Italian officials say two more bodies have been found on the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia, bringing the number of confirmed dead from the capsized vessel to 15. Italy’s civil protection agency chief, Franco Gabrielli, said Monday divers located the bodies of two women near the ship’s Internet cafe. They, along with most of the […]
Divers Find 2 More Victims of Italian Cruise Ship Disaster; Fuel Removal to Begin
Posted January 23rd, 2012 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
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EU Bans Iranian Oil, Freezes Central Bank Assets
Posted January 23rd, 2012 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
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 at a meeting in Brussels on Monday. They agreed to allow EU […]
Pakistan Rejects US Findings on Deadly Border Attack
Posted January 23rd, 2012 at 10:50 am (UTC-5)
Pakistan’s military has formally rejected the findings of a U.S. inquiry into last month’s NATO attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers along the Afghan border. The military said Monday that it does not agree with several portions of the investigation report, calling them factually incorrect. U.S. defense officials blamed inadequate coordination by both Pakistani and […]
South Sudan Moves to Shut Down Oil Production
Posted January 23rd, 2012 at 10:40 am (UTC-5)
South Sudan says it has taken the first steps toward halting oil production, a new escalation in its dispute with Sudan over oil revenue. Minister of Information Barnaba Marial Benjamin tells reporters that South Sudanese oil fields began shutting down Sunday, two days after the government warned it may stop production. He says oil companies […]
IMF Calls for Robust European Action on Debt Crisis
Posted January 23rd, 2012 at 10:35 am (UTC-5)
The chief of the International Monetary Fund is calling for European governments to take more aggressive action to resolve the continent’s debt crisis. The IMF’s managing director, Christine Lagarde, said Monday that the 17 nations that use the common euro currency should boost the size of their financial rescue fund, lower already-low lending rates and […]
Japanese Scientists: 98 Percent Chance of Major Quake by 2042
Posted January 23rd, 2012 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
Japanese scientists are predicting that last year’s devastating earthquake northeast of Tokyo has increased chances the capital could be hit with a huge tremor sooner than the government has forecast. The Earthquake Research Institute at Tokyo University on Monday said that it is virtually certain — 98 percent – that the capital region will see […]
Romanian PM Fires Foreign Minister for Insulting Protesters
Posted January 23rd, 2012 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc has fired his foreign minister for insulting comments he made about anti-government protesters, who have taken to the streets to demonstrate against spending cuts and other austerity measures. Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi wrote on his Internet blog last week that Romanians who work for a living will decide the country’s […]
ICC Orders 4 Kenyans to Stand Trial
Posted January 23rd, 2012 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
The International Criminal Court has ordered four prominent Kenyans to stand trial on charges they helped organize deadly post-election violence four years ago. The court ruled Monday that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with cases against Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, former education minister William Ruto, civil service chief Francis Muthaura, and radio broadcaster […]
Egypt’s Islamist-Led Lower House of Parliament Holds 1st Session
Posted January 23rd, 2012 at 9:35 am (UTC-5)
Egypt’s newly-elected lower house of parliament has held its first meeting since a popular uprising ousted autocratic president Hosni Mubarak a year ago, with Islamist lawmakers dominating the assembly. The chamber’s oldest member, Mahmoud el-Saqqah, chaired Monday’s inaugural session, which began with a moment of silence for the hundreds of people killed in anti-government protests […]
UN Rights Chief Urges Guantanamo Closure
Posted January 23rd, 2012 at 9:20 am (UTC-5)
United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay is voicing “deep disappointment” that the U.S. government has failed to close its detention facility at Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), as President Barack Obama pledged on taking office three years ago. Pillay, in a statement Monday, noted the 10th anniversary of the prison opening and the third anniversary of […]
