Chinese censors are apparently blocking online discussion of former president Jiang Zemin, whose absence from a key Communist Party event in Beijing has sparked speculation that he is seriously ill. The 84-year-old Jiang was conspicuously missing Friday from state celebrations marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of China’s Communist Party. The Hong Kong economic […]
China Censors Internet Rumors on Jiang’s Health
2018 Winter Games Go to Pyeongchang, South Korea
Pyeongchang, South Korea, will host the 2018 Winter Olympics. The resort city about 180 kilometers east of Seoul defeated Munich, Germany, and Annecy, France, in a vote Wednesday by the International Olympic Committee, meeting in Durban, South Africa. Pyeongchang was bidding for the winter games for the third time, after close defeats for the 2010 […]
Ugandan Shopkeepers Strike Over Runaway Inflation
Shopkeepers in the Ugandan capital of Kampala and around the country shut their doors Wednesday, the start of a two-day strike to protest rising prices. The Kampala City Traders Association called for the strike after talks between traders and the government aimed at easing the growing cost of doing business failed. Ugandan police patrolled the […]
Britain to Withdraw 500 Troops from Afghanistan
Britain says it will withdraw 500 troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012, reducing the size of its force to 9,000. British Prime Minister David Cameron told Parliament Wednesday that the drawdown reflects progress made by the Afghan national security force ahead of the deadline for the complete handover of security control to local […]
Libyan Rebels Seize Village Near Tripoli
Libyan rebels have seized a village near the capital, Tripoli, following a battle with forces loyal to leader Moammar Gadhafi. Rebels said Wednesday they had gained control of al-Qawalish, which is located about 100 kilometers southwest of Tripoli. Earlier Wednesday, the rebel fighters used heavy arms to push into the mountainous area. Witnesses said they […]
Israeli Authorities Brace for Palestinian ‘Fly-In’ Activists
Dozens of Israeli police have been deployed to the country’s international airport at Tel Aviv in anticipation of the arrival of hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists later this week. Police and border guard officials were sent to Ben Gurion airport Wednesday to prepare for what is being called a pro-Palestinian “fly-in.” The 600 activists, who are […]
Iran Fires Missiles At Sea Near Strait of Hormuz
Iran announced Wednesday it had successfully test-fired several anti-ship missiles at sea as part of a 10-day military exercise that began last week. State news reports say the country’s elite Revolutionary Guards fired two missiles capable of hitting targets at a distance of 300 kilometers and a third “land-to-sea” missile with a range of up […]
Lagarde Pledges to Move Forward with IMF Reforms
The new head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, has pledged to move forward with reforms to give emerging economies more influence at the lending organization. Speaking Wednesday in her first news conference as IMF chief, the former French finance minister said the world economy is rebounding from the financial crisis, but unevenly, with […]
New Blast Shakes Northeast Nigeria
Suspected Islamic militants attacked a police patrol in northeastern Nigeria, wounding at least three officers. Major General Jack Nwachukwu Nwaogbo said the attackers threw a bomb at the patrol in the city of Maiduguri Wednesday. Witnesses report the blast was followed by sporadic bursts of gunfire. Officials are blaming the Boko Haram sect for Wednesday’s […]
Romania Favors Two-State Solution to Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc has told his visiting Israeli counterpart that Bucharest opposes unilateral solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said Romania supports a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, rather than unilateral steps – a position backed by Mr. Netanyahu. Mr. Boc spoke at a joint news conference Wednesday with Israeli Prime […]