((new head, lead) U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Burmese President Thein Sein Friday, after the United States formally lifted economic sanctions against the southeast Asian nation. The talks took place on the sidelines of a conference in Cambodia. Clinton met with President Thein Sein in December, during a landmark trip to Burma. […]
Bomb Kills Afghan Women’s Affairs Official
Posted July 13th, 2012 at 8:40 am (UTC-5)
Afghan officials say a bomb has killed a local official with the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs. Provincial authorities say the director of women’s affairs in eastern Laghman province, Hanifa Sahi, was killed Friday when a bomb hidden under her car exploded in the provincial capital, Mehterlam. Her husband was also in the vehicle and […]
Opposition: Civilians Massacred in Syrian Village
Posted July 13th, 2012 at 7:55 am (UTC-5)
Syrian opposition activists say government forces with tanks and helicopters on Thursday killed more than 150 people, mostly civilians, in a village in Hama province. The activists and witnesses say troops shelled the village of Treimsa Thursday before storming the area. A rebel leader put the death toll at more than 200. State-run Syrian media […]
AU Troops Recover Relief Food Stolen by Al-Shabab
Posted July 13th, 2012 at 7:25 am (UTC-5)
African Union troops in central Somalia have recovered more than 500 bags of food aid that were stolen by the insurgent group al-Shabab. The AU says the food, which was meant for drought-stricken Somali families, was instead being used to feed al-Shabab militants at a training camp outside Mogadishu. The African Union Mission in Somalia […]
Ethiopian Journalists, Activists Jailed for ‘Terrorism’
Posted July 13th, 2012 at 7:20 am (UTC-5)
At least 20 Ethiopians, including journalists and opposition figures, have been sentenced to prison on terrorism charges, after a trial denounced by human rights groups. In sentences handed down Friday, prominent journalist and blogger Eskinder Nega was jailed for 18 years, while Andualem Arage, a member of the Unity for Democracy and Justice party, was […]
Microblog of US Consulate in Shanghai Disappears
Posted July 13th, 2012 at 7:15 am (UTC-5)
A social media account run by the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai has mysteriously disappeared from the Internet in China, prompting many to wonder if it is the work of government censors. The Shanghai consulate’s account on Sina Weibo, a popular Twitter-like microblog service, was known for its sometimes witty commentary, often on Chinese political and […]
ASEAN Conference Fails Over China Dispute
Posted July 13th, 2012 at 5:30 am (UTC-5)
A meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Phnom Penh has ended with foreign ministers from the 10-member bloc failing to reach agreement on a code of conduct to ease tensions in the South China Sea. The Philippines slammed the disarray at the end of the talks on Friday, saying it deplored the failure […]
Opposition: Civilians Massacred in Syrian Village
Posted July 13th, 2012 at 5:05 am (UTC-5)
Syrian opposition activists say government forces with tanks and helicopters have massacred more than 150 people, mostly civilians, in a village in Hama province. The activists and witnesses say troops shelled the village of Treimsa Thursday before storming the area. A rebel leader put the death toll at more than 200. State-run Syrian media say […]
Thailand High Court Dismisses Challenges to Constitutional Amendments
Posted July 13th, 2012 at 4:45 am (UTC-5)
Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dismissed opposition petitions challenging the legality of government amendments to the constitution. The court ruled Friday that the changes do not threaten the role of the monarchy, but also said a referendum is necessary to decide whether the government can go ahead with the amendments. The current constitution was drawn up […]
