The Obama administration and U.S. film producers are hailing an agreement reached with China that will allow American-made movies increased access to the large Chinese market. The agreement was announced Friday in Los Angeles on the last day of a four-day U.S. visit by Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who […]
Xi’s US Visit Ends with Accord on American Films
Protests Over Election Continue in Senegal’s Capital
Police in Senegal clashed with protesters Saturday, in the fourth consecutive day of unrest related to next week’s presidential election. Protesters in the capital, Dakar, threw rocks at police as they called for 85-year-old President Abdoulaye Wade to abandon his bid for a third term in office. Police responded by firing tear gas at the […]
Egypt Sets Date for Trial of US Democracy Activists
Egypt has announced it will go ahead with a trial of foreign democracy activists, including 19 Americans, in connection with an investigation into illegal funding of foreign non-governmental organizations. The state news agency MENA said Saturday the hearing for the 43 defendants will take place on February 26. It said the defendants have been charged […]
Xi’s US Visit Ends with Accord on American Films
The Obama administration and U.S. film producers are hailing an agreement reached with China that will allow American-made movies increased access to the large Chinese market. The agreement was announced Friday in Los Angeles on the last day of a four-day U.S. visit by Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who […]
Greek Cabinet Mulls Austerity Mandates
Greek cabinet members are discussing how best to implement a series of budget cuts and other austerity measures that have already sparked rioting in the streets. The officials gathered Saturday in Athens, facing several difficult choices. The austerity measures are needed in order to secure a $170 billion bailout from the European Union and again […]
Pope Installs New Princes of the Catholic Church
An increasingly frail Pope Benedict is leaving his mark on the Catholic Church, installing 22 new cardinals in a ceremony at the Vatican Saturday. Attendants wheeled the 84 year-old pope into St. Peter’s Basilica on a special platform for the ceremony, known as a consistory. The pope then kneeled in prayer before addressing the audience, […]
Somalian Leaders Sign Agreements on Formation of Government
Somalian leaders have concluded a conference in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland with an agreement on the formation of a new elected government. Somalian President Shaykh Sharif Shaykh Ahmad and the president of the Puntland regional administration, Abdirahman Farole, both attended the conference, along with international envoys from the United Nations and the African Union. […]
Egypt Sets Date for Trial of US Democracy Activists
Egypt has announced it will go ahead with a trial of foreign democracy activists, including 19 Americans, in connection with an investigation into illegal funding of foreign non-governmental organizations. The state news agency MENA said the hearing for the 43 defendants will take place on February 26. The American defendants have been banned from leaving […]
Iranian Warships Enter Mediterranean
Iranian warships have passed through Egypt’s Suez Canal and entered the Mediterranean Sea, in a move likely to be watched closely by Israel. Iran’s navy commander Habibollah Sayyari was quoted by Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, as saying that the mission was a show of might and a “message of peace.” He did not specify […]
Death Toll Rises in Bloody Caucasus Crackdown
The death toll is rising in a four-day Russian operation to wipe out militants in the Caucasus. Officials said Saturday 17 police officers have died in the operation with another 24 wounded. The fighting has been concentrated in the republics of Chechnya and Dagestan, where Islamist insurgents have been battling Russian forces following two separatist […]