Greece has been rebuked by the U.N.’s high court for blocking Macedonia’s bid to join NATO in 2008 over the long-running dispute by the former Yugoslav republic’s use of the name “Macedonia.” Monday’s ruling by the International Court of Justice in the Hague does not settle the dispute but adds weight to the Skopje government’s […]
World Court Rebukes Greece for Blocking Macedonia’s NATO Membership
Posted December 5th, 2011 at 5:10 pm (UTC-5)
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UN Council Tightens Sanctions Against Eritrea
Posted December 5th, 2011 at 5:05 pm (UTC-5)
The U.N. Security Council has tightened sanctions against Eritrea after African nations appealed to the world body for more action. The council Monday voted 13-0 in favor of the resolution with China and Russia abstaining. The resolution condemns Eritrea for violating sanctions imposed in 2009 by continuing to provide support to Islamist militants in Somalia, […]
Majority Narrows for Putin’s Party in Russia Polls; OSCE: Violations Mar Vote
Posted December 5th, 2011 at 4:10 pm (UTC-5)
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s ruling party has suffered surprisingly steep losses in parliamentary elections, giving the man who has dominated Russian politics for more than a decade a much reduced majority. With 96 percent of the vote counted, United Russia on Monday looked set to win 238 seats in the 450-seat State Duma, or […]
Obama Pushes for US Payroll Tax Cut Extension
Posted December 5th, 2011 at 3:45 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama renewed his push Monday for an extension and expansion of a payroll tax cut that benefits 160 million American workers. The current tax cut was worth about $1,000 to the typical worker this year, but it expires at the end of the month and workers’ taxes would increase in January. Mr. […]
Greenpeace Breaks Into French Nuclear Plant
Posted December 5th, 2011 at 3:30 pm (UTC-5)
Activists from the environmental group Greenpeace have broken into a nuclear power station outside of Paris in an attempt to draw attention to the vulnerability of France’s atomic energy sites. Greenpeace activists tried to enter several nuclear sites around the country Monday, but had the most success at the Nogent-sur-Seine plant, where nine activists were […]
Afghan Allies Pledge Long-Term Support
Posted December 5th, 2011 at 3:20 pm (UTC-5)
World leaders have pledged long-term support to war-torn Afghanistan as international combat troops prepare to leave the country by 2014. Some 100 nations and international organizations attended Monday’s international conference, in the Germany city of Bonn, which was aimed at charting the course for the country’s future. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the […]
Merkel, Sarkozy Call for New EU Treaty to Solve Debt Crisis
Posted December 5th, 2011 at 3:05 pm (UTC-5)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are calling for a new European Union treaty to control spending, in an effort to end Europe’s debt crisis and save the continent’s euro currency. The two leaders said after meeting in Paris Monday they want all 27 EU nations to agree that national government budgets […]
At Least 28 Pilgrims Killed in Iraq Bombings
Posted December 5th, 2011 at 2:50 pm (UTC-5)
At least 28 people have been killed in Iraq in a series of bomb attacks targeting Shi’ite pilgrims during an annual religious observance. Bombings Monday at Hilla, south of Baghdad, killed at least 18 people and wounded more than 30. In Baghdad, other bombings killed at least 10 people and wounded another 30. Many of […]
Britain Doubles 2012 Olympics Security Budget
Posted December 5th, 2011 at 2:25 pm (UTC-5)
British Olympic officials have almost doubled the budget for providing security at next year’s 2012 Summer Games in London. In an announcement Monday, officials said they would be spending an additional $424 million in order to increase the security staff from around 10,000 to the 23,700. The security staff is tasked with protecting more than […]
Japan to Return Remaining Korean Royal Documents
Posted December 5th, 2011 at 2:10 pm (UTC-5)
Japan says it will give back to South Korea the remaining volumes of historical Korean royal documents looted during its early 20th century annexation of the Korean peninsula. Japanese and South Korean news reports say Tokyo will ship 1,200 volumes of royal documents to Seoul on Tuesday, as part of an ongoing commitment to improve […]
