Obama nominates ambassadors to Pakistan, Afghanistan
US President Barack Obama chose two veteran US diplomats from the embassy in Kabul to be ambassadors to Afghanistan and Pakistan on Tuesday. Former Deputy Ambassador in Kabul James Cunningham will be the new Ambassador to Afghanistan. Richard Olson, an economic development chief in Kabul, will become Ambassador to Pakistan. Before taking his post in Kabul, Cunningham served as Ambassador to Israel from 2008 to 2011. Olson served as Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates from 2008 to 2011.
Liberal alliance wins Libyan elections
Former interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril's National Forces Alliance has won 39 seats, while the Muslim Brotherhood's Justice and Construction party came in second with 17 seats among those 80 allocated for parties, the Libyan election commission says. The remaining 120 seats are allocated for independent candidates, making the overall balance of power still unclear. On July 7, about 62 percent of Libya's registered voters took part in the first election after the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi last year.
British billionaire charged with preventing wife's 'lawful and decent burial'
Billionaire Hans Kristian Rausing has been charged with preventing the 'lawful and decent burial' of his wife, British police say. The husband of Eva Rausing, one of Britain's richest women, was arrested on suspicion of murder in her death last Fraday. The body of 48-year-old Eva was found last Monday at the couple's London home. The Metropolitan Police said detectives were treating the death as "unexplained."
Kadima party quits Israeli government
Israel's centrist Kadima party has voted to quit the governing coalition. Party leader Shaul Mofaz said his party disagreed with Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to dissolve the Knesset’s so-called Plessner committee, responsible for passing a law that abolished the exemption from mandatory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews. Kadima only joined the governing coalition in May.
Syrian rebels claim they shot down helicopter over Damascus
Syrian rebels said they had shot down an army helicopter over the Damascus district of Qaboun on Tuesday. “Helicopters are flying at low altitude,” a senior rebel officer told Reuters. “It's easy to target them using anti-aircraft weapons.” Tuesday has seen the third day of fierce clashes in the Syrian capital between the government forces and rebels.
London cabbies block central square over Olympic traffic rules
Hundreds of London taxi drivers have blocked a major intersection in the center of the city to protest their exclusion from the road lanes dedicated to Olympic traffic. Drivers blared their horns as they jammed Parliament Square on Tuesday, AP reports. The cabbies are not allowed into the “Games Lanes” reserved for Olympic athletes and officials. The first lane already opened near Heathrow Airport, and the others will be used two days before the games kick off.
Israeli intelligence chief says Jihadis head for Syria border
Global jihadis may turn the area next to the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights into an arena for anti-Israel operations, Israel's military intelligence chief has warned. Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi said militants have been penetrating the border area as the Syrian army has moved forces out to battle rebels. The intelligence chief also predicted that Syrian President Bashar Assad will eventually be toppled, AP reports.
Iraq urges its citizens to leave Syria
The Iraqi government on Tuesday urged its citizens in Syria to return home because of increased attacks against them. “Iraqis are guests who live temporarily in Syria and the Iraqi government calls on them to return to the country,” government spokesman Ali Dabbagh said, as cited by AFP. Iraqis living in Syria are mainly refugees from their country's own violence.
No comments:
Post a Comment