Clashes between forces loyal to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and student protesters backed by military forces in the capital, Sana’a, left at least 40 people dead Saturday, a day after the president unexpectedly returned to the country and called for a truce. Government forces attacked a student protest camp overnight, causing many casualties. A […]
Clashes in Yemen’s Capital Leave 40 Dead
Libya’s Provisional Fighters Attack Gadhafi Hometown
Libya’s provisional government fighters backed by NATO warplanes have fought their way into former leader Moammar Gadhafi’s hometown of Sirte. National Transitional Council fighters faced stiff resistance from snipers and other pro-Gadhafi forces. Local authorities said at least two NTC fighters were killed and more than 20 wounded in intense battles. NATO said its forces […]
Low Turnout in Bahrain, UAE Elections
Turnout was low for elections Saturday in the Gulf nations of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. In Bahrain, the Shi’ite opposition boycotted parliamentary elections to fill 18 seats vacated in February, when Shi’ite lawmakers in the Wefaq party quit to protest the government’s bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators. Candidates for four of the 18 […]
New Libyan, Egyptian Leaders Debut on UN Stage
Libyan National Transitional Council leader Mahmoud Jibril and Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr made their debut on the U.N. stage Saturday as they addressed the annual General Assembly session. Mr. Jibril called on the international community to lift sanctions against his country. He said “a new Libya is coming to life” as a nation […]
Defunct Satellite Falls Over Pacific Ocean
The U.S. space agency says pieces of a decommissioned satellite have fallen back to Earth over the Pacific Ocean. NASA says it may never be known exactly when or where the pieces of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite fell, but it is most likely at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. NASA has said the […]
6 Insurgents, 1 NATO Soldier Killed in Afghanistan
NATO says a combined Afghan-coalition security force killed six insurgents during a security operation in the north, while one of its service members died during a clash with insurgents in the south. A NATO statement said that among the six insurgents killed in Chahar Bolak district in Balkh province was a Taliban leader, responsible for […]
Palestinian Official Critical of Call for Talks With Israel
The Palestinian foreign minister said Saturday a new initiative calling for the resumption of peace talks with Israel is insufficient because it does not include a call for an Israeli settlement construction freeze. Riyad al-Malki criticized the plan from the Middle East Quartet one day after Palestinians formally launched a bid for United Nations statehood […]
US Swimmer “Gaining Strength” In Cuba To Florida Trek
U.S. endurance swimmer Diana Nyad appeared “to be gaining strength,” as she recovered from multiple Man o’ War stings while making her second attempt in two months to swim from Havana, Cuba to the Florida Keys. “Her rest times per hour are less and less,” according to a post on her blog. The 62-year-old swimmer […]
Clashes in Yemen’s Capital Leave 40 Dead
Clashes between forces loyal to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and student protesters and military forces protecting them in the capital Sana’a left at least 40 people dead Saturday, a day after the president unexpectedly returned to the country and called for a truce. Government forces fired ammunition and mortar shells at a student protest […]
China Officials Punished After Tourist Beaten
China state media says six local officials have been punished after a tourist was dragged from his Beijing hotel and beaten after being mistaken for a petitioner. The Xinhua news agency says a tourist from Luoyang, in Henan province, was staying at a hotel earlier this month near the State Bureau of Letters and Calls, […]