China says it will begin accepting military recruits who are heavier and those sporting visible tattoos, as part of an ongoing push to attract young people into military service. The state-controlled China Daily newspaper said prospective enlistees in the People’s Liberation Army with tattoos on the face or neck will no longer be rejected if […]
Bangladesh, Russia Sign Nuclear Deal
Posted November 2nd, 2011 at 10:40 am (UTC-5)
Bangladesh and Russia plan to work together to build the first nuclear power plant in the energy-starved South Asian country. The Rooppur plant in Bangladesh’s Pabna district will consist of two 1,000 megawatt nuclear reactors. The $2 billion project is set to be completed in 2018. Under the deal, Russia will provide funding, fuel, and […]
Arab League to Unveil Syria Plan as Violence Continues
Posted November 2nd, 2011 at 10:30 am (UTC-5)
On Friday, the 22-member league sharpened its criticism of Syria after rights activists said Syrian security forces had shot and killed dozens of anti-government protesters as part of a widening crackdown on dissent. The United Nations says the number of people killed in the seven-month-old uprising has surpassed 3,000. The Syrian government says terrorists have […]
Eritrea Denies Reports it Sent Arms to Al-Shabab
Posted November 2nd, 2011 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
Eritrea has denied media reports that it sent two planes loaded with weapons to al-Shabab militants in southern Somalia. Eritrea’s foreign affairs ministry released a statement Wednesday calling the accusations “pure fabrication and outright lies.” The ministry again denied that it has supplied weapons to the al-Qaida-linked group and claimed the reports were part of […]
Fighting in Yemen’s Taiz Kills 9 People, Wounds 40
Posted November 2nd, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
Yemeni medics and activists say fighting between government forces and opposition fighters in the country’s third-largest city has killed at least nine people. They say troops loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh fired tank and mortar shells at several neighborhoods in the southern city of Taiz on Wednesday. Taiz has been a hub of a […]
Aid Group Struggling With Somali Refugee Flow into Ethiopia
Posted November 2nd, 2011 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
Medical aid group Doctors Without Borders says it is struggling to keep up with the increased number of refugees entering Ethiopia from war and famine-stricken Somalia. The group said Wednesday the number of Somalis entering the Dollo Ado refugee camp in Ethiopia has increased to about 300 per day in recent weeks — a level […]
British High Court Rejects Assange Extradition Appeal
Posted November 2nd, 2011 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has lost his appeal to prevent his extradition to Sweden to face sex charges. London’s High Court ruled against his appeal Wednesday. Swedish authorities want to question the 40-year-old Assange regarding an alleged rape of one woman and molestation of another. The 2010 incidents reportedly took place in Stockholm. Assange claims […]
European Leaders Set for Showdown on Greek Debt Referendum
Posted November 2nd, 2011 at 9:25 am (UTC-5)
European leaders are set for a showdown Wednesday with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou over his call for a referendum on a debt-relief agreement. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel summoned the Greek leader to a meeting in Cannes, France, a day ahead of the start of the Group of 20 world […]
Karzai: Afghanistan Needs Help to Fight Terrorist Groups
Posted November 2nd, 2011 at 9:00 am (UTC-5)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai is warning that there will not be any hope for peace in his country without help from its neighbors in fighting terror groups. Mr. Karzai told diplomats at an international conference’s in Turkey Wednesday that terrorist networks still are a major threat to Afghanistan’s security. He said that groups conducting what […]
Pakistan Grants India ‘Most Favored Nation’ Trade Status
Posted November 2nd, 2011 at 8:50 am (UTC-5)
The Pakistani Cabinet has approved a proposal granting India “most favored nation” status, a move aimed at boosting trade between the longtime nuclear-armed rivals. Pakistani Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan told a news conference in Islamabad Wednesday that the decision was unanimous. In September, the two countries’ trade ministers pledged to more than double the […]
