Pakistani lawmakers have elected a new prime minister to replace ousted Yousuf Raza Gilani, in a bid to end the country’s political crisis. Parliament voted overwhelmingly Friday in favor of former water and power minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, who has been hit with corruption allegations and is partly blamed for the country’s electricity crisis. Mr. […]
Norway Massacre Trial Ends; Verdict Due in August
Posted June 22nd, 2012 at 11:40 am (UTC-5)
The trial of confessed Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik ended Friday with a declaration by the defendant that he carried out a “a small barbarism” to prevent “a greater barbarism.” Breivik told the Oslo court Friday that he killed 77 people in a pair of attacks last July in defense of his ethnic group. […]
UN Envoy: ‘Raise the Level of Pressure’ on Syrian Fighters
Posted June 22nd, 2012 at 11:25 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. envoy for Syria says it is time for countries to “raise the level of pressure” on both Syria’s government and opposition to end violence in the country. Kofi Annan told reporters in Geneva Friday that “countries of influence” need to persuade both sides in Syria to “stop the killing and start the talking.” […]
Cambodian FM: Cambodia Will Not Deport Frenchman Linked to Chinese Probe
Posted June 22nd, 2012 at 11:20 am (UTC-5)
Cambodia says it will not deport a French architect who once worked closely with a disgraced senior Chinese official at the center of one of modern China’s biggest and most public political scandals. Frenchman Patrick Devillers was arrested earlier this month outside of Phnom Penh at the request of China, for his alleged involvement in […]
Pakistani Lawmakers Elect New PM
Posted June 22nd, 2012 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
Pakistani lawmakers have elected a new prime minister to replace ousted Yousuf Raza Gilani. Parliament voted overwhelmingly Friday in favor of former water and power minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, who has been hit with corruption allegations and is partly blamed for the country’s electricity crisis. Mr. Ashraf won 211 votes in the 342-member national assembly. […]
Egypt’s Military Rulers Blame Candidates for Tensions
Posted June 22nd, 2012 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
Egypt’s ruling military council on Friday accused the country’s two presidential candidates of raising tensions by prematurely declaring victory, as thousands of mostly Islamist protesters gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to demand the release of results from last week’s runoff election and denounce what they see as a military power grab. Friday’s statement by the […]
Euro’s Key Leaders Seeking Debt Consensus
Posted June 22nd, 2012 at 10:25 am (UTC-5)
The leaders of Germany, France, Italy and Spain are meeting in Rome in a new effort to try to tame the debt crisis in the euro currency bloc and jolt its economy. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy were seeking some consensus […]
Former Rebel Convicted of Tampering in Charles Taylor Trial
Posted June 22nd, 2012 at 8:55 am (UTC-5)
A Sierra Leone man has been convicted of trying to bribe and influence witnesses in the trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor. The Special Court for Sierra Leone found Eric Koi Senessie guilty on eight of nine contempt of court charges in a verdict handed down late Thursday. Justice Theresa Doherty ruled that Senessie […]
Taliban Siege of Afghan Hotel Ends; 20 Killed
Posted June 22nd, 2012 at 8:50 am (UTC-5)
Afghan officials say the militant siege of a lakeside hotel outside the capital has ended, with at least 20 people killed. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the nearly 12-hour attack on the Spozhmai Hotel outside Kabul that ended early Friday. Authorities say at least 16 civilians, three hotel guards and one police officer were killed. […]
US, S. Korea Launch Live-Fire Military Drills North of Seoul
Posted June 22nd, 2012 at 8:40 am (UTC-5)
South Korean and U.S. warplanes fired rockets and dropped bombs on mock targets near the North Korean border Friday, in some of the largest live-fire maneuvers since the end of the Korean War. U.S. tanks and Apache helicopters pounded targets at Pocheon, as some 2,000 U.S. paratroopers and South Korean combat troops maneuvered nearby. “We […]
