Italian rescuers have resumed their search for at least 21 people still missing a week after their cruise ship ran aground. The rescue operation was suspend earlier Friday after stormy weather caused the Costa Concordia to shift on its rocky ledge off Italy’s northwestern coast. Officials say the partially-submerged 114,000-ton ship has stabilized enough for […]
Italian Rescuers Resume Search of Wrecked Cruise Ship
Posted January 20th, 2012 at 2:50 pm (UTC-5)
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Cuban Prisoner Dies After Hunger Strike
Posted January 20th, 2012 at 2:40 pm (UTC-5)
Cuban human rights activists say jailed dissident Wilman Villar Mendoza has died following a seven-week-long hunger strike. The activists say the 31-year-old Villar, who had been suffering from pneumonia, died Thursday in a Santiago hospital, where he had been transferred. Last November, Villar was arrested after taking part in a march. A few days later, […]
Cambodia Refuses to Seat Swiss Judge at Khmer Rouge Tribunal
Posted January 20th, 2012 at 2:25 pm (UTC-5)
The United Nations says Cambodia is refusing to permit a Swiss investigating judge to take his place on the tribunal trying suspected Khmer Rouge war crimes. A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday the U.N. has been formally notified of Cambodia’s decision not to appoint Swiss magistrate Laurent Kasper-Ansermet to the court. The […]
US Blues Legend Etta James Dies of Leukemia
Posted January 20th, 2012 at 2:15 pm (UTC-5)
American blues singer Etta James, best known for her early-1960s hit “At Last,” has died of leukemia. The singer’s manager said the 73-year-old James died Friday at a hospital in California with her husband and two sons by her side. Her manager described her death as a “tremendous loss” for her fans around the world, […]
France Threatens Early Afghan Withdrawal After Troop Deaths
Posted January 20th, 2012 at 2:10 pm (UTC-5)
France on Friday threatened to accelerate its withdrawal from Afghanistan, after an Afghan soldier shot and killed four French troops. President Nicolas Sarkozy suspended military operations in Afghanistan and said he is considering an early pullout of French troops if security conditions “are not clearly established,” following Friday’s attack. Fifteen French troops were wounded in […]
Romanians Hold Another Protest Against Austerity Cuts
Posted January 20th, 2012 at 1:40 pm (UTC-5)
Hundreds of people demonstrated in Romania’s capital Friday in another day of protests against government spending cuts and other austerity measures. The protesters in Bucharest voiced their anger at the government of President Traian Basescu and called for early elections. Romanians have been holding mass anti-government protests in recent days against the austerity cuts, including […]
US Senate Vote on Controversial Online Piracy Bill Postponed
Posted January 20th, 2012 at 1:30 pm (UTC-5)
The U.S. Senate is postponing next week’s vote on a bill targeting online piracy, after Internet companies staged an online blackout to protest the legislation and a similar bill in the House of Representatives. Wednesday’s protest caused some lawmakers to withdraw support for the bills — the Stop Online Piracy Act before the House, and […]
Multiple Explosions, Gunfire Heard in Nigerian City
Posted January 20th, 2012 at 1:25 pm (UTC-5)
Witnesses report hearing multiple explosions and gunfire in Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria. Nigerian state television reports that a suicide car bomber attacked a police headquarters in the city Friday, wounding several people. The TV station also reports attacks on a police station and an immigration office. Reports from Kano say the blast […]
China, Flush with Cash, Invests in British Sewers
Posted January 20th, 2012 at 12:45 pm (UTC-5)
China is making good on plans to invest in infrastructure around the world, buying part of Britain’s biggest water and sewer company. China Investment Corporation announced the purchase Friday but did not disclose the price. The deal follows this week’s visit by British Finance Minister George Osborne to Beijing aimed at strengthening economic ties between […]
Hungary Bows to EU Demands on Disputed Laws
Posted January 20th, 2012 at 12:40 pm (UTC-5)
Hungary is bowing to European Union demands that it change several of its laws that called into question the independence of its central bank, the judiciary and media. Hungary’s dispute with the EU threatened to derail the eastern European nation’s bid to secure a $25 billion credit line from the EU and the International Monetary […]
