rd, 2012 at 4:45 pm (UTC-5)
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Saturday his country’s fighter jet shot down by Syrian air defense forces may have violated Syria’s air space. Mr. Gul said it is “routine” for warplanes flying at high speed to cross borders for short distances. He said a probe would determine if the U.S.-made F-4 jet was brought down […]
