Russia says it has opened a criminal investigation into the beating by riot police of an opposition protester in the capital on Sunday, the eve of Vladimir Putin’s presidential inauguration. Investigations Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said Friday the probe will try to establish who shot the video, which was posted on the Internet, and identify […]
Russia Opens Probe Into Beating of Woman Protester
Syria Sees Mass Protests Following Bombings
Mass protests broke out across Syria on Friday, a day after at least 55 people were killed in twin bombings that marked the deadliest attack since the start of the anti-government uprising 14 months ago. The car bomb explosions in Damascus Thursday were among a string of attacks that have occurred since U.N. observers arrived […]
Uniformed Attacker Kills NATO Solder in Afghanistan
An attacker wearing an Afghan army uniform has opened fire on a group of NATO troops in eastern Afghanistan, killing one service member. Friday’s shooting is at least the 15th incident this year in which an Afghan soldier or an insurgent disguised as a soldier has fired on coalition forces. A NATO statement did not […]
Developed World’s Employment Still Lagging from Recession
A new report says the labor markets in the developed world’s biggest economies have still not recovered from the global recession that started in 2008. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Friday that 528 million working-age people were employed in its 34 member nations in late 2011. The OECD said that was two […]
Charles Taylor’s Lawyers Say Proposed Sentence is Vindictive
Lawyers for Charles Taylor are protesting the 80-year jail sentence being sought by prosecutors after Taylor’s conviction for crimes against humanity. Taylor’s attorneys on Friday filed documents saying the proposed sentence is “vindictive” and places too much of the blame for Sierra Leone’s wartime atrocities on the former Liberian president. Taylor’s sentence is due to […]
Doctor Strike in Sri Lanka Cripples Hospitals
Doctors in Sri Lanka’s state-run hospitals have gone on strike to demand higher pay, crippling services at the country’s state-run hospitals. The Government Medical Officers’ Association said Friday’s one-day strike was organized after the government failed to fulfill its 2008 pledge to nearly double doctors’ salaries to roughly $220 a month. The work stoppage prevented […]
Countries Adopt Guidelines on ‘Land Grabbing’
The United Nations has published guidelines on so-called “land grabbing,” the large-scale purchase of farm and fishing lands by rich countries in the developing world. Members of the U.N. Committee on World Food Security endorsed the guidelines Friday at a meeting in Rome. The guidelines, which are not legally binding, call on governments to protect […]
Uniformed Attacker Kills NATO Solder in Afghanistan
An attacker wearing an Afghan army uniform has opened fire on a group of NATO troops in eastern Afghanistan, killing one service member. Friday’s shooting is at least the 15th incident this year in which an Afghan soldier or an insurgent disguised as a soldier has fired on coalition forces. A NATO statement did not […]
Syria Braces for Mass Protests Following Bombings
Syrians braced for mass protests on Friday, a day after at least 55 people were killed in twin bombings that marked the deadliest attack since the start of the anti-government uprising 14 months ago. The car bomb explosions in Damascus Thursday were among a string of attacks that have occurred since U.N. observers arrived in […]
Greek Conservative Leader: Still Hope of Forming Unity Government
Leaders of the Greek Socialist party and Conservative party met in Athens Friday to make a last ditch effort at reaching an accord on a coalition government. Socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos and Conservative party leader Antionis Samaras know that failure to reach an agreement may jeopardize the country’s eurozone membership. Following the meeting, Samaras did […]