India’s prime minister is defending a landmark anti-corruption bill, in the face of heated debate in parliament and ever-growing public frustration. Critics say the legislation does not go far enough to weed out India’s rampant corruption. But Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cast aside those concerns, saying the bill “lives up to the promise” lawmakers have […]
Indian PM Defends Anti-Graft Bill Despite Activist’s Hunger Strike
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 1:10 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment
China’s Premier Supports Farmers’ Land Rights
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is warning government officials they must protect the land rights of farmers and give those farmers a much larger share of the profits when their land is taken over for development. Mr. Wen’s defense of farmers came at a conference in Beijing Tuesday, less than a week after authorities in southern […]
Conspiracy Warnings Fly on Anniversary of Bhutto Assassination
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 12:10 pm (UTC-5)
Pakistan’s ruling party is warning the country’s fragile democracy is at risk, delivering the dire message on the fourth anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Tens of thousands of Pakistanis rallied Tuesday at the marble mausoleum in Gahri Khuda Baksh that is Mrs. Bhutto’s final resting place. Many of those in […]
Ethiopia Sentences Swedish Journalists to 11 Years in Prison
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 11:40 am (UTC-5)
An Ethiopian court has sentenced two Swedish journalists to 11 years each in prison for supporting terrorism in Ethiopia and entering the country illegally. The court in Addis Ababa handed down the sentence Tuesday, nearly a week after convicting investigative reporter Martin Schibbye and photojournalist Johan Persson. Each had faced up to 18 years in […]
US Consumer Confidence Rises
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 11:35 am (UTC-5)
U.S. consumer confidence hit its highest level in eight months in December, perhaps due to an improving job market. Tuesday’s data comes from the Conference Board, a private research group in New York. Experts watch consumer confidence for clues about the consumer spending that drives most U.S. economic activity. A separate report Tuesday shows the […]
Russia’s Putin Accuses Opposition of Lacking Goals, Leaders
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says the opposition lacks goals and leaders, and he has rejected demands for a rerun of Russia’s recent parliamentary elections. In comments to his supporters Tuesday, Mr. Putin said the opposition has no unified program, no clear way of reaching its aims and nobody who can achieve something “concrete.” Mr. […]
Russia Adds Bulava Missile to Nuclear Arsenal
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has announced the successful testing of a new ballistic nuclear missile that is expected to become a cornerstone of the country’s military arsenal. At a meeting with senior military officers Tuesday, Mr. Medvedev said the Bulava strategic ICBM is ready to enter service and will be deployed on a new generation […]
Pakistan, India Call for Extending Agreement on Preventing Nuclear Accidents
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
Pakistan and India say officials from both sides have called for extending an agreement on reducing the risk of nuclear accidents relating to their countries’ atomic weapon stockpiles. Pakistani and Indian government experts discussed nuclear confidence-building measures in Islamabad on Tuesday, the second day of a two-day dialogue between the nuclear-armed rivals. The talks are […]
Syrian Forces Fire Tear Gas in Homs As Monitors Visit
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 10:50 am (UTC-5)
Activists say Syrian security forces have fired tear gas at thousands of protesters who rallied in Homs on Tuesday as Arab League monitors visited the flashpoint city to track the government’s crackdown on dissent. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says about 70,000 anti-government protesters were trying to rally in the city’s center. It is […]
