Countries around the world are marking International Women’s Day, celebrating the gains made by women in business, politics and education. But United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says those gains are not enough. In a statement Thursday, the U.N. chief warned the world still has “a long way to go” before women and girls universally enjoy […]
World Urged to Focus on Plight of Rural Women
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 10:40 am (UTC-5)
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Greece Nears Debt Write-Off Goal
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
Greece is nearing its goal of getting the country’s private lenders to eliminate $142 billion of the country’s debt to help it avoid a default on its financial obligations later this month. European leaders and financial analysts predicted the Athens government would be successful in winning pledges from its creditors ahead of a deadline Thursday […]
Group Behind Twitter Campaign on LRA Draws Criticism
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 8:55 am (UTC-5)
A group trying to raise awareness about the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army in Africa is drawing criticism, with some questioning its purpose and tactics. U.S.-based Invisible Children launched a campaign on Twitter this week to bring attention to a new film on the LRA and its leader Joseph Kony, who is wanted for war crimes. […]
China Drops Plan to Legalize Secret Detentions
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 8:50 am (UTC-5)
China’s parliament has dropped controversial plans to legalize the detention of suspects in secret locations, following a public outcry over an increase in forced disappearances by police. The latest draft of China’s Criminal Procedure Law introduced Thursday at the National People’s Congress removed a clause that would allow police to secretly “disappear” criminal suspects deemed […]
Continental Airlines Begins Appeal in Concorde Jet Crash
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
Officials from U.S.-based Continental Airlines are in a French court to appeal a manslaughter conviction for the deadly crash of a Concorde supersonic jet in 2000. The trial, which began Thursday outside of Versailles, will re-examine evidence of the crash, as well as take into account the safety record of the plane. In 2010, a […]
Taiwanese Farmers Protest New US Beef Import Plan
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 8:10 am (UTC-5)
Thousands of angry Taiwanese hog farmers marched in Taipei Thursday to protest the government’s decision to allow imports of U.S. beef treated with a controversial additive. The farmers gathered outside Taiwan’s legislature before marching to the self-ruled island’s agricultural agency. They pelted riot police with rotten eggs and animal excrement, and tried to breach a […]
Greece Still Short of Reaching Debt Write-Off Goal
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 8:05 am (UTC-5)
Greece is edging closer to its goal of getting the country’s private lenders to eliminate $142 billion of the debt it owes them, but remains short of the target as a Thursday deadline nears. Eurogroup president Jean-Claude Juncker said Wednesday he is confident private investors participating in a Greek debt-relief deal would reach the target […]
World Powers Urge Iran Towards Nuclear Talks
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 7:45 am (UTC-5)
A group of six world powers has called on Iran to enter talks on its controversial nuclear program without preconditions. At a board meeting of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog in Vienna on Thursday, the group known as the P5+1 said that the process should be a “serious dialogue” that produces “concrete results.” The West fears […]
Annan Opposes Further Militarization in Syria
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 6:35 am (UTC-5)
The U.N.-Arab League special envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, says further militarization in the country “will make the situation worse.” Annan spoke Thursday in Cairo where he met with Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby. The former U.N. chief is due to visit Syria later this week. Meanwhile, Syria’s deputy oil minister resigned his post to […]
China Drops Plan to Legalize Secret Detentions
Posted March 8th, 2012 at 6:35 am (UTC-5)
China’s parliament has dropped controversial plans to legalize the detention of suspects in secret locations, following a public outcry over an increase in forced disappearances by police. The latest draft of China’s Criminal Procedure Law introduced Thursday at the National People’s Congress removed a clause that would allow police to secretly “disappear” criminal suspects deemed […]
