U.S. officials say China may be prepared for talks with its neighbors on a code of conduct for resolving territorial disputes in the South China Sea. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held in talks in Cambodia Thursday with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who U.S. officials say cautiously signaled his country’s willingness to take […]
China Signals Readiness for South China Sea Talks
Posted July 12th, 2012 at 6:15 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment
France Auto Giant Announces Thousands of Jobs Cuts
Posted July 12th, 2012 at 5:25 am (UTC-5)
French auto giant PSA Peugeot Citroen issued a statement Thursday that it plans to cut 8,000 jobs jobs in its domestic division because of earning losses earlier this year and its dismal outlook on the shrinking market. Unions opposing the job cuts are reported to be planning protests later Thursday. France’s largest auto maker says […]
Syrian Ambassador to Iraq Defects; Joins Rebels
Posted July 12th, 2012 at 5:20 am (UTC-5)
Syria’s ambassador to Iraq has defected and joined the opposition to President Bashar al-Assad’s rule. In a statement broadcast on the Arabic-language television network Al-Jazeera, Nawaf Fares urged members of the military to join him, saying there is no honor in killing one’s own people. He also said the government has used the ruling Ba’ath […]
Rights Group: Iraqi Draft Law Violates Free Speech
Posted July 12th, 2012 at 5:20 am (UTC-5)
A leading human rights group says an Iraqi draft law would restrict free speech in violation of international law and pose a threat to journalists, whistleblowers and peaceful activists. In a new report, Human Rights Watch said the cybercrimes law includes vague provisions that allow Iraqi authorities to punish speech they believe is a threat […]
Britain Commits More Troops for Olympic Security
Posted July 12th, 2012 at 5:00 am (UTC-5)
Britain says it is ready to provide extra military personnel to help secure the upcoming Olympic games, after a private contractor reported problems with fielding a large enough force. The government said an extra 3,500 troops will be available for the event, which begins July 27. Security company G4S says it is continuing to work […]
ADB Says Weak Export Markets Hurting Developing Asia
Posted July 12th, 2012 at 4:30 am (UTC-5)
The Asian Development Bank says the financial crisis in Europe and sluggish economic recovery in the United States are hurting growth in developing Asian countries. In a report released Thursday, the ADB says growth in Asia slowed during the first half of the year as struggles in Europe and the United States cut demand for […]
Funding Crisis Threatens World’s Largest Refugee Camp
Posted July 12th, 2012 at 4:25 am (UTC-5)
Several international aid groups working in Kenya are warning that a critical funding shortage is threatening tens of thousands of lives at the world’s largest refugee camp. The group of eight aid agencies, including Oxfam and Save the Children, said in a statement that $25 million is needed to continue providing assistance to the 465,000 […]
Gunmen Kill 9 Policemen at Compound in Pakistan
Posted July 12th, 2012 at 4:10 am (UTC-5)
Gunmen have killed nine policemen at a security compound in eastern Pakistan, the second deadly attack claimed by the Pakistani Taliban in that region in recent days. Police say gunmen on motorcycles raided the compound early Thursday in the city of Lahore and opened fire. At least three policemen were wounded. The victims, undergoing police […]
Kenyan Hate Speech Case Tests Limits of Free Speech
Posted July 12th, 2012 at 3:40 am (UTC-5)
The acting head of Kenya’s human rights commission says his agency is committed to protecting freedom of speech, as long as it does not come at the expense of other Kenyans. The comments of Samuel Tororei come as three Kenyan musicians await trial after being charged with hate speech for songs that authorities say intended […]
Gunmen Kill 9 Policemen at Compound in Pakistan
Posted July 12th, 2012 at 1:50 am (UTC-5)
Gunmen in Pakistan have killed nine policemen and wounded at least three others at a security compound in the eastern city of Lahore. Officials say the victims from the attack early Thursday were undergoing police training. They had been recruited from the northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border. There has been no immediate claim […]
