The known number of lives lost in the grounding of that Italian cruise ship has risen to 13 after divers on Sunday removed the body of a woman from the stern of the Costa Condordia. On Saturday, the body of another woman was retrieved. Both of the women were said to be wearing life vests. […]
Divers Find 13th Victim of Italian Cruise Ship Disaster
Posted January 22nd, 2012 at 11:20 am (UTC-5)
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Arab League Committee Recommends Extending Syria Observer Mission
Posted January 22nd, 2012 at 10:35 am (UTC-5)
Arab League officials say a key committee has recommended extending an observer mission in Syria by one month and increasing the number of personnel trying to monitor the Syrian government’s deadly crackdown on an opposition uprising. The officials say the committee of Arab League foreign ministers dealing with the Syrian crisis made the recommendation in […]
US Urges Burma to Ensure Free By-Elections
Posted January 22nd, 2012 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
A key U.S. senator says the United States is pleased with recent progress toward democratic reforms in Burma, but says the country’s new, nominally civilian government must ensure “free and fair” by-elections in April. John McCain, the senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke Sunday in Rangoon, after meeting with President Thein Sein […]
Libya’s No. 2 Leader Resigns After Benghazi Anti-Government Riot
Posted January 22nd, 2012 at 9:25 am (UTC-5)
The deputy head of Libya’s National Transitional Council says he is resigning his post a day after anti-government protesters stormed the ruling body’s offices in the eastern city of Benghazi. Abdel Hafiz Ghoga announced his resignation in an interview with Al-Jazeera television Sunday. A day earlier, rioters threw stones and hand grenades at the NTC […]
Yemenis Protest Law Granting President Immunity
Posted January 22nd, 2012 at 7:40 am (UTC-5)
Thousands of Yemenis gathered in the capital Sana’a on Sunday to protest the passage of a law giving President Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity from prosecution. Yemen’s parliament formally approved the law on Saturday. It grants Mr. Saleh complete immunity from legal and judicial prosecution for any alleged crimes committed during his 33-year rule, in return […]
Somalia Drone Strike Kills al-Qaida Operative
Posted January 22nd, 2012 at 6:40 am (UTC-5)
Insurgents in Somalia say a drone aircraft strike has killed an al-Qaida operative fighting alongside the al-Shabab rebels. An al-Shabab spokesman identified the fighter as British passport holder Bilal al-Berjawi. He said drone-fired missiles hit Berjawi’s car south of Mogadishu on Saturday. There has been no independent confirmation. The United States has authorized covert missions […]
Bird Flu Kills Second Person in China
Posted January 22nd, 2012 at 6:25 am (UTC-5)
China reported its second bird flu fatality in less than a month Sunday, following the deaths of one person in Vietnam and a toddler in Cambodia. Officials say the latest patient died Sunday in southwestern Guizhou province, after being hospitalized on January 6. The 39-year-old man reported having no direct contact with poultry. In late […]
HRW Urges Support for Arab Democracies
Posted January 22nd, 2012 at 6:15 am (UTC-5)
A human rights organization is urging Western powers to support the rights of Arab Spring protesters to build real democracies after ousting strongmen once backed by the West. In its World Report 2012, Human Rights Watch said Sunday that Western policy toward Arab countries traditionally has been “one of containment,” backing an array of Arab […]
Human Rights Group Condemns Conditions Across Asia
Posted January 22nd, 2012 at 5:40 am (UTC-5)
The group Human Rights Watch released its annual World Report Sunday, painting a bleak picture of conditions across much of Asia. HRW said Burma’s human rights situation remained dire last year, despite the transition to a military-backed civilian government. The report accuses Burma’s military of rape, torture and the killing of civilians in ethnic minority […]
Arab League Meets on Syria
Posted January 22nd, 2012 at 4:05 am (UTC-5)
The Arab League meets in Egypt Sunday to review the first month of its heavily criticized observer mission in Syria. The Arab bloc is expected to extend its 165-person mission and increase its size. Head of the opposition Syrian National Council, Burhan Ghalioun, was in Cairo Saturday for meeting with Arab League officials. He said […]
