U.S. President Barack Obama says he believes Israel has not made a decision about whether to take military action against Iran’s nuclear program. U.S. officials have been urging Israel, a key ally, to give more time for Western sanctions to pressure Iran into stopping a suspected drive for atomic weapons. Iran insists its nuclear activities […]
Obama: Israel Has Not Made Decision on Possible Iran Attack
Russia, China Defend Syria Resolution Veto, US Calls Move ‘Travesty’
Russia and China are defending their veto of a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have endorsed an Arab League plan for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to transfer power to a deputy to help end Syria’s months-long unrest. The Russian government said Sunday it vetoed the Western and Arab-backed resolution the previous day because […]
Finland Getting First Conservative President in 30 Years
Conservative party leader Sauli Niinistoe has won Finland’s presidential election by a landslide and will become the country’s first conservative president in 30 years. Officials say Mr. Niinistoe, of the National Coalition Party, won 63 percent of the vote in Sunday’s second round. Green party candidate Pekka Haavisto won 37 percent. They were the top […]
Greece on ‘Knife Edge’ to Agree on Bailout
Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos continues emergency talks with Greek party leaders Monday on more spending cuts, with his finance minister warning that the country is “on a knife edge” ((brink of disaster). The government and parliament must agree on a new austerity plan if it is to get another crucial bailout from the European […]
Israel’s Netanyahu to Visit US as Concern Grows Over Possible Iran Attack
Israel says its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will travel to the United States next month. The visit comes at a time of increased concern among U.S. officials about the possibility of an Israeli military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office said Sunday he will travel to Washington to address members of the […]
Clinton to Urge Bulgaria to Seek New Energy Sources
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Bulgaria for talks that are expected to focus on energy security. During her brief visit on Sunday, Clinton is scheduled to meet with President Rosen Plevneliev and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. The top U.S. diplomat is expected to urge the eastern European country to develop new […]
Egyptians Call for Early Vote as Clashes Continue
Egyptian protesters have clashed with police in Cairo for a fourth straight day, as they demand an accelerated presidential election and early handover of power from the ruling military council to a civilian government. Hundreds of riot police guarding Egypt’s interior ministry fired tear gas, rubber bullets and birdshot Sunday to keep stone-throwing demonstrators away […]
Egypt To Try 43 NGO Workers in Funding Case
Egyptian investigative judges have referred 43 people, including 19 U.S. citizens, to trial before a criminal court for their alleged involvement in the banned activities of pro-democracy groups that received what Cairo calls “illegal foreign funding.” A statement issued Sunday by the judges overseeing the probe listed at least one of the charges as “running […]
Clinton Seeks Anti-Assad Coalition
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for “friends of a democratic Syria” to push to end President Bashar al-Assad’s bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters and promote a political transition that would see him step down. Clinton spoke in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, a day after Russia and China blocked a U.N. Security Council […]
Karzai: Car Bombing Kills 9, Wounds 19 in S. Afghanistan
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has strongly condemned a deadly car bombing that happened Sunday outside a police headquarters in southern Afghanistan. According to the president’s official Facebook page, a vehicle filled with explosives killed nine people and wounded another 19 at the police station in Kandahar city. Previous reports quoted Afghan officials as saying the […]