A top U.S. intelligence official says Iran would respond if attacked for its nuclear activities, but is unlikely to initiate or intentionally provoke a conflict. That assessment comes from the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Lieutenant General Ronald Burgess. He told a Senate hearing Thursday that if Iran is attacked, it could respond by […]
US: Iran Unlikely to Initiate Conflict in Nuclear Dispute
Posted February 16th, 2012 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
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North Korea Marks 70th Birthday of Late Kim Jong Il
Posted February 16th, 2012 at 11:30 am (UTC-5)
North Koreans on Thursday commemorated the 70th birthday of their late leader Kim Jong Il, with thousands of soldiers marching through Pyongyang and hundreds of senior officials pledging their allegiance to his ruling son, Kim Jong Un. Soldiers stood in strict formation outside the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where they listened to speeches praising newly-installed Kim […]
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran Focus on Regional Peace
Posted February 16th, 2012 at 11:20 am (UTC-5)
The leaders of Iran and Afghanistan are in Pakistan for a trilateral summit on facilitating peace with the Afghan Taliban. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani greeted Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as their respective delegations arrived Thursday. Pakistan’s historic ties with the Taliban, as […]
General Motors Recorded Biggest Profit Ever in 2011
Posted February 16th, 2012 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
U.S.-based General Motors, the world’s largest automaker, recorded its biggest profit ever in 2011, two years after emerging from bankruptcy with the help of a government bailout. The century-old carmaker says strong sales in the United States and China helped push its profits to $7.6 billion, easily topping the company’s previous $6.7 billion earnings peak […]
Somalis Flee Town Ahead of Expected Fighting
Posted February 16th, 2012 at 10:45 am (UTC-5)
Thousands of Somalis are fleeing a town near Mogadishu, ahead of expected fighting between African Union forces and the militant group al-Shabab. Elasha Biyaha is located about 30 kilometers west of the capital, and is home to hundreds of thousands of displaced Mogadishu residents who fled the city in 2007 and 2008, as al-Shabab battled […]
Chinese VP Concludes US Visit in Los Angeles
Posted February 16th, 2012 at 10:25 am (UTC-5)
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping concludes his U.S. visit Thursday and Friday in Los Angeles, with events expected to underscore the two nations’ economic and cultural ties. California Governor Jerry Brown and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are scheduled to welcome Xi at the airport. The officials will then tour the terminal for the China […]
Gunmen Storm Nigeria Prison, 118 Inmates Escape, 1 Dead
Posted February 16th, 2012 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
At least 118 inmates have escaped from a Nigerian prison, after gunmen bombed their way inside and killed a guard during a shootout. The prison is located in the central town of Koton-Karifi, about 120 kilometers southwest of the capital, Abuja. Police say gunmen stormed into the facility Wednesday night. Witnesses said around 20 gunmen […]
Suspected Drone Strikes Kill 14 in Pakistan
Posted February 16th, 2012 at 10:15 am (UTC-5)
Pakistani intelligence officials say two U.S. drone strikes have killed at least 14 militants in the country’s northwest. Both attacks on Thursday took place along the Afghan border in the North Waziristan tribal agency, considered a main stronghold of al-Qaida and Taliban fighters. The first strike hit a compound in the village of Spalga, killing […]
Rwanda Creates New Court for Genocide Cases
Posted February 16th, 2012 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
Rwanda’s high court has established a special chamber to handle international crimes, including genocide cases transferred from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The U.N. tribunal, which was set up to try high-level suspects in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, is set to complete its work in 2014. Rwanda’s high court announced this week the new six-judge […]
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran Focus on Regional Peace
Posted February 16th, 2012 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
The leaders of Iran and Afghanistan are in Pakistan for a trilateral summit on facilitating peace with the Afghan Taliban. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani greeted Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as their respective delegations arrived Thursday. Pakistan’s historic ties with the Taliban, as […]
