A special tribunal in The Hague is delivering its verdict in the trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor, accused of masterminding some of the worst human rights abuses in recent memory. The Special Court for Sierra Leone is meeting Thursday, almost five years after the trial opened. Mr. Taylor faces 11 counts of war […]
World Awaits Landmark African War Crimes Verdict
Cher ‘Upset” Her Key to City of Adelaide Sold on eBay
U.S. recording artist Cher says she is trying to find out how a key to the city of Adelaide, Australia presented to her over 20 years ago ended up selling on eBay for nearly $100,000. The brass key, along with a memorial plaque engraved with Cher’s name, was sold Wednesday on the Internet auction site […]
World Awaits Landmark African War Crimes Verdict
A special tribunal in The Hague is starting to deliver its findings in the trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor, accused of masterminding some of the worst human rights abuses in recent memory. The Special Court for SierraLeone is meeting Thursday, almost five years after the trial opened. Mr. Taylor faces 11 counts of […]
UN Truce Observers Work to “De-Escalate” Syrian Violence
A spokesman for the United Nations truce-monitoring team in Syria says it found a need to “de-escalate” the situation in a Damascus suburb, while France calls for a rapid expansion of the mission. A group of observers on Wednesday visited Douma, where Syrian rights activists said security forces carried out shelling as part of attacks […]
Indonesia Halts US Beef Imports
Indonesia has suspended imports of U.S. beef after a case of mad cow disease was discovered in California. Vice Agriculture Minister Rusman Heriawan says the indefinite suspension took effect Thursday. Indonesia imports most of its beef from Australia and New Zealand, with only a small amount from the United States. In South Korea, a major […]
Newspaper: Bo Xilai Wiretapped Top Chinese Leaders
A news report Thursday says aides to disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai were discovered last year to have been tapping phone calls to top national leaders including President Hu Jintao. The New York Times says sophisticated devices identified the tap on a call between Mr. Hu and a senior anti-corruption official who was visiting Chongqing, […]
World Awaits Landmark African War Crimes Verdict
A special tribunal in The Hague is set to deliver its verdict Thursday in the trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor, accused of masterminding some of the worst human rights abuses in recent memory. Mr. Taylor faces 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for the deaths of an estimated half-million people […]
Pakistani PM Convicted of Contempt But Spared Prison
The showdown between Pakistan’s highest court and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is over, with the court convicting Mr. Gilani of contempt. The Supreme Court issued its verdict Thursday in Islamabad, ruling the prime minister openly defied the court’s order to reopen an old corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari. But the high court […]
Diplomat: US to Move Cautiously in Easing Sanctions Against Burma
A senior U.S. diplomat says Washington will move cautiously in any further easing of sanctions against Burma. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told a Congressional hearing Wednesday that the U.S. has ruled out an immediate end to its long-standing sanctions against Burma. Campbell praised the “significant progress” that Burma’s new nominally civilian government made […]
Connecticut Governor Signs Bill Repealing Death Penalty
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy has signed legislation that formally abolishes the death penalty in the northeastern U.S. state. Malloy signed the bill Wednesday in the state capital of Hartford during a private ceremony attended by anti-death penalty activists, clergy and family members of murder victims. The governor issued a statement saying the moment was a […]