Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov has been officially registered as a candidate in the country’s upcoming presidential elections. Wednesday’s decision by the Central Election Commission will make him the fifth candidate to run in the March race. He joins three veteran politicians and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is seeking to return to the post he […]
Russia Billionaire to Contest Presidential Race
Thousands of AIDS Victims Face Death in Congo
A medical aid group has warned that up to 15,000 AIDS victims in Democratic Republic of Congo could die in the next three years because of difficulty getting life-saving drugs. The warning comes from Doctors Without Borders, which says access to health care for HIV and AIDS patients in Congo is “horrific.” It says 85 […]
UN Hopeful Despite ‘Limited Progress’ on Cyprus
Efforts to reunify the divided island of Cyprus are moving into the final phase despite “limited progress” during talks this week in New York. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke about the situation to reporters in New York Wednesday, following two days of discussions with Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader […]
Nigeria President Replaces Police Chief After Attacks
Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan, who has been under pressure to rein in escalating violence by a radical Islamic sect, has replaced the country’s police chief. Mr. Jonathan’s office announced Wednesday that Inspector-General Hariz Ringim has been placed on “terminal leave” until his retirement in coming months. The president also approved the retirement of all Ringim’s […]
American, Dane Safe After U.S. Rescue Operation in Somalia
U.S. military officials say two Westerners — an American and a Danish national — are safe after being rescued from gunmen in Somalia by U.S. special operations troops. The Pentagon said Wednesday that the American, Jessica Buchanan, is being cared for at a military hospital, reportedly in Djibouti. She suffers from an undisclosed medical ailment. […]
US Defense Department Expected to Unveil Budget Cuts
The U.S. Department of Defense is expected to kick off this year’s annual budget debate this week by announcing its plans for spending cuts in 2013 and through the next decade. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to unveil the basic outlines of the budget request on Thursday. The White House is expected to send […]
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 […]
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 […]
India, Pakistan Near Deal on Gas Pipeline
Indian and Pakistani officials say they have come closer to an agreement on a pipeline that would transport natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan. Indian Oil Minister S. Jaipal Reddy said Wednesday that both sides have agreed to settle the issue of a transit fee for the gas as soon as possible. He made the […]
Greek Debt Relief Talks Hit an Impasse
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 […]