Obama and Romney head into the final days of 2012 White House race. And there is another big jump in the refugee numbers in Syria. I’m Frances Alonzo reporting from Washington.
With their debates now history, U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican (challenger) Mitt Romney return to the campaign trail. They are to round up any remaining wavering voters in the final two weeks before the November 6th election. Both candidates will be traveling to a number of states that hold a large number of the 270 (electoral) votes needed to win the White House. Mr. Obama will hold a rally in Florida just before flying to Ohio, where he will campaign with Vice President Joe Biden. Romney will travel west to Nevada and Colorado for campaign rallies with Congressman Paul Ryan, his vice presidential running mate. In their final debate last night, President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney battled over foreign policy issues. Dan Robinson reports.
The 90 minute encounter was Governor Romney’s chance to put to rest doubts about his ability to handle foreign affairs challenges, and an opportunity for President Obama to (solidify) his image as someone better equipped to manage foreign policy and national security issues. Governor Romney pointed to what he called disturbing events during Mr. Obama’s first term in office, including 30,000 dead in Syria, the attack on Americans in Libya, and an Iran four years closer to a nuclear weapon. Libya and the killing of Americans in Benghazi was discussed, with Mr. Obama repeating his determination to find the killers. Dan Robinson, VOA News, Washington.
Both U.S. presidential candidates have used Monday’s foreign policy debate to get tough on China. President Obama described China as an adversary but said he looked forward to partnering with that nation as long as it follows international trade rules. Mr. Obama said China doesn’t have to be an (adversary), but warned that it cannot be allowed to, in his words, roll all over us and steal our jobs.
The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that Syrian warplanes have raided a neighborhood in Aleppo. The Observatory said one rebel was killed. The French News Agency said at least two rebels were killed in fighting outside Damascus. There were reports of gunfire in the city. As hostilities in Syria continue (unabated), the U.N. refugee agency reports the number of registered Syrian refugees has climbed to more than 358,000. The UNHCR says Lebanon has now become the third country in the region, after Turkey and Jordan to exceed the 100,000 mark. Lisa Schlein reports from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.
The U.N. refugee agency says the recent unrest in Lebanon has temporarily disrupted its operations in the country, including registration of Syrian refugees in Tripoli, Akar, Beirut and Sidon in southern Lebanon. Last week, a huge car bomb blasted in Beirut killed eight people including a top Lebanese security official. The bombing which many Lebanese (blame on) Damascus has increased fears in the country that the war in Syria could spill over its borders. UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming says her agency is assessing the security situation in Lebanon and hopes to resume all operations as soon as conditions allow. Lisa Schlein for VOA News, Geneva.
Ten Afghan security personnel have been killed in fighting with Taliban (militants) in the western province of Herat. A local police spokesman says five police officers and five soldiers were killed Monday. He says a district police chief was among those killed in the fighting, which began when the Taliban attacked a police convoy.
Insurgents shelled the capital of Sudan’s South Kordofan state Tuesday, leaving two children dead and eight people wounded. The attack happened Tuesday in Kadugli, which is a town near the border with Sudan. The rebel SPLM-North confirmed the (causalities) to VOA. A rebel spokesman says the shelling was a response to recent government air raids on villages in the region.
Qatar’s emir today received a hero’s welcome in the Gaza Strip. He is the first head of state to visit the Palestinian territory since Islamist Hamas took control in 2007.
Spain says its recession is deepening. The Bank of Spain said today that its economy (shrank) for the fifth straight quarter in the July-to-September period. The central bank said the country’s economic fortunes dropped 0.4%, matching the contraction in the second quarter. Job losses have mounted in Spain, with more than a quarter of the work force unemployed.
More at voanews.com, I’m Frances Alonzo, VOA News.