A crowd of up to 2,000 demonstrators gathered outside the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan Tuesday, following reports that foreign troops inside the facility had improperly disposed copies of the Quran. The commander of the international coalition, U.S. General John Allen, quickly apologized and promised an investigation after learning that coalition forces at Bagram […]
Afghans Protest After Reports of Quran Desecration by NATO Troops
Seoul Plans UN Appeal for North Korean Refugees in China
South Korea says it will raise the issue of North Korean defectors detained in China at a United Nations meeting next week. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson says the government will go before the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva to pressure Beijing not to repatriate several North Koreans who fled their homeland. About 30 […]
US Talking to Iranian Oil Buyers About Cutting Imports
The United States is negotiating with major importers of Iranian oil, including South Korea and Japan, about reducing their purchases as part of sanctions targeting Tehran’s central bank. A delegation of senior South Korean officials is traveling to Washington Tuesday for talks that will include how much the country needs to cut its imports. South […]
Afghans Protest After Reports of Quran Desecration by NATO Troops
A crowd of up to 2,000 demonstrators gathered outside the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan Tuesday, following reports that foreign troops inside the facility had improperly disposed copies of the Quran. The commander of the international coalition, U.S. General John Allen, quickly apologized and promised an investigation after learning that coalition forces at Bagram […]
Long-Time Saleh Deputy to Become Yemen’s Next President
Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, poised to become Yemen’s next president, has served as the country’s vice president for the past 17 years. In November, Yemen’s long-time autocratic president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, transferred constitutional powers to Hadi as part of a Gulf-backed deal implemented after 10 months of protests urging Mr. Saleh to yield power. The […]
NATO Commander in Afghanistan Apologizes After Reports of Quran Mistreatment
The commander of the international coalition in Afghanistan has apologized and promised an investigation into reports that NATO personnel mishandled Islamic religious texts. U.S. General John Allen said in a statement Tuesday that he ordered a “thorough investigation” after learning that coalition forces at Bagram Airbase may have “improperly disposed” of a large number of […]
NATO Commander in Afghanistan Apologizes After Reports of Quran Mistreatment
The commander of the international coalition in Afghanistan has promised an investigation into reports that NATO personnel mishandled Islamic religious texts. U.S. General John Allen said in a statement Tuesday that he ordered a “thorough investigation” after learning that coalition forces at Bagram Airbase may have “improperly disposed” of a large number of Islamic religious […]
Burma May Allow ASEAN to Observe By-Elections
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations says it has won a promise from Burmese officials to “seriously consider” letting it send a team to observe coming by-elections. The regional bloc said Tuesday that Burmese President Thein Sein made the pledge in a meeting in the country’s administrative capital, Naypyitaw, with a delegation headed by ASEAN […]
Burma May Allow ASEAN to Observe By-Elections
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations says it has won a promise from Burmese officials to “seriously consider” letting it send a team to observe coming by-elections. The regional bloc said Tuesday that Burmese President Thein Sein made the pledge in a meeting in the country’s administrative capital, Naypyitaw, with a delegation headed by ASEAN […]
Eurozone Ministers Approve Greek Bailout Deal
Eurozone finance ministers have approved a fresh $171-billion (130 billion euros) bailout for Greece, after more than 13 hours of tense negotiations in Brussels. The bailout will reduce Greece’s government debt from around 160 percent of the country’s gross domestic product to just over 120 percent by 2020 — the maximum level considered sustainable by […]