Tunisia’s interim prime minister says the country’s elections have been further postponed until October 23. Beji Caid Essebsi announced the latest one week delay on Wednesday. Officials said it is to ensure the vote is free and transparent. The elections were first set for July. The vote will be the first since the January ouster […]
Rampaging Elephants Trample Indian Man to Death
Two wild elephants went on a three-hour rampage in the Indian city of Mysore on Wednesday, trampling one man to death. Authorities said the elephants entered the city from a nearby forest and panicked residents in the southern Indian city. The elephants attacked a cow, roamed onto the campus of a women’s college and romped […]
Iran to Move, Triple Higher-Enriched Uranium Production
Iran’s nuclear chief says the country will move its production of higher enriched uranium to a new site, while also tripling its production capacity for the nuclear fuel. Iranian state media on Wednesday quoted Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani saying Iran will transfer production of 20 percent-enriched uranium to its Fordo facility near the city of Qom this […]
Coal Drivers Go on Trial in Death of Mongolian Herder
Chinese state media say two Chinese coal miners have gone on trial for murder in Inner Mongolia in a case that prompted large-scale protests in the region. The official Xinhua news agency said Wednesday about 160 people witnessed the trial, including relatives of both the accused and the victim. The agency said prosecutors said the […]
Japan’s Nikkei Makes Slight Gains
Japanese markets closed higher Wednesday, while the U.S. dollar is lower against the Japanese yen. Tokyo’s Nikkei index gained nearly one-tenth of one percent to finish at 9,449. In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 79.91, a loss of nearly one-quarter of a yen from Tuesday. Gold is trading at $1,536.60 an ounce.
Lagarde Takes Bid for IMF Top Job to China
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde is in China seeking support for her bid to become the next managing director of the International Monetary Fund. Lagarde arrived in Beijing Wednesday after a visit to India, where she held talks with her counterpart Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. She will hold two days of talks […]
Rights Groups Attack Kyrgyzstan’s Handling of 2010 Ethnic Riots
Two human rights groups have concluded that Kyrgyzstan’s failure to prosecute those responsible for last year’s deadly ethnic riots could ignite new violence. A year ago this month, about 470 people were killed, thousands injured and hundred of thousands displaced as ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks clashed in southern Kyrgyzstan. Now, Amnesty International and Human Rights […]
Taiwan Mulls Mobile Phone Ban for School Children
Authorities in Taiwan are considering whether to ban the use of mobile phones in schools by children under age 15. Ministry of Education officials say they will hold a meeting to discuss the recommendation from a private-sector environmental group. The proposal was prompted by a World Health Organization report last week saying mobile phone use […]
Syrian Refugees Fleeing Threats Enter Turkey
A group of 122 Syrian refugees has crossed into neighboring Turkey, as civilians flee a restive border town following a government vow to respond “decisively” to recent violence. The group entered Turkey Wednesday near the town of Karbeyaz after Syria accused “armed gangs” of “massacring” 120 of its security men. Residents and activists disputed the […]
Chicago Jury to Deliberate in Mumbai Attacks
A U.S. jury begins deliberations Wednesday in the trial of a Pakistani-born Canadian national charged with helping plan the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. A jury in Chicago heard closing arguments Tuesday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victoria Peters told jurors Tuesday it was clear that Tahawwur Rana helped confessed conspirator David Coleman Headley scout […]