Negotiations to cut half of the debt Greece owes its private creditors have hit an impasse. Major lenders have agreed to forgive about $130 billion of the debt that the Athens government owes them. But negotiations have stalled over what interest rate the creditors will accept on Greece’s revised financial obligations. Leaders of 32 financial […]
Greek Debt Relief Talks Hit an Impasse
Wounded US Congresswoman Resigns
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was seriously wounded in a shooting incident in her home state of Arizona last year, received an emotional farewell from Congress on Wednesday as she resigned. In her resignation speech, read by a colleague, the 41-year-old Democratic congresswoman said she is stepping down to focus on her recovery, but vowed she […]
Russia Says Will Not Support UN Moves to Sanction Syria
Russia says it will not support United Nations actions on Syria that may include sanctions or military intervention. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday moves by the U.N. Security Council against Syria, a long-time Russian ally, would be “unfair and counterproductive.” U.N. diplomats say France, Britain and Germany have been working with Arab nations […]
Wounded US Congresswoman Resigns
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was seriously wounded in a shooting incident in her home state of Arizona last year, received an emotional farewell from Congress on Wednesday as she resigned. In her resignation speech, read by a colleague, the 41-year-old Democratic congresswoman said she is stepping down to focus on her recovery, but vowed she […]
Leaked Japanese Report Details ‘Worst-Case’ Nuclear Scenario
The Japanese government predicted a worst-case scenario at the height of its nuclear crisis last year warning that tens of millions of people, including Tokyo residents, might need to evacuate the region to avoid contamination. But fearing widespread panic, authorities kept the analysis secret. The 15-page warning was compiled by experts and presented to then-prime […]
Russian TV to Air Wikileaks Talk Show
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is hosting a new talk show that will air on a Russian state television channel. RT television announced Wednesday that it will begin broadcasting the talk show in mid-March. It says Assange is filming the program from the location of his house arrest in Britain, where he is fighting extradition to […]
India Road Rage: Bus Driver Goes ‘Berserk’
The driver of a bus wreaked havoc on the streets of the western Indian city of Pune Wednesday, plowing the vehicle through cars, pedestrians and anything else that got in his way. Police say the so far unexplained rampage began during the morning rush hour as children headed to school. At least nine people are […]
American Hostage Rescued in Somalia Being Cared for at Hospital
The U.S. Defense Department says American Jessica Buchanan, one of two hostages rescued in Somalia by U.S. special operations troops, is being cared for at a military hospital. It would not say where. Buchanan, and fellow aid worker Poul Hagen Thisted, a Dane, had been held for three months by gunmen in central Somalia. Wednesday […]
Militants, Troops Clash in Pakistan’s Northwest
At least four Pakistani soldiers and 17 militants were killed Wednesday during clashes in the country’s northwest. Security officials say troops were conducting a search operation in the Jogi village of Kurram tribal agency when they were attacked by a group of militants. More than 21 people were killed in the ensuing gunbattle. The death […]
Pakistan PM Seeks to Ease Tensions With Military
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is backing away from his criticism of the country’s army and intelligence chiefs, in a sign that the civilian government is looking to ease tensions with the military. Earlier this month, Mr. Gilani told China’s People’s Daily that army chief General Ashfaq Kayani and intelligence chief Lieutenant General Ahmed […]