China is moving ahead with the long-awaited case against disgraced senior politician Bo Xilai, whose alleged involvement in a murder and corruption scandal has upset Chinese leadership. In a short article Wednesday, the official Xinhua news agency says the “serious law violation case” involving Bo “has been transferred to judicial organs.” It did not say […]
Uganda Returns $5 Million in Stolen Funds to Ireland
Posted January 8th, 2013 at 4:40 pm (UTC-5)
Uganda has returned more than $5 million in looted aid money from Ireland back to the Irish government. Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore said Tuesday he is confident the restitution will contribute to the Ugandan efforts to fight corruption. He says Irish officials will now consider restarting its frozen aid program for Uganda. More than […]
Mali Government Soldiers Fire Warning Shots at Rebels
Posted January 8th, 2013 at 3:35 pm (UTC-5)
Malian soldiers fired at Islamist fighters who tried to push toward the government-controlled south of the country Tuesday. Military sources say soldiers fired “warning shots” overnight to halt the advance of fighters toward Mopti, a government stronghold about 650 kilometers northeast of the capital, Bamako. The French news agency, AFP, says the fighters retreated after […]
2012 Was Warmest Ever in US
Posted January 8th, 2013 at 3:25 pm (UTC-5)
The United States says last year was the warmest ever in the country. Government weather experts said Tuesday the average 2012 temperature in the country’s 48 contiguous states — not counting the island state of Hawaii and far northern Alaska — was 55.32 degrees Fahrenheit . That was a full degree higher than the old […]
Mali Government Soldiers Fire Warning Shots at Rebels
Posted January 8th, 2013 at 2:40 pm (UTC-5)
Malian soldiers have fired artillery at Islamist fighters who tried to push toward the government-controlled south of the country. Military sources said Tuesday that soldiers fired “warning shots” overnight to halt the advance of fighters toward Mopti, a government stronghold about 650 kilometers northeast of the capital, Bamako. The French news agency says the fighters […]
$1 Million Lottery Winner Poisoned
Posted January 8th, 2013 at 11:25 am (UTC-5)
U.S. officials say the winner of a $1 million lottery jackpot was poisoned last year before he could receive his award money. Authorities this week determined that Urooj Khan ingested a lethal dose of cyanide. Cook County Medical Examiner Stephen Cina said a relative had asked authorities to further look into his death after initial […]
Japan Increases Surveillance of East China Sea Islands
Posted January 8th, 2013 at 11:25 am (UTC-5)
Japan has increased surveillance around disputed East China Sea islands, after Chinese ships made a rare prolonged visit to the waters around them. Tokyo controls the islands and refers to them as Senkaku, while Beijing considers them to be Chinese territory and calls them Diaoyu. Japan said four Chinese surveillance ships entered the waters around […]
Kurdish Militants Killed in Southeast Turkey
Posted January 8th, 2013 at 11:05 am (UTC-5)
Twelve Kurdish militants and a Turkish soldier were killed in fighting along the country’s southeast border. Military officials say the rebels opened fire from northern Iraq and attacked a military post near the border late Monday night. Turkish soldiers returned fire on the militants killing 12. The attack comes as government officials hold talks with […]
Former Congresswoman Giffords Starts Gun Control Group
Posted January 8th, 2013 at 11:05 am (UTC-5)
Former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, have launched a campaign to curb gun violence. On the second anniversary of a mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, that killed six people and left Giffords critically wounded, the couple said their Americans for Responsible Solutions initiative would help raise money to support greater gun […]
Hagel Nomination Draws Reaction from Israel, Iran
Posted January 8th, 2013 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
President Barack Obama’s nominee for his next defense secretary has caused jitters in Israel and hope in Iran for “practical changes.” The speaker of Israel’s parliament, Reuven Rivlin, says he is “worried” about the nomination of former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel because of his stance toward Israel. But Rivlin added that ties between Israel and […]
