The wife of a diplomat from the Democratic Republic of Congo who is stationed in Serbia, has been arrested on suspicion of cigarette smuggling. Esther Pascaline Bombeto was arrested by Romanian police after crossing into Romania from Serbia. Romanian police said they found at least 18,000 cigarette packages concealed in the car. A police spokesman […]
African Diplomat’s Wife Accused of Smuggling
Gunmen in Iraq Storm Government Compound
Officials in Iraq say gunmen have stormed a government compound in Diyala province after two bombs exploded outside. Reports say shooting could be heard after the gunmen entered the compound Tuesday in the provincial capital, Baquba. Officials say at least 10 people were wounded.
Kachin Rebels Say Burmese Fighting Likely to Spread
Leaders of an ethnic-based army in Burma are warning of a wider war unless government troops immediately halt an offensive against bases of the Kachin Independence Army. Reports Tuesday quoted KIA officials saying the rebel movement had “lost patience” and ordered its forces to resist unless the government pulled back by midnight Monday. The group […]
Japanese Cabinet Approves Nuclear Accident Compensation Plan
Japan’s Cabinet has approved legislation that will help the owners of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant compensate people affected by the disaster. The plan calls for the creation of a fund that Tokyo Electric Power Company will use to pay reparations to tens of thousands of residents who were living within a 20-kilometer evacuation zone […]
Solid Gains on Japan’s Nikkei; Dollar Also in Positive Territory
Japanese markets closed higher Tuesday, while the U.S. dollar is higher against the Japanese yen. Tokyo’s Nikkei index gained just over one percent to finish at 9,548. In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 80.38 yen, a gain of nearly one-fourth of a yen from Monday. The Taipei market rose one and one-third percent […]
Pakistani Security Official Removed Over Beating Death
Pakistani leaders have removed the regional head of a security force because of a controversial videotape that appears to show his men shooting an unarmed young man and allowing him to bleed to death. Reports say that Major General Ijaz Chaudhary was removed from his post Tuesday, several days after a judge ordered the move. […]
Chile Volcano Causing Widespread Flight Disruptions
A cloud of ash from an erupting volcano in southern Chile has – for a third day, Tuesday – disrupted air travel in South America, Australia and New Zealand, causing widespread delays. More than 60,000 passengers have been stranded. While flights in some areas have resumed, including Melbourne, planes to and from New Zealand and […]
Dalai Lama Dismisses Gillard Snub, Issues Climate Warning
The Dalai Lama says he is not troubled by the fact that Prime Minister Julia Gillard had decided not to meet him during his current visit to Australia. Ms. Gillard’s decision not to meet the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader has been widely reported as a snub. But the Dalai Lama said Tuesday he has nothing […]
IMF Narrows Field of Candidates for Top Spot
The International Monetary Fund has narrowed the list of candidates for its top position. The IMF board says French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde and Mexican Central Bank Chief Agustin Carstens are the remaining contenders to lead the global lender. The move eliminates the bid of Israeli Central Bank chief Stanley Fischer, whose selection would have […]
Rights Group Slams Malaysia for Inviting Sudanese President
Amnesty International is urging Malaysia to withdraw an invitation for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to visit the country and to arrest him for crimes against humanity if he turns up. In a statement Tuesday, the London-based rights group said Malaysia should not turn itself into “a port of call for fugitives from international justice.” The […]