A Chinese human rights lawyer and activist known for her fight against government land grabs has gone on trial in Beijing. The trial of Ni Yulan and her husband Dong Jiqin began at a west Beijing courthouse Thursday amid heavy security. A court spokesman told reporters the trial was open to the public. But foreign […]
Prominent Human Rights Lawyer on Trial in Beijing
Posted December 29th, 2011 at 7:00 am (UTC-5)
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US Pulls Advisers from Afghan Media Center
Posted December 29th, 2011 at 6:15 am (UTC-5)
The United States has pulled its advisers from a U.S.-funded Afghan press center. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul said in a statement Wednesday that it was “reassessing and reviewing its relationship” with the Afghan Government Media Information Center. Some Afghan officials have speculated that the move came in response to a December 24 press conference […]
Kyrgyz President Calls Presence of US Military Base “Dangerous”
Posted December 29th, 2011 at 6:05 am (UTC-5)
Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev says it has become too dangerous to maintain a U.S. military base near his country’s civilian airport. Mr. Atambayev said Thursday that he told visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake that the annual lease payment of $150 million was not worth the risks involved with keeping an airfield at […]
Man in Afghan Army Uniform Kills 2 NATO Troops
Posted December 29th, 2011 at 5:45 am (UTC-5)
NATO says a man wearing an Afghan National Army uniform has killed two coalition service members in eastern Afghanistan. NATO did not give further details of Thursday’s incident and only said that the individual turned his weapon against two NATO soldiers, killing them. The victims’ nationalities were not identified. Meanwhile in southern Afghanistan, a roadside […]
Arab Monitors Deploy Across Syria as Credibility Questioned
Posted December 29th, 2011 at 5:05 am (UTC-5)
Arab League monitors are expected to visit three key areas in Syria where security forces have violently repressed anti-government protests, as questions mount about the observers’ credibility. The monitors are due Thursday in Daraa, Hama and Idlib on the third day of their mission to check on government pledges to halt a deadly crackdown and […]
Prominent Human Rights Lawyer on Trial in Beijing
Posted December 29th, 2011 at 4:55 am (UTC-5)
A Chinese human rights lawyer and activist known for her fight against government land grabs has gone on trial in Beijing. The trial of Ni Yulan and her husband Dong Jiqin began at a west Beijing courthouse Thursday amid heavy security. A court spokesman told reporters the trial was open to the public. But foreign […]
Turkish Air Strikes Kill 23 Near Iraqi Border
Posted December 29th, 2011 at 4:25 am (UTC-5)
Officials say Turkish air strikes have killed nearly two dozen people near the Iraqi border. Authorities said early Thursday that at least 23 bodies have been recovered in Sirnak province. Local security officials say those targeted were likely smuggling items into Turkey from northern Iraq and may have been mistaken for Kurdistan Workers Party rebels. […]
Chinese Factory Workers End Strike Over Bonus Pay
Posted December 29th, 2011 at 3:40 am (UTC-5)
Thousands of workers at an electronics manufacturing factory in eastern China ended a three-day strike on Thursday after company officials agreed to boost their year-end bonuses. As many as 8,000 workers at the South Korean-owned LG Display factory in Nanjing city walked off the job Monday. They complained that South Korean workers were receiving bonuses […]
Chinese Police Kill 7 Suspected Kidnappers in Restive West
Posted December 29th, 2011 at 2:45 am (UTC-5)
Chinese officials say police have shot and killed seven suspected kidnappers during a rescue operation in the country’s troubled western region of Xinjiang. Police opened fire on the suspects after encountering resistance while trying to free two hostages who officials say had been kidnapped by what they called “a violent terrorist group.” Officials say the […]
Burma Warehouse Explosion Kills 17
Posted December 29th, 2011 at 2:25 am (UTC-5)
A large explosion at a warehouse in Burma’s largest city, Rangoon, has killed at least 17 people and injured about 80 others. Witnesses reported a loud blast early Thursday at what appeared to be a medical warehouse in an industrial district of eastern Rangoon. Officials say the explosion triggered a fire that quickly spread to […]
