The race for the Republican U.S. presidential nomination is now focused on Florida and its January 31 primary election. Polls say the top two candidates seeking to defeat President Barack Obama in November are former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, a former speaker of the House of Representatives. Gingrich has the momentum after […]
US: Republican Candidates Debate Again in Florida
US: Republican Candidates Debate Again in Florida
The race for the Republican U.S. presidential nomination is now focused on and its January 31 primary election. Polls say the top two candidates seeking to defeat President Barack Obama in November are former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, a former speaker of the House of Representatives. Gingrich has the momentum after last […]
Eurozone Chief: Greek Economic Reform is ‘Off Track’
Eurozone finance ministers’ chief Jean-Claude Juncker says the interest rate on new Greek government bonds has to be lower than the 4 percent bondholders are demanding. Juncker said Tuesday it is clear that Greece’s economic reform program is “off track.” He urged Greece to reach a deal with private investors within days. Greece faces default […]
Syria Rejects Arab League Call for Power Transfer
Syria has rejected a new Arab League initiative for President Bashar al-Assad to step down and allow the formation of a national unity government. The plan agreed to by Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo Sunday requires Mr. Assad to transfer power to a deputy and allow the formation of a unity government with the […]
EU Bans Iranian Oil, Freezes Central Bank Assets
The European Union has banned new purchases of Iranian oil and frozen the assets of Iran’s central bank as part of a Western campaign to pressure Tehran to suspend controversial parts of its nuclear program. EU foreign ministers agreed to the new sanctions Monday in Brussels. Their decision allows member nations with existing contracts for […]
ICC Charges Four Prominent Kenyans in Post-Election Violence
The International Criminal Court at the Hague ruled Monday that four prominent Kenyans, including two who are likely to seek the presidency, must stand trial for crimes related to the deadly violence that followed the disputed 2007 presidential election. Among those facing trial is Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the […]
French Senate Passes Armenian Genocide Bill, Turkey Outraged
The French Senate has passed a bill making it a crime to deny that the mass killings of Armenians by Turks nearly 100 years ago were genocide. France’s lower house of parliament passed the bill last month, and President Nicholas Sarkozy is likely to sign it into law. It says anyone who says killings of […]
Chinese Vice President to Visit White House
The White House says U.S. President Barack Obama will meet next month with China’s Vice President Xi Jinping, who is widely expected to be his country’s next leader. A White House statement Monday said Mr. Obama will meet the Chinese vice president at the White House February 14. It said Mr. Xi also will meet […]
Divers Find 2 More Italian Cruise Ship Victims; Fuel Removal to Begin
Italian officials say two more bodies have been found on the capsized Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia, bringing the number of confirmed dead from the disaster to 15. Italy’s civil protection agency chief, Franco Gabrielli, said Monday divers found the bodies of two women near the ship’s Internet cafe. Most of those killed in the […]
Top US Senators Hope State of Union Delivers Economic Plan
A day before U.S. President Barack Obama makes his annual State of the Union address, Senate leaders from both parties say they hope the president will outline his plan to grow the economy. Speaking on the Senate floor Monday, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, said he is looking for a fresh approach, and one […]