Germany’s center-left opposition has won a razor-thin victory in a regional election that is seen as a test for Chancellor Angela Merkel eight months before nationwide legislative elections. The opposition Social Democrats and Greens won a one-seat majority over Ms. Merkel’s center-right coalition in Sunday’s election in Lower Saxony state. Ms. Merkel described the defeat […]
Global Treaty Reached on Cutting Mercury Emissions
Posted January 19th, 2013 at 4:30 am (UTC-5)
Delegates from around 140 countries have agreed to adopt a treaty limiting the use of hazardous mercury. The world’s first legally-binding treaty on mercury, reached Saturday after a week of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, aims to reduce global emission levels of the toxic heavy metal, which pose risks to human health and the environment. In […]
Ballet Director Subject to Acid Attack
Posted January 18th, 2013 at 4:55 am (UTC-5)
The artistic director of Russia’s famed Bolshoi Ballet troupe was injured in an acid attack late Thursday by an unknown assailant. A spokeswoman for the Bolshoi told reporters Sergei Filin suffered severe burns to his face and eyes after a masked attacker splashed concentrated acid on him as he approached his home late at night. […]
Thousands Attend Funeral for Slain Kurdish Activists
Posted January 17th, 2013 at 7:55 am (UTC-5)
Thousands of Kurds have gathered in Diyarbakir, southeast Turkey, for the funeral of three Kurdish activists killed last week in France. The mourners filled the streets and chanted slogans of solidarity as they marched alongside vehicles carrying the women’s coffins, which were flown to Turkey from France on Wednesday. The three women, Sakine Cansiz, Fidan […]
Russian Court Rejects Pussy Riot Member Appeal
Posted January 16th, 2013 at 11:50 am (UTC-5)
A Russian court has rejected a request to release an imprisoned member of the Pussy Riot band. Maria Alyokhina asked the court on Wednesday to defer her two-year sentence until her young son turns 14. Judges rejected the petition, saying the child’s age was already taken into account during the sentencing. Alyokhina was convicted last […]
Bodies of Slain Kurdish Activists Sent to Turkey
Posted January 16th, 2013 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
The bodies of three Kurdish activists killed last week in France have been flown to Turkey for burial. The bodies of the slain women were expected to arrive Wednesday in the mainly-Kurdish southeast province of Diyarbakir with a ceremony to be held Thursday. The three women, Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Soylemez, were found […]
Two Dead in London Helicopter Crash
Posted January 16th, 2013 at 6:45 am (UTC-5)
British police report at least two people are dead after a commercial helicopter crashed into a roadway in south-central London, near a key rail station for incoming commuters. Reports say the helicopter pilot was one of those killed. Medical authorities say nine other people were injured. One of the injured was in critical condition. Local […]
Fire Brigade: Helicopter Crashes in Central London
Posted January 16th, 2013 at 6:00 am (UTC-5)
British police report at least two people are dead after a helicopter crashed onto a roadway in south-central London, near a key rail station for incoming commuters. Local news reports say the aircraft hit a crane atop an apartment building before hurtling to the ground, igniting a fireball that sent plumes of smoke into the […]
Fire Brigade: Helicopter Crashes in Central London
Posted January 16th, 2013 at 4:50 am (UTC-5)
British police report at least two people are dead after a helicopter crashed into a roadway in south-central London, near a key rail station for incoming commuters. Local news reports say the aircraft hit a crane before hurtling to the ground, igniting a fireball that sent plumes of smoke into the sky. The helicopter is […]
Fire Brigade: Helicopter Crashes in Central London
Posted January 16th, 2013 at 4:00 am (UTC-5)
London’s fire brigade says it is attending to a helicopter crash near the Thames river in the central part of the city. News reports say the aircraft crashed into a crane before hurtling to the ground, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. The helicopter is believed to have hit two cars, jamming traffic in […]
