Activists say Syrian security forces killed at least 17 people on Friday as more than 200,000 protesters rallied against President Bashar al-Assad’s government. Activists say most of the deaths took place in the flashpoint Homs region, where a huge crowd gathered to voice opposition to the Arab League’s decision to postpone an emergency meeting on […]
Syrian Forces Kill 17; Huge Protests in Homs
Posted December 16th, 2011 at 3:20 pm (UTC-5)
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US Congress Nears Budget Deal to Avert Possible Shutdown
Posted December 16th, 2011 at 2:10 pm (UTC-5)
Leaders in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives say they have reached an agreement on funding the federal government that will avert a possible shutdown of most government operations. Republican House Speaker John Boehner said Friday morning that a bill to fund the government was put together in collaboration with lawmakers from both major […]
ICC Drops Charges Against Rwandan Suspected in Congo Violence
Posted December 16th, 2011 at 2:05 pm (UTC-5)
The International Criminal Court has dropped charges against a Rwandan man suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of Congo. ICC judges on Friday ordered the release of Callixte Mbarushimana, saying prosecutors had not presented enough evidence to support the charges against him. Mbarushimana had faced eight counts of war […]
Italian Parliament Approves Latest Austerity Plan
Posted December 16th, 2011 at 1:10 pm (UTC-5)
The Italian government has overwhelmingly won a crucial parliamentary vote of confidence Friday over an austerity package intended to help the third largest economy in the eurozone get its finances in order. The lower house of parliament voted 495-88 in favor of a nearly $40 billion austerity package Friday, with the upper house voting next […]
Russian Aid Enters North Kosovo, Ending Standoff
Posted December 16th, 2011 at 12:40 pm (UTC-5)
Aid from Russia is finally making its way to minority Serbs in northern Kosovo, ending a tense four-day standoff. A convoy of almost 25 trucks passed through the border crossing at Jarinje Friday, escorted by European Union police. The convoy had been held up as a result of an ongoing dispute between Serbia, which has […]
Death Toll From Toxic Liquor Hits 170 in Eastern India
Posted December 16th, 2011 at 12:40 pm (UTC-5)
Police are raiding illegal distilleries in eastern India, where the number of people who have died after drinking toxic home-brewed liquor has reached 170. At least 90 others in the Sangrampur area of West Bengal state remain critically ill. Local officials say 12 people have been arrested so far for allegedly making and distributing the […]
WikiLeaks Suspect Appears in Military Court
Posted December 16th, 2011 at 12:35 pm (UTC-5)
A defense attorney on Friday called for the presiding officer to withdraw from the case of a U.S. Army soldier accused of leaking classified documents. At the opening of the pre-trial hearing for Private First Class Bradley Manning, attorney David Coombs argued that the hearing officer should step down because he works as a Justice […]
Police Station in Kabul Under Attack
Posted December 16th, 2011 at 12:35 pm (UTC-5)
Afghan authorities say a police station in the capital Kabul is under attack. There was an explosion at the station Friday and gunfire was ongoing there as police battled the attackers. The identity of the assailants was not immediately clear, and there was no word on possible casualties. Earlier this month, a suicide attack in […]
WTO Officially Accepts Russian Membership
Posted December 16th, 2011 at 12:10 pm (UTC-5)
The World Trade Organization has officially accepted Russia as a member, after 18 years of negotiations. A meeting of ministers from the trade body’s existing 153 member countries gave final approval Friday to membership for Russia, which in return has agreed to measures including a cap on tariffs, limits on subsidies and allowing foreign banks […]
