More than 200 police officers are patrolling the northern French city of Amiens, in an effort to keep the peace after rioting there earlier this week. Police say the rioters burned cars and buildings, including a school and a youth center, in a troubled district of the city. Sixteen police officers were injured. The violence […]
Rights Group Urges Ethiopia to Release Jailed Muslim Protesters
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 10:30 am (UTC-5)
A U.S.-based rights group is urging the government of Ethiopia to immediately release 17 Muslim leaders jailed as part of a “brutal crackdown”. Human Rights Watch says the men were among hundreds who were harassed, assaulted and detained during protests at mosques in the capital, Addis Ababa, last month. HRW says the crackdown followed months […]
18 Wounded in Attack in Western Afghanistan
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 10:30 am (UTC-5)
Afghan authorities say 18 people were wounded when a bomb planted on a bicycle exploded in western Afghanistan. Wednesday’s attack was carried out in a crowded marketplace in the city of Herat. Officials say the remote-controlled bomb was detonated as people were shopping for Eid, a major holiday on the Islamic calendar. There was no […]
China to Protest Japanese Arrests of Pro-China Activists
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
China says it is lodging a formal complaint with Japan after Japanese authorities arrested 14 pro-China activists who landed on an island chain claimed by both countries. Japanese police say the activists arrived on the islands by boat from Hong Kong Wednesday, despite Japan’s heightened security presence in the area. At one point, Japan’s coastguard […]
Japan Arrests 14 Pro-China Activists on Disputed Island
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 9:00 am (UTC-5)
Japanese police say they have arrested 14 pro-China activists who landed Wednesday on an island chain claimed by both China and Japan. The activists arrived on the islands by boat from Hong Kong despite the heightened security of Japan’s coastguard, which fired water cannons at the Chinese fishing vessel. Japanese police accuse those detained of […]
Afghan-Pakistani Team to Investigate Cross-Border Shelling
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 8:30 am (UTC-5)
The presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to send a joint military delegation to investigate recent cross-border shellings that have raised tensions between the two neighbors. Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari met Tuesday on the sidelines of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Mecca. President Karzai’s office […]
Indian PM: India to Launch Mission to Mars
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 8:20 am (UTC-5)
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says his country plans to launch a spacecraft that will orbit Mars, marking another advancement in India’s ambitious space program. Mr. Singh said Tuesday the unmanned spacecraft will collect important scientific information. The prime minister called the plan a huge step for India in science and technology. The spacecraft is […]
Japan Arrests 5 Pro-China Activists on Disputed Island
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 6:50 am (UTC-5)
Japanese police say they have arrested five pro-China activists who landed Wednesday on an island chain claimed by both China and Japan. The activists arrived on the islands by boat from Hong Kong despite heightened security by Japan’s coastguard, which fired water cannons at the Chinese fishing vessel. Japanese police say five of the 14 […]
Burma Names Naval Chief as VP
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 5:55 am (UTC-5)
A navy chief with a politically moderate reputation has been sworn in as one of Burma’s vice presidents in a move seen as empowering reformers in the military-dominated government. Admiral Nyan Tun replaces a regime hardliner whose resignation last month prompted rumors of a power struggle. Tin Aung Myint Oo officially quit for health reasons, […]
Bomb Wounds 3 Near UN Hotel in Syrian Capital
Posted August 15th, 2012 at 5:05 am (UTC-5)
Syrian state television says a bomb has exploded near a hotel used by United Nations observers in Damascus, wounding three people. The report said the blast Wednesday was caused by a bomb planted on a fuel truck. Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said none of the U.N. monitors were hurt in the explosion. He […]
