Activists say Syrian forces renewed tank fire in the central city Homs on Friday, as opposition leaders called for mass demonstrations to test the government’s commitment to a new peace plan. The Reuters news agency quotes activists who say government shelling killed at least three people in Homs on Friday. On Thursday, they blamed Syrian […]
US, South Korea to Conduct Joint Exercise on Deterring North Korean Threat
Posted November 4th, 2011 at 3:25 am (UTC-5)
South Korean military officials said Friday they will carry out joint exercises with the United States next week to hone the two allies’ ability to counter a North Korean nuclear threat. South Korea’s defense ministry said the so-called “tabletop exercises” will take place Tuesday and Wednesday. A tabletop exercise is a simulated interactive exercise that […]
South Africa Says Rhino Poaching Arrests Top 200 in 1 Year
Posted November 4th, 2011 at 3:25 am (UTC-5)
South Africa says authorities arrested more than 200 suspected rhino poachers during a one year period ending in March. A Department of Environmental Affairs report says 92 of the 214 suspects were arrested in Kruger National Park, home to the largest population of black and white rhinos in South Africa. It says 16 suspected poachers […]
Greek PM Faces Confidence Vote Amid Calls for Resignation
Posted November 4th, 2011 at 3:05 am (UTC-5)
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou faces a parliamentary vote of confidence on Friday, one day after scrapping a controversial referendum that had angered world leaders who are trying to formulate a bailout fund for the cash-strapped country. Mr. Papandreou on Thursday dropped plans for a nation-wide vote on the bailout deal after Greece’s center-right opposition […]
Japan Approves Billions in Aid to Tepco
Posted November 4th, 2011 at 2:30 am (UTC-5)
Japan’s government agreed Friday to a deal giving $11.5 billion in public funds to the Tokyo Electric Power Company to cover costs in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that crippled its Fukushima nuclear power plant. The government said the funds would help TEPCO with cleanup and dismantling of the plant and […]
US Tightens Drone Rules for Pakistan Attacks
Posted November 4th, 2011 at 2:25 am (UTC-5)
A prominent U.S. newspaper has reported the U.S. intelligence agency has tightened its rules on drone strikes in Pakistan. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday the concessions were made after military and diplomatic officials complained large strikes were damaging relations with Islamabad. The Journal says the new rules are a result of a “behind-the-scenes” battle […]
Palestinians Face Setback in U.N. Membership Bid
Posted November 4th, 2011 at 1:45 am (UTC-5)
France is expected to explain its decision on Friday to abstain from any vote on Palestinian membership in the United Nations. The move comes a day after U.N. envoys announced the planned abstentions of France, Britain and Colombia. Palestinians need at least nine votes in the 15-member U.N. Security Council for their membership resolution to […]
G20 Turns Attention to World Economy, Amid Greek Turmoil
Posted November 4th, 2011 at 12:35 am (UTC-5)
World leaders at the second and final day of the G20 economic summit in France plan to focus on the stabilization of the global economy, following a day largely dominated by internal Greek political wrangling that threatened to plunge the eurozone into economic disaster. Leaders of the world’s biggest economies are expected on Friday to […]
Pro-Palestinian Activists Attempt to Break Israeli Blockade
Posted November 4th, 2011 at 12:25 am (UTC-5)
Vessels carrying pro-Palestinian activists who are trying to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza are due to arrive in the region on Friday — a move that sets the stage for a confrontation with Israel. The 27 activists from countries including the U.S., Canada, and Ireland set sail from Turkey on Wednesday. They say their goal […]
China Breaks Up Baby-Trafficking Ring
Posted November 4th, 2011 at 12:05 am (UTC-5)
Chinese authorities say they broke up a human trafficking ring involving poor migrant couples, who were selling their babies through brokers. The state-run Global Times newspaper said Friday that police in eastern Shangdon province’s Zoucheng city found last month that 17 babies had been sold in the city. The article said police rescued 13 of […]
