Pirates have hijacked an Italian cargo ship with 18 crew members off the coast of Oman. The Naples-based ship owner, Marnarvi, says pirates boarded and seized the ship Enrico Ievoli early Tuesday morning in the Arabian Sea. The company said the crew included six Italians, five Ukrainians and seven Indians. The vessel was carrying nearly […]
Pirates Seize Italian Tanker Off Coast of Oman
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 10:40 am (UTC-5)
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Russia’s Putin Accuses Opposition of Lacking Goals, Leaders
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 10:20 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. […]
French Pledge $6.5 Million to Auschwitz-Birkenau Fund
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
Officials at Poland’s Auschwitz-Birkenau state museum have announced that France plans to donate $6.5 million over the next five years to help preserve the site of the former Nazi death camp. Museum officials said Tuesday that Prime Minister Francois Fillon pledged the money to an international fund for preserving the site, which contains barracks, gas […]
Arab League Monitors Visit Flashpoint Syrian City
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 9:40 am (UTC-5)
Arab League monitors have begun a visit to the flashpoint city of Homs to track the Syrian government’s promises to withdraw security forces and release political prisoners. Syrian state media say the monitors met with the governor of Homs on Tuesday, a day after human rights activists urged the monitors to visit the city. Activists […]
China Begins Using New Global Positioning Satellite System
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 9:30 am (UTC-5)
China has begun trial operations of its Beidou satellite navigation system, taking a further step toward ending its dependence on U.S. satellites to provide navigation and positioning services. Ran Chengqi, director of the management office of the China Satellite Navigation System, told reporters Tuesday Beidou, or “Big Dipper” will cover most parts of the Asia […]
Pakistani President Warns of Anti-Democratic Conspiracy
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday urged his countrymen to guard against anti-democratic conspiracies, following a week of speculation about a growing rift between the country’s civilian and military leaders. President Zardari called on “democratic forces and patriotic Pakistanis” to foil conspiracies “against democracy and democratic institutions.” He made his comments on the fourth […]
Japan Eases Ban On Weapons Exports
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 8:35 am (UTC-5)
Japan says it will ease its decades-long weapons export ban. Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said Tuesday Tokyo will maintain its pacifist principles prohibiting export of Japanese-made weapons for use in global conflicts. He said the new rules, approved by the government’s security council, will allow Japan to participate in arms-building projects with other countries […]
Putin Wants Absolute Transparency in Russia’s Presidential Elections
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 8:05 am (UTC-5)
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says he wants the March presidential election to be absolutely transparent. Mr. Putin met Tuesday with supporters and asked for input on how to keep the elections fair. The prime minister insists he does not need to rig the voting in order to win the presidential election. Alleged voter fraud […]
Arab League Monitors Visit Syrian Protest Hub
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 7:40 am (UTC-5)
Arab League monitors have traveled to the Syrian flashpoint city of Homs as part of a mission to track promises by the government to withdraw its tanks and troops from cities and release political protesters. The observers arrived Tuesday in Homs, where rights activists say government security forces had intensified their attacks in recent days […]
South Korean Lawmakers Call for Renegotiation of Trade Agreement with US
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 7:30 am (UTC-5)
South Korean lawmakers on Tuesday adopted a resolution urging the country’s government to renegotiate portions of the recently ratified free trade agreement with the United States. The resolution by the National Assembly’s foreign affairs committee took issue with a clause in the treaty that would allow foreign investors to take trade disputes to an international […]
