An organization of Russian activist groups is dismissing the results of Sunday’s presidential election, calling Vladimir Putin’s win an “insult” to the Russian people. The League of Voters issued a statement at a news conference Wednesday, alleging its monitors found evidence of widespread violations and vote-rigging. The activist group is calling for a new, mass […]
Russian Activists Reject Putin Election, Call Results ‘Insult’
Death Toll Rises to 43 in Afghan Avalanche
Authorities say the death toll from Monday’s avalanche in northern Afghanistan has risen to 43 people. Rescuers in Badakhshan province are still shoveling through deep snow in the search for victims from the disaster that buried an entire village of some 200 people. A day earlier, Afghan army helicopters had descended on the area to […]
Greece Still Short of Reaching Debt Write-off Goal
Greece is edging closer to its goal of getting the country’s private lenders to eliminate $142 billion of the money it owes them, but remained short of the target as a Thursday deadline neared. The Athens government says it needs the banks, pension funds and other financial institutions holding at least two-thirds of the country’s […]
US Sees Progress in North Korea Food Aid Talks
A top U.S. envoy say progress was made in negotiations with North Korean officials on details of a plan to supply 240,000 tons of U.S. food aid to the communist nation. Robert King, the special envoy for human rights in North Korea, spoke to reporters after Wednesday’s talks in Beijing. “We’ve discussed a number of […]
India Police Arrest Iran-Linked Journalist for Attack on Israeli Diplomat
Indian police say they have arrested a local journalist working for an Iranian news agency for possible connections to last month’s bombing of an Israeli diplomatic vehicle. Mohammed Kazmi appeared in a New Delhi court Wednesday, a day after his arrest. Authorities claim Kazmi had been in touch with a suspect they believe may have […]
Six British Soldiers Presumed Dead in Afghanistan
Six British soldiers are believed dead after their armored vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan. The soldiers were patrolling in Helmand province Tuesday evening when the blast struck. If the deaths are confirmed, it would be the single deadliest incident for British troops in Afghanistan since a helicopter crash in 2006 […]
UN Humanitarian Chief Heads to Battered Syrian City
The U.N. humanitarian chief is traveling to the battered Syrian city of Homs on the first day of her mission to push for relief workers to be given unhindered access to those in need of aid. A U.N. spokesman said Valerie Amos arrived Wednesday in Damascus, where she held talks with Syrian foreign ministry officials. […]
China Paints Self-Immolators as Distressed Criminals, Terrorists
Chinese officials are attempting to discredit Tibetans who have set themselves on fire to protest China’s rule over their region. Wu Zegang, the head of Aba Prefecture, where many of the self-immolations have taken place, said Wednesday the protests were being “orchestrated” and “planned” by foreign Tibetan exile groups who want to divide China. “There […]
New Zealand FM Urges Continued Reforms in Burma
New Zealand’s foreign minister is urging Burma to continue making democratic reforms, as he finishes a two-day tour of the formerly reclusive southeast Asian nation. Murray McCully, the latest foreign diplomat to make a landmark visit to Burma, said Wednesday that the country should continue seeking “practical gains from the transitions that are taking place.” […]
Six British Soldiers Presumed Dead in Afghanistan
Six British soldiers are believed dead after their armored vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb. The soldiers were patrolling in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan Tuesday evening when the blast struck. If the deaths are confirmed, it would be the single deadliest incident for British troops since a helicopter crash in 2006 killed 14. […]