U.N. officials and humanitarian groups are calling for an “urgent scale up” of aid to Africa’s Sahel region, where millions of people are facing severe food shortages. Officials met with donor governments in Rome Wednesday. United Nations Development chief Helen Clark told them the region needs $725 million in aid to stop the problem. U.N. […]
UN, Aid Groups Call for ‘Urgent’ Action in Sahel
Posted February 15th, 2012 at 2:05 pm (UTC-5)
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Syria’s Assad Sets Referendum as Troops Pound Cities
Posted February 15th, 2012 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has ordered a constitutional referendum later this month that he says would end nearly five decades of single-party rule, as government troops continued to assault rebellious areas nationwide. If approved, the February 26 ballot would usher in a new charter that dilutes the ruling Ba’ath party’s status as “the leader of […]
Police Push Back Protesters in Senegal
Posted February 15th, 2012 at 12:45 pm (UTC-5)
Police in Senegal used tear gas Wednesday to push back protesters demanding President Abdoulaye Wade not run for a third term. Hundreds of demonstrators tried to march toward the presidential palace in Dakar, after opposition groups called for more protests against the president’s candidacy. But police blocked their path and fired tear gas to disperse […]
Iran Announces Nuclear Advances
Posted February 15th, 2012 at 11:05 am (UTC-5)
Iran hailed its advanced nuclear capabilities Wednesday by unveiling what it says are a new generation of centrifuges to speed up uranium enrichment and its first domestically produced fuel rods. The semiofficial Fars news agency reported Wednesday that the new carbon fiber centrifuges have been installed and operated at a uranium enrichment plant in the […]
Chinese Press Hails Xi Tour, Lauds US Relationship
Posted February 15th, 2012 at 6:50 am (UTC-5)
Chinese state media on Wednesday carried glowing accounts of Vice President Xi Jinping’s high-profile visit to Washington, describing the U.S.-China relationship as the most important in the world. The influential Global Times newspaper also noted that Xi’s meeting Tuesday with U.S. President Barack Obama fell on Valentine’s Day, saying the timing suggests a romantic atmosphere […]
India: ‘Well-Trained Terrorist’ Behind Israeli Diplomatic Attack
Posted February 14th, 2012 at 3:50 pm (UTC-5)
India’s home minister says Monday’s bombing of an Israeli embassy car was targeted at an Israeli diplomat’s wife and carried out by a well-trained terrorist. Palaniappan Chidambaram said Tuesday the bomb went off within seconds of being planted on the woman’s car by an assailant on a motorcycle. Doctors described her condition as “critical but […]
India: ‘Well-Trained Terrorist’ Behind Israeli Diplomatic Attack
Posted February 14th, 2012 at 3:25 pm (UTC-5)
India’s home minister says Monday’s bombing of an Israeli embassy car was targeted at an Israeli diplomat’s wife and carried out by a well-trained terrorist. Palaniappan Chidambaram said Tuesday the bomb went off within seconds of being planted on the woman’s car by an assailant on a motorcycle. Doctors described her condition as “critical but […]
China Says It Is Ready to Help on European Debt
Posted February 14th, 2012 at 1:50 pm (UTC-5)
China says it is ready to get “more deeply” involved in helping resolve the European debt crisis. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made the pledge Tuesday at a news conference in Beijing after meeting with European Union President Herman Van Rompuy. Wen said China’s support is “sincere and firm” and that it will match its “words […]
China’s Xi Meeting Obama, Biden at White House
Posted February 14th, 2012 at 11:55 am (UTC-5)
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping is making his first visit to the White House, where he is meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in an effort to boost cooperation between the two world powers. Mr. Obama said a cooperative relationship based on mutual respect is in the interest of the world. Welcoming Xi to the […]
Syria’s Homs Battered by Heaviest Shelling in Days
Posted February 14th, 2012 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
Syrian forces have renewed their assault on the flashpoint city of Homs in what activists say is the heaviest shelling in days, after a warning by the U.N. human rights chief that the onslaught could amount to “crimes against humanity.” The Local Coordination Committees opposition group Tuesday described Homs as under “brutal shelling.” Witnesses on […]
