Syrian forces have continued attacks on areas around Damascus, as they try to push back against rebel attempts to close in on the capital. Opposition activists say government forces shelled Damascus suburbs Monday, a day after carrying out deadly airstrikes and rocket attacks against rebel-held areas. Fighters opposed to President Bashar al-Assad have been trying […]
Pakistan Blast Kills 2 Police Officers
Posted December 3rd, 2012 at 3:35 am (UTC-5)
Officials in northwestern Pakistan say a bomb blast has ripped through a police van, killing two officers. Authorities say the blast Monday on the outskirts of Peshawar, considered a Taliban safe haven, also wounded two officers. The city has been hit with frequent bombings in recent years. There has been no claim of responsibility for […]
Russia Urges North Korea to Cancel Rocket Launch
Posted December 3rd, 2012 at 3:25 am (UTC-5)
Russia is urging North Korea not to go ahead with a planned rocket launch later this month. The statement was issued Monday by the Russian Foreign Ministry. Russia joins an international chorus expressing concern about the North’s intentions. Pyongyang says the rocket will carry an earth observation satellite into orbit, but the effort is widely […]
Clinton Pushing Energy Diversity in Czech Republic
Posted December 3rd, 2012 at 1:55 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in the Czech Republic for a short visit that includes a push to help a U.S. firm win a nuclear plant construction contract. Clinton meets Monday with Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg. The Czech Republic wants to boost its nuclear capacity to produce […]
At Least 9 Dead in Japan Tunnel Collapse
Posted December 3rd, 2012 at 12:45 am (UTC-5)
((updates death toll in hed, lede; new info in grafs 1-2, 5) Japanese officials say at least nine people died Sunday when concrete ceiling panels fell in a highway tunnel west of Tokyo. Early Monday, rescue officials were forced to suspend their work until more supports can be added to the remaining panels. Police said […]
Egyptian Judges to Boycott Referendum on Islamist-Backed Constitution
Posted December 2nd, 2012 at 10:10 pm (UTC-5)
An influential group of Egyptian judges says it will not oversee a December 15 referendum on a new constitution, a move that could undermine the legitimacy of the charter supported by the nation’s Islamist president. In a statement published Sunday by state news agency MENA, the Judges Club said its members unanimously agreed to boycott […]
Suspected Islamic Militants Kill 10 Christians in Northern Nigeria
Posted December 2nd, 2012 at 6:50 pm (UTC-5)
Suspected Islamic militants have gone on a murderous rampage in a village in northern Nigeria, killing at least 10 Christians. Residents of Chibok in Borno state say the gunmen stormed into the village late Saturday and targeted Christians. Witnesses say the suspects killers slit the throats of their victims and burned down their homes. Nigerian […]
Ex-PM Borut Pahor Wins Slovenian Presidential Election
Posted December 2nd, 2012 at 6:05 pm (UTC-5)
Left-wing former Prime Minister Borut Pahor has won Slovenia’s presidential election by a landslide. Official results give Mr. Pahor 67 percent of the vote in Sunday’s second round election, to incumbent President Danilo Turk’s 33 percent. Mr. Pahor also won the first round on November 11. He called his win a time of new hope […]
Egyptian Judges to Boycott Referendum on Islamist-Backed Constitution
Posted December 2nd, 2012 at 5:45 pm (UTC-5)
An influential group of Egyptian judges says it will not oversee a December 15 referendum on a new constitution, a move that could undermine the legitimacy of the charter supported by the nation’s Islamist president. In a statement published Sunday by state news agency MENA, the Judges Club said its members unanimously agreed to boycott […]
Exit Polls: Ex-PM Borut Pahor Wins Slovenian Presidential Election
Posted December 2nd, 2012 at 4:45 pm (UTC-5)
Exit poll show left-wing former Prime Minister Borut Pahor winning Slovenia’s presidential election by a landslide. The surveys of voters gives Mr. Pahor 67 percent of the vote in Sunday’s runoff, to incumbent President Danilo Turk’s 33 percent. Official results are expected later Sunday. Mr. Pahor called his apparent win a time of new hope […]
