Residents in a town in the state of New York are marking Christmas with heavy hearts after two volunteer firefighters were shot and killed while responding to a blaze that officials say was set as a trap. Officials say a 62-year-old ex-convict, William Spengler, set his house and car on fire early Monday to lure […]
Police: Deadly Attack on US Firefighters a Trap
Activists: Syrian Rebels Capture Northern Town Near Turkey
Syrian rights activists say rebels have captured a northern town near the border with Turkey, driving out government troops after a siege that lasted several weeks. The activists say the rebels seized the last military base in the Idlib provincial town of Harem early Tuesday, extending rebel control over northern areas adjacent to Turkey. There […]
Israel Approves Construction of More Than 1,200 New Apartments
Israeli officials have approved the construction of more than 1,200 apartments in a Jerusalem neighborhood outside the pre-1967 Israeli borders. The Interior Ministry’s Jerusalem Building Committee gave final approval to the plan late Monday. The project includes 930 apartments for immediate construction and around 300 that may be built at a later time in Gilo, […]
South African President Zuma Visits Mandela in Hospital
South African President Jacob Zuma says former leader Nelson Mandela is “looking much better,” after more than two weeks in a Pretoria hospital. Mr. Zuma commented on Tuesday, after a Christmas visit with the 94-year-old anti-apartheid icon. President Zuma said Mr. Mandela was happy to have visitors and was in “good spirts”. He added that […]
Pope Benedict Calls for Peace in Troubled Regions
Pope Benedict has used his annual Christmas message to the world, calling for peace in global hot spots, including Syria. The pontiff prayed Tuesday that “peace would spring up for the people of Syria,” a country where tens of thousands have died in anti-government unrest. As he stood on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica […]
Deadly Passenger Jet Crash in Burma
Two people are dead after a Burmese passenger jet crash landed Tuesday morning in eastern Shan state. The Air Bagan plane, carrying 65 passengers and six crew members on a flight from Rangoon, landed on a road about three kilometers from Heho airport. Shan state is home to Inle Lake, a popular tourist destination. The […]
Indian Policeman Injured in Mob Attack Dies
An Indian police constable who was seriously injured during a massive demonstration against a brutal gang rape has died in a New Delhi hospital. Authorities say the policeman died Tuesday, two days after he was attacked by a mob that clashed with police. Sunday’s unrest took place as police struggled to control protesters who have […]
Deadly Passenger Jet Crash in Burma
Two people are dead after a Burmese passenger jet was forced to make an emergency landing Tuesday morning in eastern Shan state. The Air Bagan plane, carrying 65 passengers and six crew members on a flight from Rangoon, landed on a road about three kilometers from Heho airport. Shan state is home to Inle Lake, […]
UN Votes to Re-Open Arms Treaty Debate
The U.N. General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to restart talks on a treaty regulating the global trade of conventional arms, after a similar effort failed in July. The assembly has agreed to hold a conference in March to try to reach a consensus on a plan that would set global standards for the international transfer […]