North Korean state television reports that Supreme Leader Kim Jong Il has died at the age of 69. An announcer said he died Saturday of physical and mental over-work. Some reports say he died from a heart attack, and was traveling on a train at the time. Kim Jong Il came to power after his […]
Death Toll from Philippines Storm Exceeds 650
Posted December 18th, 2011 at 11:00 pm (UTC-5)
The death toll from tropical storm Washi in the Philippines reached 652 people Sunday, as rescuers continued to search for more than 900 others still missing. Washi struck the southern island of Mindanao Friday night, blanketing the area with heavy rain and high winds. Flash floods and landslides washed away entire houses with families inside […]
Egyptian Activists, Security Forces Clash for 3rd Day in Cairo
Posted December 18th, 2011 at 9:40 pm (UTC-5)
Egyptian anti-government activists and security forces have engaged in a third day of street battles in Cairo. Protesters are demanding that the country’s military rulers hand power to a civilian administration. The anti-government activists threw rocks at security forces Sunday on a road leading from Tahrir Square to the seat of government. Egyptian soldiers set […]
More Protests in Russia Over Alleged Election Fraud
Posted December 18th, 2011 at 6:10 pm (UTC-5)
Thousands marched again Sunday in Moscow and St. Petersburg against alleged fraud in this month’s Russian parliamentary elections. The Communist party organized the Moscow protests while several different parties were behind the St. Petersburg march. But Sunday’s protests were much smaller than those held across Russia last week. Both the opposition and outside observers say […]
US Troops Leave Iraq, Ending Almost 9 Years of War
Posted December 18th, 2011 at 6:05 pm (UTC-5)
The last convoy of U.S. soldiers has left Iraq, ending an almost nine-year U.S.-led war that ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and left a fragile democracy still facing insurgents and sectarian divisions. The final convoy of 100 U.S. military vehicles carrying about 500 troops crossed into Kuwait Sunday morning , leaving behind several hundred U.S. […]
Afghan’s Karzai Condemns NATO Night Raids
Posted December 18th, 2011 at 5:35 pm (UTC-5)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has condemned night raids conducted by NATO-led coalition forces and has called for them to be stopped. In a statement Sunday, Mr. Karzai said a raid in southeastern Paktia province a day earlier struck the home of a senior counter-narcotics official and not the targeted leader of the Haqqani militant network. […]
Israel Releases 550 Palestinian Prisoners
Posted December 18th, 2011 at 5:25 pm (UTC-5)
Israel has released 550 Palestinian prisoners in the second stage of a deal with Hamas that brought home one Israeli soldier after five years of captivity in the Gaza Strip. Among those released Sunday were 55 minors, aged 14 to 17. Israel released 477 Palestinians in October in exchange for Israeli army Sergeant Gilad Shalit […]
Afghan President Condemns NATO Night Raids
Posted December 18th, 2011 at 5:05 pm (UTC-5)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has condemned night raids conducted by NATO-led coalition forces and has called for them to be stopped. In a statement released Sunday, Mr. Karzai said Saturday’s raid in southeastern Paktia Province struck the home of a senior counter-narcotics official and not the targeted leader of the Haqqani militant network. The raid […]
Iran TV Shows Alleged US Spy ‘Confessing’
Posted December 18th, 2011 at 4:45 pm (UTC-5)
Iran state television has broadcast a video of a young man who the Tehran government says is a CIA spy. The broadcast Sunday identified him as Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, who was born in Arizona to Iranian parents. It said Hekmati was specially trained and served at U.S. bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. The video shows […]
Egyptian Activists, Security Forces Clash for 3rd Day in Cairo
Posted December 18th, 2011 at 4:25 pm (UTC-5)
Egyptian anti-government activists and security forces have engaged in a third day of street battles in Cairo as protesters demand that the country’s military rulers hand power immediately to a civilian administration. The anti-government activists threw rocks at security forces Sunday on a road leading from Tahrir Square to the seat of government. Egyptian soldiers […]
