NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has sent back images that scientists call “baby pictures” of the universe. The pictures released Wednesday show seven galaxies said to have been formed shortly after the Big Bang, which gave birth to the universe more than 13 billion years ago. NASA says one of the seven galaxies may be the […]
NASA’s Hubble Telescope Takes ‘Baby Pictures’ of Universe
Former Russian Policeman Goes On Trial In Journalist’s Murder
A former Russian police officer went on trial Wednesday on charges of involvement in the 2006 murder of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was critical of the government. Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov has been charged with being a part of the criminal group that gunned down Politkovskaya in her apartment building. Prosecutors demanded a 12-year prison sentence […]
Russia Extends Prison For Dissident Accused of Plotting Riots
A court in Russia has extended the detention of a Russian opposition activist who claims he was kidnapped and tortured in jail. Moscow’s Basmanny District Court ruled Wednesday that Leonid Razvozzhayev should remain in jail until April for investigation on charges of plotting mass riots. Prosecutors have charged Razvozzhayev and two other dissidents ((Sergey Udaltsov […]
US Military Judge Orders 9/11 Suspects’ Torture Testimony to Remain Secret
The U.S. military judge in charge of the future trial of five September 11 terror suspects has ordered that testimony about their capture, imprisonment and alleged torture must remain secret. Judge James Pohl ruled Wednesday that making this information public could endanger U.S. national security. Pohl also ruled in favor of the so-called 40-second rule […]
Cassini Probe Sees Nile-Like River on Saturn Moon
The international Cassini space probe, which has been orbiting Saturn and its moons since 2004, has sent detailed new images of a remarkable, Nile-like river valley on Saturn’s moon Titan. The river stretches more than 400 kilometers from its headwaters’ and flows into a large sea. It is the first time astronomers have seen a […]
U.S. Official Criticizes Implementation of Darfur Deal
A U.S. special advisor for Sudan’s troubled Darfur region says that a peace deal for Darfur, signed a year-and-a-half ago, has been hindered by a lack of funding, failure to disarm militias, and attacks on peacekeepers. Dane Smith spoke Wednesday in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum during his final visit to the region. He told […]
Lincoln,’ ‘Les Miserables’ Among Leaders in SAG Nominations
The American civil war drama “Lincoln,” the musical “Les Miserables,” and the comedic “Silver Linings Playbook” are in the forefront of the nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards. The nominations for best film and primetime television performances were announced Wednesday in Los Angeles. All three films were nominated for outstanding performance by a cast […]
Study Finds Most Pakistani Lawmakers Fail to Pay Taxes
A Pakistani investigative journalism group says less than a third of the country’s lawmakers filed income taxes in 2011, bringing into focus longstanding complaints about high-level tax evasion ahead of elections set for next year. The Center for Investigative Reporting in Pakistan said most of the country’s 446 lawmakers and about two-thirds of the government’s […]
ICC Rejects Gbagbo Appeal
The International Criminal Court in the Hague has ruled that it has the jurisdiction to try former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo on charges of crimes against humanity. The court Wednesday dismissed an appeal by the former president, who was arrested in 2011 and is in custody at the Hague. Mr. Gbagbo faces four counts […]
New Ukraine Parliament Opens Amid Protests
Ukraine’s new parliament convened Wednesday in a session marred by protests and fist fights. The session was the first since President Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of Regions secured a slim majority in October elections that observers say were marred by fraud. During the session, a fight broke out when several opposition lawmakers attacked two legislators suspected […]