Surrounded by armed soldiers and bloodstained walls, hundreds of mourners attended a memorial service Monday for the victims of a deadly Christmas Day blast at a Catholic church in Nigeria. The priest of St. Theresa’s, Father Isaac Achi, told the crowd that Sunday’s attack made him cry for the first time in his life. The […]
Memorial Service Held Outside Bombed Nigerian Church
Gilani Denies Plans to Fire Military Chiefs
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has denied media reports he was planning to fire the powerful chiefs of the army and the military intelligence agency, ISI. The reports about Army General Ashfaq Kayani and ISI head Ahmad Shuja Pasha are the latest speculation about a rift between civilian politicians and the military. Mr. Gilani […]
Finland Releases Impounded Ship, Without Missiles
Transport officials in Finland say a ship that docked in the Scandinavian country earlier this month has been allowed to leave after its cargo of 69 Patriot surface-to-air missiles and at least 150 tons of explosives were removed from the vessel. Authorities said Monday that the ban on the Thor Liberty was lifted Monday but […]
Ukraine, Russia Schedule Next Gas Talks
Ukraine and Russia have announced plans to hold their next talks on the price and volume of natural gas supply on January 15. Both countries on Monday mentioned the positive and constructive nature of the talks and appear optimistic that an agreement can be reached. Ukraine is trying to get a reduction in the amount […]
New North Korean Leader Meets Key South Korean Delegation
Newly-anointed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Monday in Pyongyang with a private delegation of prominent South Koreans, in his first public encounter with foreign visitors since the death of his father was announced last week. The meeting brought the 28-year-old Mr. Kim together with the widow of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung […]
Activists: Pro-Assad Forces Intensify Attacks Ahead of Monitors’ Visit
Syrian rights activists and witnesses say government forces have intensified attacks on the opposition protest hub of Homs, killing at least 20 people. This, ahead of an expected visit by Arab League monitors to the besieged city. The activists and witnesses say the Baba Amr district of Homs came under heavy shelling and gunfire from […]
Pope Benedict: String of Nigeria Attacks ‘Absurd’
Pope Benedict has denounced as “absurd” a string of Christmas day bombings in Nigeria, including one that killed 35 people at a Roman Catholic church. Speaking on Monday from his window overlooking St. Peter’s square, the Pope said he learned with profound sadness about the attacks, and invited people to pray for the victims. At […]
Afghanistan to Sign Oil Deal with China
Afghanistan has agreed to sign a deal with a state-owned Chinese oil company for oil exploration and extraction. President Hamid Karzai’s office announced Monday China National Petroleum Corporation will work with Afghan company Watan Group to develop three oil fields in northern Afghanistan. The area is estimated to hold around 87 million barrels of oil. […]
Panel Slams Japan Government, Power Company for Nuclear Plant Disaster
An independent Japanese panel probing the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is strongly criticizing both the plant’s operator and the government for mishandling the world’s worst nuclear crisis in 25 years. The assessment came Monday in an interim report released nine months after a massive earthquake and tsunami wrecked the plant northeast […]
Suicide Car Bombing Near Iraq Interior Ministry Kills 7
Iraqi authorities say a suicide bomber has blown up a car outside the interior ministry in Baghdad, killing seven people and wounding more than 30. Officials say the assailant drove his vehicle into a security barrier near the ministry during Monday’s morning rush hour. They say five policemen were among those killed. The attack follows […]