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Syria threatens to 'cleanse' rebel area in Homs (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 4:42am EST

AP - After a punishing, monthlong military siege, Syrian rebels made what they called a tactical retreat Thursday from a key district in Homs, saying they were running low on weapons and the humanitarian conditions were unbearable.

N.Korea-U.S. deal revives hopes of nuclear disarmament (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 4:42am EST

Reuters - North Korea has agreed with the United States to suspend major elements of its atomic weapons program in a surprise breakthrough that could pave the way for the resumption of long-stalled nuclear disarmament talks with the secretive state.

China manufacturing sees gains in February (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 4:26am EST

AP - China's manufacturing gained momentum in February, helped by strength in new orders, export demand and production, a government survey showed, though inflation pressures remain a concern.

Venezuela's Chavez: I'm recovering like a condor (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 4:12am EST

Reuters - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez broke his silence on Wednesday after surgery in Cuba for a suspected recurrence of cancer to insist he was recovering well and soaring like the condor.

Elite forces try to close in on Syria's Homs (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 3:55am EST

Reuters - Defeated Syrian rebels abandoned their shattered stronghold in Homs, giving way to a 26-day army assault on a city that had become a symbol of the year-long revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

Chavez's health key to Venezuela political future (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 3:46am EST

AP - It's hard to imagine an election in Venezuela without Hugo Chavez, the larger-than-life personality who gazes down from billboards and murals and fills the airwaves for hours at a stretch with his unique mixture of fiery speeches and folksy banter.

EU says Ireland may need to revise budget (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 3:23am EST

Reuters - Ireland may need to make further changes to its budget this year if the economy continues to deteriorate, the European Commission said on Wednesday in a draft of a report obtained by Reuters.

Greek parliament approves health cuts (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 3:13am EST

Reuters - The Greek parliament approved an extension of pharmacy opening hours and cuts to drugs spending on Thursday as part of a package of healthcare reforms agreed in return for last week's 130 billion euro international bailout deal.

UN says up to 6,000 Libyans held by brigades (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 2:15am EST

AP - Up to 6,000 Libyans are detained in facilities run by revolutionary brigades that helped oust Moammar Gadhafi, the United Nations said Wednesday. It urged Libya to hurry its process of putting those facilities under government control.

In Myanmar, hopes for an art renaissance (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 2:04am EST

Reuters - Myanmar artist Nyein Chan Su's paintings have a breezy simplicity. Broad, colourful strokes and exaggerated figures, often in silhouette, capture an isolated country steeped in Buddhist culture but blighted by years of military rule.

Haiti protest signals political tension for future (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 1:53am EST

AP - Several thousand supporters of two-time President Jean-Bertrand Aristide filled the streets of Haiti's capital Wednesday on the eighth anniversary of his ouster, accusing the country's current leader of not doing enough to improve their lives.

Ford may lose up to $600 million in Europe in 2012: CFO (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 1:50am EST

Reuters - Ford Motor Co may lose up to $600 million in Europe this year as the ongoing debt crisis hurts overall auto sales in the region, Chief Financial Officer Lewis Booth said on Wednesday.

Elder sister of Cuba's Fidel and Raul Castro dies at 88 (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 1:25am EST

Reuters - The older sister of Cuban leaders Fidel and Raul Castro has died in Havana at the age of 88, a sibling who lives in Miami said.

US general: 3 Africa terror groups may collaborate (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 12:29am EST

AP - Terrorist groups in Somalia, North Africa and Nigeria are eyeing ways to coordinate their training, funding and terror activities, triggering increased U.S. national security worries, the top American commander for Africa told Congress on Wednesday.

Ford may lose up to $600 million in Europe this year: CFO (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 11:23pm EST

Reuters - Ford Motor Co may lose between $500 million and $600 million this year in Europe, where auto sales are heading toward the low end of the company's forecast, Chief Financial Officer Lewis Booth said on Wednesday.

Key dates in the life of Gitmo prisoner Majid Khan (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 11:05pm EST

AP - Key dates in life of Majid Khan, former U.S. resident who pleaded guilty to war crimes before military tribunal at Guantanamo:

Senegal heading to runoff in presidential race (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 10:56pm EST

AP - Presidential election results published late Wednesday dealt a humiliating blow to Senegal's aging leader, who had boasted that he would win the race outright and instead will have to face his former protege in a runoff election next month.

EU to Ireland: your referendum won't stop EU financial treaty (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 10:32pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Despite German anger at Ireland's decision to hold a referendum on the European Union financial treaty, Europe will go ahead â with or withoutnbsp;Ireland.

Clinton: Encouraged by reports in Egypt (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 8:24pm EST

AP - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the United States is encouraged by reports out of Egypt that the travel ban has been lifted for seven American pro-democracy workers.

Anti-austerity protests fall flat in much of Europe (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 8:23pm EST

Reuters - Several thousand people took to the streets of France on Wednesday to protest against European austerity measures on the eve of an EU summit, but elsewhere in Europe the protest fell flat.

Poor Brazilians eke out life in seized high-rises (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 8:09pm EST

AP - They've squatted for years, living in a 22-story building they took over in the heart of South America's biggest city.

License scandal rattles India's telecom nirvana (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 7:49pm EST

Reuters - The scandal convulsing the Indian telecoms market threatens to deter foreign companies from investing there and could call into question the business case for expanding into emerging markets in general.

North Korea agrees to suspend nuclear activities (+video) (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 7:49pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Thenbsp;USnbsp;announced a possible watershed agreement withnbsp;North Koreanbsp;today under which thenbsp;USnbsp;will supply food tonbsp;North Koreanbsp;while the North calls a moratorium on nuclear and missile programs and admits inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Putin says foes plan dirty tricks to tarnish Russian vote (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 7:47pm EST

Reuters - Vladimir Putin said his enemies were planning dirty tricks including ballot stuffing and even murder to tarnish Russia's presidential election that the former KGB spy is almost certain to win.

Bank of Canada not seen hiking rates until Q2 2013: Reuters poll (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 7:34pm EST

Reuters - Sluggish domestic growth and uncertainty about the global economy will likely keep the Bank of Canada from raising rates until the second quarter of 2013, according to a Reuters survey.

Army of volunteers to monitor Putin's vote (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 5:37pm EST

AP - Until a few months ago, Sergei Rassypnov cared little about politics. He went about his life as a Moscow real estate agent without concerning himself about the power plays of Vladimir Putin.

Egypt sets May 23-24 for presidential election (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 5:36pm EST

AP - Egypt on Wednesday set a May date for its first-ever free presidential election, a much-anticipated vote that would bring to an end the rocky transitional period that followed the ouster of Hosni Mubarak in a popular uprising a year ago.

Clinton believes U.S.-Egypt NGO issue will be resolved soon (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 5:24pm EST

Reuters - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday she believed the United States and Egypt will soon resolve a dispute over foreign and Egyptian pro-democracy workers accused of violating Egyptian laws.

U.S. lawmakers agree on bill to fight China subsidies (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 5:19pm EST

Reuters - Senior U.S. lawmakers said on Wednesday they hope to move quickly on a bipartisan bill to preserve the Commerce Department's ability to impose duties on subsidized goods from China, which has been placed in jeopardy by a court ruling.

Venezuela says ignore rumors in Chavez cancer saga (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 4:38pm EST

Reuters - President Hugo Chavez's government urged Venezuelans on Wednesday to ignore rumors the socialist leader's health may be worse than the official version that he is in good condition after surgery in Cuba.

U.S. says North Korea agrees to nuclear moratorium (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 4:34pm EST

Reuters - North Korea agreed on Wednesday to stop nuclear tests, uranium enrichment and long-range missile launches, and to allow checks by nuclear inspectors, in an apparent policy shift that paves the way for resuming long-stalled disarmament talks.

Ship's anchor cuts Internet access to six East African countries (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 4:00pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - A ship dropped anchor off Mombasa, Kenya, and cut the Internet to six African countries earlier this week.

Belarus criticizes EU decision to pull envoys (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 2:28pm EST

AP - Belarus on Wednesday strongly criticized the EU's coordinated move to recall all of its ambassadors from the ex-Soviet nation, saying it is a path into deadlock.

Egypt arrests man said by US to be al-Qaida leader (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 1:59pm EST

AP - An Egyptian named by the United States as one of al-Qaida's top figures was arrested in Cairo on Wednesday, but he denied the link in comments to reporters and said it was a case of mistaken identity.

Indian economy slumps to weakest growth in 3 years (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 1:39pm EST

Reuters - India's economic growth slowed to 6.1 percent in the three months to December, the weakest annual pace in almost three years, as high interest rates and rising raw material costs constrained investment and manufacturing.

Costa passengers endure tropical climes without power (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 1:29pm EST

Reuters - Passengers faced a third day without power and hot food on a stricken Costa cruise ship in the sweltering Indian Ocean on Wednesday, as helicopters airlifted fresh bread to the liner under tow.

Smuggling path of death a lifeline for Syria revolt (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 12:39pm EST

Reuters - Inspecting his machinegun and wrapping ammunition belts around his chest, Samhar braces himself for another night's work.

South Africa: Ranger among 4 poaching arrests (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 12:01pm EST

AP - South African wildlife officials say a ranger is among four Kruger National Park workers arrested on rhinoceros poaching charges.

ECB hands out $712 billion in loans to banks (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 11:49am EST

AP - The European Central Bank has made euro529.5 billion ($712.4 billion) in low-interest loans to banks in the second round of a massive credit infusion that has been credited with easing the eurozone debt crisis.

Afghan forces face threat from within, says official (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 11:22am EST

Reuters - Afghanistan must act quickly to tackle infiltration of its security forces or another fatal attack on Western forces could undermine ties with NATO, a senior Afghan defense ministry official said on Wednesday, in a rare admission of the threat within.

Taiwanese officer accused of spying for China (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 10:46am EST

AP - Taiwan's military says an air force officer has been detained on suspicion of passing military secrets to China.

Call for Australian apology for forced adoptions (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 10:33am EST

AP - A Senate inquiry on Wednesday called for the Australian government to apologize and compensate thousands of unwed mothers who were forced to give up their babies for adoption in the mid-20th century.

Israel raids private Palestinian television station (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 9:36am EST

Reuters - Israeli soldiers raided a Palestinian television station in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday and seized broadcast equipment, computers and files, an employee said.

Why Bolivia's Coca Farmers Switched to Coffee Beans (Time.com)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 9:35am EST

Time.com - In a dramatic success story for USAID, the farmers who used to cultivate coca leaves for profit are turning to coffee for even greater gains

Hamas Signals a Break With Iran, But is That Good for Israel? (Time.com)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 9:30am EST

Time.com - Tuesday's announcement that the Hamas leadership has officially relocated from Damascus, and its public declarations of support for the Syrian rebels, suggest a dramatic political break with Iran

Iran opens space program site for media tour (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 8:50am EST

AP - Iranian officials are giving journalists working for international media their first look inside a control center for the Islamic Republic's ambitious space program.

Clinton says Japan, E.U. working to comply with Iran sanctions (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 8:41am EST

Reuters - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday pledged to aggressively implement new U.S. sanctions on Iran but noted that some allies such as Japan face unique situations as they seek to reduce Iranian oil imports.

Japan says it may cancel F-35 order if prices rise (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 8:24am EST

AP - Japan may cancel its multibillion-dollar plans to buy dozens of F-35 stealth fighter jets from the United States if prices continue to rise or delays threaten the delivery date, its defense minister said Wednesday.

Scientists reconstruct extinct giant penguin (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 8:08am EST

AP - It has taken 26 million years, but scientists say getting the first glimpse at what a long-extinct giant penguin looked like was worth the wait.

Gitmo prisoner emerges from shadows for plea deal (AP)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 7:53am EST

AP - A former Maryland resident pleaded guilty Wednesday to helping al-Qaida plot attacks from his native Pakistan, reaching a plea deal with the U.S. government that limits his sentence but that his lawyers say could put him and his family in jeopardy.

Iran: two worlds meet, over tea (Reuters)

Posted: February 29th, 2012, 7:22am EST

Reuters - Mina and Mohammad stood on opposite sides of the political barricades when protests against Iran's rulers erupted into mass street violence; she, a student demanding democratic reform, he a member of the hard-line Basij militia that helped crush the greatest challenge ever to the Islamic Republic.

Berlusconi Acquitted of Bribery: A Return to Politics? (Time.com)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 5:50am EST

Time.com - A court has dropped one charge because of the statute of limitations, but the former Prime Minister's other legal problems will keep him in the public eye -- and in position to relaunch himself into the political fray

New Section of Great Wall Discovered in Mongolia (Time.com)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 5:50am EST

Time.com - For years, British explorer William Lindesay's inquiries about a possible extension of the Great Wall in Mongolia turned up nothing, but the researcher recently had a breakthrough

Chinese court hears Apple appeal on iPad trademark (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 5:48am EST

AP - A Chinese court on Wednesday began hearing Apple's appeal of a ruling against its right to use the iPad trademark in China.

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Interpol website down after announcing arrests of 25 suspected Anonymous in Europe and Latin America (Digital Trends)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 5:47am EST

Digital Trends - To top off the recent Anonymous news, it looks like members of the hacktivist group have been snared in a trap laid by Interpol. According to the International Criminal Police Organization, 25 alleged members of Anonymous have been rounded up from Europe and Latin America.

More than 7,500 killed in Syria, U.N. says (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 4:36am EST

Reuters - Heavy fighting raged near Baba Amro in Homs on Wednesday after elite Syrian troops attacked the rebel-held bastion that has endured 25 days of siege and fierce bombardment, activists said.

Officers in New Zealand ship crash plead guilty (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 2:19am EST

AP - The captain and the navigating officer of a cargo ship that ran aground on a New Zealand reef last year pleaded guilty Wednesday to mishandling the vessel and altering ship documents.

Wounded British journalist smuggled from Syria (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 2:00am EST

AP - The Syrian regime showed a new determination Wednesday to crush its opponents, vowing to cleanse a rebel-held district in the besieged central city of Homs after nearly four weeks of shelling.

Mexico finds cult-like drug cartel's helmets (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 1:39am EST

AP - Cocaine seizures have dropped precipitously in Mexico in recent years, and a top U.N. drug-control official said Tuesday the trade appeared to be moving to Central America because of law enforcement pressure and infighting among cartels.

China's military build-up seen independent of U.S. moves (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 11:53pm EST

Reuters - China's military build-up looks likely to continue unabated and independent of recent U.S. moves to reposition forces in Asia, the U.S. military commander for the Asia-Pacific region said on Tuesday.

Governor: Guatemalan helicopter down with 9 aboard (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 11:47pm EST

AP - A provincial governor in Guatemala says a Guatemalan air force helicopter has crashed and the nine military personnel aboard are presumed dead.

Officers in New Zealand ship crash plead guilty (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 11:45pm EST

AP - The captain and the navigating officer of a cargo ship that ran aground on a New Zealand reef last year have pleaded guilty to a series of charges.

Google: Technology is making science fiction real (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 10:52pm EST

AP - Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt predicted Tuesday that rapid advances in technology will soon transform science fiction into reality mdash; meaning people will have driverless cars, small robots at their command and the ability to experience being in another place without leaving home.

For Serbia, membership in troubled EU still a prize (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 10:32pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Serbia is set to become an official candidate for European Union membership by the end of the week, following tortuous diplomatic negotiations and delays over slow progress on justice issues and normalization with Kosovo.

Egyptian judge resigns from NGO case (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 10:24pm EST

Reuters - The Egyptian judge handling the trial of dozens of democracy activists, including 16 Americans, accused of illegally receiving funds from abroad, said on Tuesday he would resign, state news agency MENA said.

Chavez vs. Capriles: Stark choice for Venezuela's independent voters (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 9:15pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Moderate is not a common word in Venezuelan politics. Opponents aren't rivals but enemies, and colorful oratory skills match that tone. President Hugo ChÃ¡vez's critics call him a monkey, while he recently dubbed his presidential challenger a low-life pig.

Deal caps sentence for ex-Maryland man at Gitmo (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 8:50pm EST

AP - A former Maryland resident accused of joining al-Qaida and plotting to blow up fuel tanks in the U.S. would serve no more than 25 years under a pretrial agreement.

Syrian capital is a city changed in a year (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 8:18pm EST

AP - Shops and restaurants close early in Damascus these days, their owners eager to get home before dark, which sometimes brings shootings and other crime. Blast walls and checkpoints ring government buildings to guard against car bombs. Residents struggle with spiraling prices and power outages.

Observers question lack of results in Senegal (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 8:03pm EST

AP - European Union observers on Tuesday questioned why Senegal's government is not publishing real-time results from a contentious presidential election, saying that in the Internet age there is no reason for the delay.

Iran says making nuclear bombs a great sin (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 6:47pm EST

Reuters - Iran, facing growing international pressure over its nuclear program, called for more talks with the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Tuesday and condemned production of atomic weapons as a great sin.

The Curse of the Undead: Is Berlusconi Returning to Haunt Italian Politics? (Time.com)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 6:45pm EST

Time.com - A court has dropped one charge because of the statute of limitations but the former prime minister's other legal problems will keep him in the public eye -- and in position to relaunch himself into the political fray

Belarus asks Polish, EU envoys to leave (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 6:30pm EST

AP - Belarus has asked the European Union and Polish ambassadors to leave the country and recalled its own ambassadors in response to new EU sanctions.

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(AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 6:25pm EST

AP - Venezuela vice president says Hugo Chavez is in good physical condition after surgery.

French court rules genocide law unconstitutional (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 6:03pm EST

AP - France's Constitutional Council ruled Tuesday that a French law concerning the mass killings of Armenians a century ago violates the country's constitution.

Top French court strikes down genocide bill (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 6:02pm EST

Reuters - France's highest legal authority ruled Tuesday that a new law that would have made it illegal to deny the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks nearly a century ago was unconstitutional, a move quickly welcomed by Turkey.

Iran's political friction adds heat to elections (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 5:57pm EST

AP - Iran's hard-liners have been so effective at crushing the opposition, they now are left brawling among themselves.

Next pirate hot spot: the Gulf of Guinea (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 4:00pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - High-seas piracy has found another home, in the waters of the Gulf of Guinea on the West African coast. The number of attacks in 2011 far surpassed the total number for 2010, and the pace could increase this year as well, as oil-rich nations of the region increase their production. With global oil supplies tight and the price of oil already rising, the costs of West African piracy will almost certainly be felt at your local fuel pump.

Russia's Putin says not afraid after murder plot (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 3:55pm EST

Reuters - Vladimir Putin brushed off a reported plot to kill him as part of his daily burden as Russia's prime minister on Tuesday, burnishing his macho image five days before a presidential election he is likely to win.

NATO urges focus on Afghan stability after Koran burnings (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 3:53pm EST

Reuters - NATO must remain focused on fostering stability in Afghanistan despite the protests and violence that have gripped the country following the burning of copies of the Koran on a NATO military base, the alliance's head said on Tuesday.

Dissension over Greek bailout weakens Merkel (+video) (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 3:47pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Chancellor Angela Merkel â the driving force behind Europe's often-controversial response to its economic woes â is facing increasing domestic criticism about her eurocrisis management.

Ministers mull EU candidacy for Serbia (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 3:24pm EST

AP - EU foreign ministers will decide Tuesday whether Serbia should finally become a candidate for membership in the bloc, with influential officials saying signs looked good after the country reached a key agreement with its former province of Kosovo.

Chavez has operation, no official word on health (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 3:15pm EST

Reuters - Surgeons removed a lesion from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's pelvis and the socialist leader is in good physical condition after the operation, his vice president said on Tuesday.

Documents: India blocked Kashmir trials of troops (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 3:00pm EST

AP - India has rejected every request over two decades to prosecute Indian soldiers in civilian court in Kashmir for alleged rights abuses including murder and rape, according to documents given Tuesday to the Associated Press.

Veteran Zimbabwe rights activist posted as missing (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 2:49pm EST

AP - An alliance of Zimbabwean human rights groups says they fear a veteran rights activist has been abducted after being last seen weeks ago.

New Section of Great Wall Discovered in Mongolia (Time.com)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 12:25pm EST

Time.com - For years, British explorer William Lindesay's inquiries about a possible extension of the Great Wall in Mongolia turned up nothing, but the researcher recently had a breakthrough

Fukushima: Japan leaders feared devil's chain (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 11:59am EST

Reuters - Japan's prime minister ordered workers to remain at the tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant last March as fears mounted of a devil's chain reaction that would force tens of millions of people to flee Tokyo, a new investigative report shows.

Iran FM calls for more talks on nuclear issue (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 11:58am EST

AP - Iran's foreign minister has called for other countries to chose engagement over confrontation in resolving their differences over his nation's nuclear program.

Police: Gunmen attack police station in Nigeria (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 11:58am EST

AP - Smoke hovered over uniformed students frolicking in a playground Tuesday, hours after assailants set their school ablaze and destroyed another local school, showing how commonplace violence has become in Nigeria's northeast.

Syrian troops heavily shell central region (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 11:41am EST

AP - A wounded British photographer who had been trapped in the besieged Syrian city of Homs was spirited safely into Lebanon on Tuesday in a risky journey that killed 13 rebels who helped him escape the relentless shelling and gunfire.

Sudan denies confiscating independent South's oil (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 11:18am EST

Reuters - Sudan denounced suggestions that it was confiscating oil from South Sudan on Tuesday and indicated that the newly independent South was responsible for stonewalling an oil deal between the two nations.

Syrian military pounds rebel areas, foreign journalists escape (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 11:16am EST

Reuters - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can be classified as a war criminal, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said as the United Nations announced more than 7,500 civilians had been killed by his forces since the start of the revolt.

Syria: Can Assad Fight His Way to Political Survival? (Time.com)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 10:55am EST

Time.com - Even if he can't win, Assad may have reason to believe that he can nonetheless fight to a messy draw

Turkish Taboos Challenged by Success of Movie About Gays (Time.com)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 10:55am EST

Time.com - Turkish movie-theater bookers were less than enthusiastic when two directors -- Mehmet Binay and Caner Alper -- approached them with a film inspired by the true story of a 26-year-old killed, allegedly by his father, for being gay

Tank town symbolizes Putin's campaign (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 8:51am EST

AP - If Vladimir Putin reclaims the Russian presidency in this weekend's election, he'll owe a word of gratitude to this bleak industrial outpost known for making military tanks.

South Korean opposition to pursue closer ties with North (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 8:47am EST

Reuters - South Korea's main left wing opposition party, which polls say is headed for a victory in an April parliamentary election, vowed on Tuesday closer ties with North Korea and will end a sanctions regime imposed by the current conservative government.

Israeli border patrol kills infiltrator from Egypt (AP)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 8:29am EST

AP - Israeli troops have killed an unidentified man who illegally crossed into Israel through the porous border with Egypt's Sinai desert.

Turkish Taboos Challenged by Success of Gay Movie (Time.com)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 8:15am EST

Time.com - Turkish movie theater bookers were less than enthusiastic when two directors -- Mehmet Binay and Caner Alper -- approached them with a film inspired by the true story of a 26-year-old killed, allegedly by his father, for being gay

Gunmen open fire on bus in Pakistan, 18 killed (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 7:56am EST

Reuters - Gunmen opened fire on a passenger bus in the northern Pakistani district of Kohistan in an apparent sectarian attack on Tuesday, killing 18 people, police officials said.

U.S., Egypt lurch into perilous limbo on NGO case (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 7:29am EST

Reuters - U.S. hopes for a quick end to its dispute with Egypt over pro-democracy groups have been put on hold, stranding both countries in a dangerous limbo as pressures build on a security partnership that is vital to Washington.

Big Four auditors brace for big changes in China (Reuters)

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 6:15am EST

Reuters - The Big Four global audit firms, which dominate the Chinese market, are negotiating with Beijing to lessen the impact of forced changes that could mean only accountants with Chinese qualifications can be partners in their audit practices.

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(AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 5:56am EST

AP - Seychelles: A French vessel has reached drifting cruise ship and is towing it to an island

German lawmakers approve new Greek bailout (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 5:50am EST

AP - The German parliament approved a second, euro130 billion ($173 billion) loan package for Greece on Monday after Chancellor Angela Merkel warned lawmakers that it would be irresponsible to abandon the country to bankruptcy.

Officers hurt in Occupy clash at Calif. Capitol (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 3:19am EST

AP - At least two law enforcement officers were injured Monday during a clash with members of the Occupy movement who were at the state Capitol to counter a rally by a group protesting violence by blacks against whites in South Africa.

Insight: Conflict looms in South China Sea oil rush (Reuters)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 3:08am EST

Reuters - When Lieutenant-General Juancho Sabban received an urgent phone call from an oil company saying two Chinese vessels were threatening to ram their survey ship, the Philippine commander's message was clear: don't move, we will come to the rescue.

Have Colombia's Rebels Really Given Up on Kidnapping? (Time.com)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 2:50am EST

Time.com - Perhaps. But they still have more than 70 hostages in hand and the FARC may have found other ways to raise cash

Just When They Needed It Least: The Syrian Opposition Fractures Again (Time.com)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 2:50am EST

Time.com - Citing reluctance in the main organization, the Syrian Revolutionary Patriotic Group declares it wants to funnel arms to the rebels on the ground in Syria

US: Afghanistan turmoil won't change US war plan (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 2:35am EST

AP - The Obama administration is sticking determinedly to its stay-the-course message in Afghanistan despite a week of anti-American riots, the point-blank killing of U.S. military advisers and growing election-year demands to bring the troops home.

Carnival cancels on-shore tour after mass robbery (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 1:57am EST

AP - Carnival Cruise Lines Inc. says it is suspending on-shore nature excursions in the Mexican resort of Puerto Vallarta after 22 cruise passengers were robbed on their bus during a tour last week near the coastal city.

(AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 1:37am EST

AP - Interpol says 25 suspected Anonymous hackers arrested in sweep across Europe, South America.

US: Afghanistan turmoil won't change US war plan (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 12:15am EST

AP - The Obama administration is sticking determinedly to its stay-the-course message in Afghanistan despite a week of anti-American riots, the point-blank killing of U.S. military advisers and growing election-year demands to bring the troops home.

Charges filed against captured Shining Path chief (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 12:12am EST

AP - Peruvian prosecutors have filed terrorism, drug trafficking and other charges against a Shining Path commander captured this month that could yield him a life sentence.

UK says bank tried to avoid $800 million in tax (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 12:02am EST

AP - Britain has ordered a bank to pay half a billion pounds ($800 million) in unpaid tax that it tried to avoid by exploiting regulatory loopholes, a government minister said Monday.

Conservatives pressed over dirty tricks (Reuters)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 11:33pm EST

Reuters - The Conservative government came under increasing pressure on Monday to explain what the opposition said were dirty tricks the Conservatives used during last year's election to cut into the number of votes going to other parties.

Venezuela vows military won't fire on civilians (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 9:56pm EST

AP - Venezuela's military chief promised Monday that soldiers will never again be deployed against civilians as the country marked the anniversary of a bloody crackdown that helped spur President Hugo Chavez's early aspirations for power.

Mitt Romney Rules Out Space Race with China (ContributorNetwork)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 9:51pm EST

ContributorNetwork - During a town hall meeting in Kalamazoo, Mich., Mitt Romney was asked about the state of the U.S. space program. The answer Romney gave has some people speculating about his commitment to space exploration.

Tymoshenko ally found guilty of embezzlement (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 9:51pm EST

AP - A Ukrainian court has imposed a four-year sentence for embezzlement and abuse of office on a former interior minister in the government of imprisoned ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko.

Ex-head of Nigerian state admits financial crime (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 9:50pm EST

AP - A former governor of Nigeria's oil-rich Delta state, accused of stealing $250 million from the public purse, pleaded guilty in a London court Monday to fraud and money-laundering.

In Nigeria, Somalia, and Afghanistan: what is a foreign fighter? (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 9:22pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - As yet another suicide blast strikes yet another church in northern Nigeria, immigration officials have announced that they are cracking down on the flow of foreigners into northern Nigeria who may be adding to the growing numbers of the shadowy Islamist militia Boko Haram.

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Murdoch celebrates 'amazing' success of new tabloid as inquiry delivers new blow (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 8:27pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Seven months after the disgraced News of the World (NOTW) newspaper folded, media company News International sought to woo back readers with its debut edition of The Sun on Sunday, a seventh day edition of its daily tabloid.

UN reports Ivory Coast post-poll violence (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 6:55pm EST

AP - The United Nations says unidentified gunmen fired on a convoy carrying ballot boxes after a legislative poll and that attackers hit an electoral commission office.

Have Colombia's Rebels Really Given Up on Kidnapping? (Time.com)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 6:45pm EST

Time.com - Perhaps. But they still have more than 70 hostages in hand and the FARC may have found other ways to raise cash

Just When They Needed It Least: The Syrian Opposition Splits Again (Time.com)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 6:45pm EST

Time.com - Citing reluctance in the main organization, the Syrian Revolutionary Patriotic Group declares it wants to funnel arms to the rebels on the ground in Syria

Putin Assassination Plot: Real Threat or Election Ploy? (Time.com)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 6:20pm EST

Time.com - A Russian news channel says Chechen terrorists were plotting to assassinate Vladimir Putin. Opponents think it may be an attempt to shore up support for Putin before next week's presidential election

Catholics ask Israeli leader to help end attacks (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 3:57pm EST

AP - A top Roman Catholic official has taken the rare step of asking Israel's president to help put an end to attacks on Christian holy sites.

EU hits Syria with more sanctions, but little else (Reuters)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 3:50pm EST

Reuters - European Union foreign ministers agreed new sanctions against Syria Monday, targeting its central bank and seven cabinet ministers to try to curb funding for the government and increase pressure on President Bashar al-Assad.

Sri Lankans protest proposed UN rights resolution (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 3:50pm EST

AP - Thousands of people joined government-backed protests across Sri Lanka on Monday against a proposed U.N. Human Rights Council resolution on alleged rights abuses during the country's civil war.

Scientists: Cassava will thrive in climate change (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 3:34pm EST

AP - Scientists say the long-neglected cassava root becomes even more productive in hotter temperatures and could be the best bet for African farmers threatened by climate change.

Tunisia leader, Bill Clinton among Nobel nominees (Reuters)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 3:26pm EST

Reuters - Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, alleged WikiLeaks whistleblower Bradley Manning, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton may be among the hundreds of nominees for the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize, rights activists say.

Helping New Orleans make a comeback is her personal passion (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 2:10pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - It was more than a year after hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf region in 2005 and the floodwaters receded from the Lower Ninth Ward when Brittany Aydelotte first joined the relief effort in New Orleans.

Swedish royals release first pictures of princess (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 12:37pm EST

AP - The Swedish Royal Court has released the first close-up pictures of the Nordic country's newborn princess and future monarch.

Osama bin Laden's Pakistan home is no more (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 12:35pm EST

AP - Pakistani authorities have reduced the house where Osama bin Laden lived for years before he was killed by U.S. commandos to rubble, destroying a concrete symbol of the country's association with one of the world's most reviled men.

Iraqi lawmaker: US soldier killed by Shiite group (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 12:28pm EST

AP - A prominent Iraqi lawmaker says a Shiite extremist group handed over the remains of the last U.S. soldier missing in Iraq to authorities last week.

Senegal opposition leader says runoff 'inevitable' (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 12:25pm EST

AP - After days of predicting that he would win a third term with a crushing majority, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade on Monday acknowledged that he may not have gotten enough votes to avoid a runoff.

Dutch parliament debates Greek bailout on Tuesday (Reuters)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 11:41am EST

Reuters - The Netherlands will hold a parliamentary debate on the Greek bailout on Tuesday afternoon, with the government expected to secure majority support for the 130 billion euro rescue package.

Saleh hands difficult phase over to new Yemen (Reuters)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 10:38am EST

Reuters - Yemen's new president took over on Monday from Ali Abdullah Saleh, his predecessor of 33 years, saying the impoverished Arab state faced a complex and difficult phase after a year of violent political turmoil over Saleh's fate.

Olympus board resigns, taps chairman from bank (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 9:50am EST

AP - The entire board of scandal-tainted Olympus Corp. is resigning, and a new president and chairman were tapped Monday to lead a turnaround at the Japanese medical equipment maker.

Yemenis march to demand ex-president's prosecution (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 9:25am EST

AP - Tens of thousands of Yemenis are protesting in the capital Sanaa demanding prosecution of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Report: Russia, Ukraine foiled plot to kill Putin (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 9:17am EST

AP - Security forces have foiled a Chechen-linked plot to assassinate Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, state television reported Monday in a broadcast likely to boost support for Putin's bid to regain the presidency.

Plot to assassinate Putin foiled: Russian TV (Reuters)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 8:06am EST

Reuters - Security services in Russia and Ukraine said on Monday they had foiled a plot to kill Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, but his opponents ridiculed the announcement as a campaign stunt six days before he runs in Russia's presidential election.

Viewpoint: Why Kevin Rudd Rejected by His Party Colleagues (Time.com)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 7:55am EST

Time.com - Resoundingly rejected by his colleagues, one of Australia's most talented and compelling politicians has moved to the irrelevance of the backbench -- for now, at least

Pakistan school strives to beat the Taliban trap (AP)

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 6:00am EST

AP - The boy was 2 when his mother dumped him on the streets, 4 when he spent his first night in a tiny prison cell, being sexually assaulted by an older inmate. Prostitution for money and shelter followed, then hashish, and glue-sniffing.

Australia's Kevin Rudd: Admired from Afar, Hated by His Peers (Time.com)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 5:00am EST

Time.com - Resoundingly rejected by his colleagues, one of Australia's most talented and compelling politicians has moved to the irrelevance of the backbench -- for now, at least

Koran Burning: Can U.S. and Afghan Soldiers Work Together? (Time.com)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 5:00am EST

Time.com - The death of two American military officers allegedly at the hand of an Afghan colleague deepens a crisis that continues to weigh on the country

Car bomb kills three at east Afghanistan airport: police (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 4:53am EST

Reuters - Three people were killed and five wounded when a powerful car bomb exploded at the gates of Jalalabad airport in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, police told Reuters.

Large blast hits at eastern Afghan airport (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 3:53am EST

AP - Afghan police say a large explosion has gone off at the gates of Jalalabad airport in eastern Afghanistan.

West dismisses Syria constitution vote as 'farce' (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 3:29am EST

AP - A Syrian activist group reported Monday that 144 people have been killed across the country, scores of them in the embattled opposition stronghold of Homs by security forces as they tried to flee. A team from the Syrian arm of the Red Cross delivered aid to one of the city's most dangerous neighborhoods after days of trying to reach the area.

Aussie PM defends job against colleague she ousted (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 3:18am EST

AP - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard may have survived a challenge from within her own party, but the dissent that forced Monday's vote isn't going away.

Disorder in the Court As Egypt's Trial of Democracy NGOs Begins (Time.com)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 3:05am EST

Time.com - For an hour and a half on Sunday afternoon, chaos reigned in the NewCairo Court on the capital's northeast outskirts, as people jostledfor position around the defendants' docket.

Afghan NATO base attacked, seven U.S. soldiers wounded (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 2:46am EST

Reuters - A suicide car bomber killed nine people in an attack on a military airport in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, officials said, the latest bloodshed since copies of the Koran were burned at a NATO base last week.

Syria awaits referendum result; Putin warns West (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 2:28am EST

Reuters - Syrian artillery pounded rebel-held areas of Homs as President Bashar al-Assad's government announced that voters had overwhelmingly approved a new constitution in a referendum derided as a sham by his critics at home and abroad.

G-20 linking IMF hike to bigger EU 'firewall' fund (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 2:17am EST

AP - The G-20 nations are conditioning additional money for the International Monetary Fund on the European Union first increasing its financial stabilization funds to ease concerns about the euro zone debt crisis, officials said Sunday.

Australian PM Gillard wins leadership challenge (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 1:34am EST

Reuters - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard convincingly won a leadership vote against rival Kevin Rudd on Monday, just as opinion polls showed her unpopular minority government clawing back voter support despite the bitter fight to head the party.

Three killed in train derailment in Ontario (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 1:16am EST

Reuters - A passenger train derailed near Burlington in southern Ontario on Sunday, killing at least three people, according to the train operator VIA Rail.

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(AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 12:53am EST

AP - Media reports Australian prime minister wins leadership ballot against former foreign minister

G-20 linking IMF hike to bigger EU 'firewall' fund (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 12:46am EST

AP - The G-20 nations are conditioning additional money for the International Monetary Fund on the European Union first increasing its financial stabilization funds to ease concerns about the euro zone debt crisis, officials said Sunday.

West dismisses Syria constitution vote as 'farce' (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 12:08am EST

AP - The U.S. and its allies dismissed the Syrian regime's referendum on a new constitution Sunday as a farce meant to justify the bloody crackdown on dissent.

Aussie PM goes into leadership ballot as favorite (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 12:07am EST

AP - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard headed into a leadership ballot on Monday as the firm favorite against the party leader she deposed two years ago, Kevin Rudd.

Colombia's FARC to free captives, stop kidnapping for ransom (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 11:42pm EST

Reuters - Colombia's feared FARC rebel group said it would abandon its decades-long policy of kidnapping for ransom and free all military and police hostages it holds in jungle camps, another sign the drug-funded leftist insurgents may want a move toward peace.

Russia's Putin warns against attacks on Iran, Syria (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 9:29pm EST

Reuters - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Russia is concerned about the growing threat of an attack on Iran over its nuclear program, warning that the consequences would be truly catastrophic.

Colombia's FARC announces halt to kidnapping (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 9:15pm EST

AP - Colombia's main rebel group said Sunday it is abandoning the practice of kidnapping and will soon free its last remaining prisoners of war mdash; 10 security force members held for as long as 14 years.

US says it's steadfast in rebuilding Afghanistan (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 8:54pm EST

AP - The top U.S. diplomat in Kabul and a campaign adviser to President Barack Obama said Sunday the U.S. isn't rethinking its commitment to Afghanistan after violent protests left more than two dozen people dead, including two American shot inside a government ministry.

Weibos: China clamps down on popular microblogs (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 8:49pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Just a few years ago, no ordinary Chinese citizen would ever have heard sensitive news â say, for example, if a top Chinese policeman had spent a day in a US consulate, apparently seeking asylum.

Pakistan completes demolition of bin Laden compound (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 8:23pm EST

Reuters - The Pakistani home of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, the place where he was killed after the biggest manhunt in history, is no more.

U.S. shouldn't speed up Afghanistan pull out: U.S. ambassador (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 7:46pm EST

Reuters - The United States should resist the urge to pull troops out of Afghanistan ahead of schedule due to the violence against Americans over the burning of the Koran at a U.S. military base, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker said on Sunday.

Chavez surgery gives rival an opening before vote (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 7:45pm EST

AP - Throughout his presidency, Hugo Chavez has relied on his vigor and endurance: playing baseball, speaking for hours at a stretch and making decisions on the fly while bounding around Venezuela exuding energy.

(AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 7:45pm EST

AP - Liverpool beats Cardiff 3-2 on penalty kicks in League Cup final.

Egypt to select constitutional panel March 3 (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 7:34pm EST

AP - Egypt's ruling military council pushed ahead Sunday with plans to begin drafting a new constitution before transferring power to civilian rule, announcing that parliament will meet this week to select the panel tasked with writing the document.

Niger warns against travel to Libya as tensions rise (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 6:56pm EST

Reuters - Niger's government warned its people on Sunday they could be targeted by roving militias if they travel to Libya, as tensions rise between the neighboring countries over Niger's refusal to extradite Muammar Gaddafi's son Saadi.

Russians form miles-long human chain for democracy (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 6:50pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Thousands of Russians, wearing white ribbons as a mark of pro-democracy protest, formed a human chain around Moscow's Garden Ring Sunday in a final warning against electoral fraud in presidential polls that will take place in a week.

AP Interview: US general: missile defense on track (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 4:48pm EST

AP - The U.S. Army's commander in Europe says American forces are now manning a new radar defense site in Turkey that could help defend Europe from a potential Iranian ballistic missile attack.

Romney worries about transition in Afghanistan (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 4:35pm EST

AP - Mitt Romney says the decision to pull international military personnel from Afghan ministries is an extraordinary admission of a failure to establish strong ties for a successful transition to Afghan security leadership.

UN: 1.3 million still homeless from Iraq conflict (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 4:13pm EST

AP - Officials say more than 1.3 million Iraqis remain homeless after being forced to flee six years ago during widespread sectarian violence that threatened their lives.

Senegalese president booed on election day (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 4:12pm EST

AP - Voters booed Senegal's president as he went to cast his ballot in elections Sunday, the latest sign of how his decision to seek a third term in office has caused his popularity to plummet and divided a country long considered a model of tolerance.

The Koran Burning Riots: Can U.S. and Afghan Soldiers Work Together? (Time.com)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 3:30pm EST

Time.com - The death of two American military officers allegedly at the hand of an Afghan colleague deepens a crisis that continues to weigh on the country

Disorder in the Court As Egypt's Trial of Democracy NGOs Begins (Time.com)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 3:15pm EST

Time.com - For an hour and a half on Sunday afternoon, chaos reigned in the NewCairo Court on the capital's northeast outskirts, as people jostledfor position around the defendants' docket.

Cairo's NGO Trials: Will Egypt Throw American Democracy Advocates into Jail? (Time.com)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 3:05pm EST

Time.com - The case may upend U.S.-Egyptian relations as well as further tarnish the military regime's already shaky commitment to reform

The Emergency Session on Syria: That's What Friends Are For? (Time.com)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 3:05pm EST

Time.com - In Tunis, the Friends of Syria conference composed of more than 60 countries falls short of any real action on the war in Syria.

Egypt adjourns trial of NGO workers until April 26 (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 1:53pm EST

AP - An Egyptian court has adjourned the trial of 16 Americans and 27 other employess of nonprofit groups until April 26.

Afghans launch hunt for ministry shooting suspect (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 1:50pm EST

AP - Afghan authorities said Sunday they have identified a suspect in the killing of two U.S. military advisers inside an Afghan ministry a day earlier and have launched a manhunt to track him down.

Mandela discharged from hospital: President Zuma (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 1:50pm EST

Reuters - Former South African President Nelson Mandela was discharged from hospital on Sunday after a keyhole abdominal examination showed there was nothing seriously wrong with the 93-year-old anti-apartheid leader, the government said.

Anti-Putin protesters form human chain in Moscow (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 1:46pm EST

Reuters - Thousands of Russians joined hands to form a human chain around Moscow city centre on Sunday in protest against Vladimir Putin's likely return as president in an election next week.

Mandela, 93, leaves hospital after minor surgery (AP)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 1:43pm EST

AP - A South African presidential spokesman says Nelson Mandela has been released from the hospital.

Afghan ministry worker suspected in killing of U.S. officers (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 1:34pm EST

Reuters - Seven U.S. military trainers were wounded on Sunday when a grenade was thrown at their base in northern Afghanistan, police said, as anti-Western fury deepened over the burning of the Koran at a NATO base.

Egypt lawyers demand jail for U.S. democracy activists (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 12:55pm EST

Reuters - An Egyptian court on Sunday adjourned the trial of dozens of democracy activists including 16 Americans to April, raising hopes among their supporters that the case could be dropped to spare further damage to Egypt's ties with its ally Washington.

Syria referendum goes ahead amid military onslaught (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 12:38pm EST

Reuters - At least 59 Syrian civilians and soldiers were killed on Sunday in bloodshed that coincided with a vote on a new constitution that could keep President Bashar al-Assad in power until 2028.

Suicide bomber attacks Nigerian church in Jos (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 11:05am EST

Reuters - A suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives into a church in the central Nigerian city of Jos on Sunday, killing two people and wounding 38, the emergency services said, and angry Christian youths reacted by beating two Muslims to death.

Australia's Gillard set to win prime ministerial vote (Reuters)

Posted: February 26th, 2012, 8:07am EST

Reuters - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is set to see off a leadership challenge from party rival Kevin Rudd on Monday, but she faces a mammoth task to rebuild flagging support for her deeply divided and unpopular minority government.

Fire at Brazil's Antarctic base kills 2, injures 1 (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 1:55am EST

AP - A fire at Brazil's research station in Antarctica on Saturday killed two navy personnel and forced the evacuation by helicopter of 44 people, the Brazilian navy said.

U.S. democracy activists to go on trial in Egypt (Reuters)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 12:15am EST

Reuters - Dozens of democracy activists including 16 Americans go on trial in Egypt Sunday in a politically charged case which has set off a crisis in relations between Cairo and Washington and threatened $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid.

U.S., Egypt seek to resolve NGO dispute within days (Reuters)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 12:10am EST

Reuters - The United States and Egypt are holding intense talks to try to resolve within days the case of democracy activists who have been barred from leaving the country, a senior U.S. official said on Saturday.

Chavez's beneficiaries gird for lost aid (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 11:45pm EST

AP - Millions who have never set foot in Venezuela have a stake in the physical and political survival of Hugo Chavez as the once-indefatigable leftist strongman submits to surgery in Cuba for removal of a tumor he says is likely malignant.

Libya and France boost military cooperation (Reuters)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 11:43pm EST

Reuters - Libya and France have agreed to look into boosting maritime security and controlling the North African country's borders, their defense ministers said on Saturday.

Fire breaks out in Brazilian Antarctic base (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 10:22pm EST

AP - A fire at Brazil's research station in Antarctica on Saturday left two people missing and forced the evacuation by helicopter of 44 people at the base, the Brazilian navy said.

Doubt about reliability of Afghan partners in war (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 10:19pm EST

AP - The shooting deaths of two U.S. military advisers in the Afghan capital and the quick decision to pull coalition personnel from all government ministries injected a sobering measure of doubt about the reliability of the most important U.S. ally in the war.

Hungary chooses most beautiful wheelchair user (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 10:12pm EST

AP - The winner of Hungary's Miss Colours beauty pageant for wheelchair users says she will be an advocate for improving access conditions for the disabled.

In Tunisia, Clinton cites promise of Arab Spring (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 10:08pm EST

AP - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday warned of backsliding in the democratic transformations under way in the Mideast and North Africa, and appealed for countries in the region to fulfill the promise of reform offered by the Arab Spring.

Pakistan begins demolishing bin Laden house: police (Reuters)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 9:10pm EST

Reuters - Pakistani security forces on Saturday began demolishing the house where al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. special forces in Abbottabad last May, a senior police official in the town said.

Democratic tradition at stake in Senegal election (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 8:39pm EST

AP - When he sat down with his biographer to record the story of his life, President Abdoulaye Wade made sure the book would start with a description of the Waalo kingdom, from whose kings the Wade family is descended.

Clinton urges Tunisians to protect new freedoms (Reuters)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 8:37pm EST

Reuters - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Tunisians on Saturday to protect their newly won freedoms and called on Islamist and secular parties to work together in the country that inspired the Arab Spring.

Libya urges neighbors to hand over Gaddafi supporters (Reuters)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 7:38pm EST

Reuters - Libya urged its neighbors to hand over supporters of toppled leader Muammar Gaddafi who have fled the country, saying bilateral ties could be threatened if they did not cooperate.

Pakistan begins demolition of bin Laden's compound (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 7:23pm EST

AP - Pakistan on Saturday began demolishing the three-story compound where Osama bin Laden lived for years and was killed by U.S. commandos last May, eliminating a concrete reminder of the painful and embarrassing chapter in the country's history.

Taliban militants say they shot down US drone (Reuters)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 7:14pm EST

Reuters - A U.S. drone crashed on Saturday in North Waziristan, not far from the Afghan border, Pakistan intelligence officials said, while Taliban militants said they had shot it down.

Zimbabwe's Mugabe says ready for polls, slams violence (Reuters)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 6:36pm EST

Reuters - Octogenarian Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe called on Saturday for his supporters to avoid violence in elections he says should happen this year and which he says his ZANU-PF party is poised to win resoundingly.

Syrians in Homs feel abandoned by world (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 5:20pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - The Syrian military took its bombardment of the rebel-held Baba Amro district of Homs into a fourth week on Saturday as the Red Cross tried to evacuate more distressed civilians from the city.

Pope: marriage only place 'worthy' for conception (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 4:33pm EST

AP - Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday urged infertile couples to shun artificial procreation, decrying such methods as a form of arrogance.

5 Dominicans accused in drug killings sentenced (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 4:25pm EST

AP - Three Dominicans hired as hit men by an alleged drug boss known as the Pablo Escobar of the Caribbean have been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

AP IMPACT: New light on drone war's death toll (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 4:22pm EST

AP - American drone strikes inside Pakistan are killing far fewer civilians than many in the country are led to believe, according to a rare on-the-ground investigation by The Associated Press of 10 of the deadliest attacks in the past 18 months.

President Hadi takes power as Yemen's first new leader in three decades (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 3:04pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Yemenis officially swore in Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi as president on Saturday, making Yemen the fourth nation to remove its leader since the Arab spring began one year ago.

Nelson Mandela hospitalized with stomach ailment (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 1:49pm EST

AP - Former South African President Nelson Mandela was hospitalized Saturday for a test to determine what is behind an undisclosed stomach ailment, and the country's current leader said the much beloved 93-year-old icon was in no danger.

Verdict expected in Berlusconi corruption trial (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 1:07pm EST

AP - Silvio Berlusconi's corruption trial ended Saturday with a court ruling that the statute of limitations had run out, handing the former premier another victory in a long string of judicial challenges.

Mandela admitted to hospital in South Africa (Reuters)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 12:54pm EST

Reuters - Former South African president Nelson Mandela was comfortable in hospital on Saturday after undergoing a diagnostic procedure for abdominal pains, the government said, telling people not to panic about the health of the 93-year-old anti-apartheid leader.

Yemen's Hadi takes oath as car bomb kills 26 in south (Reuters)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 12:46pm EST

Reuters - A suicide car bomb claimed by al Qaeda killed at least 26 people outside a presidential palace in southern Yemen Saturday, hours after Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was sworn as Yemen's new president with the job of bringing stability to an increasingly chaotic nation.

Four killed in fifth day of Afghanistan protests (Reuters)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 12:23pm EST

Reuters - Two American officers were shot dead at close range in Afghanistan's Interior Ministry on Saturday, a U.S. official said, as rage gripped the country for a fifth day over the burning of the Muslim holy book at a NATO base.

Iran uranium discrepancy still unresolved - IAEA (Reuters)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 12:08pm EST

Reuters - Iran has yet to clarify a discrepancy in uranium quantities at a Tehran research site, a U.N. nuclear watchdog report said, after measurements by international inspectors last year failed to match the amount declared by the laboratory.

Afghan Quran protests enter 5th day (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 8:01am EST

AP - A gunman killed two American military advisers with shots to the back of the head Saturday inside a heavily guarded ministry building, and NATO ordered military workers out of Afghan ministries as protests raged for a fifth day over the burning of copies of the Quran at a U.S. army base.

Chavez arrives in Cuba for urgent tumor removal (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 7:57am EST

AP - Venezuela's military high command is publicly reaffirming its loyalty to President Hugo Chavez as he prepares for surgery in Cuba to remove a possibly cancerous tumor.

Israel nixes solar energy for Palestinians (AP)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 7:39am EST

AP - Electricity from solar panels and wind turbines has revolutionized life in rural Palestinian herding communities: Machines, instead of hands, churn goat milk into butter, refrigerators store food that used to spoil and children no longer have to hurry to get their homework done before dark.

Cairo's NGO Trials: Will Egypt Throw American Democracy Advocates into Jail? (Time.com)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 7:05am EST

Time.com - The case may upend U.S.-Egyptian relations as well as further tarnish the military regime's already shaky commitment to reform

The Emergency Session on Syria: That's What Friends Are For? (Time.com)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 7:05am EST

Time.com - In Tunis, the Friends of Syria conference composed of more than 60 countries falls short of any real action on the war in Syria.

The Emergency Session on Syria: That's What Friends Are For? (Time.com)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 6:05am EST

Time.com - In Tunis, the Friends of Syria conference composed of more than 60 countries falls short of any real action on the war in Syria.

Afghanistan: Riots over Koran Burning Subside, But Does Anger Still Simmer? (Time.com)

Posted: February 25th, 2012, 6:05am EST

Time.com - Most observers expected the worst on Friday as the pious gathered at mosques for prayer. But, while violence did occur, it appeared to be much less than feared

Haiti PM resignation threatens reconstruction (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 5:19am EST

AP - Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille abruptly resigned his post Friday, giving the country a new political crisis that is likely to distract the government and further delay efforts to rebuild from the devastating January 2010 earthquake.

At least 50 killed in Syria as regime pounds Homs (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 4:25am EST

AP - Syria defied international calls to halt attacks on rebel enclaves as at least 89 people were killed nationwide Saturday on the eve of a constitutional referendum that the opposition sees as a ploy by President Bashar Assad's regime.

New polls show public favors Australian PM's rival (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 4:12am EST

AP - Kevin Rudd has screen presence and a common touch, but he aggravated Australian officials as prime minister with chaotic leadership and a bad temper. His successor, Julia Gillard, gets higher marks among many insiders, but to much of the public she seems cold or insincere.

65 percent of Yemeni voters pick a new president (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 3:59am EST

AP - A car bomb outside the gate of a presidential compound in southern Yemen killed at least 25 people hours after the country's new president was formally inaugurated and vowed to fight al-Qaida.

No G20 deal on IMF cash this weekend, pressure on Europe (Reuters)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 2:43am EST

Reuters - World economic powers told Europe on Friday it would have to do more to fight its financial crisis before they agree to provide back-up in the form of a bigger IMF war-chest.

Argentines discover 51st victim in train wreck (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 2:11am EST

AP - The discovery of a 51st victim Friday two days after Argentina's deadliest train wreck in decades left the man's family devastated and prompted rock-throwing and other violence by protesters holding vigil at the scene.

Chavez flies to Cuba for more cancer surgery (Reuters)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 2:04am EST

Reuters - As Hugo Chavez heads to Cuba to have surgery on a second lesion in his pelvis, medical experts say the Venezuelan president still has a chance to be cured, but he may have to battle fatigue as he campaigns for re-election in October.

Some women, children evacuated in Homs: ICRC (Reuters)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 1:16am EST

Reuters - Syria holds a referendum on Sunday on a new constitution, dismissed by the opposition as a charade amid an intensifying crackdown on the 11-month-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

Iran has expanded sensitive nuclear work: U.N. agency (Reuters)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 1:00am EST

Reuters - Iran has sharply stepped up its controversial uranium enrichment drive, the U.N. nuclear agency said on Friday in a report that will further inflame Israeli fears the Islamic Republic is pushing ahead with atomic bomb plans.

Apple tactics in China iPad deal unusual: experts (Reuters)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 12:39am EST

Reuters - Proview Electronics, the firm trying to stop Apple Inc from using the iPad name in China, has a plausible claim over the unusual methods Apple used to conceal its identity when attempting to acquire Proview's trademarks, according to several legal experts.

No G20 deal on IMF cash this weekend, pressure on Europe (Reuters)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 12:01am EST

Reuters - World economic powers told Europe on Friday it would have to do more to fight its financial crisis before they agree to provide back-up in the form of a bigger IMF war-chest.

Al-Qaida in Iraq warns of looming war with Shiites (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 11:37pm EST

AP - A spokesman for al-Qaida in Iraq said Friday that a Sunni Muslim war against Shiites in Iraq is inevitable and threatened relentless waves of attacks like the one a day earlier that killed at least 55 people.

Summary Box: Lloyd's Bank losses soar in 2011 (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 11:09pm EST

AP - ANNUAL LOSS: Lloyds Banking Group on Friday posted a 2.8 billion pound ($4.4 billion) loss for 2011 after it set aside 3.2 billion pounds ($5 billion) to compensate customers who had been miss-sold payment protection insurance.

Argentines discover 51st victim in train wreck (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 11:07pm EST

AP - Argentine police have identified the 51st victim of Wednesday's train wreck as Lucas Menghini Rey, whose family's desperate search was emblematic of anger at the failure to protect people from long-known safety problems.

More Quran protests leave 7 dead in Afghanistan (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 11:07pm EST

AP - The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan called on his troops to resist any urge to avenge the death of two American soldiers killed in riots over the burning of Qurans at a U.S. base, even as renewed protests Friday claimed at least seven lives.

Manitoba court will not suspend Canada Wheat Board law (Reuters)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 9:31pm EST

Reuters - A Manitoba court cleared away some of the uncertainty surrounding Western Canada's move to an open grain market on Friday, rejecting a request to suspend a federal law that ends the Canadian Wheat Board's marketing monopoly.

Permalink for 'Yahoo_World_News/2012/02/24/_Friends_of_Syria__conference_demands_Assad_open_humanitarian_aid_corridors_______The_Christian_Science_Monitor__'

'Friends of Syria' conference demands Assad open humanitarian aid corridors (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 7:46pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Absent a credible threat of force to stop nearly a year of carnage in Syria, an international conference today has demanded that President Bashar al-Assad end government violence and open humanitarian aid corridors within 48 hours.

Haiti prime minister abruptly resigns post (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 7:15pm EST

AP - Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille abruptly resigned Friday after less than five months on the job in a political setback for President Michel Martelly, whose struggle to fill the top government post has hampered earthquake reconstruction and other development efforts.

Red Cross holds talks with Syrians over wounded (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 7:13pm EST

AP - Red Cross aid workers entered a besieged neighborhood in the Syrian city of Homs Friday and are negotiating with authorities and rebels to evacuate all wounded, including two Western journalists, a spokesman said.

Pakistan urges Taliban to Afghan peace talks (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 7:07pm EST

AP - Pakistan publicly called on the Taliban for the first time Friday to engage the Afghan government in U.S.-backed peace talks, a potentially significant move that could help pave the way for a settlement to end the decade-long war.

Testimony by survivor of Rwanda's genocide resumes (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 7:06pm EST

AP - A Rwandan woman who survived the 1994 genocide said she never mentioned the name of a New Hampshire woman charged with lying about her role in it during a decade of investigations because no one asked her.

EU to freeze assets of Syrian central bank (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 7:06pm EST

AP - The European Union will freeze the assets of Syria's central bank at its meeting on Monday, the French foreign minister said Friday, in the latest effort to pressure Syria to halt its bloody crackdown on an 11-month-old uprising against President Bashar Assad.

Afghanistan: Riots over Koran Burning Subside, But Does Anger Still Simmer? (Time.com)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 6:10pm EST

Time.com - Most observers expected the worst on Friday as the pious gathered at mosques for prayer. But, while violence did occur, it appeared to be much less than feared

How the U.S. Could Pressure North Korea Tomorrow: Quit the $100 Bill (Time.com)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 6:10pm EST

Time.com - U.S. negotiators are heading into a second day of what have been dubbed serious and substantial talks with North Korean officials

Singing Chavez heads for Cuba surgery, fans pray (Reuters)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 5:36pm EST

Reuters - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez bade an emotional farewell to anxious supporters on Friday en route to Cuba for new cancer surgery, vowing to return for victory in the October election.

African droughts: Could insurance schemes help out? (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 4:20pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Despite the tough farming terrain in Ethiopia's north, Desta Giday tripled the wheat yield on his 2.5-hectare plot last year. The technical difference came from fertilizer. But what fundamentally changed the wiry farmer's output was his decision to take a larger loan from a village cooperative â something he was willing to do because of insurance.

Turkey's Jewish narrative: tolerance and dark side (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 1:07pm EST

AP - As Turkey welcomes Syrians fleeing violence, the anniversary Friday of the deaths of more than 750 Jewish refugees who were denied shelter by Turkey in World War II was a reminder of perennial tension between pragmatic and humanitarian impulses.

Israel leader tells ministers to stay mum on Iran (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 12:55pm EST

AP - Israel's prime minister is instructing his Cabinet ministers not to speak publicly about Iran, in an apparent attempt to prevent provocative statements ahead of his trip to the White House in early March.

Germany pulls troops early from Afghan outpost (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 12:47pm EST

AP - Germany says it has withdrawn troops from an outpost in northern Afghanistan amid protests over the burning of Qurans at a U.S. base.

Senegal campaigns wrap up ahead of tense vote (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 12:09pm EST

AP - Senegal's presidential candidates prepared to hold their final rallies Friday, as a respected African statesman shuttled between the opposition and the government to broker a solution to this country's growing political divide.

Pakistan urges Afghan Taliban to enter peace talks (Reuters)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 12:05pm EST

Reuters - Pakistan on Friday urged leaders of the Afghan Taliban movement to enter direct peace negotiations with Kabul, a possible sign that Islamabad is stepping up support for reconciliation in neighboring Afghanistan.

Facing hostility, Putin to win the Kremlin: poll (Reuters)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 12:00pm EST

Reuters - Vladimir Putin will reclaim the Kremlin's top job by winning two thirds of the vote in a March presidential election, but Russia's alpha-dog leader may face growing resentment against his rule, the last major poll before the vote showed on Friday.

Australia's Rudd challenges PM for leadership (AP)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 11:54am EST

AP - Australia's former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced he will try to grab back leadership of the country in a ruling party ballot Monday, challenging the current prime minister in a bitter and long-brewing power struggle.

Iran wants more UN nuclear talks after Tehran stalemate (Reuters)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 10:51am EST

Reuters - Iran has sharply stepped up its controversial uranium enrichment drive, the United Nations' nuclear agency said Friday in a report that will further inflame Israeli fears that the Islamic Republic is pushing ahead with atomic bomb plans.

Russia: Did Yeltsin Steal the 1996 Presidential Vote? (Time.com)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 10:35am EST

Time.com - In what may have been an inadvertent admission, Russia's current President reportedly says his lineal political predecessor may have won re-election by cheating

Does the 21st Century Need to Be an 'American Century?' (Time.com)

Posted: February 24th, 2012, 10:35am EST

Time.com - Though the Republican presidential hopefuls are still duking it out amongst themselves, it seems the GOP has already thrown down the gauntlet on foreign policy

Australian inquest opens in dingo-baby mystery (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 3:58am EST

AP - A coroner on Friday opened the fourth inquest into the most notorious and bitter legal drama in Australia's history: the 1980 death of a 9-week-old baby whose parents say a dingo took her from a tent in the Australian Outback.

Friends of Syria to demand ceasefire (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 3:19am EST

Reuters - The first of the wounded and sick women and children trapped in the besieged Baba Amro district of Homs were evacuated on Friday as international pressure mounted on the Syrian government to open up the country to humanitarian aid.

Ex-KBR chief gets 30 months in prison for bribery (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 2:34am EST

AP - After years of sentencing delays, a former KBR Inc. chief executive received two and a half years in prison Thursday for his role in a scheme to bribe Nigerian government officials in return for $6 billion in engineering and construction contracts.

Venezuela's Chavez assures backers: 'I will live!' (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 2:02am EST

AP - For someone who's ill, President Hugo Chavez didn't show it Thursday as he launched into full-blown campaign mode on his last day in Venezuela before flying to Cuba for cancer surgery.

Indonesia moves some inmates from riot-hit prison (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 1:58am EST

AP - Indonesian authorities trying to move foreigners, women and children out of a prison hit by two days of riots have returned 13 of them to the tense, overcrowded jail on the resort island of Bali.

Analysis: Can United States defuse Koran burning uproar? (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 1:40am EST

Reuters - Twelve people were killed on Friday in the bloodiest day yet in protests that have raged across Afghanistan over the desecration of copies of the Muslim holy book at a NATO military base with riot police and soldiers on high alert braced for more violence.

In battered Syrian city, cries of `tragic' plight (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 1:07am EST

AP - President Bashar Assad's forces pounded rebel-held areas in central Syria on Friday, killing at least 22 people, activists said. More than 60 nations meeting in Tunisia asked the United Nations to start planning for a civilian peacekeeping mission that would deploy after the Syrian regime halts its crackdown.

Europe's Austerity Programs Will Fail (ContributorNetwork)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 1:01am EST

ContributorNetwork - COMMENTARY | The Associated Press reports that the austerity budgets being passed in Europe have done nothing to improve their respective economies. The implication is that deep spending cuts do not work and that these governments should be following a Keynesian plan by spending their way out of debt and recession. It is my opinion that the data does not support this idea and to do the opposite would only accelerate a nation's decline.

U.S. cites progress in shadowy Africa military mission (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 12:51am EST

Reuters - The United States said on Thursday it was making progress with its African allies in its push against Uganda's notorious Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), but gave no clear end date for the shadowy U.S. military operation unfolding in central Africa.

New Libya army flexes muscles to halt tribal fight (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 12:15am EST

Reuters - Libyan troops intervened to end fighting between rival tribes in the eastern desert on Thursday, a rare example of the government in Tripoli imposing its authority over the fractious country.

Actress Lucy Lawless climbs oil-drilling ship (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 12:10am EST

AP - Television actress Lucy Lawless and six Greenpeace activists have climbed an oil-drilling ship bound for the Arctic to try and stop it from leaving.

Chavez going to Cuba on Friday for cancer surgery (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 10:04pm EST

Reuters - Venezuela's ailing socialist president, Hugo Chavez, will fly to Cuba on Friday for an unknown period to undergo new cancer surgery that has shaken the South American nation before an October presidential election.

Obama apologizes as Afghan Quran protests rage (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 10:00pm EST

AP - President Barack Obama apologized to Afghans on Thursday for the burning of Qurans at a U.S. military base, trying to assuage rising anti-American sentiment as an Afghan soldier gunned down two American troops during another day of angry protests.

Strong and soft: watch words for women's fashion (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 9:59pm EST

AP - Strong and yet soft are the watchwords for the next winter season.

Correction: BC-CB--Puerto Rico-Governor's Speech (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 9:59pm EST

AP - In a Feb. 21 story, The Associated Press reported erroneously that the governor of Puerto Rico would require all public schools to teach English. Gov. Luis Fortuno said he would expand bilingual education in the public school system.

Argentine train crash sheds light on need for transportation reform (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 9:57pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - A commuter train crash yesterday â the latest in eight rail accidents in Argentina since 2008 â is shining a light on the government's unaddressed transportation problems and poor regulatory standards.

Italy's Mafia troubles creep north (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 9:19pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - The Mafia used to be strictly a business of Italyâs south, but today organized crime has reached the north â Italyâs economic engine â nbsp;and is thriving, investing its illegally-made millions there.

Harper says unaware of alleged vote suppression (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 8:58pm EST

Reuters - Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Thursday he was unaware of allegations his Conservative party had used dirty tricks to suppress votes to help win last year's federal election.

Nations pledge help, demand progress in Somalia (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 8:28pm EST

AP - World leaders pledged new help to tackle terrorism and piracy in Somalia, but insisted Thursday that the troubled East African nation must quickly form a stable government and threatened penalties against those who hamper its progress.

Afghan laborer recalls rage as he tried to save charred Korans (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 7:55pm EST

Reuters - In a small room near NATO's sprawling Bagram Airbase, Sayed Jamil fumes as he remembers how three U.S. soldiers ignored the pleas of fellow laborers not to burn dozens of copies of the Koran, the Muslim holy book.

Does the 21st Century Need to Be an 'American Century?' (Time.com)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 6:40pm EST

Time.com - Though the Republican presidential hopefuls are still duking it out amongst themselves, it seems the GOP has already thrown down the gauntlet on foreign policy

The Carnage in Syria: Could the Russians Come to the Rescue? (Time.com)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 6:40pm EST

Time.com - In the increasingly bloody assault on Homs, some believe Moscow may be softening its rigid support of the regime -- if only to ease the humanitarian crisis

Designer Raf Simons to leave Jil Sander (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 6:10pm EST

Reuters - Belgian designer Raf Simons will leave Jil Sander after his autumn/winter catwalk show in Milan this week, the fashion house said Thursday.

Indonesia moves some inmates from riot-hit prison (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 6:01pm EST

AP - Indonesian authorities trying to move foreigners, women and children out of a prison hit by two days of riots returned 13 of them late Thursday to the tense, overcrowded jail on the resort island of Bali.

Both sides claim victory in tar sands fight (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 5:51pm EST

Reuters - Years of lobbying over a draft EU rule that would label fuel from tar sands as dirtier than that from other oil sources reached an impasse on Thursday, prompting both opponent Canada and environmentalists to declare victory.

U.S. threatens sanctions on Somali peace spoilers (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 3:48pm EST

Reuters - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday threatened sanctions on anyone blocking reforms intended to end Somalia's hopeless, bloody conflict and counter militant and pirate groups seen as a growing menace to world security.

Insight: Divided by common foe, Israel and U.S. tangle over Iran (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 2:34pm EST

Reuters - a hastily arranged meeting in a custodian's office at a Washington airport in 2007 - Iran has been one of the few issues on which Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu have been able to find some common ground.

Avalanches hit Indian Kashmir; 16 soldiers killed (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 1:36pm EST

AP - Two massive avalanches in snowbound regions of Indian-controlled Kashmir killed at least 16 soldiers, and at least three others were feared trapped in a military camp that was partially buried under snow, an official said Thursday.

2 police officers killed in north Nigeria city (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 1:18pm EST

AP - Authorities say four police officers have been killed in two separate attacks in Nigeria.

What Iran's Inspection Rebuff Says About Prospects for Nuclear Diplomacy (Time.com)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 11:25am EST

Time.com - Tehran's rejection on Tuesday of an International Atomic Energy Agency request to visit a sensitive military site signaled grim prospects for diplomacy resolving the nuclear standoff

Screams haunt Honduran who freed inmates in fire (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 10:10am EST

AP - The screams haunt convicted murderer Marco Antonio Bonilla, even now as Honduras hails him a hero for saving hundreds of inmates from fire raging through their prison.

Royal Bank of Scotland losses widen on writedowns (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 9:45am EST

AP - U.K. lender Royal Bank of Scotland saw its loss in 2011 swell by 78 percent as it booked large provisions for Greek debt and compensation for customers missold payment protection insurance.

Baghdad bombings kill at least 20 (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 9:41am EST

Reuters - Simultaneous early morning attacks on mostly Shi'ite targets across Iraq killed at least 60 people and wounded dozens on Thursday in one of the bloodiest days of violence since U.S. troops pulled out in mid-December.

India gov't asks top court to keep gay sex illegal (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 9:28am EST

AP - India's Home Ministry has told the country's top court that gay sex is immoral and against social order as it urged the court to keep homosexuality illegal.

Thousands back Putin's presidential bid in Moscow (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 9:23am EST

Reuters - Thousands of people marched in Moscow under Russian flags, balloons and banners on Thursday to back Vladimir Putin's bid to return to the presidency and counter opposition protests that have challenged his authority.

KBR ex-CEO to be sentenced Thurs. in bribery case (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 9:19am EST

AP - A former chief executive of construction giant KBR Inc. faced sentencing Thursday for a federal bribery conviction related to the company's natural gas operations in Nigeria from 1995 to 2004.

Iran talks failure sparks confrontation fears (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 7:01am EST

Reuters - The U.N. nuclear watchdog's latest mission to Iran failed to budge a defiant Tehran over its disputed nuclear program, sending oil prices to a nine-month high over fears of an increasing risk of confrontation with the West.

Taliban urge Afghans to attacks Westerners (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 6:55am EST

Reuters - Afghanistan wants NATO to put on public trial those who burned copies of the Koran at a NATO base, President Hamid Karzai's office said on Thursday, after a third day of bloody protests over the incident.

Haiti police: 1 dead, 120 injured in Carnival fete (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 6:51am EST

AP - A police spokesman in Haiti says one person has been killed and 120 others revelers have been injured in accidents and in street clashes during Carnival festivities.

Car bomb in central Baghdad kills 7: police (Reuters)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 6:43am EST

Reuters - A car bomb struck an area of central Baghdad on Thursday, killing seven people and wounding 24, Iraqi police said.

New Zealand probes hot air balloons after crash (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 6:33am EST

AP - New Zealand authorities are investigating the maintenance of all the country's hot air balloons following a fiery crash last month that killed 11 people.

Iraqi officials: Baghdad car bomb kills 8 (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 6:13am EST

AP - A swift series of bombings and shootings killed 35 people across the Iraqi capital early Thursday in attacks that mostly appeared to target police, officials said.

NH jury chosen in Rwanda genocide case (AP)

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 6:06am EST

AP - The trial of a woman charged with lying about her role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide is expected to transport jurors back nearly two decades to a roadblock outside a family owned hotel where prosecutors say the defendant decided who would live and who would die.

Japan royal heir suggests easier load for emperor (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 2:52am EST

AP - Japan's crown prince believes efforts should be made to reduce the burden on his ailing father, Emperor Akihito, as the 78-year-old monarch recovers from heart bypass surgery.

Grasping at Straws: The Syrian Opposition Appeals to Russia (Time.com)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 2:40am EST

Time.com - In the face of continuing bloodshed in their homeland, one anti-Assad group courts the regime's allies in the Syrian business community and Moscow. Is it all in vain?

Australian PM calls party vote as challenger rises (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 2:16am EST

AP - Prime Minister Julia Gillard put her job on the line Thursday, announcing a leadership ballot in hopes of quashing a comeback by Kevin Rudd, the colleague she ousted in a Labor Party coup nearly two years ago.

Swedish palace: crown princess about to give birth (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 2:13am EST

AP - The Swedish Royal Court says Crown Princess Victoria has been admitted to a hospital for the birth of her first child, who would be a future heir to the throne.

Shelling kills 2 Western journalists in Syria (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 2:13am EST

AP - Medics stitch wounds with thread used for clothing. Hungry residents risk Syrian government sniper fire or shelling to hunt for dwindling supplies of bread and canned food on the streets of the besieged city of Homs.

Argentine train slams into station, killing 49 (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 1:49am EST

AP - Argentines desperately searched hospitals Thursday in hopes that loved ones survived a train crash that killed 50 people and sent hundreds to emergency rooms. A stunned government declared two days of mourning, with flags flying at half staff across the nation.

Assad forces renew barrage on Syria's Homs (Reuters)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 1:01am EST

Reuters - Western and Arab nations will demand that Syrian forces implement an immediate ceasefire to allow relief supplies to reach desperate civilians in bombarded cities such as Homs when they meet in Tunis on Friday.

Air Canada mechanics, baggage handlers reject labor (Reuters)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 11:59pm EST

Reuters - Air Canada's 8,600 mechanics, baggage handlers and cargo agents have rejected a tentative contract agreement with the country's biggest airline, a union spokesman said on Wednesday, marking another setback for the carrier during a year of rocky labor relations.

Russia warns against 'hasty conclusions' over Iran (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 11:20pm EST

AP - Russia said Wednesday the world should not draw hasty conclusions over Iran's most recent rebuff of U.N. attempts to investigate allegations the Islamic Republic hid secret work on atomic arms, but the U.S. and its allies accused Tehran of nuclear defiance.

Putin praises Cold War moles for stealing U.S. nuclear secrets (Reuters)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 10:55pm EST

Reuters - Vladimir Putin praised Cold War-era scientists on Thursday for stealing U.S. nuclear secrets so that United States would not be the world's sole atomic power, in comments reflecting his vision of Russia as a counterweight to U.S. power.

U.S., European security officials discount Iran-Al Qaeda links (Reuters)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 10:55pm EST

Reuters - U.S. and European officials are downplaying allegations that Iran and al Qaeda have recently stepped up cooperation in preparation for possible attacks on U.S. and other Western targets.

NH jury chosen in Rwanda genocide case (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 10:53pm EST

AP - The trial of a New Hampshire woman charged with lying about her role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide is expected to transport jurors back almost 18 years to a roadblock outside a family owned hotel in Butare where prosecutors say the defendant decided who would live and who would die.

Report: London no safer for all its CCTV cameras (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 10:20pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - London is considered the most spied-on city in the world, courtesy of its ubiquitous CCTV cameras, purportedly there to reduce crime. But according to a recent report, there's been little or no change in London's crime rates since they were more widely installed in the mid 1980s.

As austerity bites hard, a once pliant Spain revolts (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 10:09pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - After four days of daily protests, some violently dispersed, Spain is bracing for a cycle of social unrest against the harshest austerity measures in decades. At stake is not only Spainâs economic recovery, but that of the European Union.

Italy: Divers find 8 more bodies in ship wreckage (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 8:26pm EST

AP - Divers searching the capsized Costa Concordia cruise ship found eight bodies Wednesday on one of the passenger decks, including that of a missing 5-year-old Italian girl, authorities said.

Commonwealth urges early election in Maldives (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 8:24pm EST

AP - The Commonwealth called Wednesday for early presidential elections in the Maldives, along with an international investigation into the ouster of the Indian Ocean archipelago's president earlier this month.

NH jury chosen in Rwanda genocide case (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 7:51pm EST

AP - A federal jury of eight men and four women is set to begin hearing graphic testimony in the case of a New Hampshire woman charged with lying about her role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

Rogers profit tops forecasts but wireless lags (Reuters)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 5:50pm EST

Reuters - Rogers Communications, Canada's biggest wireless telecoms company, said on Wednesday that cost-cutting and growth in its cable and media businesses pushed it to a stronger than expected quarterly profit despite lagging core wireless results.

US stocks fall as Europe frets over Greece (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 4:12pm EST

AP - U.S. stocks were lower in early trading Wednesday as investors worry over the details of a new bailout plan for Greece.

Egypt's Mubarak declines chance to address court (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 4:03pm EST

AP - An Egyptian judge on Wednesday set June 2 as the date for the verdict and sentencing in the trial of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, which could put the man who spent nearly 30 years as one of the Arab world's key strongmen on death row.

Ethiopian, Somali troops capture key Somali town (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 3:52pm EST

AP - Residents say Ethiopian troops and Somali soldiers have seized a key town in south central Somalia.

Argentine train slams into station, 100s injured (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 3:38pm EST

AP - A train packed with morning commuters slammed into a downtown station on Wednesday, killing 49 people and injuring hundreds as passenger cars crumpled and windows exploded around them. It was Argentina's worst train accident in decades.

Mubarak's trial leaves Egypt with open wounds (Reuters)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 3:35pm EST

Reuters - Mohamed Moustafa Morsy had to sneak out of his home to join the protests against Hosni Mubarak last year, afraid his parents would stop him if they knew where he was going.

Grasping at Straws: The Syrian Opposition Appeals to Russia (Time.com)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 3:20pm EST

Time.com - In the face of continuing bloodshed in their homeland, one anti-Assad group courts the regime's allies in the Syrian business community and Moscow. Is it all in vain?

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Syria: War Reporter Marie Colvin and Photographer Rémi Ochlik Are Killed (Time.com)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 3:20pm EST

Time.com - A celebrated American-born war reporter and a young French photographer were killed on Wednesday morning when Syrian forces bombed a makeshift media center in the besieged city of Homs

Chavez surgery unsettles Venezuela ahead of election (Reuters)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 3:16pm EST

Reuters - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's imminent departure for more cancer surgery in Cuba has thrown his re-election campaign into uncertainty and once again shaken the socialist leader's passionate supporters.

U.S., French journalists killed in Syria (Reuters)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 1:26pm EST

Reuters - American correspondent Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik were killed in the besieged Syrian city of Homs on Wednesday when rockets fired by government forces hit the house they were staying in, opposition activists and witnesses said.

Serbia to open first shelter for gays (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 11:51am EST

AP - Authorities have announced plans to set up Serbia's first shelter to protect gays and lesbians from harassment in this conservative Balkan country.

North Korea calls Seoul nuclear summit a childish farce (Reuters)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 11:49am EST

Reuters - Isolationist North Korea lashed out at its neighbor on Wednesday for hosting an international nuclear security summit in Seoul next month, calling it a childish farce and an intolerable grave provocation.

Nigeria's ex-leader to meet Senegal opposition (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 11:36am EST

AP - Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is in Senegal to observe and help mediate a solution to this weekend's contentious election, is meeting opposition candidates on Wednesday.

A Year On, Christchurch Is Still Stuck in Postquake 'Fog' (Time.com)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 9:35am EST

Time.com - It has been a full year since disaster hit, but the city is just starting to creep back to life

Egypt's NGO Crackdown: McCain Offers a Conciliatory Tone (Time.com)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 9:35am EST

Time.com - U.S. Senator seeks to calm rising tensions over the fate of 16 Americans facing trial in Cairo for their democracy-promotion efforts

UN watchdog says nuclear talks with Iran failed (Reuters)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 8:53am EST

Reuters - The U.N. nuclear watchdog ended its latest mission to Iran after talks on Tehran's suspected secret atomic weapons research failed, a setback likely to increase the risk of confrontation with the West.

Malaysia bans British author's sex education book (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 8:17am EST

AP - Malaysia has banned a nearly 40-year-old sex education book written by a British author following complaints by Muslim activists that it is obscene.

U.S. Embassy in Kabul on lockdown amid protests (Reuters)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 8:08am EST

Reuters - Afghan President Hamid Karzai appealed for calm Wednesday after officials said six people were shot dead and dozens wounded in protests over the burning of copies of the Koran, Islam's holy book, at NATO's main base in the country.

Golan Druse support for Syria regime cracking (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 8:00am EST

AP - Syria's embattled leader, Bashar Assad, appears to be losing one of his last bastions of reliable support: the Druse Arab community in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Australia's Foreign Minister resigns amid dispute (AP)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 7:52am EST

AP - Former foreign minister Kevin Rudd says he is encouraged by support from government colleagues to challenge Prime Minister Julia Gillard for the leadership of their Labor Party.

Australian foreign minister quits in leadership crisis (Reuters)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 7:49am EST

Reuters - Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd resigned on Wednesday, saying he could no longer work with Prime Minister Julia Gillard, igniting a new and bitter leadership crisis for the struggling minority government.

Europe's debt crisis set to dominate G20 talks (Reuters)

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 7:17am EST

Reuters - Europe's debt crisis will dominate talks between Group of 20 (G20) policymakers this weekend as the rest of the world looks for pledges that the euro zone will boost its crisis safety net.

Two wounded as riot, fire hits jail on Indonesia's Bali (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 5:55am EST

Reuters - Indonesian police stormed a prison on the resort island of Bali on Wednesday to regain control after inmates burned offices and seized weapons in a riot during which two prisoners were shot and wounded, officials said.

Festival returns to Myanmar's Shwedagon Pagoda (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 4:45am EST

AP - Amid the towering golden spires of Myanmar's grandest Buddhist shrine there was talk of politics and hope for the future as thousands came Wednesday for the return of an annual festival that was banned for more than 20 years by the former military regime.

U.S. signals possibility of arming Syrian rebels (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 4:41am EST

Reuters - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces rained rockets and bombs down on opposition-held neighborhoods of the city of Homs on Wednesday, reducing buildings to rubble and killing more than 80 people, including two Western journalists.

A Diplomatic Solution to the Iran Nuclear Standoff May Depend On Compromises (Time.com)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 3:55am EST

Time.com - Sanctions on Iran are beginning to work, goes the argument from the Obama Administration, and they should be given more time to bring Tehran to heel

New Zealanders gather to remember earthquake dead (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 3:05am EST

AP - More than 10,000 New Zealanders stood in silence, some in tears, at a Christchurch park Wednesday while police officers and firefighters read out the names of all 185 people who died in a devastating earthquake one year ago.

Company sues Apple over iPad name in Shanghai (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 2:46am EST

AP - A Chinese company fighting Apple Inc. over its use of the iPad trademark in China took its complaints to a Shanghai court Wednesday, though it says it is willing to talk about a settlement.

Venezuelan leader Chavez faces new surgery (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 2:12am EST

AP - President Hugo Chavez has raised serious doubts about whether he'll have the stamina for a successful re-election bid, revealing that he needs to return to Cuba to have a lesion removed that is probably malignant.

Portuguese reject govt call to work on Carnival (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 1:28am EST

AP - Portuguese workers issued a spontaneous Ja chega! mdash; That's enough! mdash; to the government, rejecting its appeal to stay at their jobs during Carnival, one of their most beloved holidays.

Dozens killed in Syria, Red Cross urges cease-fire (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 1:20am EST

AP - Syrian gunners pounded an opposition stronghold where the last dispatches from a veteran American-born war correspondent chronicled the suffering of civilians caught in the relentless shelling. An intense morning barrage killed her and a French photojournalist mdash; two of 74 deaths reported Wednesday in Syria.

Analysis: Greek pro-bailout parties to survive voter anger (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 1:18am EST

Reuters - Support for Greece's two pro-bailout parties has sunk to an all-time low, but pollsters predict the squabbling rivals will still scrape through upcoming elections with enough seats in parliament to push through the reforms demanded by lenders.

UN: W. Africa cocaine trade generates $900M a year (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 1:11am EST

AP - The U.N. agency that fights drugs and crime estimated that cocaine trafficking is generating some $900 million annually in West and Central Africa as South American cartels use the shortest route to transport drugs to Europe.

Violence as Yemen elects candidate to replace toppled leader (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 1:01am EST

Reuters - Separatist violence in the south loomed over a presidential election in Yemen that had just a single candidate, but Washington praised the vote ending three decades of rule by its ally Ali Abdullah Saleh.

New Zealanders gather to remember earthquake dead (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 12:33am EST

AP - New Zealanders are gathering in the thousands to remember the 185 people who died in a devastating earthquake one year ago in the city of Christchurch.

John Paulson firm sued over Sino-Forest bet (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 12:05am EST

Reuters - A firm run by John Paulson was sued on Tuesday by a prominent Miami investor who claimed the billionaire's hedge funds failed to conduct proper due diligence on Chinese forestry company Sino-Forest Corp before buying shares, costing investors more than $460 million.

Venezuelan leader Chavez faces new surgery in Cuba (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 11:17pm EST

AP - President Hugo Chavez announced Tuesday that doctors in Cuba found a new lesion in the same place where he had a tumor removed last year and said he will require surgery.

NRC officials doubted US claim on Japan crisis (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 10:53pm EST

AP - Newly released transcripts show top Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials debated the accuracy of public statements made by the agency chairman about a pool holding spent fuel rods at a crippled Japan nuclear plant.

Venezuela's Chavez to have another operation (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 10:44pm EST

Reuters - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has to undergo another operation after doctors in Cuba found a lesion in his pelvis where surgeons removed a large cancerous tumor last year, he said on Tuesday.

Ex-Nigerian leader in Senegal to mediate (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 9:43pm EST

AP - Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo arrived in Senegal on Tuesday to try to mediate a solution to the country's political impasse less than a week before a contentious presidential election takes place.

Islamist attacks draw Nigeria and US military closer (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 8:44pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - With an Islamist militant group on a killing spree in its northern reaches, Nigeria would appear to be just the kind of country that the US militaryâs Africom was designed to help out.

Canada may cool housing market; prices won't crash: Poll (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 8:27pm EST

Reuters - Canada's government will make it tougher for many homebuyers to get mortgages this year as it grapples with an overheated property market, according to analysts in a Reuters poll, who also see prices stabilizing this year but no dramatic collapse.

A defector's tale: How a Syrian soldier turned rebel (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 8:04pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Khaled, a young fighter with the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA), keeps a tight grip on his cellphone these days. The serious-looking 20-something with slicked back dark hair and a thin trace of a beard is awaiting a call that will take him from the relative comfort of a safe house in north Lebanon across a border laced with land mines and patrolled by Syrian troops to the dangers and rigors of combat inside Syria.

3 inmates killed in Mexico prison near deadly riot (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 7:13pm EST

AP - Officials say three inmates have been killed in a northern Mexico prison a few miles (kilometers) from the penitentiary where 44 gang members were massacred this week.

Kenya blames Somali militants for food crisis (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 7:08pm EST

AP - An 80-year-old Somali woman fondly recalled her younger days. There was peace in Somalia then, and people in this town of Tabda in the arid scrublands of the country's south did not rely on the mercy of others for food.

Putin woos police with wage promises ahead of poll (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 7:03pm EST

Reuters - Russia's Vladimir Putin sought to bolster his authority ahead of a March presidential election on Tuesday by promising hefty pay rises for police in Moscow where opposition activists are gearing up for more protests demanding political change.

Exclusive: Algeria to allow foreign NGOs to monitor vote (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 6:44pm EST

Reuters - Election observers from U.S. non-governmental organizations the Carter Center and the National Democratic Institute will for the first time be able to monitor a parliamentary election in Algeria later this year, the interior minister said Tuesday.

British Columbia leader tweets on taxes before budget (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 6:33pm EST

Reuters - Just hours ahead of the British Columbia budget on Tuesday, the Canadian province's leader took the unusual step of using Twitter to rule out any tax hikes in the annual economic blueprint.

Summary Box: China carmaker plant in Bulgaria (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 6:29pm EST

AP - CHINA ARRIVES: Great Wall Motors launched operations in Bulgaria on Tuesday, becoming the first Chinese automaker to assemble cars in the European Union.

A Year On, Christchurch Fumbles Through the 'Post-Earthquake Fog' (Time.com)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 3:45pm EST

Time.com - It has been a full year since disaster hit, but the city is just starting to creep back to life

A Diplomatic Solution to the Iran Nuclear Standoff May Depend On Compromises (Time.com)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 3:25pm EST

Time.com - Sanctions on Iran are beginning to work, goes the argument from the Obama Administration, and they should be given more time to bring Tehran to heel

Pakistan to ask Interpol to arrest ex-president (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 2:06pm EST

AP - Pakistan's interior minister says the government will ask Interpol to arrest ex-President Pervez Musharraf in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Greece says Libyan embassy hands over arms cache (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 2:05pm EST

AP - Greek police say Libyan embassy officials in Athens have handed over a large weapons and explosives cache, following instructions from the Libyan government.

Palestinian prisoner ending hunger strike after deal (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 2:02pm EST

Reuters - A Palestinian held without trial by Israel agreed Tuesday to end his 66-day hunger strike after Israeli authorities promised to release him in April.

Israel to free Palestinian hunger striker (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 2:02pm EST

AP - The Israeli Justice Ministry says it has reached a deal to free a Palestinian hunger striker in April.

Afghans protest over reported Koran desecration (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 12:55pm EST

Reuters - U.S. helicopters fired flares to disperse hundreds of angry Afghans who massed outside the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan on Tuesday after hearing staff there had burned copies of the Koran.

Zimbabwe's Mugabe turns 88, vowing to cling to power (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 12:01pm EST

Reuters - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe turned 88 on Tuesday, vowing to stay in power despite grumbling inside his party that he should hand over to a younger leader, and international condemnation of his economic and human rights record.

Iran says would act against enemies if endangered (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 11:39am EST

Reuters - Iran would take pre-emptive action against its enemies if it felt its national interests were endangered, the deputy head of the Islamic Republic's armed forces was quoted by a semi-official news agency as saying on Tuesday.

Union extends Frankfurt airport strike (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 10:06am EST

AP - The union representing ground workers at Frankfurt airport said Tuesday it was extending its strike through Friday to press its demands for more pay from airport operator Fraport AG.

Yemenis vote for post-Saleh era amid violence (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 9:56am EST

Reuters - A general took power in Yemen Tuesday as the sole candidate in a presidential election after a year-long uprising that ousted long-serving ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh but left the poor Arab country still teetering on the brink of chaos.

Angry Afghans protest Quran disposal at US base (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 9:52am EST

AP - Police say more than 2,000 angry Afghans are protesting the improper disposal of Qurans and other Islamic religious materials at an American air base north of Kabul.

Egypt's NGO Crackdown: McCain Offers a Conciliatory Tone (Time.com)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 9:50am EST

Time.com - U.S. Senator seeks to calm rising tensions over the fate of 16 Americans facing trial in Cairo for their democracy-promotion efforts

Take Two: Can a Second Bailout Save Greece? (Time.com)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 9:50am EST

Time.com - After months of delays, arguments and doubts, euro zone finance ministers agreed on a second, $170 billion bailout of beleaguered Greece in the early hours of Tuesday morning

Iran says UN nuke inspectors will not visit sites (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 9:30am EST

AP - A U.N. team visiting Iran has no plans to inspect the country's nuclear facilities and will only hold talks with officials in Tehran, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

Iranian navy ships return from Syria through Suez (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 8:29am EST

Reuters - Two Iranian naval ships returned from Syria through the Suez Canal Tuesday, a Suez Canal source said.

Israelis flock to sages' tombs seeking miracles (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 7:31am EST

AP - One man prays to heal the legs he broke in a car accident. An older woman pleads for grandchildren. Another visitor has come to see God's secretary.

Japan, U.S. near deal on Iran oil import cut (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 7:29am EST

Reuters - Japan is close to agreement with Washington on the size of cuts refiners must make in imports of Iranian crude oil to win waivers from U.S. sanctions, two ministers said Tuesday after a media report the two sides would settle on an 11 percent cut.

Europe seals new Greek bailout to avoid default (Reuters)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 7:28am EST

Reuters - Euro zone finance ministers sealed a 130-billion-euro ($172 billion) bailout for Greece Tuesday to avert a chaotic default in March after persuading private bondholders to take greater losses and Athens to commit to deep cuts.

Australian PM to host dinner for lesbians and gays (AP)

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 7:08am EST

AP - Prime Minister Julia Gillard, an opponent of same-sex marriage, hosted a dinner for two lesbian couples and a pair of gay men Tuesday after an Australian activist group won a charity auction.

Thailand Must Face, Not Dismiss, the Threat of Terrorism (Time.com)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 5:35am EST

Time.com - Officials' bungled attempts at damage control are doing more damage to Thailand's reputation than the bombers ever could

Inmate massacre highlights Mexico jail corruption (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 5:30am EST

AP - Nine guards have confessed to helping Zetas drug gangsters escape from prison before other Zetas slaughtered 44 rival inmates, a state official said late Monday, underlining the enormous corruption inside Mexico's overcrowded, underfunded prisons.

Source: Greece to get $170B bailout, reduce debt (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 5:06am EST

AP - A second, euro130 billion ($172 billion) bailout and a deep debt write-off for financially stricken Greece will ward off a financial disaster in Europe.

North Korean envoy arrives for US nuclear talks (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 4:57am EST

AP - Pyongyang's top nuclear envoy arrived in Beijing on Tuesday ahead of the first nuclear talks with the United States since the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il.

Aussie PM says she has colleagues' strong support (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 3:17am EST

AP - Prime Minister Julia Gillard said on Tuesday she still had enough support to lead the government despite growing speculation that Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd plans to seize power.

Syrian forces mass outside rebel stronghold (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 2:44am EST

AP - Food and water are running dangerously low in the besieged Syrian city of Homs, with frantic cries for help from residents amid government shelling that pounded rebel strongholds and killed at least 30 people Tuesday, activists said.

Syrian forces fire on Damascus protests (Reuters)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 1:02am EST

Reuters - Syrian government forces killed at least 100 people on Tuesday in assaults on villages and an artillery barrage in the restive city of Homs, activists said, and the Red Cross called for daily ceasefires to allow in urgently needed aid.

Relatives storm Honduras morgue demanding remains (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 12:54am EST

AP - Hundreds of relatives of inmates who burned or suffocated to death in a Honduras prison fire have forced their way into a morgue to demand the remains of their loved ones.

Australian PM to host dinner for lesbians and gays (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 12:46am EST

AP - Prime Minister Julia Gillard will host a dinner for two lesbian couples and a pair of gay men at her official residence on Tuesday after an activist group won a charity auction.

EU likely to adopt further sanctions against Syria: Germany (Reuters)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 12:26am EST

Reuters - The European Union will likely adopt fresh sanctions against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the coming week, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Monday.

Zimbabwe's president says mediator can be fired (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 11:38pm EST

AP - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said Monday that he reserves the right to disregard efforts by South African President Jacob Zuma to mediate disputes in the nation's troubled coalition government.

Syrian forces mass outside rebel stronghold (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 11:13pm EST

AP - Syrian tanks and troops massed Monday outside the resistance stronghold of Homs for a possible ground assault that one activist warned could unleash a new round of fierce and bloody urban combat even as the Red Cross tried to broker a cease-fire to allow emergency aid in.

Libyans queue for first vote in battle-hit Misrata (Reuters)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 10:17pm EST

Reuters - People from Libya's battle-scarred city of Misrata queued up to vote in their first free election Monday, hoping to set a standard for the rest of the country as it prepares for national polls in June after the war that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi.

Historic monastery in Cyprus near collapse (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 10:08pm EST

AP - A historic monastery where an apostle of Jesus Christ is said to have performed miracles is close to caving in and needs immediate repairs, the leader of Cyprus' Orthodox Christian Church said Monday.

Libyans cheer return of international matches (Reuters)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 9:59pm EST

Reuters - Libyan soccer fans of all ages came out to cheer the first international matches played in the North African country since the conflict that ousted Muammar Gaddafi amid hope Monday's games would be the start of many more to come.

Rebels hold 3 peacekeepers in Sudan's Darfur (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 9:56pm EST

AP - Three civilians with a joint United Nations/African Union peacekeeping force are being held by rebels in Sudan's Darfur and accused of being spies, a spokeswoman for the mission said Monday.

Ballot set for Puerto Rico's Republican primary (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 9:53pm EST

AP - The Republican Party of Puerto Rico says Buddy Roemer will be the first name on the ballot for the island's March 18 presidential primary.

Johannesburg no longer a no-go for tourists, investors (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 9:47pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - In recent decades, downtown JohanÂnesburg achieved near-mythical status as being one of the most dangerous places in the world. Its spiraling crime rate and rapid urban decay drove white business and residents out. Foreign visitors were warned to stay away for fear of their lives, and investment in the city ground to a near halt.

Obama, Karzai discuss Afghan reconciliation: White House (Reuters)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 9:43pm EST

Reuters - President Barack Obama spoke on Monday with his Afghan counterpart to discuss regional support for Afghan-led reconciliation, the White House said.

Rebels release peacekeepers in Sudan's Darfur (Reuters)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 9:22pm EST

Reuters - Rebels in Sudan's Darfur region said they released 49 international peacekeepers on Monday, hours after detaining them, but kept hold of three civilian staff they accused of working for the country's security service.

Lawyer sees conspiracy of silence in Mubarak trial (Reuters)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 8:17pm EST

Reuters - A lawyer acting for the families of those killed in Egypt's uprising against Hosni Mubarak Monday told the court trying him that there had been a conspiracy of silence by those seeking to shield the former president.

Bahrain police disperse march with water cannon (Reuters)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 7:41pm EST

Reuters - Bahraini police used water cannon and tear gas to break up a march chanting anti-government slogans after a funeral Monday, while protesters were arrested for approaching a roundabout at the center of an uprising last year.

Fearing West, Putin pledges biggest military buildup since cold war (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 7:36pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Russia needs to launch a major military buildup to prepare for life in a dangerous world where international law is breaking down, the West feels free to intervene in sovereign countries, and rivals could invade Russia to seize its rich trove of natural resources, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has warned.

Iraq VP: Death squad charges politically motivated (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 11:51am EST

AP - Iraq's embattled Sunni vice president says government charges that he ran death squads are politically motivated.

Melting ice on Danube damages 100s of boats (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 11:51am EST

AP - Big chunks of melting ice moving on the Danube River have damaged hundreds of small boats and several restaurants located on rafts.

China paper says West stirring civil war in Syria (Reuters)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 11:36am EST

Reuters - Russia, China and Iran showed support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday, days before an international meeting likely to pile more pressure on him to step down in the face of an increasingly bloody uprising.

UN inspectors arrive in Iran for nuclear talks (Reuters)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 11:33am EST

Reuters - Senior U.N. inspectors arrived in Iran on Monday to push for transparency about its disputed nuclear program and several European states halted purchases of Iranian oil as part of Western moves to pile pressure on a defiant Tehran.

A Hunger Striker at Death's Door Turns Up the Heat on Israel -- and on the Palestinian Leadership (Time.com)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 11:10am EST

Time.com - The West Bank's Bobby Sands is how some in the British media have begun referring to Khader Adnan, as the 33-year-old Palestinian detainee marks Monday as his 65th day of refusing food from his Israeli gaolers

Thailand Must Face, Not Dismiss, the Threat of Terrorism (Time.com)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 11:10am EST

Time.com - Officials' bungled attempts at damage control are doing more damage to Thailand's reputation than the bombers ever could

North Korea raises alert for live-fire drill (Reuters)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 10:58am EST

Reuters - Secretive North Korea raised its military alert ahead of a live-fire artillery drill by rival South Korea Monday amid heightened tension on the peninsula during a delicate transition of power in the impoverished North.

China rebukes Iran for France, UK oil ban (Reuters)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 10:20am EST

Reuters - China rebuked Iran on Monday for stopping oil sales to British and French companies at the weekend, calling for renewed efforts at dialogue over an escalating stand-off over Tehran's controversial nuclear program.

Cold winter kills at least 40 in Afghanistan (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 7:38am EST

AP - More than 40 people, most of them children, have frozen to death in what has been Afghanistan's coldest winter in years, an Afghan health official said Monday.

UN nuke inspectors arrive for key talks in Tehran (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 7:36am EST

AP - A team of inspectors from the U.N nuclear watchdog has arrived in Tehran for what are expected to be key talks about Iran's controversial nuclear program.

Putin says Russia needs strong military (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 7:35am EST

AP - Russia needs to modernize its military arsenals to deter others from grabbing its resources, Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in article published Monday.

Christchurch still 'safe haven' for quake survivor (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 7:34am EST

AP - Jane Taylor was managing a women's clothing store in downtown Christchurch a year ago when the earthquake struck. She was dug from the rubble within minutes with horrific injuries mdash; her vertebrae were crushed, her skull was fractured and her pelvis smashed.

Is he 90? Senegal leader's age a campaign issue (AP)

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 6:01am EST

AP - The question dogging the president of this nation as he tries to convince his country to vote for him one last time can be traced to this town enveloped in sand. It's here inside a house with a goat tethered outside that President Abdoulaye Wade was born. The problem is when?

China paper says West stirring up civil war in Syria (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 4:00am EST

Reuters - Western countries are stirring up a civil war in Syria with their wholehearted support for the opposition, a top Chinese newspaper said Monday, slamming calls for the country's leader to hand over power as an incitement to further violence.

Prison fight kills 44 in Mexico (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 3:47am EST

Reuters - At least 44 people died in a fight between rival gangs at an overcrowded prison in northern Mexico in a violent outbreak that authorities said could have been a distraction that allowed some inmates to escape.

The World's Largest University Struggles to Educate Millions of New Students (Time.com)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 3:30am EST

Time.com - In less than 10 years, the number of college goers in India is expected to increase to 40 million. Can the nation's universities keep up with the demand for a more educated workforce?

Land Wars: Indonesia Unrest Shows Risks of Resource-Led Growth (Time.com)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 3:30am EST

Time.com - With strong global commodity prices, Indonesia's desire to exploit its natural resources is greater than ever. But, in many parts of country, so are calls for resistance

Wal-Mart increases stake in Chinese e-commerce firm (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 3:21am EST

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Monday it has reached an agreement to increase its stake in a Chinese e-commerce firm, Yihaodian, to around 51 percent.

J.Lo, Fergie add star power to Rio Carnival parade (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 3:21am EST

AP - As millions watched the sequin-clad samba dancers at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Carnival parade Sunday, at least a few eyes turned toward the stars, or at least toward the VIP boxes hosting celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Fergie.

Decision day for 2nd Greek bailout, financing gaps remain (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 2:40am EST

Reuters - Euro zone finance ministers are expected to approve a second bailout for Greece on Monday to try to draw a line under months of uncertainty that has shaken the currency bloc, although there is work to be done to make the figures add up.

Special Report: Myanmar declares war on opium (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 1:46am EST

Reuters - In Myanmar's new war on drugs, meet the weapon of mass destruction: the weed-whacker.

News Corp to launch Sun on Sunday UK tabloid February 26 (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 1:42am EST

Reuters - News International, the British newspaper arm of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp group, announced on Sunday it would publish a Sunday edition of Britain's scandal-hit Sun tabloid for the first time next weekend.

44 dead after prison fight in Mexico (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 12:34am EST

Reuters - At least 44 people died in a fight between rival gangs at a prison on the outskirts of the northern Mexican manufacturing city of Monterrey on Sunday, authorities said.

Bus runs off cliff in Ecuador; 29 reported dead (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 12:25am EST

AP - Ecuadorean authorities say a bus has toppled over a cliff on a northern road, killing 27 adults and two children.

Iran halts oil sales to UK, France on eve of talks (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 12:08am EST

Reuters - Iran ordered a halt to its oil sales to Britain and France on Sunday in a move seen as retaliation against tightening EU sanctions, as a team of U.N. inspectors flew to Tehran to press the Islamic Republic over its disputed nuclear program.

North Korea ruling party to meet, may make succession official (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 12:04am EST

Reuters - North Korea's state media said on Monday its ruling Workers' Party will hold a key conference in April, the first since 2010, in which it is likely to make official the succession of power to its third generation of leadership.

NKorea threatens to attack SKorea over drills (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 11:55pm EST

AP - North Korea will launch merciless strikes if South Korea goes through with planned live-fire drills Monday in a disputed front-line area near their disputed sea border, a North Korean officer warned in an interview with The Associated Press.

German govt, opposition agree on new president (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 11:33pm EST

AP - Germany's government and the two major opposition parties said Sunday they would jointly nominate former East German human rights activist Joachim Gauck to be the country's next president.

US, Britain urge Israel not to attack Iran (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 11:23pm EST

AP - The U.S. and Britain on Sunday urged Israel not to attack Iran's nuclear program as the White House's national security adviser arrived in the region, reflecting growing international jitters that the Israelis are poised to strike.

North Korea threatens to attack South Korea over routine drills (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 10:48pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - nbsp;North Korea will launch merciless strikes if South Korea goes through with planned live-fire drills near their disputed sea border, a North Korean officer said Sunday, amid persistent tension on the divided peninsula.

Merkel backs opposition's choice for president (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 10:06pm EST

Reuters - Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed on Sunday to support former East German rights activist Joachim Gauck for the presidency, averting a fight with opposition parties that might have distracted her from tackling the euro zone crisis.

UN nuke inspectors leave for key talks in Tehran (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 10:05pm EST

AP - A senior U.N. nuclear official said Sunday he hoped for progress in upcoming talks with Iran about suspected secret work on atomic arms, but his careful choice of words suggested little expectation that the meeting will be successful.

Senegal police clash with rioters as vote looms (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 9:54pm EST

Reuters - Senegal security forces clashed with protesters in the capital and surrounding suburbs on Sunday in the fifth straight day of demonstrations against President Abdoulaye Wade's candidacy in a February 26 election.

Egypt expects to sign deal for $3.2B IMF loan soon (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 9:28pm EST

AP - Egypt's finance minister says Cairo expects to sign a loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund for $3.2 billion next month.

Official: 44 dead in Mexico prison riot (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 9:17pm EST

AP - A fight among inmates led to a prison riot in northern Mexico that left 44 people dead on Sunday, according to a security official.

Egypt withdraws envoy to Syria (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 9:13pm EST

AP - Egypt said Sunday it was withdrawing its ambassador to Syria, the latest Arab country to scale back its relations with the embattled regime in Damascus.

At least 40 die in Mexico prison riot (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 8:57pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - A prison riot in northern Mexico left at least 40 people dead early Sunday, according to a security official.

China's Vice President Xi kicks off Dublin visit (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 8:53pm EST

Reuters - Ireland's national sports of Gaelic football and hurling won an unlikely new audience on Sunday when pictures of China's leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping kicking a football in Dublin's Croke Park stadium were beamed home to Beijing.

Report: Website helped UK terrorists communicate (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 7:19pm EST

AP - An Islamist website has spent months publishing letters written by Muslim extremists jailed for serious terror offenses, a British newspaper reported Sunday.

China-Malaysia firm rejects S.Sudan accusations in oil row (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 6:15pm EST

Reuters - Chinese-Malaysian oil firm Petrodar, the main oil operator in South Sudan, denied on Sunday it had helped Sudan seize any southern oil, after Juba accused Chinese firms of cooperating with Khartoum in a row between the two countries.

Is he 90? Senegal leader's age a campaign issue (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 5:59pm EST

AP - The question dogging the president of this nation as he tries to convince his country to vote for him one last time can be traced to this town enveloped in sand. It's here inside a house with a goat tethered outside that President Abdoulaye Wade was born. The problem is when?

India police detain Italians accused of killing fishermen (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 5:45pm EST

Reuters - Indian police on Sunday detained two members of the Italian navy accused of killing two Indian fisherman they mistook for pirates off the coast of the southern state of Kerala, officials said.

Gunmen attack Philippine city jail, 1 dead (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 5:35pm EST

AP - A Philippine police official says suspected Muslim rebels have attacked a jail in a southern city to free a comrade but were repulsed by authorities.

Yemen to seal Saleh's exit in one-candidate vote (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 4:08pm EST

Reuters - After a year of protests, diplomatic wrangling and an assassination attempt, Yemenis will draw a line under Ali Abdullah Saleh's three-decade rule on Tuesday by voting in an uncontested election to install his deputy as president.

Prosecutor, judge killed in northwest Syria (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 3:56pm EST

AP - Gunmen in Syria staged a guerrilla-style ambush that killed a senior state prosecutor and a judge Sunday in an attack that suggested armed factions are growing bolder and more coordinated in their uprising against President Bashar Assad's regime.

Cars circle central Moscow in anti-Putin protest (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 3:51pm EST

AP - Hundreds of cars circled central Moscow during an opposition demonstration on Sunday to demand that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin allow free elections in Russia.

Riot police guard Greek assembly as protesters gather (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 3:32pm EST

Reuters - Several thousand Greeks demonstrated on Sunday against punishing austerity measures to reduce the country's debt, on the eve of make-or-break talks in Brussels on a 130-billion-euro ($171 billion) bailout to avert bankruptcy.

India detains Italians accused in fatal shooting (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 3:31pm EST

AP - Indian police on Sunday detained two Italian marine security guards for allegedly shooting to death two Indian fishermen they mistook for pirates.

France's far-right returns to roots with halal claims (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 2:41pm EST

Reuters - French far-right leader Marine Le Pen switched her presidential campaign back to immigration Sunday, saying all meat in Paris was halal, as she tries to head off President Nicolas Sarkozy's attempts to lure her supporters.

Bomb explodes on edge of Nigerian capital, 5 hurt (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 2:38pm EST

Reuters - A bomb exploded near a church in the Nigerian town of Suleja, on the edge of the capital, Sunday, wounding five people, a spokesman for the emergency services said.

Suicide attack on Baghdad police academy kills 19 (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 2:04pm EST

Reuters - A suicide car bomber killed 19 police officers and cadets Sunday in an attack on a crowd outside a Baghdad police academy, police and hospital sources said.

Syrian security forces clamp down on Damascus (Reuters)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 1:30pm EST

Reuters - Police and militia patrols fanned out in the Syrian capital's Mezze district on Sunday to prevent a repeat of protests against President Bashar al-Assad that have threatened his grip on Damascus, opposition activists said.

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Australia asks again: Did a dingo kill the baby? (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 12:52pm EST

AP - The growl came first, low and throaty, piercing the darkness that had fallen across the remote Australian desert. A baby's cry followed, then abruptly went silent. Inside the tent, the infant girl had vanished. Outside, her mother was screaming: The dingo's got my baby!

We kissed at Carnival: Brazil blog aids lost loves (AP)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 7:19am EST

AP - As millions watch the sequin-clad samba dancers at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Carnival parade Sunday, at least a few eyes will turn toward the stars, or at least toward the VIP boxes hosting celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Fergie.

Nigeria's Abandoned Youth: Are They Potential Recruits for Militants? (Time.com)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 6:25am EST

Time.com - There are millions of boys sent off to ramshackle Islamic schools by impoverished parents. Now, the government is worried that Boko Haram may have them in its sights

The Mess in Angela Merkel's Own Backyard: Who Will Be Her Third President? (Time.com)

Posted: February 19th, 2012, 6:25am EST

Time.com - The ceremonial post of President of Germany has been tainted by allegations of financial impropriety. Now, the Chancellor has to find yet another person to fill the job

Fire sweeps street market in Honduras' capital (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 1:06am EST

AP - A fire has swept through a street market in the capital of Honduras, a nation traumatized just five days ago by a fire that killed 358 people at a prison.

Police in Senegal open fire with tear gas (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 1:06am EST

AP - Protesters demanding the departure of Senegal's aging president on Sunday seized control of a three-block stretch in the heart of the capital, erecting barricades and lobbing rocks at police as demonstrations intensified just days before a contentious presidential poll.

Exclusive: Algeria seizes missiles smuggled from Libya: source (Reuters)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 12:06am EST

Reuters - Algerian security forces have found a large cache of weapons, including shoulder-fired missiles, which they believe were smuggled in from neighboring Libya, a security source briefed on the discovery told Reuters on Saturday.

Thousands rally for Putin before Russian election (Reuters)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 11:45pm EST

Reuters - Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in cities across Russia in support of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday in a show of force two weeks before a March 4 presidential election that is expected to return him to the Kremlin.

Libya sends army to stop clashes in southeast (Reuters)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 10:09pm EST

Reuters - Libya has sent military forces to stem clashes between rival tribes over control of territory in the far southeast of Libya, the armed forces chief said on Saturday, as more people were reported killed in the violence.

At least 24 killed in Russian Caucasus fighting (Reuters)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 9:15pm EST

Reuters - Seventeen police and at least seven insurgents were killed in four days of fighting on the border between the Chechnya and Dagestan provinces in Russia's North Caucasus, police said Saturday.

Clashes in Senegal ahead of presidential poll (Reuters)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 9:05pm EST

Reuters - Senegalese police fired tear gas and chased protesters from the center of the West African nation's capital Saturday in a fourth day of protest against the candidacy of incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade in the February 26 presidential poll.

Honduran inmates tell of horror as hundreds die (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 8:37pm EST

AP - Jose Enrique Guevara woke up to screams and a flash of heat from the fire about to engulf his prison bunk bed.

US counterterror adviser pledges support for Yemen (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 8:33pm EST

AP - Yemen's state news agency says the U.S. administration's top counterterrorism adviser has pledged Washington's support for the country's new president after upcoming elections.

Greece targets debt swap from March 8: government (Reuters)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 7:15pm EST

Reuters - Greece's cabinet agreed on Saturday to launch a debt swap for private creditors on March 8 with the aim of completing it by March 11, a government official said.

Israel calls for tougher Iran sanctions (Reuters)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 5:16pm EST

Reuters - Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Saturday a nuclear-armed Iran would trigger an arms race in the Middle East and nations should impose crippling sanctions on Tehran to force it to give up its atomic program.

We kissed at Carnival: Brazil blog aids lost loves (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 3:32pm EST

AP - It's the typical tale of doomed Carnival romance: Boy spots girl in the sweaty crush of a street party. Moments later, they're locked in a passionate embrace. Then the crowd surges, and the human tide wrenches them apart, forever.

Iran says Stuxnet virus infected 16,000 computers (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 3:29pm EST

AP - Iran is poised to greatly expand uranium enrichment at a fortified underground bunker to a point that would boost how quickly it could make nuclear warheads, diplomats tell The Associated Press.

Lawyers: cocaine on capsized cruise captain's hair (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 3:28pm EST

AP - Experts and lawyers representing survivors of the capsized Costa Concordia cruise ship said Saturday that traces of cocaine were found on a sample of the ship captain's hair.

Prostitution probe to quiz Strauss-Kahn: source (Reuters)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 3:13pm EST

Reuters - Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn is to be questioned next week by police investigating an alleged prostitution ring in Lille, northern France, a police source said.

School bus falls into river, 7 dead in India (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 2:54pm EST

AP - Police say a school bus plunged into a river and at least seven people were killed in the west-coast Indian resort state of Goa.

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Australia asks again: Did a dingo kill the baby? (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 1:54pm EST

AP - The growl came first, low and throaty, piercing the darkness that had fallen across the remote Australian desert. A baby's cry followed, then abruptly went silent. Inside the tent, the infant girl had vanished. Outside, her mother was screaming: The dingo's got my baby!

Latvians set to reject Russian in emotionally charged vote (Reuters)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 12:17pm EST

Reuters - Latvians were expected to reject Russian as an official language on Saturday in a controversial referendum that has heightened ethnic tensions in the former Soviet nation and triggered renewed criticism from old imperial master Moscow.

Japan's emperor, 78, has successful heart surgery (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 12:16pm EST

AP - Japan's 78-year-old Emperor Akihito underwent successful heart bypass surgery Saturday, doctors and palace officials said.

Pope leaves stamp on Church future with new cardinals (Reuters)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 11:51am EST

Reuters - Pope Benedict, putting his mark on his Church's future, Saturday inducted 22 men into the exclusive group of cardinals who will one day elect one of their own to succeed him as leader of the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics.

Somalia militant group kills 30 Kenyan civilians (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 11:31am EST

AP - A Kenyan police spokesman says an al-Qaida-linked Somali militant group has killed at least 30 Kenyan civilians since Kenyan troops entered Somalia.

Trial starts in Iran's biggest banking scandal (Reuters)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 10:43am EST

Reuters - Thirty-two people suspected of involvement in a multi-billion dollar banking fraud with alleged links to the government of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have gone on trial in Tehran, the Iranian state news agency reported.

Afghanistan hopeful of Pakistan's help in peace drive (Reuters)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 9:39am EST

Reuters - Afghanistan is optimistic that regional power Pakistan will help the Kabul government advance a reconciliation process with the Taliban, the Afghan president's spokesman said Saturday.

400 Iran exiles reluctantly move to new Iraq home (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 8:17am EST

AP - Lugging clothes, tables and whatever else they could carry, roughly 400 members of an Iranian exile group reluctantly moved Saturday from their camp in northwestern Iraq to a deserted military base outside the capital in what they called a show of good faith that they eventually will be allowed to leave the country peacefully.

Malawi presidential critic hospitalized (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 7:45am EST

AP - The lawyer for an outspoken opponent of Malawi's president says his client has been moved from jail to a hospital, where he is being treated under police guard for a heart ailment.

Polls open in historic Latvian language referendum (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 6:53am EST

AP - Latvian voters resoundingly rejected a proposal to give official status to Russian, the mother tongue of their former Soviet occupiers, though the defeated referendum Saturday is expected to leave scars on an already divided society.

Nigeria's Abandoned Youth: Are They Potential Recruits for Militants? (Time.com)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 6:35am EST

Time.com - There are millions of boys sent off to ramshackle Islamic schools by impoverished parents. Now, the government is worried that Boko Haram may have them in its sights

Thailand questions 'open door' after terror plot (AP)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 6:11am EST

AP - Unwinding at a beach town with bar girls came first. Building bombs was allegedly for later.

The Mess in Angela Merkel's Own Backyard: Who Will Be Her Third President? (Time.com)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 6:05am EST

Time.com - The ceremonial post of President of Germany has been tainted by allegations of financial impropriety. Now, the Chancellor has to find yet another person to fill the job

Vatican Confidential: Why Are So Many Rumors Coming out of the Holy See? (Time.com)

Posted: February 18th, 2012, 6:05am EST

Time.com - Even as Pope Benedict XVI prepares to elevate more than a score of prelates into the College of Cardinals, the church's bureaucracy seems to be in disarray

Panama Indians again blockade Pan-American Highway (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 4:55am EST

AP - Members of an Indian tribe in Panama are again blocking the Pan-American Highway after a breakdown in negotiations with the government over new dams.

Wounded Syrian refugees flee dramatic escalation (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 4:46am EST

AP - Activists say Syrian troops have fired on mourners taking part in a massive funeral procession in the capital.

Collapse of arms trade treaty talks narrowly averted (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 4:06am EST

Reuters - Negotiators on Friday narrowly averted the collapse of talks on a world arms trade treaty to regulate the $55 billion global weapons market, agreeing on ground rules for negotiations after days of procedural wrangling.

Haiti govt says president attacked while walking (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 3:25am EST

AP - Haitian President Michel Martelly was attacked as he walked in a Carnival procession in downtown Port-au-Prince, but he escaped unharmed, the National Palace said Friday.

Chinese envoy to meet Syrian leader after U.N. condemnation (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 2:40am EST

Reuters - Syrian security forces have fired on a huge protest against President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, opposition activists said, shortly after a Chinese envoy appealed for a halt to 11 months of violence.

Xi waves off China economy fears, triggers deals (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 1:21am EST

Reuters - China's leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping on Friday swiped away fears that his country's economic growth could stumble, and turned to courting American companies, film-makers and governors hungry for a slice of that growth on the final day of his U.S. visit.

Senegalese police fire tear gas at opposition demo (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 1:14am EST

AP - Police opened fire with tear gas Saturday on a commercial avenue in Senegal's capital, as security forces wrapped up early voting in a contentious presidential race.

Sunken treasure headed back to Spain (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 1:08am EST

Reuters - A federal judge on Friday ordered a deep sea salvage company to turn over $500 million worth of Spanish coins it recovered from a shipwreck to the Spanish government within a week.

London takes over fashion spotlight from New York (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 12:34am EST

AP - London Fashion Week kicked off with a splash of color, a touch of fall and a dose of fun on Friday as the first of dozens of catwalk shows got under way.

Dreamworks Animation heads to China (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 11:14pm EST

Reuters - Kung Fu Panda creator Dreamworks Animation SKG Inc plans to build a production studio in Shanghai with some of China's biggest media companies, a landmark deal that gives the company a foothold in one of the largest untapped markets for Hollywood.

Jewish group: Chavez foe a target of anti-Semitism (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 9:26pm EST

AP - A prominent Jewish group urged President Hugo Chavez on Friday to prevent what it labels anti-Semitic attacks on the opposition's presidential candidate in Venezuelan state media.

Sudan police raid university dorm, arrest hundreds (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 9:24pm EST

AP - Sudanese police raided student dormitories at Khartoum's main university on Friday, beating and arresting hundreds of students in the latest crackdown on youth protesters, activists said.

Polish activists light up in bid to legalize pot (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 9:23pm EST

AP - A prominent Polish politician and several activists smoked what they said was marijuana in front of parliament Friday as part of a campaign to liberalize the country's drug laws.

Anthony Shadid: New York Times Correspondent Remembered (Time.com)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 9:10pm EST

Time.com - A TIME reporter recalls her meetings with the legendary New York Times correspondent -- including one just as he set off on his final assignment

China's Xi says no hard landing for China economy in 2012 (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 9:00pm EST

Reuters - Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said on Friday the Chinese economy would experience stable growth and avoid a hard landing this year, discounting a scenario economists fear may upset the global economy.

Business in Burma: Show me the money, but only if it's crisp (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 8:46pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - As Myanmar's reform-inclined government undertakes a political opening, Western businesses are watching to see if this leads to an end to Western sanctions imposed during the country's brutal military rule.

Prison fire puts spotlight on Honduras meltdown (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 8:21pm EST

Reuters - It took just seconds to ignite the fire that killed more than 350 inmates in a Honduran prison on Valentine's Day, but the country's messy spiral into lawlessness has been years in the making.

U.S., EU welcome Iran nuclear letter, suggest talks (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 8:18pm EST

Reuters - The United States and European Union expressed cautious optimism on Friday over prospects that Iran may be willing to engage major powers in new talks, but underscored any resumed negotiations must be sustained and focus on the nuclear issue.

Iranian naval ships enter Mediterranean via Suez (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 8:08pm EST

Reuters - Two Iranian naval ships have sailed through Egypt's Suez Canal into the Mediterranean, in a move likely to be keenly watched by Israel.

France, Britain urge unity among Syrian opposition (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 5:36pm EST

Reuters - French President Nicolas Sarkozy, flanked by British Prime Minister David Cameron, urged Syrian opponents of President Bashar al-Assad on Friday to unite so that the outside world could help them overthrow him.

Will 2012 be the Year of the African Despot, again? (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 5:20pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Senegalâs Abdoulaye Wade is running for a third term, even though his countryâs constitution specifically bans it. Zimbabweâs Robert Mugabe has also indicated he will extend his 32 years in power, even as his parliament is attempting to ban the move. Congoâs President Joseph Kabila is trying to patch together a coalition to stay in power, even though his party lost more than 40 percent of its seats in parliament in last Decemberâs elections.

Conservatives hope to present budget by end of March (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 5:12pm EST

Reuters - The Conservative government hopes to present its next budget by the end of March, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Friday.

Impoverished S.Africans want more from mines (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 5:03pm EST

AP - Impoverished and angry South Africans held a marathon march across a platinum-rich corner of the country Friday to demand that a multinational mining company share more wealth.

Dutch prince in critical condition after Austria avalanche (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 4:55pm EST

Reuters - Dutch Prince Johan Friso was in critical but stable condition in an Innsbruck hospital's intensive care unit Friday after an avalanche buried him while he was skiing off piste in the Austrian alps, police said.

Remembering Anthony Shadid: The Best of Our Breed (Time.com)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 4:25pm EST

Time.com - In an era blessed with more than its fair share of brilliant foreign correspondents, he was the best

Did America Bond with China's Heir Apparent, Vice President Xi Jinping? (Time.com)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 4:25pm EST

Time.com - On Friday, China's Vice President Xi Jinping will wrap up his five-day trip to the U.S., his first visit since emerging as China's heir apparent

Pakistan talks tough on Taliban peace talks (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 3:58pm EST

AP - Pakistan's foreign minister warned Afghanistan on Friday against having ridiculous expectations of what Islamabad could do to help Taliban peace negotiations, as talks between the two countries on the process ended in apparent acrimony.

Forget about preventing default in Greece, control it says Europe (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 2:41pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Greeceâs European partners are increasingly skeptical that Athens can avoid default.nbsp;The highly indebted country is working feverishly to secure a debt write-off to avoid default, but international investors see even that as a default of sorts.

Britain, France urge help for Syrian opposition (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 1:40pm EST

AP - Syrian refugees fleeing to Jordan for their lives described a dramatic escalation in violence and a mounting toll of dead and wounded in the southern city of Daraa and the country's battered central region.

`Vatileaks' casts cloud over new cardinal ceremony (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 1:37pm EST

AP - A scandal over leaked documents and reports of political infighting, intrigue and mismanagement in the Vatican's frescoed halls has cast a cloud over this weekend's ceremony to create 22 new princes of the church.

China faces conflict of law, business in iPad row (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 1:35pm EST

AP - Chinese officials face a choice in Apple's dispute with a local company over the iPad trademark mdash; side with a struggling entity that a court says owns the name or with a global brand that has created hundreds of thousands of jobs in China. Experts say that means Beijing's political priorities rather than the courts will settle the dispute if it escalates.

Annual inflation edges up to 2.5 percent in January (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 1:29pm EST

Reuters - Canada's annual inflation rate in January edged up to 2.5 percent from 2.3 percent in December on higher prices for energy and transportation, Statistics Canada said on Friday.

Car bomb in Somalia police compound wounds 2 (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 1:27pm EST

AP - A car bomb exploded inside a police compound in Somalia's capital on Friday, wounding two people, an official said.

Analysis: Ahmadinejad seen big loser in Iran election (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 1:20pm EST

Reuters - Loyalists of Iran's supreme leader, who is implacably hostile to the West and its drive to curb Tehran's nuclear work, look set to triumph in Iran's parliamentary poll at the expense of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a contest among hardliners.

Insight: In Israel, an illegal outpost faces its reckoning (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 1:11pm EST

Reuters - The Jewish settlement of Migron perches high on a blustery hill in the occupied West Bank. Its inhabitants pay taxes, are hooked up to the electricity grid and get round-the-clock protection from Israeli soldiers.

One year after revolt, Libyans still feel insecure (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 12:09pm EST

Reuters - Flags flew on Martyrs Square in Tripoli and crowds across Libya gave voice on Friday to joy at being free of Muammar Gaddafi, as the anniversary of their revolt offered brief respite from fears that it has brought them only chaotic paralysis.

German president resigns in blow to Merkel (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 11:51am EST

Reuters - Angela Merkel's hand-picked choice for the ceremonial post of president resigned Friday in a scandal over political favors, dealing a blow to the German chancellor in the midst of the euro zone debt crisis.

Survivor rage grows in deadly Honduran prison fire (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 11:47am EST

AP - The world's worst prison fire in a century happened in a lockup like many in Honduras: a decrepit, suffocating place of overcrowded, dark cellblocks where many inmates were accused only of petty crimes.

Japan's emperor enters hospital for heart surgery (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 10:10am EST

AP - Japanese Emperor Akihito checked into the hospital Friday for heart-bypass surgery that doctors say will allow him to lead a healthier, more active life.

Coal and diamonds shoer up Anglo American in 2011 (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 10:01am EST

AP - Mining company Anglo American PLC posted Friday a record operating profit for last year following big advances in its coal and diamonds operations.

After Gaddafi: Why Libya Turns into a More Dangerous Place (Time.com)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 10:00am EST

Time.com - Libya should be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the revolution that toppled Gaddafi. Instead, the country remains fractured and dangerous due to its powerful militias

2 police officers killed by gunmen in Nigeria (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 9:38am EST

AP - Authorities say unknown gunmen shot and killed two police officers in Nigeria after a radical Islamist sect engineered a prison break in a neighboring state.

A year after uprising, militias hold sway in Libya (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 8:03am EST

AP - One militia controls the airport. Others carve up neighborhoods of the Libyan capital into fiefdoms. They clash in the streets, terrifying residents. They hold detainees in makeshift prisons where torture is said to be rampant.

US forensics team to help probe Honduras fire (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 8:01am EST

AP - Countries are reaching out to Honduras after its deadly prison fire, sending medical aid and forensic doctors, with the United States dispatching an investigative team to help find the cause of the blaze.

Fool's Gold? Pakistan mine rift exposes investor risk (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 7:52am EST

Reuters - Pakistan's Reko Diq, an untapped copper and gold mine of fabulous potential, was meant to be the biggest foreign investment in the country's mining sector, but it's beginning to look more like fool's gold to the companies involved.

Russian language vote shows ethnic split in Latvia (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 7:46am EST

Reuters - Latvia has been busy purging itself of Russian influence for the last two decades but will hold a controversial referendum on whether to make Russian a second official language this Saturday through gritted teeth.

Thai police: 2 more suspects in terror case (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 7:06am EST

AP - Thai police said Friday they are searching for two more suspects in a botched terror plot against Israeli diplomats that has been blamed on Iran.

After Gaddafi's Fall, Why Libya Is a More Dangerous Place (Time.com)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 6:40am EST

Time.com - Libya should be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the revolution that toppled Gaddafi. Instead, the country remains fractured and dangerous due to its powerful militias

Talks with the Taliban Are Inevitable, But Who Will Be at the Table? (Time.com)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 6:40am EST

Time.com - The U.S. has said that within two years it will end its already decade-long military entanglement in Afghanistan's civil war, and the Taliban is anything but defeated

'No More Weapons!' billboard placed on US border (AP)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 6:35am EST

AP - President Felipe Calderon on Thursday unveiled a No More Weapons! billboard made with crushed firearms and placed near the U.S. border. He urged the United States to stop the flow of weapons into Mexico.

Nuclear crisis makes Japan ex-PM Kan an energy apostle (Reuters)

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 6:29am EST

Reuters - Nearly a year after Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster, then-premier Naoto Kan is haunted by the specter of an even bigger crisis forcing tens of millions of people to flee Tokyo and threatening the nation's existence.

What Happens If Greece Doesn't Get a Bailout? (Time.com)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 4:00am EST

Time.com - It turns out the Greek vote wasn't enough to satisfy skeptical euro-zone leaders

U.S.-China discord remains after Xi's mood music (Reuters)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 3:52am EST

Reuters - China's leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping won the kind of reception in the United States that suggests Washington sees his rise as a chance to narrow economic and political rifts.

Survivors accuse guards after Honduras prison blaze (Reuters)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 3:50am EST

Reuters - Survivors of a Honduran prison fire that killed more than 350 inmates accused guards of leaving inmates to die inside their cells and shooting at others who tried to escape the flames that burned victims alive.

U.N. assembly adopts resolution condemning Syria (Reuters)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 3:43am EST

Reuters - A senior Chinese official was due to visit Damascus on Friday in a show of support for Bashar-al Assad after the U.N. General Assembly told the Syrian president to halt a violent crackdown and surrender power.

Iran says it's the victim in nuclear showdown (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 3:41am EST

AP - Facing international sanctions over its nuclear program, Iran is taking the position that it's the victim, not the aggressor. Iran is pointing to the cases of five slain scientists whose deaths it blames on Israel and its allies.

Nigerian underwear bomber gets life in prison in U.S. (Reuters)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 3:28am EST

Reuters - A federal judge on Thursday sentenced a Nigerian man to life in prison for trying to blow up a U.S. airliner bound for Detroit on Christmas Day in 2009 with a bomb hidden in his underwear.

House passes Keystone bill, Senate action uncertain (Reuters)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 3:08am EST

Reuters - The House of Representatives passed an energy bill on Thursday that would wrest control of a permit for the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline away from President Barack Obama, who has put the project on hold.

UN says Haiti police force best body for security (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 2:22am EST

AP - Haiti's national police force is the best body for providing security in this poor nation and the government should concentrate on building up the force, a senior U.S. diplomat said Thursday.

2 rappers arrested at Senegal opposition protest (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 1:16am EST

AP - Senegalese riot police fired tear gas at protesters Friday on a main commercial boulevard in the capital, after the country's opposition went ahead with a protest in defiance of a government ban.

Diplomat: Maldives leader agrees to early election (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 1:08am EST

AP - The new president in the Maldives has softened his stance and agreed to hold early elections to break a political impasse after his predecessor resigned, an Indian diplomat said Thursday.

Iran says it's the victim in nuclear showdown (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 12:29am EST

AP - Facing international sanctions over its nuclear program, Iran is taking the position that it's the victim, not the aggressor. Iran is pointing to the cases of five slain scientists whose deaths it blames on Israel and its allies.

What would happen if Iran had the bomb? (+video) (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 11:04pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Are you afraid of Iran yet? Shrill warnings of war or imminent apocalypse over Iran's nuclear program have never been so strident, or so ominous.

German prosecutors: Lift president's immunity (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 9:49pm EST

AP - Prosecutors asked Germany's parliament Thursday to lift the president's immunity in a scandal over favors he allegedly received before becoming head of state mdash; a move that increases pressure on him and raises new questions over his ability to stay in the job.

Egypt Islamist: cuts in US aid imperil peace deal (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 9:47pm EST

AP - The leader of Egypt's largest Islamist party has rejected U.S. threats to cut aid over a spat about nonprofit groups operating in the country, saying they are out of line and could imperil the peace deal with Israel.

China's Xi, US officials talk food trade in Iowa (Reuters)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 9:46pm EST

Reuters - China's leader-in-waiting, Xi Jinping, gathered with U.S. agricultural officials in America's grainbelt on Thursday and stressed their shared interests in fostering increased trade in farm goods.

European-Moroccan pact loosens fish, food trade (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 8:35pm EST

AP - The European Parliament approved on Thursday a new fishing and farming accord with Morocco designed to reduce customs costs and boost trade across the Mediterranean.

Talks with the Taliban Are Inevitable, But Who Will Be at the Table? (Time.com)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 7:40pm EST

Time.com - The U.S. has said that within two years it will end its already decade-long military entanglement in Afghanistan's civil war, and the Taliban is anything but defeated

Romney, Obama campaign spar over US-China policy (Reuters)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 6:58pm EST

Reuters - Mitt Romney lashed out at Beijing and President Barack Obama's China policy on Thursday, criticizing the president for going in precisely the wrong direction and calling meetings this week with visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping empty pomp.

Activists: Poachers kill 200 elephants in Cameroon (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 6:55pm EST

AP - Poachers have slaughtered at least 200 elephants in the past five weeks in a patch of Africa where they are more dangerously endangered than anywhere else on Earth, wildlife activists said.

U.S. officials urge Europe to deal with its crisis (Reuters)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 6:52pm EST

Reuters - Europe needs to take the reins to tackle its debt crisis and prevent a spread that could damage the global economy, senior U.S. officials said on Thursday, as they stressed that more funding from international lenders is not what Europe needs.

Iran shadow war intensifies, crosses borders (Reuters)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 6:00pm EST

Reuters - The loudest noise that Thongma Danoi had ever heard was followed 20 minutes later by the strangest sight: a dazed and bloodied Iranian carrying two wire-adorned devices through the usually sleepy Bangkok neighborhood.

U.S. activists face possible prison in Egypt, leaders say (Reuters)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 4:36pm EST

Reuters - U.S. pro-democracy groups on Thursday blamed an Egyptian minister who was a holdover from the era of ousted President Hosni Mubarak for starting a campaign against American democracy activists that has strained U.S.-Cairo ties.

Sarkozy seeks presidency again, promising 'strong France' (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 4:34pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Trailing in polls and criticized by supporters for taking too long to unleash his formidable campaign skills, Nicolas Sarkozy has finally made his reelection campaign official, telling France, âYes, Iâm a candidate in the presidential election.â

Putin on trial? Fake video goes viral in Russia (+video) (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 4:22pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - A startlingly realistic fake breaking news video purporting to show the arrest and trial of Vladimir Putin has gone viral, garnering well over 3 million hits since it was posted on YouTube on Monday.nbsp;

What Happens If Greece Doesn't Get a Bailout? (Time.com)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 4:05pm EST

Time.com - It turns out the Greek vote wasn't enough to satisfy skeptical euro-zone leaders

Late NKorean leader gets military birthday tribute (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 3:25pm EST

AP - Army trucks loaded with artillery rolled by the memorial palace for North Korea's late leaders as Kim Jong Un presided over a military birthday commemoration for his father Thursday.

Probe finds Iraqi VP behind death squads (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 3:09pm EST

AP - An Iraqi investigation panel says the country's Sunni vice president and his employees were behind years of deadly attacks on security officials and Shiite pilgrims.

UK competition agency threatens inquiry into banks (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 2:57pm EST

AP - Britain's big banks could face a full-blown monopoly investigation if they drag their heels on opening up to competition, a national regulator warned Thursday.

In burning Honduras jail, inmates yelled for help (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 1:50pm EST

AP - COMAYAGUA, Honduras mdash; Hector Daniel Martinez was asleep in a small metal bed, one of dozens stacked so high in a narrow barrack that they nearly touched the roof, when the flames started.

Analysis: Putin's state sector crackdown short on substance (Reuters)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 12:53pm EST

Reuters - Vladimir Putin has ordered Russia's state firms to clean up their act, but without fundamental reforms he may only scratch the surface of endemic graft and conflicts of interest that tar the country's bloated national champions.

Former Afghan spy chief chafes at peace talks (Reuters)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 12:34pm EST

Reuters - Afghanistan's government must not retreat from hard-won freedoms or return to strict religious curbs to reach a peace deal with the Taliban, the country's former spy chief said, warning Afghans were distrustful of the secrecy surrounding nascent talks.

8 Palestinian children die in West Bank bus crash (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 11:59am EST

AP - A truck lost control in slick, rainy weather and barreled into a Palestinian school bus on Thursday, killing five children and a teacher and drawing hundreds of people to a West Bank hospital in an outpouring of grief, police said.

Nestle sales beat hopes but tough year expected (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 11:52am EST

AP - Nestle SA, the world's biggest food and drinks maker, managed to brush aside the impact of a soaring domestic currency to post a solid increase in profits in 2011 as sales rose strongly, particularly in developing countries.

Nasheed gets 4-day deadline to join coalition govt (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 11:48am EST

AP - The new leader of the Maldives has given the ex-president's party four days to decide whether it wants to join a coalition government.

Afghanistan can't be stable without drugs crackdown: U.N. (Reuters)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 11:25am EST

Reuters - Afghanistan cannot be stable while its economy depends so heavily on the drugs trade, and its allies must step up the fight to combat the industry, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said on Thursday.

Official: Gunmen hit Nigeria prison, free inmates (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 10:46am EST

AP - Attackers stormed a federal prison in Nigeria with heavy gunfire and explosives, killing one guard and freeing 118 inmates in a new assault demonstrating the continued instability in the nation, an official said Thursday.

Italian ship fires on Indian fishing boat, 2 dead (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 8:53am EST

AP - India's navy says an Italian cargo ship has fired at an Indian fishing boat off the coast of southern India, killing two fishermen.

What Happens If Greece Doesn't Get a Bailout? (Time.com)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 8:50am EST

Time.com - It turns out the Greek vote wasn't enough to satisfy skeptical euro-zone leaders

Iraqis profit from Syrian arms smuggling (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 8:30am EST

AP - The rifles are first taken apart and hidden in cigarette cartons and kerosene tanks. Younis al-Lehaibi and his sons then divide them into their trucks and head out to Iraq's vast, dusty border with Syria. Their objective: to smuggle weapons to Syrian rebels who seek the overthrow of President Bashar Assad.

How the Deep Freeze in Kabul Means Trouble After Things Thaw (Time.com)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 8:30am EST

Time.com - Children are dying in camps for displaced people but the situation augurs graver and more expensive problems for the Karzai government

Fighters, radar, marine patrols top Asia's military wish-list (Reuters)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 7:58am EST

Reuters - Singapore hosted military brass from across Asia this week at the region's biggest arms and aerospace bazaar, almost 70 years to the day since it fell to Japanese forces sweeping across Southeast Asia during World War Two.

High-level drug meeting focuses on Afghanistan (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 6:05am EST

AP - Representatives from dozens of nations are supposed to focus on the menace of drugs in Afghanistan when they meet Thursday in Vienna. But with powerful foreign ministers among those attending, Syria is expected to dominate talks on the sidelines.

Thailand: Iranians planned to attack Israelis (AP)

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 6:02am EST

AP - Thailand's police chief said the Iranians who were arrested after accidentally setting off explosives at their rented home in Bangkok were plotting to attack Israeli diplomats, bolstering claims by Israel that the group was part of an Iranian-backed network of terror.

How the Deep Freeze in Kabul Means Trouble After Things Thaw (Time.com)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 5:40am EST

Time.com - Children are dying in camps for displaced people but the situation augurs graver and more expensive problems for the Karzai government

How to Interpret Iran's New Nuclear Advances (Time.com)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 5:40am EST

Time.com - The nuclear advances announced Wednesday by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are a prelude to an expected new round of talks between Tehran and Western powers

Assad proposes referendum in strifetorn Syria (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 5:22am EST

Reuters - The 193-nation U.N. General Assembly ratcheted up the pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday by overwhelmingly approving a resolution that endorses an Arab League plan calling for him to step aside.

Huge prison fire kills over 350 inmates in Honduras (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 5:17am EST

Reuters - Police and soldiers dragged out the charred remains of convicts in black body bags, hurling them onto a pile outside a Honduran prison where over 350 people died on Tuesday night, choking and screaming as they were engulfed in flames.

Ecuador defamation case in final hearing (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 4:59am EST

AP - Ecuador's highest court upheld early Thursday a criminal libel verdict favoring President Rafael Correa, sentencing three newspaper executives and a columnist to three years in prison each and ordering them to pay a total of $42 million in damages.

Karzai says Afghanistan joins Taliban peace talks: report (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 3:28am EST

Reuters - The Afghan Taliban and the United States have made only exploratory contacts for possible reconciliation which do not involve the Kabul government, the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan said on Thursday.

Honduras prison blaze kills at least 358 (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 3:10am EST

AP - Six guards, 800-plus prisoners in 10 cellblocks, one set of keys. The numbers added up to disaster when fire tore through a prison and 355 people died, many yet to even be charged with a crime, much less convicted.

Xi wraps up highly scripted visit to US capital (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 3:03am EST

AP - For Americans looking at the U.S. visit of China's likely future leader for a clue about where relations between the two nations might be headed, the signal has been clear: No change in substance, but perhaps a change in style.

Moody's warns may downgrade 17 global banks, securities firms (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 2:52am EST

Reuters - Moody's warned on Thursday it may cut the credit ratings of 17 global and 114 European financial institutions in another sign that the impact of the euro zone government debt crisis is spreading throughout the global financial system.

Iran announces nuclear advances but offers new talks (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 2:35am EST

Reuters - Iran, facing sanctions that could cripple its oil exports, has told world powers it wants to resume long-stalled talks with new initiatives, and France said it might be open to addressing suspicions about its nuclear program.

Amnesty: Libyan militias commit war crimes (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 1:25am EST

AP - Armed militias now rule much of Libya, Amnesty International said Wednesday, accusing them of torturing detainees deemed loyal to the ousted regime of Moammar Gadhafi and driving entire neighborhoods and towns into exile.

U.N. urges Iraq to move Iranian dissidents to new camp (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 11:15pm EST

Reuters - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Iraq on Wednesday to speed up the transfer of Iranian dissidents at a camp near Baghdad to a temporary facility which the dissident group has compared to a prison.

Yemeni security: 5 officials shot dead (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 10:44pm EST

AP - Gunmen shot five officials dead in the middle of a southeastern Yemeni town Wednesday, while one soldier was killed in a car bomb attack on a military checkpoint, security officials said.

Libya invites Syria rebels to open Tripoli office (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 10:30pm EST

Reuters - Libya will let Syria's opposition National Council open an office in Tripoli, Libya's interim leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil told Al Jazeera television on Wednesday.

Mediation enables Air Canada to keep flying (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 9:56pm EST

Reuters - Air Canada and its pilots union have agreed to submit to a six-month mediation process, meaning no immediate disruption to service by the country's largest airline, Labor Minister Lisa Raitt said on Wednesday.

France's Sarkozy launches presidential election (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 9:07pm EST

Reuters - President Nicolas Sarkozy formally declared his candidacy for a second term Wednesday seeking to overturn a wide poll lag with promises to get the unemployed back to work and use referendums to consult the French people on reforms.

As many as 356 killed in Honduras prison fire (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 9:07pm EST

AP - A fire started by an inmate tore through an overcrowded prison in Honduras, burning and suffocating screaming men in their locked cells as rescuers desperately searched for keys. As many as 300 people were killed in the world's deadliest prison fire in eight decades.

In Pakistan, rightwing alliance is revived (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 8:52pm EST

AP - Bound together by hatred of the United States and support for insurgents fighting in Afghanistan, a revived coalition of supposedly banned Islamist extremists and rightwing political parties is drawing large crowds across Pakistan.

Egypt protesters demand justice over stadium deaths (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 8:17pm EST

Reuters - Angry Egyptian soccer fans protested at the general prosecutor's office on Wednesday in Cairo, demanding that authorities bring to court those responsible for soccer violence that left 74 people dead.

How to Interpret Iran's New Nuclear Advances (Time.com)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 7:40pm EST

Time.com - The nuclear advances announced Wednesday by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are a prelude to an expected new round of talks between Tehran and Western powers

Africa Rising: Ethiopia moves to diversify exports (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 7:17pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - About three hours south of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, lays a sprawling, 120,000-hectare field planted with hundreds of thousands of grape vines in tightly packed rows. Workers in blue coveralls cultivate the vines, looking for pesky diseases, while men stand atop ladders with slingshots in tow to fend off hungry birds.

Over 120 hurt in Bahrain clashes, dialogue sought (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 7:09pm EST

Reuters - More than 120 protesters have been wounded in clashes with police in Bahrain this week, activists said Wednesday, and a top opposition figure said the government had put out feelers about talks to resolve the Gulf state's year-long crisis.

Cyclone kills 16 in Madagascar (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 6:56pm EST

AP - A cyclone has left 16 people dead in Madagascar, disaster officials on the Indian Ocean island said Wednesday.

Farmers sue to regain control of Canadian Wheat Board (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 6:35pm EST

Reuters - Several farmer organizations that support the Canadian Wheat Board's grain marketing monopoly are launching a court action aimed at restoring farmer control of the board and collecting C$17 billion ($17 billion) in damages for farmers.

Ugandan minister raids gay-rights workshop (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 5:46pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - As Ugandaâs parliament begins discussions once more on an antihomosexuality bill, the Ugandan minister of ethics has accompanied police to shut down a workshop in Entebbe for gay rights activists and to arrest its organizer.

No questions for Yemen president in USS Cole case (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 4:45pm EST

AP - A military judge in the war crimes trial of a Guantanamo prisoner charged in the attack on the USS Cole has denied a defense request to question Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh as a witness in the case.

French president tweets as election race looms (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 4:41pm EST

AP - Nicolas Sarkozy threw himself Wednesday into what may be the toughest fight of his political career: Unpopular for years and running a feeble economy, the divisive French president announced he's running for a second term.

Taliban says the U.S. to repeat Soviet defeat in Afghanistan (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 4:28pm EST

Reuters - The Taliban used the 23rd anniversary of the humiliating Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan on Wednesday to taunt the United States that it would suffer the same fate as preparations to hand over security to a shaky government are underway.

Iran trumpets nuclear advances, deepening standoff (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 4:26pm EST

Reuters - Iran proclaimed advances in nuclear know-how on Wednesday, including new centrifuges able to enrich uranium much faster, a move that may hasten a drift towards confrontation with the West over suspicions it is seeking the means to make atomic bombs.

China to Stop Giving Orphans Surnames Like 'State,' 'Party' (Time.com)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 4:25pm EST

Time.com - The Ministry of Civil Affairs will amend its regulations to ensure that names commonly ascribed to parentless children, like Dang and Guo (Party and State) will not be ascribed to orphans

In Thailand, Evidence Suggests Bombings Tied to Larger Plot (Time.com)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 4:25pm EST

Time.com - A day after a series of blasts rocked Thailand's capital, the country's leaders feverishly sought to dispel any notion the incident was part of a terrorist plot

Nigeria says ex-soldier wanted in church bombing (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 4:03pm EST

AP - Nigeria's secret police say they are searching for an ex-soldier in connection with a Christmas Day bombing of a Catholic church that killed at least 44 people.

Permalink for 'Yahoo_World_News/2012/02/15/_______AP__'

(AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 12:52pm EST

AP - Honduran forensic official: Inmate death count from prison fire reaches at least 272.

At least 272 die in Honduras prison fire: official (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 12:51pm EST

Reuters - A massive fire raged through an overcrowded prison in Honduras, killing more than 350 inmates, many of them trapped and screaming inside their cells.

Alibaba to reach out to Yahoo CEO on stalled deal (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 12:46pm EST

AP - Alibaba Group and Japan's Softbank will go directly to Yahoo's chief executive, bypassing negotiators from the U.S. Internet company, after talks over the sale of Yahoo's Asian holdings broke down, a person familiar with the negotiations said Wednesday.

Eurozone has one foot in recession (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 12:41pm EST

AP - The 17-nation eurozone has one foot in recession, according to official figures showing the economy contracted 0.3 percent in the final three months of 2011, a clear sign that Europe's debt crisis has spared no country in the single currency bloc.

1 in 4 children malnourished, global report says (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 12:38pm EST

AP - A new report says that despite advances against hunger around the world, chronic childhood malnutrition remains largely overlooked and almost a half billion children are at risk of permanent damage over the next 15 years.

Syria to hold referendum on new draft constitution (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 12:31pm EST

AP - As Syrian forces stepped up their assault Wednesday on rebellious cities, President Bashar Assad ordered a referendum on a new constitution that would create a multiparty system in a country that has been ruled by his autocratic family dynasty for 40 years.

Linsanity Heads East, Linfects China and Taiwan (Time.com)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 11:40am EST

Time.com - Less than a week after leading the Knicks to a five-game winning streak, Jeremy Lin is the most searched item on Baidu, a leading Chinese search engine

With Syria's Rebels: A Visit to a Bombmaker's Factory (Time.com)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 11:40am EST

Time.com - As the war with the regime's better-armed military gets hotter, the insurgents are taking to guerrilla methods tried out in other recent wars

Thais find possible bomb link in Thai, India attacks (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 10:59am EST

Reuters - Thai investigators believe they have found a link between this week's bomb blasts in Bangkok and New Delhi, a senior security official said Wednesday, two of three attacks Israel has blamed on Iran.

Iran to load own nuclear fuel rods in Tehran reactor (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 10:29am EST

Reuters - Iran will load domestically made nuclear fuel rods into its Tehran Research Reactor on Wednesday for the first time to keep it running, a senior official told a national news agency.

Trudeau son Justin mulls possible separate Quebec (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 8:09am EST

Reuters - The son of one of the greatest defenders of Canadian unity, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, has stirred up a hornets' nest by speculating about backing Quebec separatism if the country moves too far right.

Egypt to hold presidential poll in May: report (Reuters)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 8:02am EST

Reuters - Egypt's first presidential election since Hosni Mubarak was overthrown a year ago will be held by late May, Wednesday's state newspaper al-Ahram quoted a government minister as saying.

Muslim group boss: No Syria military intervention (AP)

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 7:07am EST

AP - The international community must rule out military intervention as a solution to the Syrian crisis, the leader of a global Islamic group said Wednesday.

Israel blames Iran for series of Bangkok blasts (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 3:48am EST

AP - Israel accused Iran of waging a covert campaign of state terror that stretched this week from the Middle East to the heart of Asia after a bungled series of explosions led to the capture of two Iranian nationals in Bangkok.

Beirut: Where Valentine's Day Belongs to Another Kind of Saint (Time.com)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 3:45am EST

Time.com - The romantic holiday is also the date of the assassination of one of Lebanon's political heroes. His supporters take grim pleasure at the travails of Syria's leader

Syrian forces attack Hama, ignore international pressure (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 2:29am EST

Reuters - Syrian opposition leaders and the West have scorned a new offer by President Bashar al-Assad to hold multi-party elections, as his troops mounted more attacks on rebel-held areas.

Bahrain forces patrol capital on revolt anniversary (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 1:42am EST

Reuters - Armored vehicles patrolled Bahrain's capital on Tuesday in a security clampdown to deter protesters after overnight clashes outside Manama on the first anniversary of a forcibly suppressed pro-democracy uprising.

US, Europe look at fast but risky penalty on Iran (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 1:10am EST

AP - The United States and Europe are considering unprecedented punishment against Iran that could immediately cripple the country's financial lifeline. But it's an extreme option in the banking world that would come with its own costs.

Getting to know you: Obama, Xi start relationship (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 1:08am EST

AP - For Americans looking at the U.S. visit of China's likely future leader for a clue about where relations between the two nations might be headed, the signal has been clear: No change in substance, but perhaps a change in style.

Venezuela court blocks destruction of voter lists (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 1:03am EST

AP - Venezuela's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered opposition electoral officials not to destroy lists of voters following primary elections, a decision that was promptly condemned by opposition leaders who vowed to keep voters' identities secret.

Canada boosts police powers, alarms privacy watchdog (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 11:34pm EST

Reuters - A new law gives police stronger powers to track what Canadians do online, but raises concern from the privacy watchdog about warrantless access to personal information.

Venezuela court blocks destruction of voter lists (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 11:03pm EST

AP - Venezuela's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered opposition electoral officials not to destroy lists of voters following primary elections.

US, Europe look at fast but risky penalty on Iran (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 10:57pm EST

AP - The United States and Europe are considering unprecedented punishment against Iran that could immediately cripple the country's financial lifeline. But it's an extreme option in the banking world that would come with its own costs.

Divided opposition is key to Syrian regime's power (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 10:54pm EST

AP - At a rented house just outside Syria's border, a dissident known only as The Doctor maps out attacks. Planners speak by Skype with fighters on the ground in Syria, while others raise money, drumming up cash from fellow exiles to buy weapons.

U.S., China agree to negotiate export credit deal (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 10:52pm EST

Reuters - The United States and China agreed on Tuesday to open talks on setting guidelines for export-credit financing, an area where Beijing's aggressive practices have raised U.S. concerns.

AU forces capture rebel strongholds near Somali capital (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 10:05pm EST

Reuters - African Union troops launched an offensive against al Qaeda-linked Somali rebels and captured strongholds to the south of the capital Mogadishu, the AU force said on Tuesday.

India's economy loses its luster (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 9:51pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - India's rise looks to be on the skids for now.

In Iran, a Stirring of Green Protesters Produces a Clampdown (Time.com)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 9:15pm EST

Time.com - Security turned out in force to quash demonstrations by opponents of the regime. But the fact that the Green movement made an effort proves it has not been eradicated

Beirut: Where Valentine's Day Belongs to Another Kind of Saint (Time.com)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 9:05pm EST

Time.com - The romantic holiday is also the date of the assassination of one of Lebanon's political heroes. His supporters take grim pleasure at the travails of Syria's leader

Britain Seethes as Radical Islamic Cleric Released from Prison (Time.com)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 9:05pm EST

Time.com - Bowing to a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, a U.K. judge has released radical cleric Abu Qatada from prison -- much to the anger of British leaders

Bahrain Shiites mark revolt anniversary (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 8:35pm EST

AP - Bahraini security forces fanned out across the island nation in unprecedented numbers on Tuesday as Shiites marked the one-year anniversary of their uprising against the country's Sunni rulers.

U.S. carrier crosses Hormuz amid rising Gulf tensions (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 8:32pm EST

Reuters - A U.S. aircraft carrier strike group sailed through the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday more than a month after Iran warned a different carrier -- USS John C. Stennis -- not to return to the Gulf as Iranian navy boats sailed by.

Iran to unveil new nuclear fuel advance: report (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 8:29pm EST

Reuters - Iran will present a new advance in its atomic program Wednesday by loading domestically made nuclear fuel into a research reactor in the capital Tehran, a senior Iranian official told a Russian news agency Tuesday.

Obama: Strong US-China ties help rest of the world (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 8:28pm EST

AP - China's heir apparent leader is defending his county's widely criticized human rights record but acknowledging there is room for improvement.

Trudeau son Justin mulls possible separate Quebec (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 8:22pm EST

Reuters - The son of one of the greatest defenders of Canadian unity, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, has stirred up a hornets' nest by speculating about backing Quebec separatism if the country moves too far right

Russian radio station comes under pressure (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 8:22pm EST

AP - The editor of Russia's leading independent radio station said Tuesday that its management is being changed in an effort to restrict on-air criticism of the government ahead of the March 4 presidential election.

Putin vows to halt Russia's population plunge with babies, immigrants (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 8:06pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia's falling population poses a dire threat to the country's existence, which he will reverse with sweeping new social policies if he's elected to a third presidential termnbsp;in polls that are now less than three weeks off.

Reading the Tea Leaves in Newly Announced U.S. Talks with North Korea (Time.com)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 5:50pm EST

Time.com - Despite the change in regime, the lines of communication between the U.S. and North Korea have remained open, leading to the announcement on Monday that they they would hold talks on Feb. 23 in Beijing.

Dempsey urges Egypt to resolve dispute with US (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 5:46pm EST

AP - The nation's top military leader said Tuesday that he pleaded with Egypt's ruling generals to resolve the crisis with Washington over the crackdown on American nonprofit groups that promote democracy in the Middle East, warning that the simmering dispute threatens billions in U.S. aid and the relationship between the two nations.

Bulgaria could suspend vote on trade agreement (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 5:46pm EST

AP - Bulgaria could join Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland in delaying its decision on whether to sign an international copyright treaty that some Internet users say could lead to online censorship.

Summary Box: EU asks China help on Iran, Syria (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 5:43pm EST

AP - CHINA APPEAL: European Union leaders urged China to open its markets, join in persuading Iran to negotiate over its nuclear program and help end bloodshed in Syria, as they held a summit delayed by Europe's debt crisis.

Israeli relief delegation welcomed in Turkey (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 5:35pm EST

AP - Israel's Defense Ministry says a humanitarian assistance team it sent to Turkey this week received a warm greeting, despite a deepening rift between the countries.

Justice delayed for Peru sterilization victims (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 5:26pm EST

AP - It was 1996 when Micaela Flores and 15 other women from Peru's highlands accepted an ambulance ride to a Cuzco clinic, lured by the offer of a free medical checkup.

Minister urges Air Canada, union to keep talking (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 4:36pm EST

Reuters - Canadian Labour Minister Lisa Raitt urged Air Canada and its 3,000 pilots to keep working toward a contract agreement on Tuesday as a cooling off period in their dispute expired, but neither side signaled that it would break off talks.

In China, you can take love to the bank on Valentine's Day (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 4:30pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - You donât need a lover to get something out of Valentineâs Day in China.

Italy prosecutors appeal against Amanda Knox acquittal (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 4:02pm EST

Reuters - Prosecutors in the trial of American student Amanda Knox, who was cleared last October of the 2007 murder of British housemate Meredith Kercher, filed a motion Tuesday to appeal against the verdict before Italy's highest court.

Getting to know Xi: White House prepares to meet China's new man (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 3:46pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Who is Hu? That is a question US officials have been asking themselves for nearly a decade about Chinaâs wooden and uncommunicative leader Hu Jintao. And they still donât have an answer.

Egypt state press escalates dispute over U.S. NGOs (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 2:44pm EST

Reuters - State-run newspapers splashed accusations of a U.S. plan to spread anarchy in Egypt, escalating a dispute that Washington said on Tuesday must be resolved to ensure their continued military cooperation.

Bangkok blast wounds Iranian attacker, 4 others (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 2:36pm EST

AP - An Iranian man carrying grenades blew off his own legs and wounded four civilians in a trio of blasts Tuesday in Bangkok, Thai authorities said. The explosions came a day after an Israeli diplomatic car was bombed in India mdash; an attack Israel blamed on Iran.

Insight: Post-election hangover looms for Venezuela economy (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 2:25pm EST

Reuters - From new homes in slums to cash for struggling mothers, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez is unleashing a flood of state spending to try to tip the balance in what looks like the toughest presidential election of his political career.

A look at Greece's austerity measures (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 2:25pm EST

AP - Greece's international creditors have spelled out the austerity measures promised by Athens that have to be put into practice before it can receive new bailout cash, totaling more than euro2.5 billion ($3.31 billion).

Two separate blasts kill 3, wound 18 in Iraq (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 2:15pm EST

AP - Two separate attacks against Iraqi security forces killed three people and wounded 18 others on Tuesday, officials said.

Iranian bomber maimed in blasts in Thai capital (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 1:33pm EST

Reuters - An Iranian man was seriously wounded in Bangkok Tuesday when a bomb he was carrying exploded and blew one of his legs off, police and government officials said, but they declined to speculate on whether he was involved with any militant group.

Insight: Arabs open way for arming Syrians, civil war feared (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 12:52pm EST

Reuters - After a bruising meeting in a five-star Cairo hotel, Arab foreign ministers led by Gulf states hinted to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that unless he halts his violent crackdown, some Arab League members might arm his opponents.

Bahrain set for fresh protests on revolt anniversary (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 12:12pm EST

Reuters - Armored vehicles patrolled Bahrain's capital on Tuesday in a security clampdown to deter protesters after overnight clashes outside Manama on the first anniversary of a forcibly suppressed pro-democracy uprising.

Xi Visits Washington: What the U.S. Can Expect from China's Next Leader (Time.com)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 12:10pm EST

Time.com - In January, China's Vice President Xi Jinping helmed a commemoration of the 40th anniversary of U.S. President Richard Nixon's landmark trip to China

Peacekeepers for Syria? Not While There's No Peace to Keep (Time.com)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 12:10pm EST

Time.com - As Arab and Western diplomats work to fashion tools to pressure the Syrian regime to end its military response to a year-old rebellion, an unrelenting artillery exacts a daily toll on the residents of rebel-held Sunni neighborhoods of the city of Homs

Police: Explosion strikes central Nigeria city (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 11:57am EST

AP - Police are reporting an explosion in a central Nigeria city that has seen attacks claimed by a radical Islamist sect.

In Thailand, Iranian Suspected in Bomb Blasts (Time.com)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 11:45am EST

Time.com - A day after bombings in India and Georgia, Thailand is rocked by explosions when an Iranian man blows off his own legs while trying to throw a bomb at police

Japan official faults nuke design, defends secrecy (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 11:06am EST

AP - The Japanese government official who outlined the worst-case scenario for the unfolding nuclear disaster last March is defending how his study, warning that millions of people may need to evacuate, was kept secret.

Hackers claim attack on American tear gas company (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 11:03am EST

AP - Hackers loyal to the Anonymous movement say they've broken into the website of a U.S. tear gas company whose ammunition has been used against demonstrators in Egypt and elsewhere.

Israel Accuses Iran as the Culprit Behind Bomb Attacks (Time.com)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 11:00am EST

Time.com - Iran denies any part in Monday's incidents, but Tehran is still seething over the assassination of its nuclear scientists

A Royal Visit but Little Change for Riot-Scarred North London Community (Time.com)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 11:00am EST

Time.com - Prince Charles and Camilla make an appearance in the riot-scarred London community of Tottenham, but real recovery is still far off for most residents

India vows to find person behind Israel attack (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 8:32am EST

AP - Indian investigators were searching Tuesday for the motorcycle assailant who attached a bomb to an Israeli diplomatic car in the heart of New Delhi, an attack the Jewish state blamed on Iran or its proxies.

Pakistan holds U.S. man after bullets found in baggage (Reuters)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 7:52am EST

Reuters - An American was held for questioning in Pakistan on Tuesday after security officials at the airport in northwestern Peshawar discovered bullets in his luggage, police said, the latest likely irritant in ties between the two countries.

Asia stocks mixed after Europe credit downgrade (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 6:28am EST

AP - Asian stock markets were mixed Tuesday after ratings agency Moody's slapped credit downgrades on six European Union countries due to the region's weak economic outlook and uncertain attempts to implement reforms.

UN Security Council visits Haiti to review mandate (AP)

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 6:03am EST

AP - The U.N. Security Council began a four-day mission in Haiti on Monday to review the terms of its mandate and evaluate earthquake reconstruction efforts in the Caribbean country.

BOJ eases policy, sets near-term price goal (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 5:23am EST

Reuters - The Bank of Japan on Tuesday eased its policy by boosting asset purchases and defined 1 percent consumer inflation as a near-term goal in response to growing calls for more action to help the economy mired in deflation and weighed down by a strong yen.

Greece faces tough job to seal rescue (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 4:49am EST

Reuters - Greece has admitted it still faces a tough job in persuading the European Union and IMF to save it from bankruptcy even after parliament approved savage extra budget cuts, provoking a night of looting and burning in central Athens.

Guatemala says it's weighing drug legalization (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 4:45am EST

AP - U.S. inability to cut illegal drug consumption leaves Guatemala with no option but to consider legalizing the use and transport of drugs, President Otto Perez Molina said Monday, a remarkable turnaround for an ex-general elected on a platform of crushing organized crime with an iron fist.

As its Single Ranks Swell, Japan Wonders 'Where's the Love?' (Time.com)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 4:15am EST

Time.com - A record number of Japanese will be spending Valentine's Day solo. What ever happened to love, marriage, baby carriage?

Pakistan's Supreme Court Vs. Everybody: But Most of All the Prime Minister (Time.com)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 4:15am EST

Time.com - With the indictment of Yousaf Gilani, the major branches of the Pakistani establishment are more than ever at each other's throats.

Australian man fined for mooning Queen Elizabeth (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 3:16am EST

AP - A Sydney man has been fined 750 Australian dollars ($800) for mooning Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, during a royal visit to Australia.

India probes Google, Yahoo for possible forex violation: report (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 2:48am EST

Reuters - The Indian government is investigating whether the Indian units of U.S. Internet giants Google Inc and Yahoo Inc may have violated the country's foreign exchange laws, the Wall Street Journal said in report.

Moody's warns UK, France, Austria over AAA rating (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 2:46am EST

Reuters - Rating agency Moody's warned on Monday it may cut the triple-A ratings of France, the United Kingdom and Austria, and it downgraded six other European nations including Italy, Spain and Portugal, citing growing risks from Europe's debt crisis.

Analysts: Peru rebel capture won't dent drug trade (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 2:42am EST

AP - The capture of the Shining Path's last remaining ideologue is undoubtedly a major blow to what's left of the once-potent guerrilla group but it is unlikely to diminish the illicit cocaine trade that financed it, Peruvian analysts said Monday.

Activists: Syrian rebels repel attack on key town (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 2:32am EST

AP - Syrian government forces renewed their assault on the rebellious city of Homs on Tuesday in what activists described as the heaviest shelling in days, as the U.N. human rights chief raised fears of civil war.

U.N. says Syria emboldened by diplomatic deadlock (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 1:01am EST

Reuters - Government forces and opponents of President Bashar al-Assad clashed in cities and countryside across Syria on Tuesday and Arab officials confirmed that regional governments would be ready to arm the resistance if the bloodshed did not cease.

Soldier's death sparks debate over arming medevacs (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 12:24am EST

AP - It took a medevac unit 59 minutes to get U.S. Army Spec. Chazray Clark to a hospital in southern Afghanistan after receiving a call that a roadside bombing severed three of his limbs. Clark did not survive.

Activists: Syrian rebels repel attack on key town (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 12:24am EST

AP - Syrian rebels repelled a push Monday by government tanks into a central town held by forces fighting President Bashar Assad's regime in an 11-month conflict that looks increasingly like a civil war.

Brazil editor killed in rough border town (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 11:58pm EST

AP - The editor-in-chief of a newspaper that crusaded against corruption in Brazil's rough border region with Paraguay was shot dead, police said Monday, just days after another slain journalist's body was found in a different state.

Clinton: Poverty helping fuel violence in Nigeria (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 11:53pm EST

AP - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton warned Monday that the rampant poverty that plagues oil-rich Nigeria mdash; felt most acutely in its Muslim north mdash; is fueling the religious violence now tearing at the nation.

Radical cleric Abu Qatada being freed from UK jail (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 11:51pm EST

AP - Abu Qatada, a radical Muslim cleric whom British officials say is an al-Qaida figurehead and a threat to national security, was freed from an English prison into virtual house arrest late Monday, British media reported.

Britain frees radical cleric Abu Qatada (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 11:42pm EST

Reuters - A radical cleric once described as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe was freed from a British prison to live under virtual house arrest on Monday after a court ruled that his detention without trial was unlawful.

Murdoch media crisis deepens with five new arrests (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 10:54pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - The famed Rupert Murdoch tabloid scandal-mills are grinding yet again.

More than 30,000 Germans turn out against anti-piracy treaty ACTA (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 10:41pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Tens of thousands of Germans have protested against ACTA, a controversial international anti-piracy agreement that has embroiled Germany's politicians in a heated debate on whether the treaty is a useful tool to protect intellectual property or an infringement of personal freedom.nbsp;

Minister: Armed gang in Tunisia had al-Qaida links (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 9:17pm EST

AP - The armed group that clashed with Tunisian forces in the south of the country earlier this month had links to al-Qaida, the interior minister said Monday as he announced a wave of arrests tied to the incident.

Nigeria's sect Boko Haram says killed 12 soldiers (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 9:16pm EST

Reuters - Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram said Monday it killed 12 soldiers in an attack in the northeast town of Maiduguri but security forces denied any of its officers had been killed and said it shot dead sect members.

Air Canada confident of avoiding strike, says no lockout (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 9:16pm EST

Reuters - Air Canada said on Monday it is confident of avoiding a damaging labor disruption involving its 3,000 pilots, and talks will continue even as a possible strike deadline nears.

U.S., N.Korea to hold nuclear-related talks next week (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 9:15pm EST

Reuters - U.S. and North Korean officials will meet in Beijing next week for talks Washington hopes may clarify whether Pyongyang's new leadership is willing to curb its nuclear programs, the State Department said on Monday.

Guatemala says it's weighing drug legalization (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 9:02pm EST

AP - Guatemala's president says U.S. refusal to deal with its drug consumption problem has left the tiny Central American country with no option but to consider legalizing drugs.

Relatives toss roses into sea near Italian ship (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 9:02pm EST

AP - Tossing bouquets of red roses into the sea, the relatives of people still missing one month after the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster mourned in a private tribute Monday.

Athens mayhem raises fears of Greek social explosion (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 8:34pm EST

Reuters - Greek political leaders say the nation must accept yet more punishing austerity or face a social explosion, but after a night of violence and destruction in Athens, some people fear this explosion may already be about to begin.

Pakistan's Supreme Court Vs. Everybody: But Most of All the Prime Minister (Time.com)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 8:15pm EST

Time.com - With the indictment of Yousaf Gilani, the major branches of the Pakistani establishment are more than ever at each other's throats.

Asia key as U.S., EU tighten sanctions against Iran (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 7:17pm EST

Reuters - Western states hope new oil sanctions will deter Tehran from pursuing its disputed nuclear program but ultimately it will be China, India and other Asian powers that determine their effectiveness impact on already volatile Iranian politics.

London Occupy's cathedral camp gets week's reprieve (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 6:21pm EST

Reuters - Dozens of protesters against economic inequality were effectively told they could remain camped outside London's landmark St Paul's Cathedral for another nine days while a judge decides whether to listen to their appeal against eviction.

Emergency food flown into stranded European towns (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 6:04pm EST

AP - Military planes and police helicopters flew in tons of emergency food to snowbound villages and ships in the Balkans on Monday, after blizzards so fierce that some people had to cut tunnels through 15 feet (4 meters) of snow to get out of their homes.

Haiti PM: US State Dept to send legal team (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 5:54pm EST

AP - The U.S. State Department is sending to Haiti a team of legal experts to look at ways to strengthen the Caribbean nation's beleaguered judiciary, Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille said Monday.

Canada ramps up fight against Volcker rule (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 5:51pm EST

Reuters - Canada stepped up pressure on Washington on Monday to rewrite its controversial Volcker rule to remove restrictions on Canadian bank activities that it says do not threaten the U.S. financial system.

Security foils attack on gov't building in Nigeria (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 5:43pm EST

AP - Police say security officers have foiled an attack in central Nigeria after gunshots were heard near a government building.

Israel accuses Iran of bombings in India, Georgia (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 2:29pm EST

AP - Israel's prime minister has accused Iran of being behind a pair of car bombings against Israeli diplomatic targets in India and Georgia.

5.8 quake shakes Costa Rican coast (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 2:21pm EST

AP - The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude 5.8 earthquake shook the central and Pacific coastal regions of Costa Rica early Monday morning. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Queen and Kate to team up for two appearances (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 2:20pm EST

AP - Palace officials say the Duchess of Cambridge will join Queen Elizabeth II and other royals at two events in the coming weeks.

Big rally in Somalia for al-Qaida-al-Shabab merger (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 2:14pm EST

AP - Thousands of Somalis are gathering at a militant-organized demonstration on the outskirts of Mogadishu in support of the merger of the Somali militant group al-Shabab with al-Qaida.

Blast hits Israeli diplomat's car in India; 2 hurt (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 1:42pm EST

AP - An explosion tore through an Israeli diplomat's car on the streets of New Delhi on Monday, Israeli officials said. The driver and a diplomat's wife were injured, according to Indian officials.

Israel says bombs target embassies in India, Georgia (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 1:14pm EST

Reuters - Israel accused arch-enemies Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of being behind twin bomb attacks that targeted Israeli embassy staff in India and Georgia on Monday, wounding four people.

NATO says found Afghan children dead after air strike (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 12:41pm EST

Reuters - NATO-led forces in Afghanistan said on Monday they found the bodies of dead children after a coalition air strike that has enraged the Afghan government, and said their deaths may have been linked to an anti-insurgent operation in the area.

Israeli settler: Outpost to stay 2 more years (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 10:58am EST

AP - Israeli settlers from an unauthorized West Bank outpost said Monday they have accepted an offer from the government to stay put for two more years, despite Israeli Supreme Court orders to evacuate them next month.

Greek MPs Pass Austerity Measures amid Street Protests (Time.com)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 10:50am EST

Time.com - As the streets of Athens explode in anger, Parliament passes the austerity measures that diminish the standard of living. But is there any other choice?

Chinese city seizes Apple iPads in name dispute (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 10:49am EST

AP - Authorities have seized Apple iPads from retailers in a city in northern China due to a dispute with a domestic company that says it owns the iPad name, an official said Monday. The Chinese company said it is asking for similar action in more than 20 other cities.

Nigerian poverty increases despite economic growth (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 10:27am EST

Reuters - Despite strong growth in Nigeria, Africa's second largest economy, the level of absolute poverty rose to 60.9 percent of the population in 2010 from 54.7 percent in 2004, the national bureau of statistics (NBS) said on Monday.

A year on, only brief home visits for Japan nuclear evacuees (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 9:15am EST

Reuters - Back home for just three hours, a tearful Miyoko Takeda sorted through her belongings. She left behind the kimonos she once wore as a traditional dancer, fearful they might be contaminated by radiation.

Baghdad's romance grows with Valentine's Day (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 8:17am EST

AP - Iraq's capital is embracing Valentine's Day this year with a huge public display of affection in what its residents say is the nation's most amorous celebration of the holiday ever.

Trial opens for top suspect in 2002 Bali bombings (AP)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 8:14am EST

AP - The Muslim militant suspected of building the bombs used in the 2002 Bali attack went on trial Monday on terrorism charges, a year after he was captured in the same Pakistani town where Osama bin Laden was hiding.

Xi says frictions shouldn't define U.S.-China ties: report (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 7:42am EST

Reuters - The United States should not let friction over economic and trade policies undermine the hugely important business relationship with China, Vice President Xi Jinping said in an interview published before a scheduled U.S. visit.

EU won't drop aviation CO2 scheme (Reuters)

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 6:45am EST

Reuters - The European Union will not bow to pressure to suspend a controversial scheme to charge airlines for their carbon emissions, but is willing to be flexible in finding a solution to a row that threatens to escalate into a full-blown trade war.

Syrian Rebels Plot Their Next Moves: A TIME Exclusive (Time.com)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 5:50am EST

Time.com - As the regime continues to bash the insurrection within Syria's borders, rebels sneak back and forth from Turkey to try to figure out what to do next

India's carmakers on fast track to capacity glut (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 5:40am EST

Reuters - In the race for sales, India's carmakers may need to ease off the accelerator as they speed towards a head-on collision with a capacity glut.

Venezuela's opposition picks Chavez's challenger (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 5:25am EST

AP - Youthful state governor Henrique Capriles won Venezuela's first-ever opposition presidential primary Sunday by a wide margin, emerging as the single candidate who will try to end President Hugo Chavez's 13 years in power.

European Budgets Cut Back on Green Solar and Wind Energy (Time.com)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 5:10am EST

Time.com - In Europe, budget tightening has forced governments to cut back on green-energy projects. Can the solar and wind industries survive without hefty subsidies?

Greeks Facing Austerity: A Return from Euro to Drachma? (Time.com)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 5:10am EST

Time.com - Some Greeks speak fondly of the old currency, but almost everyone knows that a return to it would mean immediate poverty -- and the resurrection of a venal kind of politics

Gay marriage bills proposed in Aussie Parliament (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 5:07am EST

AP - Two bills to allow gay marriages in Australia were introduced in Parliament on Monday but may fail because of political conflicts.

EU commissioner in Myanmar to explore cooperation (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 3:39am EST

Reuters - An EU official arrived in Myanmar's capital Monday for talks with a civilian government praised by Brussels for the reforms it has begun over the past year after five decades of authoritarian military rule.

Venezuela's Capriles set for opposition primary win (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 2:37am EST

Reuters - Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles easily won a primary election on Sunday to become the unity candidate against President Hugo Chavez, vowing to end 13 years of socialist rule that he said has left the OPEC nation in crisis.

Carnival goes to the dogs with Rio pet parade (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 2:35am EST

AP - Most pre-Carnival street parties in Brazil are all about samba, but the moves on display at Sunday's Blocao parade were focused more on wagging and strategic sniffing than on fancy footwork.

In complicating move, al-Qaida backs Syrian revolt (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 2:23am EST

AP - Al-Qaida's leader has called for the ouster of Syria's pernicious, cancerous regime, raising fears that Islamic extremists will try to exploit an uprising against President Bashar Assad that began with peaceful calls for democratic change but is morphing into a bloody, armed insurgency.

Japan economy shrinks more than expected in Q4, weak (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 1:49am EST

Reuters - Japan's economy shrank a bigger-than-expected 0.6 percent in October-December, hurt by slowing global growth, Thai floods and a strong yen, casting doubt about expectations that growth will resume this quarter as Europe's debt crisis clouds the outlook.

Arabs back Syria opposition; Homs bombardment resumes (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 1:26am EST

Reuters - The U.N. human rights chief blamed disagreement in the Security Council on Monday for encouraging the Syrian government to step up attacks on opposition strongholds in its campaign to crush an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's 11-year rule.

Sun arrests pile pressure on Murdoch media empire (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 1:22am EST

Reuters - Rupert Murdoch is under pressure over his Sun tabloid after the arrests of several senior staff in a corruption probe, but whistleblowers inside his media empire may pose more of a threat than the public outrage that forced the closure of its sister paper.

Zambia celebrates as team wins African Cup (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 1:16am EST

AP - Zambians poured out of their houses, clubs and bars to celebrate in the streets early Monday after watching their team beat Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in the African Cup finals.

Greek lawmakers approve austerity bill as Athens burns (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 1:09am EST

Reuters - Europe gave Greece until Wednesday to convince skeptical international creditors that it would stick to the punishing terms of a multi-billion-euro rescue package, endorsed by parliament as rioters torched downtown Athens.

Govt: Health scare on New Zealand flight just flu (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 12:21am EST

AP - A health scare on a flight from Japan to New Zealand appears to be nothing more serious than a seasonal outbreak of influenza.

Rioting engulfs Athens, buildings burn before vote (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 12:19am EST

AP - Greek lawmakers on Monday approved harsh new austerity measures demanded by bailout creditors to save the debt-crippled nation from bankruptcy, after rioters in central Athens torched buildings, looted shops and clashed with riot police.

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As Xi visits, China's U.S. crop demand a balm for tensions (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 12:10am EST

Reuters - China is half a world away from the 2,300-acre family farm in east-central Iowa where John Weber and his son plant corn and soybeans.

Nigeria ruling party wins in president's home state (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 11:12pm EST

Reuters - Nigeria's ruling party candidate has been elected governor of President Goodluck Jonathan's home state, election officials said on Sunday, ending months of political uncertainty over who is in charge of the oil-producing state.

Al Qaeda's Zawahiri calls for war to oust Syria's Assad (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 10:46pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri called for the ouster of Syria's pernicious, cancerous regime, raising fears that Islamist militants will try to exploit an uprising against President Bashar Assad that began with peaceful calls for democratic change but is morphing into a bloody, armed insurgency.

U.S. Navy: Iran prepares suicide bomb boats in Gulf (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 10:42pm EST

Reuters - Iran has built up its naval forces in the Gulf and prepared boats that could be used in suicide attacks, but the U.S. Navy can prevent it from blocking the Strait of Hormuz, the commander of U.S. naval forces in the region said on Sunday.

Arab League wants UN peacekeepers in Syria (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 10:19pm EST

AP - The Arab League called Sunday for the U.N. Security Council to create a joint peacekeeping force for Syria and urged Arab states to sever all diplomatic contact with President Bashar Assad's regime, the League's latest effort to bring an end to the violence that has killed more than 5,000 people.

Turkish premier discharged after second surgery (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 10:15pm EST

AP - Turkey's state-run news agency says Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been discharged from hospital a day after undergoing what officials said was a second and final intestinal surgery.

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Rioting, fires break out in Athens amid protests against Greek austerity (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 9:56pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Rioting spread across central Athens and at least seven buildings went up in flames amid protests late Sunday as lawmakers debated cutting spending and eliminating government jobs to win an international bailout and remain in the eurozone.

Clashes in Bahrain, king mocks opponents' bad manners (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 9:39pm EST

Reuters - Bahraini riot police engaged in pitched battles with petrol-bomb throwing youths on Sunday as violence escalated ahead of the February 14 anniversary of an uprising last year, while King Hamad mocked the opposition for its bad manners.

Egypt inquiry blames fans, police for stadium deaths (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 9:31pm EST

Reuters - An Egyptian parliamentary inquiry into the deaths of 74 people in a soccer stadium disaster has found both fans and lax security to blame for the worst incident of its kind in the country's history, the legislator leading it said on Sunday.

Air Canada reaches third deal with union in three days (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 8:54pm EST

Reuters - Air Canada said on Sunday it had reached a tentative agreement with the union representing its Toronto flight dispatchers, the second deal for Canada's largest airline in two days.

Iran summons Azeri envoy over scientist killing (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 8:10pm EST

Reuters - Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the Azeri ambassador on Sunday, accusing Azerbaijan of assisting Israeli intelligence in the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist blown up last month, Iran's Fars news agency reported.

Egypt's army ruler urges good U.S. ties after NGO raids (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 7:45pm EST

Reuters - Egypt's military ruler stressed the importance of good ties with the United States in a meeting with the government on Sunday, a message that could signal an attempt to ease a crisis triggered by an Egyptian probe targeting American democracy activists.

In complicating move, al-Qaida backs Syrian revolt (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 7:01pm EST

AP - Al-Qaida's leader has called for the ouster of Syria's pernicious, cancerous regime, raising fears that Islamic extremists will try to exploit an uprising against President Bashar Assad that began with peaceful calls for democratic change but is morphing into a bloody, armed insurgency.

Northern Ireland police charge man over explosives (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 6:45pm EST

AP - Northern Ireland police investigating activity by Irish Republican Army dissidents say a man has been charged over a bomb discovered last year.

Pakistani PM's job on the line in court showdown (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 6:45pm EST

AP - Pakistan's prime minister is showing no indication of backing down ahead of a face-to-face showdown with the Supreme Court on Monday, even though his stance could cost him his job and land him in prison.

Peru says Shining Path rebel leader found dead (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 5:35pm EST

Reuters - The most important leader of Peru's leftist Shining Path insurgency has been found dead by security forces after being shot in a remote jungle rife with drug trafficking, President Ollanta Humala said on Sunday in his first major victory against what remains of the rebel group.

Chinese envoy visits Tehran for nuclear talks (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 4:15pm EST

Reuters - A senior Chinese diplomat arrived in Tehran on Sunday to discuss Iran's nuclear program, amid differences between China and the West over how to resolve the dispute it has caused.

Iran urges Hamas to continue fight against Israel (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 4:04pm EST

AP - Iran's leaders urged the Hamas prime minister of Gaza to continue the Islamic militant group's resistance against Israel and promised support, state TV reported on Sunday.

UK gov't: Press must face tougher penalties (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 4:01pm EST

AP - Britain's press must face tougher penalties for breaches of standards in the wake of the tabloid phone-hacking scandal, the government minister responsible for the media said Sunday.

Kabila aide dies, minister hurt in DRC plane crash (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 3:59pm EST

Reuters - Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila's chief adviser was killed and his finance minister seriously injured in an airplane crash near the eastern town of Bukavu on Sunday, officials said.

Saif Gaddafi to be moved to Tripoli, then tried (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 3:43pm EST

Reuters - Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son and one-time heir apparent of toppled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, will be moved to a Tripoli prison within two months and then face trial, the chairman of Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) said on Sunday.

Greece set to agree on bailout as Germany demands action (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 3:38pm EST

Reuters - The Greek parliament approved a deeply unpopular austerity bill to secure a second EU/IMF bailout and avoid national bankruptcy, as buildings burned across central Athens and violence spread around the country.

Teenage Tibetan nun sets herself on fire in China (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 3:12pm EST

AP - An 18-year-old Tibetan nun has set herself on fire in western China in the latest such protest against Beijing's handling of the vast ethnic Tibetan regions it rules, an overseas activist group said Sunday.

Venezuelans: Will Chavez's challenger pose threat? (AP)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 2:45pm EST

AP - Opponents of President Hugo Chavez voted in their first-ever presidential primary on Sunday, choosing a single challenger they hope will have what it takes to finally defeat Venezuela's leader after 13 years in office.

Rockets hit Homs opposition as Arab ministers meet (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 2:33pm EST

Reuters - The Arab League threw its support on Sunday firmly behind the opposition mounting an uprising against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, and called for the U.N. Security Council to send peacekeepers to halt bloodshed.

Charges against president politically motivated: Pakistan PM (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 2:09pm EST

Reuters - Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, in an interview broadcast on Saturday, said corruption charges against Pakistan's president were politically motivated and that the president had immunity as head of state.

Afghans fret flight of hard cash a sign of things to come (Reuters)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 9:28am EST

Reuters - In the crush of people in Kabul's Shahzada money market, conspiracy theories are a currency as hard as the bundles of cash in the hands of bearded traders trying to divine their future.

Syrian Rebels Plot Their Next Moves: A TIME Exclusive (Time.com)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 6:10am EST

Time.com - As the regime continues to bash the insurrection within Syria's borders, rebels sneak back-and-forth from Turkey to try to figure on what to do next

Syrian Rebels Plot Their Next Moves: A TIME Exclusive (Time.com)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 6:05am EST

Time.com - As the regime continues to bash the insurrection within Syria's borders, rebels sneak back-and-forth from Turkey to try to figure on what to do next

European Budgets Cut Back on Green Solar and Wind Energy (Time.com)

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 6:05am EST

Time.com - In Europe, budget tightening has forced governments to cut back on green-energy projects. Can the solar and wind industries survive without hefty subsidies?

Oil spill fouls river in eastern Venezuela (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 10:18pm EST

AP - Crude oil that spilled from a ruptured pipeline has blackened a river in eastern Venezuela, and the state oil company said workers are containing the spill.

US sex abuse lawsuit against Vatican dismissed (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 9:43pm EST

AP - Lawyers for a man who was sexually abused decades ago by a priest at a Wisconsin school for the deaf have asked a court to dismiss their lawsuit naming Pope Benedict XVI and other top Vatican officials as defendants.

Egypt: Tribesmen release Korean tourists in Sinai (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 8:49pm EST

AP - (AP) mdash; Three South Korean women were freed on Saturday a day after they were kidnapped by armed tribesmen in Egypt's Sinai peninsula when clan elders negotiated their release, a security official said.

Over 100,000 rally in Lisbon against austerity (Reuters)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 8:37pm EST

Reuters - More than 100,000 people packed Lisbon's vast Palace Square on Saturday in the largest rally against austerity and economic hardships since the country resorted to an EU/IMF bailout last May, and organizers vowed to step up protests and labor action.

Turkish prosecutor removed amid spy agency row (Reuters)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 8:09pm EST

Reuters - Turkey's state prosecution service has removed a prosecutor responsible for summoning the head of the spy agency from the case, state media said on Saturday, in an apparent attempt to resolve a row between the government and the judiciary.

Guatemala prez to propose legalizing drugs (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 7:52pm EST

AP - Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina says he will propose legalizing drugs in Central America in an upcoming meeting with the region's leaders.

Haiti 'Baby Doc' case spurs claim of gov't sway (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 7:38pm EST

AP - Before President Michel Martelly took office in May 2011, Haiti's top prosecutor had recommended that former strongman Jean-Claude Duvalier face trial for the abuses associated with his 15-year rule.

Pressure builds for probe into Maldives' crisis (Reuters)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 7:17pm EST

Reuters - New Maldives President Mohamed Waheed Hussain Manik said on Saturday he was open to an inquiry into how he took office after his predecessor said he had been forced out in a coup.

A year since Mubarak ousted, strike call shows divisions (Reuters)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 5:53pm EST

Reuters - Egypt marked the first anniversary of the popular overthrow of Hosni Mubarak on Saturday, but a poor turnout for a strike called by activists to protest the slow pace of change from military rule laid bare the country's deep divisions.

Putin's rivals face pressure, biased coverage (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 5:44pm EST

AP - European election observers say that presidential hopefuls running against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin face biased reports by Kremlin-controlled media and constant government pressure.

New Maldives leader says he will submit to probe (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 5:40pm EST

AP - A visiting U.S. official said Saturday that the Maldives wasn't ready for early elections as a way out of its political crisis as the Indian Ocean nation's new president agreed to an independent investigation into his takeover of power.

Europe's Internet revolt: protesters see threats in antipiracy treaty (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 5:04pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Despite freezing conditions across much of the Continent, thousands are expected to the streets of European cities today â but the protests aren't about austerity measures, bailouts, or the Middle East. They are about an obscure international copyright agreement that protesters say threatens free speech online and the future of the Internet.nbsp;

New ferry to serve nearby Puerto Rico islands (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 4:45pm EST

AP - Traveling by ferry just became easier for tourists visiting the popular Puerto Rico islands of Vieques and Culebra.

Aung San Suu Kyi campaigns for Myanmar parliament (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 4:26pm EST

AP - Thousands of cheering supporters swarmed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday as the democracy icon took her historic campaign for a parliament seat to the southern constituency she hopes to represent for the first time.

Iraqi dissidents form new opposition (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 4:26pm EST

AP - A group of political dissidents created a new Iraqi opposition party Saturday, vowing to act as a check on the government as the prime minister warned that a push for regional autonomy could tear the country apart.

Staff at The Sun tabloid arrested in bribe inquiry (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 4:20pm EST

AP - Britain's biggest-selling tabloid newspaper was fighting to contain the damage after five of its employees were arrested Saturday in an inquiry into the alleged payment of bribes to police and other officials, detectives and the newspaper's parent company said.

British police arrest 5 at Murdoch's Sun newspaper (Reuters)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 3:58pm EST

Reuters - British police on Saturday arrested five senior staff at News Corporation's mass-circulation newspaper The Sun as part of investigations into journalists paying police for information.

A model to save newspapers: Where paywalls actually work (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 3:50pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - As news organizations worldwide wonder if they can charge for content that readers are accustomed to getting free of charge, two Eastern European countries have pioneered a new model: erecting national paywalls and charging a monthly fee for access to most of their newspapers.

Syrian general gunned down in Damascus (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 3:43pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Gunmen assassinated an army general in Damascus on Saturday in the first killing of a high ranking military officer in the Syrian capital since the uprising against President Bashar Assad's regime began in March, the state-run news agency said.

Libya wants Gaddafi son extradited (Reuters)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 3:25pm EST

Reuters - Libya urged Niger on Saturday to extradite Muammar Gaddafi's son Saadi, saying his call for Libyans to prepare for a coming uprising threatened bilateral ties.

Libya asks Niger to hand over Gadhafi's son (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 1:43pm EST

AP - Libya has asked Niger to hand over one of Moammar Gadhafi's sons living under house arrest in the neighboring African nation after he warned his homeland was facing a new uprising.

Pakistan army tries 5 officers over extremist ties (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 1:36pm EST

AP - The Pakistani army has started court martial proceedings against a brigadier and four other officers over suspected ties to a banned extremist group that has called for ousting the U.S.-backed government, security officials said Saturday.

Break-in at election HQ of former French premier (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 1:36pm EST

AP - Police say a break-in has taken place at the presidential election campaign headquarters of French former prime minister Dominique de Villepin.

Thousands fleeing Mali create regional strain (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 1:26pm EST

AP - Days ago, Bahi Ag Mohamed was living comfortably as a trader in Mali's capital. Now he is hungry and living in a small room with eight others in a remote border town of Mauritania.

Syria forces shell Homs, Saudis push U.N. resolution (Reuters)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 1:17pm EST

Reuters - Syrian forces bombarded districts of the city of Homs on Saturday in their drive to crush a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad, whose ally Russia said it would not support an Arab peace plan circulating at the United Nations.

Greece warns bailout rebels of unknown, dangerous path (Reuters)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 1:14pm EST

Reuters - Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos told lawmakers to back a deeply unpopular EU/IMF rescue in a vote on Sunday or condemn the country to a vortex of recession.

Two Westerners kidnapped in Pakistan held by Taliban (Reuters)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 12:45pm EST

Reuters - Two Western aid workers kidnapped in Pakistan in January are being held by the Pakistan Taliban near the border with Afghanistan, a senior militant commander told Reuters on Saturday.

Harper says China will lend panda pair to Canada (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 10:27am EST

AP - Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper has wrapped up a visit to China aimed at boosting oil sales by announcing that Beijing will loan two of the country's prized giant pandas to Canadian zoos.

Ahmadinejad: Iran to reveal new nuke achievements (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 10:22am EST

AP - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran will soon reveal very big new nuclear achievements.

Iran to announce nuclear progress: Ahmadinejad (Reuters)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 10:11am EST

Reuters - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Saturday that the Islamic Republic, targeted by tougher Western sanctions, would soon announce advances in its nuclear program.

Rock star welcome for Suu Kyi on Myanmar campaign trail (Reuters)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 9:29am EST

Reuters - Tens of thousands of people lined the streets to give a rapturous welcome on Saturday to Myanmar Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as she hit the campaign trail for the first time in her bid to win a seat in the country's parliament.

AP Exclusive: Bali bomb made using rice ladle (AP)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 7:42am EST

AP - An Indonesian terrorism suspect known as Demolition Man for his expertise with explosives told interrogators he used common household items, including a rice ladle and a kitchen scale, to build a massive bomb that ripped apart nightclubs on the tourist island of Bali, documents obtained by The Associated Press show.

European Budgets Cut Back on Green Solar and Wind Energy (Time.com)

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 6:25am EST

Time.com - In Europe, budget tightening has forced governments to cut back on green-energy projects. Can the solar and wind industries survive without hefty subsidies?

Mexico cartels paid $4.5 million political bribes: court (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 5:42am EST

Reuters - Mexican drug cartels paid $4.5 million in bribes to buy protection and political favors in a state run by the country's main opposition party, U.S. court documents said on Friday, as the party leads polls to win the presidency in July.

Bombings hit Syria, Saudis push for peace at U.N. (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 5:39am EST

Reuters - Violence flared across Syria, including bomb attacks that killed at least 28 people in Aleppo, while at the United Nations diplomats said a new effort was afoot to gain backing for an Arab peace plan to end 11 months of bloodshed in the country.

Japanese Emperor Akihito hospitalized for tests (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 4:02am EST

AP - Japan's Imperial Household Agency says Emperor Akihito has been hospitalized for tests.

Syria says suicide bombers kill 28 in Aleppo (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 2:57am EST

AP - Gunmen assassinated an army general in Damascus Saturday in the first killing of a high ranking military officer in the Syrian capital since the uprising against President Bashar Assad's regime began in March, the state-run news agency said.

DEA: Mexican governor got millions in drug cash (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 2:47am EST

AP - U.S. drug agents have evidence that cartel leaders paid millions to a Mexican border state governor and other figures in Mexico's former ruling party in exchange for political influence, according to a court filing in Texas.

Italy doesn't need firewalls, Europe does: Monti (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 1:39am EST

Reuters - Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said Rome will not need bailout funds to overcome its debt crisis, but he reiterated that Europe should build large financial firewalls to impress the market and take the perception of risk away.

For China's Xi, near-summit treatment and Iowa Nice (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 1:24am EST

Reuters - From the power centers of Washington to a soybean farm in Iowa and on to sunny Southern California, China's president-in-waiting, Xi Jinping, will sample diverse slices of America during a major visit next week.

UK to robustly defend Falklands, Argentina seeks U.N. aid (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 12:46am EST

Reuters - London's U.N. ambassador warned Argentina on Friday that Britain would robustly defend the Falkland Islands if necessary, but added that his country remained open to bilateral talks with Buenos Aires on any issue except the islands' sovereignty.

Haiti 'Baby Doc' case spurs claim of gov't sway (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 11:42pm EST

AP - Before President Michel Martelly took office in May 2011, Haiti's top prosecutor had recommended that former strongman Jean-Claude Duvalier face trial for the abuses associated with his 15-year rule.

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(AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 11:38pm EST

AP - Greece: Bill for new austerity measures submitted to parliament after Cabinet meeting.

Sudan, S.Sudan sign security pact to defuse tensions (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 11:33pm EST

Reuters - Sudan and South Sudan on Friday signed a security agreement which aims to defuse tensions over oil payments which officials had warned could spark a war between the two countries.

For China's Xi, near-summit treatment and Iowa Nice (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 10:33pm EST

Reuters - From the power centers of Washington to a soybean farm in Iowa and on to sunny Southern California, China's president-in-waiting, Xi Jinping, will sample diverse slices of America during a major visit next week.

The Greek debt conundrum, explained (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 10:04pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - For almost two years, the Greek government and European Union officials have been convening in meeting rooms to figure out how to rescue the Greek economy as protesters throng the streets of Athens, angry over growing austerity. Meanwhile, the possibility of a default looms.nbsp;

London to test alcohol monitors for offenders (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 9:54pm EST

AP - London will be the first city in England to test electronic monitoring to force persistent alcohol offenders to stop drinking, Mayor Boris Johnson said Friday.

Argentine rights workers to Spain: lay off Garzon (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 9:50pm EST

AP - The president of the Argentine human rights group Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo says Spain's prosecution of crusading judge Baltasar Garzon is an assault on the human race.

Al-Shabab, al-Qaida: Linkup of groups in decline? (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 9:44pm EST

AP - Al-Qaida's decision to formally extend its terror franchise to what once was a nationalist movement in Somalia may only be a desperate joining of hands to prop up two militant groups that are both losing popular support and facing increasingly deadly military attacks, analysts said Friday.

China says top cop spent a day in US consulate (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 9:32pm EST

AP - Beijing says a celebrity police chief linked to one of the country's rising political stars spent a day in a U.S. consulate in southwestern China amid speculation that he sought political asylum.

Ecuador clinics said to 'cure' homosexuality stir debate (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 7:03pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Corrective rape, forced isolation, and physical torture are only some of the methods used to âcureâ homosexuality in Ecuador throughout scores of so-called rehabilitation clinics. The clinics, often run under the guise of drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, have been thrust into the international spotlight, pitting gay rights activists against the government in this tiny Andean nation.

US increases travel warning to 14 Mexican states (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 7:03pm EST

AP - The U.S. State Department recommends Americans avoid travel to all or parts of 14 of 31 Mexican states in the widest travel advisory since Mexico stepped up its drug war in 2006.

Russian police chief fired after boy's death (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 7:00pm EST

AP - Russia's president has fired the police chief of St. Petersburg, where a 15-year-old boy died after being beaten while in police custody.

Officials: 2 held in death of Afghan peace broker (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 6:53pm EST

AP - Pakistan has arrested two people in connection with last year's assassination of a former Afghan president who was trying to broker peace with the Taliban, two Afghan government officials said Friday.

Pension changes likely in 2020-25: Flaherty (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 6:52pm EST

Reuters - Changes to Canada's Old Age Security pension program will likely come in 2020 or beyond and will involve more than one federal budget, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Friday.

Will Austerity Derail Europe's Clean-Energy Movement? (Time.com)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 6:40pm EST

Time.com - In Europe, budget tightening has forced governments to cut back on green-energy projects. Can the solar and wind industries survive without hefty subsidies?

In Greece, the Growing Shadow of the Dreaded Drachma (Time.com)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 6:40pm EST

Time.com - Some Greeks speak fondly of the old currency, but almost everyone knows that a return to it would mean immediate poverty -- and the resurrection of a venal kind of politics

Helpers in a hostile world: the risk of aid work grows (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 4:15pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Aid workers may be an idealistic sort, but they're not naive. They know the risks of crossing oceans or pressing through to remote areas to build tent cities, run feeding stations, or treat the sick in what are by definition the most dangerous and least hospitable corners of the planet.

Europe's cold spell hits Turkey's quake survivors (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 3:59pm EST

AP - Freezing temperatures and heavy snow in Turkey are making life miserable for the more than 140,000 residents who were left homeless by the nation's devastating earthquake four months ago and who are still living in tents or temporary shelters.

Norway mass killer faces 24-hour psychiatric watch (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 3:57pm EST

Reuters - Anders Behring Breivik, an anti-immigration militant who killed 77 people in a Norwegian bomb-and-gun massacre last July, is to undergo psychiatric observation 24 hours a day for up to four weeks as he prepares for his April criminal trial.

Egyptian security: 3 Koreans kidnapped in Sinai (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 3:56pm EST

AP - Egypt's security chief for the Sinai peninsula says armed tribesmen have kidnapped three Korean tourists and their Egyptian guide.

Bomb blasts bring death to Syria's Aleppo (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 3:44pm EST

Reuters - Bomb attacks killed at least 28 people in Syria's second city Aleppo on Friday, while Homs endured another day of shelling and a firefight broke out in Damascus, the nearest violence to the centre of the capital in an 11-month uprising.

Long live the king! AU's lavish new home hit by statue row (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 3:40pm EST

Reuters - Perched under the shadow of a 100-metre tall marble monolith, a short-sleeved Kwame Nkrumah stands with his right hand raised in triumphant pose, his eyes gazing at the heavens.

Police strike in Rio, raising fears for Carnival (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 3:36pm EST

AP - The streets of this Olympic city were calm Friday, just hours after police officers went on strike and a week before glittering Carnival celebrations that typically draw 800,000 tourists were due to start.

Why Egypt may not care about losing US aid (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 2:22pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - A growing number of US officials are warning that Egyptâs insistence on prosecuting at least 16 Americans in a crackdown on pro-democracy organizations will have drastic consequences.

Insight: Arms and men out of Libya fortify Mali rebellion (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 2:15pm EST

Reuters - Equipped with heavy weapons from Muammar Gaddafi's looted arsenals, the Tuareg-led rebels who assaulted the town of Aguelhoc in northern Mali last month overwhelmed the remote garrison.

Syrian officials should be sent to ICC: U.N. rights office (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 1:54pm EST

Reuters - Saudi Arabia circulated a draft resolution backing an Arab peace plan for Syria among members of the U.N. General Assembly on Friday after a similar text was vetoed in the Security Council last week by Russia and China, diplomats said.

Thousands of Turkish quake survivors battle cold (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 12:44pm EST

AP - The harshest winter in decades has added to the woes of more than 140,000 quake survivors who are braving record low temperatures and heavy snow fall in tents or temporary homes in eastern Turkey.

Egypt bars British woman from leaving country (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 12:42pm EST

AP - Egypt's military rulers warned Friday that the country faces conspiracies that seek to topple the state and spread chaos, in a message intended to undermine activists who plan to mark the anniversary of President Hosni Mubarak's overthrow with anti-army protests.

US OKs transfer of 2nd warship to Philippines (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 12:39pm EST

AP - The U.S. Congress has approved the transfer of a second Coast Guard ship to the Philippines, an official said Friday as Washington shifts its military ties with the Southeast Asian nation that has been engaged in a territorial spat with China.

Insight: Quebec lessons for Scotland in how to pop the question (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 12:13pm EST

Reuters - For Brits grappling with the idea of Scottish independence, it may be worth looking across the Atlantic.

China to send senior official to Iran for nuclear talks (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 11:15am EST

Reuters - China said on Friday it would send a senior official to Tehran to discuss Iran's nuclear standoff with the West, and India indicated it would also weigh in, as Asia's two giants seek to head off new sanctions already playing havoc with trade.

Maldives ex-president walking free despite arrest warrant (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 10:37am EST

Reuters - The ousted president of the Maldives was walking free on Friday despite an arrest warrant against him as diplomats including a U.N. envoy worked to forestall renewed violence in the Indian Ocean archipelago best known as a luxury beach getaway.

NYSE Euronext profit down on blocked merger costs (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 9:52am EST

AP - NYSE Euronext on Friday said costs related to its collapsed merger with German stock market Deutsche Boerse caused a slump in fourth quarter earnings.

Two explosion hit northern Syrian city of Aleppo (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 9:51am EST

AP - Two suicide car bombers struck security compounds in Aleppo on Friday, killing 28 people, Syrian officials said, bringing significant violence for the first time to an industrial center that has largely stood by President Bashar Assad during the 11-month uprising against his rule.

Crime cutting into Brazil's Carnivals amid strike (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 9:48am EST

AP - In the run-up to this city's huge Carnival, the cash register at the souvenir shop where Vania Alves works is normally buzzing as hoards of revelers scoop up rubber thong sandals, teeny bikinis and sarongs printed with the Brazilian flag.

Pakistan court rejects PM's plea in contempt case (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 9:47am EST

AP - Pakistan's top court rejected Friday a last-ditch appeal filed by the prime minister against a looming contempt charge, paving the way for a case that could plunge the nuclear-armed country into political turmoil.

Guinea colonel charged 2 years after massacre (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 9:44am EST

AP - Authorities have charged a Guinean army colonel in connection with a 2009 massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators at a soccer stadium, making him the first high-ranking official to face trial for the atrocities.

EU asks India to help bring Iran to nuclear talks (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 9:22am EST

Reuters - The European Union has asked India to use its leverage to bring Iran to the negotiating table over its nuclear program, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said on Friday, as Asia's third-largest economy prepares to increase trade with Tehran.

Spain: Why 'Superjudge' Baltasar Garzon Is Being Punished (Time.com)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 9:00am EST

Time.com - One of the world's top crusaders against human-rights violations has been banned from the bench for 11 years. And his legal troubles aren't over

After Somalia, Another Giant Famine Looms in Africa (Time.com)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 9:00am EST

Time.com - One famine -- Somalia's -- may be officially over but in the vast stretch of the Sahel, millions of people face drought and famine. It can still be avoided

Pakistan turmoil expected after PM's contempt appeal rejected (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 8:47am EST

Reuters - Pakistan's Supreme Court rejected the prime minister's appeal against a summons in a contempt case on Friday and is set to charge him on Monday, a move likely to bring fresh political turmoil to the chronically unstable country.

UN official meeting with top Maldives leaders (AP)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 7:10am EST

AP - The former head of the Maldives criticized the United States on Friday for recognizing the Indian Ocean nation's new government, which he says came to power in a coup.

Death toll in Philippines earthquake rises to 35 (Reuters)

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 6:50am EST

Reuters - The death toll from landslides triggered by an earthquake in the central Philippines has risen to 35 and scores of missing are feared dead as rains and aftershocks hamper rescue efforts, disaster officials said on Friday.

Arrest warrant issued for close Uribe associate (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 5:25am EST

AP - The chief prosecutor's office obtained an arrest warrant Thursday for ex-President Alvaro Uribe's longtime peace commissioner for allegedly choreographing the bogus surrender of a column of leftist guerrillas.

Chavez foe seeks public worker support for primary (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 4:52am EST

AP - Opposition presidential contender Pablo Perez finished off his campaign Thursday urging public employees to join his supporters and vote in a primary election choosing a single challenger to face President Hugo Chavez.

China trade falls amid weak demand, holiday (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 4:37am EST

AP - China's imports and exports fell sharply in January amid weak demand and a Lunar New Year holiday break that idled many Chinese companies.

The Art of Nazi Hunting: How Israel's Mossad Found Adolf Eichmann (Time.com)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 4:35am EST

Time.com - Operation Finale: The Story of the Capture of Eichmann is a museum exhibit that chronicles the secret Mossad operation that stalked and captured Nazi war criminal Adolph Eichmann from his refuge in Buenos Aires, and smuggled him to Israel to stand trial

Japan priest fights invisible demon: radiation (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 4:33am EST

Reuters - On the snowy fringes of Japan's Fukushima city, now notorious as a byword for nuclear crisis, Zen monk Koyu Abe offers prayers for the souls of thousands left dead or missing after the earthquake and tsunami nearly one year ago.

Homs fears big push by Syrian tanks on stronghold (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 4:12am EST

Reuters - Twin bomb blasts hit Syrian military and security buildings in the northern city of Aleppo on Friday, killing 25 people in the worst violence to hit the country's commercial hub in the 11-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.

Report says 2 Tibetans killed by security forces (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 2:15am EST

AP - A U.S.-funded broadcaster is reporting that two Tibetan brothers on the run since taking part in anti-government protests have been shot dead in China's Sichuan province.

Smoke from dump fire blankets Jamaica capital (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 2:13am EST

AP - Acrid smoke from a fire at a sprawling trash dump blanketed swaths of Jamaica's capital Thursday, and officials warned people to stay indoors to avoid exposure to potentially dangerous pollutants.

IMF must help avoid Greek explosion: Italy's Monti (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 1:33am EST

Reuters - Greece's debt crisis on Thursday dominated the first day of Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti's visit to the United States, as he urged the International Monetary Fund to be more lenient with Athens in bailout talks to prevent a big potential explosion.

Oil-rich Alberta says provincial deficit to fall (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 12:20am EST

Reuters - The Canadian province of Alberta, the largest oil exporter to the United States, said on Thursday it expects to post a smaller budget deficit in the upcoming fiscal year as economic growth boosts revenue from taxes.

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(AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 12:02am EST

AP - EU's economy chief: 'Seriously considering' separate account for Greek bailouy to repay debt.

Mexican army finds 15 tons of pure methamphetamine (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 11:54pm EST

AP - The historic seizure of 15 tons of pure methamphetamine in western Mexico, equal to half of all meth seizures worldwide in 2009, feeds growing speculation that the country could become a world platform for meth production, not just a supplier to the United States.

Algerian president sets elections for May 10 (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 11:48pm EST

AP - Algeria's president has announced on state television that elections will be held May 10.

Air Canada posts bigger than expected loss (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 11:22pm EST

Reuters - Struggling with higher fuel and maintenance costs, Air Canada reported a bigger than expected quarterly loss on Thursday, disappointing investors in the wake of strong performances from fellow Canadian and U.S. airlines.

Brazil's Petrobras names first female CEO (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 11:00pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - In naming a woman to head Latin America's largest firm, the Brazilian oil company Petrobras is giving a boost to gender parity in a region that has seen women rising well beyond their US peers in politics and starting to populate executive suites.

Why Is Your Boss Moving to Brazil? (Time.com)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 9:50pm EST

Time.com - How Latin America's Economic Powerhouse is Luring the World's Top Executives

Brazil files injunction against Twitter (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 9:35pm EST

AP - An attempt to block Twitter users from alerting drivers to police roadblocks, radar traps and drunk-driving checkpoints could make the Brazil the first country to take Twitter up on its plans to censor content at governments' requests.

Assad cousin wins case to unfreeze Swiss millions (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 9:19pm EST

AP - A cousin of Syria's President Bashar Assad has won a legal bid to unfreeze euro3 million ($4 million) held in bank accounts in Switzerland, overturning a last-ditch effort by Swiss prosecutors to block the release of the funds on suspicion of money laundering.

Report: Iran adds 2 submarines to naval fleet (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 8:52pm EST

AP - Iran's official news agency reported Thursday that the navy has added two more domestically built light submarines to its fleet.

Afghanistan says children killed in NATO airstrike (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 7:43pm EST

Reuters - Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai accused NATO on Thursday of killing a number of children in an airstrike, a case which could stoke tensions between the government and its western backers over a mounting civilian death doll.

Biden meets human rights advocates on China (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 5:46pm EST

Reuters - Vice President Joe Biden and a group of human rights advocates discussed the deterioration of the rights situation in China, the White House said on Thursday, signaling the issue is likely to figure in his talks with China's vice president next week.

9 sentenced for London Stock Exchange terror plot (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 5:40pm EST

AP - A British judge has sent nine men to prison for plotting to set up a terrorist training camp and bomb the London Stock Exchange.

The Art of Nazi Hunting: How Israel's Mossad Found Adolf Eichmann (Time.com)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 5:40pm EST

Time.com - Operation Finale: The Story of the Capture of Eichmann is a museum exhibit that chronicles the secret Mossad operation that stalked and captured Nazi war criminal Adolph Eichmann from his refuge in Buenos Aires, and smuggled him to Israel to stand trial

Rhino dies during procedure to deter poachers (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 5:30pm EST

AP - An attempt to protect a rhinoceros from poachers in South Africa by sedating it to treat its horn ended with the animal's death Thursday in front of journalists and others who had been invited to learn more about anti-poaching efforts, conservationists said.

Greece secures last-minute bailout deal, but it will hurt (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 5:12pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Greek leaders have clinched a last-minute deal demanded by international lenders in exchange for a bailout that would prevent the country from defaulting on its sovereign debt.

Permalink for 'Yahoo_World_News/2012/02/09/Despite_Fukushima_disaster__anti_nuclear_activists_fight_uphill_battle_in_Japan_______The_Christian_Science_Monitor__'

Despite Fukushima disaster, anti-nuclear activists fight uphill battle in Japan (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 4:52pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - The triple meltdown at Japanâs Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant last March unleashed the largest wave of public protest the country, not known for its activism, has seen in decades.

Air Canada says has to up game to match WestJet (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 2:27pm EST

Reuters - Air Canada will have to improve its performance now that rival WestJet Airlines Ltd is moving into the regional market, the carrier's chief operating officer told Reuters on Thursday.

Police issue warrant for ex Maldives president (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 2:25pm EST

AP - A court in the Maldives issued an arrest warrant Thursday for former President Mohamed Nasheed, a day after his supporters rampaged in the capital and his claim of being ousted in a coup left unclear the stability of the fledging Indian Ocean democracy.

Gorbachev: Putin has 'exhausted' his potential (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 2:20pm EST

AP - Mikhail Gorbachev said Thursday that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has exhausted his potential as Russia's leader and his inability to change the Kremlin's political system might prompt more massive anti-government protests.

Iran paying for grain with gold, oil: traders (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 2:20pm EST

Reuters - offering gold bullion in overseas vaults or tankerloads of oil - in return for food as new financial sanctions have hurt its ability to import basic staples for its 74 million people, commodities traders said Thursday.

Jordan holds ex-intelligence chief in graft probe (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 1:49pm EST

AP - A Jordanian prosecutor says he has ordered a powerful former intelligence chief to be detained for 14 days pending a probe on charges of embezzlement of public funds, money laundering and abuse of office.

U.S. drone strike kills senior militant in Pakistan: officials (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 1:41pm EST

Reuters - The second U.S. drone attack in two days in Pakistan's North Waziristan region killed five people on Thursday, including a senior militant commander with links to al Qaeda, Pakistani intelligence officials and Taliban sources said.

Brazil: Striking police leave occupied building (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 1:04pm EST

AP - Striking police officers in the northeastern city of Salvador on Thursday evacuated the state legislative building they occupied in protest for more than a week.

Exclusive: U.S. military seeks more access in Philippines (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 11:37am EST

Reuters - The United States is seeking more access to Philippines ports and airfields to re-fuel and service its warships and planes, diplomatic and military sources said on Thursday, expanding its presence at a time of tension with China in the South China Sea.

Maldives president says will be in jail tomorrow (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 11:13am EST

Reuters - Maldives ex-president Mohamed Nasheed awaited arrest in his house on Thursday, vowing to stay and fight against the government he says ousted him in a coup with the connivance of the police and the military.

Palestinian prisoner on 55th day of hunger strike (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 11:09am EST

AP - In a high-stakes gamble, an imprisoned member of a Palestinian militant group has waged a hunger strike for almost two months, trying to draw attention to Israel's military justice system and its treatment of detainees who can be held without charge for lengthy periods.

Trial of accused Bali bomber to start next week (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 10:58am EST

AP - A trial on terrorism charges has been scheduled to start Monday for an Indonesian man accused of making the explosives used in the 2002 Bali bombings.

Tax changes send Diageo H1 profit down 20 pct (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 10:57am EST

AP - A one-time tax hit sent profits at drinks company Diageo PLC's down 20 percent in the last six months of 2011, despite rising income following a strong performance in emerging markets.

ICRC: 30,000 people displaced by fighting (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 10:44am EST

AP - The Malian government says that its forces have left the town of Tin-n-Zaouatene after repeated attacks from Tuareg rebels.

The Art of Nazi Hunting: How Israel's Mossad Found Adolf Eichmann (Time.com)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 8:55am EST

Time.com - Operation Finale: The Story of the Capture of Eichmann is a museum exhibit that chronicles the secret Mossad operation that stalked and captured Nazi war criminal Adolph Eichmann from his refuge in Buenos Aires, and smuggled him to Israel to stand trial

Egypt's NGO Crisis: How Will U.S. Aid Play in the Controversy? (Time.com)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 8:55am EST

Time.com - As the diplomatic uproar continues over the arrests and likely trials, the question of U.S. financial support for Cairo may come into play

India says tea exports to Iran facing payment hurdle (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 8:33am EST

Reuters - Indian tea exports to Iran are facing payment hurdles, the trade secretary said on Thursday, the latest sign that Western sanctions are biting the Islamic Republic which is struggling to pay to keep its trade flowing.

In Singapore, Finding Peace Among the Pain of Thaipusam (Time.com)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 8:30am EST

Time.com - Beneath the vivid spectacle, the annual rite has a quiet and even tender meaning as a demonstration of love and loyalty, especially among men not ordinarily inclined to displays of emotion

Why Syrians Fight, and Why Their Civil War May be a Long One (Time.com)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 8:30am EST

Time.com - The reason that there's no plausible end-game in Syria anytime soon is that the Assad regime is fighting a very different war to the one envisaged by many of its opponents.

TV producer lands in Mexico to face murder charges (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 7:59am EST

AP - A reality television producer has arrived in Mexico escorted by nearly a dozen agents after being extradited from the U.S. so he can face trial in his wife's killing.

Enbridge won't offer natives better terms (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 7:55am EST

Reuters - Canada's Enbridge Inc will not offer better financial terms to aboriginal bands standing in the way of a major oil pipeline from energy-rich Alberta to the Pacific Coast, the firm's chief executive officer said on Thursday.

China's inflation rebounds in January to 4.5 pct (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 7:50am EST

AP - China's inflation rebounded in January as food prices soared, renewing pressure on Beijing to control living costs as it tries to boost slowing growth amid warnings of a looming global downturn.

Mexican experts excited to find ancient home ruins (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 7:48am EST

AP - The ruins aren't particularly impressive, just some stone and clay footings for houses that probably supported walls of wood or clay wattle. And it's that very ordinariness that has experts excited.

EU asks India to pressure Iran over nuclear program: report (Reuters)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 7:42am EST

Reuters - The European Union will ask for India's help in convincing Iran to abandon its nuclear program and return to the negotiating table, EU President Herman Van Rompuy said in a newspaper interview published on Thursday.

Ahmadinejad seeks rebound in Iranian elections (AP)

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 6:35am EST

AP - There's a Persian saying used to describe an under-the-radar political effort: Driving at night with the lights off. Allies of embattled President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may be doing just that as they campaign in Iran's hinterlands in hopes of scoring a comeback in next month's parliamentary elections.

US missiles kill 3 suspected militants in Pakistan (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 5:36am EST

AP - Pakistani intelligence officials say a U.S. drone fired two missiles at a house in northwest Pakistan, killing three suspected militants.

Mexico party rally ends with 650 food-poison cases (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 5:28am EST

AP - Officials of a Mexican political party are apologizing to 650 Indians and other people who suffered food poisoning after attending a campaign rally in southern Mexico.

Report: Building toppled by NZ quake substandard (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 4:58am EST

AP - A six-story building that collapsed and killed 115 people in last year's New Zealand earthquake was made of weak columns and concrete and did not meet standards when it was built, the government said Thursday.

Tibetan sets himself on fire in China (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 3:24am EST

AP - Another Tibetan has set himself on fire in western China to protest government policies while thousands marched in another part of China to show support for their exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, a report said.

Syria's Homs bombarded again, Turks push for solution (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 2:46am EST

Reuters - Syrian government artillery barrages killed dozens of civilians in Homs on Thursday, activists said, as President Bashar al-Assad, bolstered by Russian support, ignored appeals from world leaders to halt the carnage.

EU threatens new sanctions on Syria (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 2:40am EST

AP - Syrian forces fired mortars and rockets that killed scores of people Thursday in the rebellious city of Homs, activists said, the latest strike in a weeklong assault as President Bashar Assad's regime tries to crush increasingly militarized pockets of dissent.

President's convoy stoned on campaign trail (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 2:36am EST

AP - Demonstrators hurled stones at the convoy carrying Senegal's aging president to the regional capital of Thies, where he held a campaign rally Wednesday, according to witnesses and a private radio station.

Haiti Papers Over the Past: The Rebranding of 'Baby Doc' Duvalier (Time.com)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 2:30am EST

Time.com - The government of Michel Martelly -- friend of Sean Penn and other U.S. celebrities -- has decided not to pursue the ex-dictator-for-life for crimes against humanity -- just corruption

U.S. drone strike kills four in NW Pakistan: officials (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 2:01am EST

Reuters - A U.S. drone attack in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region near the Afghanistan border killed four suspected militants Thursday, intelligence officials said, the second such attack in two days.

Russian, Chinese arms used in Darfur abuse: Amnesty (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 1:03am EST

Reuters - Russian and Chinese arms are being used to violate human rights in Darfur region in breach of an ineffectual United Nations embargo, Amnesty International said on Thursday.

City of Homs becomes focus of Syria's uprising (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 12:11am EST

AP - Every day, rockets and mortars fired by regime forces rattle the streets of Homs. Armed rebels ambush government military checkpoints. Hatreds brew on either side of the avenues that divide the bloodstained Syrian city.

Long-hidden archives help Guatemala war crimes trials (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 11:34pm EST

Reuters - The secrets from a vault of moldy documents long covered in bat and rat droppings could soon help to put former top Guatemalan officials behind bars, years after the country's brutal civil war ended in 1996.

Egypt to deploy soldiers, tanks ahead of strike (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 10:40pm EST

Reuters - Egypt's ruling generals said Wednesday they would deploy more soldiers and tanks across the country, an announcement seen as a warning to activists planning a national strike on the anniversary of the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak.

New discoveries raise Dominican migrant toll to 41 (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 10:21pm EST

AP - Authorities in the Dominican Republic have recovered 20 more bodies of migrants who were aboard a boat that capsized, raising the death toll to 41, officials said Wednesday.

5 Yemeni prisoners killed in riots (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 9:57pm EST

AP - Security officials say five Yemeni prisoners have been killed in clashes after riots in a prison south of the capital as some tried to flee.

Why Syrians Fight, and Why Their Civil War May be a Long One (Time.com)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 9:25pm EST

Time.com - The reason that there's no plausible end-game in Syria anytime soon is that the Assad regime is fighting a very different war to the one envisaged by many of its opponents.

General: US advisory teams heading to Afghanistan (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 9:18pm EST

AP - The No. 2 U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Wednesday that U.S. military advisory teams will start deploying to Afghanistan this year to help Afghan combat forces as they take a more prominent role in fighting the Taliban.

Egypt will not be swayed by aid threat in NGOs case: PM (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 8:13pm EST

Reuters - Egypt said on Wednesday it would not be swayed by threats to aid when investigating foreign-funded pro-democracy groups and NGOs, a case that has prompted Washington to warn that U.S. military support worth $1.3 billion a year may be in jeopardy.

Murdoch firm settles 9 more hacking lawsuits (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 7:40pm EST

AP - Rupert Murdoch's News International has settled nearly all the cases against the company in the first wave of lawsuits for phone hacking by its journalists, with a new round of apologies and payouts announced Wednesday in a London court.

Clashes in Senegal between police, youth (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 7:30pm EST

AP - An opposition official in Senegal says police fired tear gas in a regional capital where the country's president was attempting to hold a campaign rally.

Russia says it offers alternative path to peace in Syria (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 6:32pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Russian diplomacy can offer an alternative path to civil peace in Syria, if only the West will give it a chance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednedsday after a visit to Damascusnbsp;in which he met with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

Egyptian judges: NGO workers face up to five years in prison (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 6:24pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Two Egyptian judges laid out their case today against 43 foreign NGO workers, including at least 16 Americans, saying the civil society organizations they worked for were trying to influence politics in Egypt and deliberately worked illegally in the country.

Lawyers for Cuban agents vow last-ditch appeal (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 6:14pm EST

AP - A lawyer for five Cuban agents sentenced to long jail terms for spying in the United States said Wednesday he is preparing a last-ditch appeal, arguing that one of the men received bad counsel and that the jury for all five was prejudiced because the U.S. paid several journalists who covered the trial.

6-week-old lone elephant calf dies in Zimbabwe (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 4:15pm EST

AP - Conservationists in Zimbabwe say round-the-clock efforts to save a baby elephant have failed. The six-week-old calf, who was separated from his mother on a busy highway and hand fed for three weeks, has died, apparently from pneumonia.

Mexican navy finds 10 bodies in mass grave sites (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 4:06pm EST

AP - The Mexican navy says a suspected member of the Zetas drug gang has led authorities to a mass grave site at two ranches in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz.

Sarkozy meets Israeli soldier held hostage 5 years (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 3:49pm EST

AP - An Israeli-French soldier who was held hostage for five years by Palestinian militants met Wednesday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Canadian population growth fastest in G8: census (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 3:32pm EST

Reuters - The Canadian population grew by 5.9 percent over five years to 33.5 million people in 2011, the fastest growth rate in the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations, the country's five-year census revealed on Wednesday.

Insight: In Sudan, glimpses of an Arab spring (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 3:04pm EST

Reuters - A few weeks ago, a leading opposition activist sat down in a downtown Khartoum office to talk to a journalist. The young man immediately removed the battery from his cellphone.

Sexual abuse silence deadly for Church: Vatican official (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 2:28pm EST

Reuters - Hiding behind a culture of omerta -- the Italian word for the Mafia's code of silence -- would be deadly for the Catholic Church, the Vatican's top official for dealing with sexual abuse of minors by clergy said Wednesday.

European central banks to blast cash into economy (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 1:10pm EST

AP - FRANKFURT, Germany mdash; With Europe sliding toward recession, the region's two main central banks are preparing to redouble their emergency measures aimed at softening the downturn and blunting the effects of the government debt crisis.

Iran feels sanctions pinch as Asia traders cut ties (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 1:07pm EST

Reuters - More evidence emerged of the crippling impact of new sanctions on Iran, with international traders saying Tehran is having trouble buying rice, cooking oil and other staples to feed its 74 million people weeks before an election.

Kyrgyz radioactive coal culprits face charges (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 12:46pm EST

AP - Prosecutors in Kyrgyzstan say seven people are facing charges over the import of contaminated radioactive coal from neighboring Kazakhstan.

US, Japan pave way to send Okinawa Marines to Guam (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 12:34pm EST

AP - Japan and the United States agreed Wednesday to proceed with plans to transfer thousands of U.S. troops out of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, leaving behind the stalled discussion about closing a major U.S. Marine base there.

Reporters locked out of Nigeria's busiest airport (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 12:30pm EST

AP - An international watchdog says authorities have shut down a long-standing press center in Nigeria's busiest airport.

EU set to adopt new sanctions against Syria (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 12:08pm EST

AP - The European Union will impose harsher sanctions on Syria, a senior EU official said Wednesday, as Russia tried to broker talks between the vice president and the opposition to calm violence. Activists reported at least 50 killed in the regime's siege of the restive city of Homs.

Haiti Papers Over the Past: The Re-Branding of Baby Doc Duvalier (Time.com)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 11:20am EST

Time.com - The government of Michel Martelly -- friend of Sean Penn and other U.S. celebrities -- has decided not to pursue the ex-dictator-for-life for crimes against humanity -- just corruption

U.S. to move Marines to Guam despite Futenma delay (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 10:30am EST

Reuters - Japan and the United States agreed on Wednesday to decouple the transfer of thousands of U.S. Marines to Guam from the southern Japan island of Okinawa from plans to relocate a base on Okinawa, a step forward in resolving an irritant in relations.

German exports drop is steepest in nearly 3 years (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 9:29am EST

Reuters - German exports fell at their fastest rate in nearly three years in December and imports also unexpectedly dropped, suggesting Europe's bulwark economy could have contracted more than forecast in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Crusading China police chief drops out of sight (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 9:18am EST

AP - The former top cop of a major Chinese city has dropped from sight amid unconfirmed reports he is seeking U.S. asylum following a quarrel with one of China's most powerful local politicians.

11 abducted Iranian pilgrims released in Syria (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 8:56am EST

AP - Iran's state media say kidnappers have released 11 Iranian pilgrims who were recently abducted in Syria.

Disgruntled police in Brazil threatening Carnival (AP)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 8:50am EST

AP - Disgruntled police across Brazil are taking aim at the country's iconic Carnival celebration, raising threats to the annual street parties that draw hordes of foreigners as a way to press their demands for pay raises.

NATO, Afghan and Pakistan officials to hold border talks (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 8:36am EST

Reuters - NATO, Afghan and Pakistani military officials will hold talks on improving border security and coordination on Wednesday, in a possible sign that tension is easing following a cross-border NATO air attack in November that infuriated Pakistan.

South Korea opposition party says it will repeal U.S. trade deal (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 8:06am EST

Reuters - The leader of South Korea's main opposition party, which polls say is headed for a big victory in an April election, said on Wednesday it would repeal a free trade deal with the United States if it wins control of parliament, unless the pact is renegotiated.

Maldives installs new president amid coup allegations (Reuters)

Posted: February 8th, 2012, 6:50am EST

Reuters - The ousted president of the Maldives, credited with bringing democracy to the Indian Ocean islands, said on Wednesday he had been forced out of power at gunpoint, prompting clashes between police and angry supporters.

Two RCMP officers shot in Alberta; house surrounded (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 4:48am EST

Reuters - Two Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were shot and wounded in the western province of Alberta, the national police force said on Tuesday.

Argentina condemns British militarization in Falklands (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 3:26am EST

Reuters - Argentina's president on Tuesday accused Britain of militarizing the South Atlantic and vowed to complain to the United Nations as tension rises ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Falklands war.

Egyptians must work to end military rule-ElBaradei (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 3:24am EST

Reuters - Egyptians must overcome economic and political differences to unite and put the country on the path to democracy and away from military rule, former presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei said Wednesday.

Indians, Panama gov't in deal to end road blockade (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 3:18am EST

AP - Members of an Indian tribe in Panama have agreed with the government to end a highway blockade in return for the release of demonstrators detained when police used tear gas to clear the road over the weekend.

Rio's Olympic Preview: Erupting Manhole Covers (Time.com)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 3:10am EST

Time.com - Will the Brazilian megacity's crumbling infrastructure spoil the World Cup and the Olympics?

Obama Seeks to Cool War Fever While Keeping Up Pressure on Iran (Time.com)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 3:10am EST

Time.com - Nobody likely envies the challenge President Barack Obama faces getting his messaging right on Iran

Attacks in Syria's Homs resume after Russian peace (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 2:48am EST

Reuters - Syria's army pounded the rebel city of Homs as Turkey sought international action to protect civilians from former ally President Bashar al-Assad, a move that risks the wrath of Russia and China.

Age, military ties mark Kim Jong Un's inner circle (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 2:48am EST

AP - Wherever North Korea's young new leader goes, they're there: a group of graying military and political officials who shadow Kim Jong Un as he visits army bases, attends concerts and tours schools.

Qantas grounds A380 after finding cracks in wings (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 2:36am EST

AP - Australia's Qantas Airways says it has temporarily grounded one of its A380 superjumbos after discovering dozens of hairline cracks in its wings.

Egypt's ruling generals play risky game with US (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 2:23am EST

AP - Egypt's state news agency says the military has deployed troops to the country's streets to reinforce the police, restore security and state prestige.

Last known WWI veteran Florence Green dies at 110 (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 1:55am EST

AP - Florence Green never saw the front line. Her war was spent serving food, not dodging bullets.

Sierra Leone opposition: gov't provoking violence (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 1:54am EST

AP - The top opposition presidential candidate is accusing Sierra Leone's ruling party of provoking violence ahead of November polls.

Cubans say U.S. embargo a failure at 50 (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 1:12am EST

Reuters - The 50th anniversary of the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba on Tuesday was met with little fanfare on the island, where Cubans said it was a failed policy that had succeeded only in making their lives more difficult.

Egypt's ruling generals play risky game with US (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 12:15am EST

AP - Egypt's ruling generals are playing a risky game of brinksmanship by cracking down on American nonprofit groups that promote democracy, threatening a relationship with Washington that has brought the military billions of dollars in aid over the past three decades.

RIM tells European developers it's ready to compete (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 11:53pm EST

Reuters - Next-generation software for BlackBerry's smartphones is ready to compete, Research In Motion's new chief executive, Thorsten Heins, told more than 2,000 technical developers on Tuesday, expressing confidence in RIM's long-term future.

Death toll rises after boat accident near DomRep (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 11:47pm EST

AP - The death toll has risen to 21 from the weekend capsizing of a boat overloaded with migrants near the Dominican Republic.

Probe sought after 2 barred from returning to US (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 11:34pm EST

AP - A Muslim civil rights group wants the Justice Department to investigate the tactics of FBI agents in Portland, Ore., after two Libyan-Americans from the area were recently barred from returning to the United States.

Senegal president leads rally through capital (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 10:18pm EST

AP - The aging president of Senegal tried to divert attention from growing street protests calling for his resignation and prove that he still had grassroots support by leading an impromptu rally through the capital late Tuesday.

Canada says may use information from torture, rarely (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 9:57pm EST

Reuters - Canada's spy service can in exceptional circumstances use information that has been obtained by a foreign country through torture if it will save Canadian lives, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said on Tuesday.

Trinidad's former leader flown to US after stroke (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 9:46pm EST

AP - Trinidad's former Prime Minister Patrick Manning has been airlifted to Walter Reed Medical Center in the United States for treatment following a stroke.

Experts to bishops: pedophiles lie, trust victims (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 9:25pm EST

AP - Priests who rape and molest children lie when confronted with an accusation but victims usually tell the truth, psychologists told Catholic bishops at a symposium Tuesday, advising them to listen first to the victims.

The Merkel-Sarkozy 'odd couple' becomes a campaign duo (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 9:20pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - A German chancellor stumping for a standing French president is not something the French have seen before.

Permalink for 'Yahoo_World_News/2012/02/07/Tour_de_France_champ_Alberto_Contador_vows_to_challenge_doping_verdict___video________The_Christian_Science_Monitor__'

Tour de France champ Alberto Contador vows to challenge doping verdict (+video) (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 9:10pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador signaled today his intention to appeal the doping conviction handed down yesterday by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after a grueling 18-month legal battle.

Special operations' Afghan role could be expanded (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 8:53pm EST

AP - Adm. Bill McRaven said Tuesday that special operations forces in Afghanistan are preparing for a possible expanded role as overall U.S. forces begin to draw down after a decade of war.

Bomb attacks strike military bases in Nigeria (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 7:44pm EST

AP - Bombs exploded Tuesday at two major military bases on the outskirts of a central Nigerian city at the heart of ethnic and religious unrest in Africa's most populous nation, injuring an unknown number of people.

Hungary's leader defends his new constitution (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 7:23pm EST

AP - Hungary's prime minister defended his nation's new constitution on Tuesday and questioned the motives of those who are criticizing it.

Coca growers whip police officers in Bolivia (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 7:23pm EST

AP - Bolivian authorities say coca growers have whipped four police officers for trying to destroy their coca crop in an application of what the growers call community justice.

World watches as China economic leaders take stage (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 6:46pm EST

Reuters - A new guessing game is about to begin: will China's incoming generation of leaders show more courage than the current incumbents in tackling deep economic imbalances that threaten to bring growth to a sudden stop?

Rio's Olympic Preview: Erupting Manhole Covers and Collapsing Buildings (Time.com)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 5:25pm EST

Time.com - Will the Brazilian megacity's crumbling infrastructure spoil the World Cup and the Olympics?

Uganda's anti-gay bill reintroduced in parliament (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 4:53pm EST

AP - The Ugandan parliamentarian who first introduced an anti-gay bill that carried the death penalty for some homosexual acts reintroduced the bill on Tuesday, raising concerns among rights activists who have been fighting the legislation.

Partial collapse of building kills 1 in Brazil (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 4:27pm EST

AP - Brazilian firefighters say a 13-story building has partially collapsed in an industrial suburb outside Sao Paulo, killing a 3-year-old girl.

Crash kills 11, mostly migrant farm workers (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 3:17pm EST

Reuters - A crash between a flatbed truck and a van carrying migrant farm workers on a rural crossroads in southwestern Ontario killed 11 people, media reported on Tuesday, in one of the most deadly vehicle accidents in Canadian history.

Iran shrugs off latest U.S. sanctions, trade suffers (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 2:20pm EST

Reuters - Iran castigated its U.S. adversary on Tuesday over new financial measures to disrupt Iranian commerce, and a default on payment for rice purchases highlighted the encroachment of sanctions on the staples of everyday life.

Pakistani woman saved after 31 hours under rubble (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 1:19pm EST

AP - Rescue workers on Tuesday pulled a 65-year-old woman out alive after she was trapped for 31 hours in the rubble of a collapsed factory in an eastern Pakistan city, as the death toll from the accident rose to 18.

Greece, Bulgaria battle flooding; 8 dead (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 1:11pm EST

AP - A swollen river in Greece bursts its banks, flooding homes and forcing authorities to declare a state of emergency Tuesday, officials said, as rescuers scrambled to a Bulgarian village nearly washed away when a dam collapsed, killing eight people.

Walmart Canada unveils $750 million plan to take on rivals (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 1:10pm EST

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc's Canadian unit will invest more than $750 million in 73 projects in the next twelve months, as the world's biggest retailer moves aggressively to stay ahead of competitors such as Target Corp.

Censors lighten their touch on Myanmar's media (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 1:00pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Ko Ko Gyi unrolls a copy of the Messenger, one of 30 privately owned news magazines in Myanmar (Burma), and points â with an expression of disbelief ânbsp;to a prominent picture of himself on the front page.

Sierra Leone opposition: gov't provoking violence (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 12:59pm EST

AP - The top opposition presidential candidate is accusing Sierra Leone's ruling party of provoking violence ahead of November polls.

Obama Seeks to Cool War Fever While Keeping Up Pressure on Iran (Time.com)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 12:30pm EST

Time.com - Nobody likely envies the challenge President Barack Obama faces getting his messaging right on Iran

Obama Seeks to Cool War Fever While Keeping Up Pressure on Iran (Time.com)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 12:15pm EST

Time.com - Nobody likely envies the challenge President Barack Obama faces getting his messaging right on Iran

Between Lots of Rocks and Hard Places: Greece's Bad Options (Time.com)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 12:15pm EST

Time.com - Faced with austerity, debt and the potential return to the drachma, the Greeks have nothing but bleakness in their immediate future

Netanyahu can't fly solo in Israel to attack Iran (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 12:07pm EST

Reuters - Three decades ago, an Israeli prime minister faced his cabinet and invoked the Holocaust in an emotional appeal to approve an air strike against an Arab atomic reactor.

Oil hovers near $97 as traders eye US supplies (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 10:13am EST

AP - Oil prices hovered near $97 a barrel Tuesday in Asia amid trader concern U.S. crude supplies will continue to rise because of weak demand.

Iran: US assets ban antagonistic, will have no impact (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 10:09am EST

Reuters - Iran on Tuesday denounced as an antagonistic move a tightening of U.S. sanctions targeting Tehran's central bank and giving U.S. banks new powers to freeze Iranian government assets, and said it would have no impact.

Glencore, Xstrata agree to $90 billion merger (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 10:08am EST

AP - Anglo-Swiss mining group Xstrata PLC announced plans Tuesday to merge with commodities trading giant Glencore International PLC in a deal that will create the world's fourth largest natural resources group.

South Africa minister: Mines won't be nationalized (AP)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 9:56am EST

AP - Nationalization is not an option for South Africa's troubled mining industry, the country's mining minister told an international audience Tuesday.

Fate of Maldives president unclear as police mutiny (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 9:25am EST

Reuters - President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives, widely credited with bringing democracy to the Indian Ocean archipelago, resigned on Tuesday in what his party said was a coup after weeks of opposition protests erupted into a police mutiny.

U.S. lifts restrictions to support IFIs work in Myanmar (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 9:08am EST

Reuters - The United States has eased some restrictions on Myanmar to support ongoing work by International Financial Institutions (IFIs) like the Asian Development Bank carrying out economic assessments and technical assistance to its new civilian government.

Could the Wind Turbines of Chile Harm Blue Whales? (Time.com)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 8:55am EST

Time.com - The energy-starved country needs wind power but environmental critics say it will not only mar the landscape but harm the wildlife

Russians Rally for and Against Putin, Despite an Icy Day (Time.com)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 8:55am EST

Time.com - The weather was frightful, but tens of thousands of people showed up in Russia's capital for dueling demonstrations -- though one side may have made appearing hard to refuse

Exclusive: Iran defaults on rice payments to India (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 8:16am EST

Reuters - Iranian buyers have defaulted on payments for about 200,000 tonnes of rice from their top supplier India, exporters and rice millers said on Tuesday, a sign of the mounting pressure on Tehran from a new wave of Western sanctions.

Australia floods fail to dampen big cotton crop (Reuters)

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 7:03am EST

Reuters - Australia's projections for a bumper cotton crop remain on track despite a week-long deluge in major growing regions that forced thousands of residents from their homes and left rivers dangerously swollen.

Brazil: Standoff between striking police, soldiers (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 5:55am EST

AP - Soldiers clashed with supporters of striking police in Brazil's third-largest city on Monday, firing tear gas and rubber bullets at the feet of people trying to join officers occupying the Bahia state legislature building.

China fines parents of HK-born second child: report (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 4:33am EST

Reuters - Mainland Chinese who have a second child in Hong Kong will be fined for breaching China's one-child policy, Chinese media quoted a family planning official as saying, as mainland Chinese women flock to the former British colony to give birth.

The Mainstreaming of Hamas Continues as Palestinian Unity Gains Steam (Time.com)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 4:00am EST

Time.com - Hamas vows to give Palestinian moderate leader Mahmoud Abbas the running room to see what talks can produce

China: Body of missing worker recovered in Sudan (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 3:41am EST

AP - Twenty-nine Chinese workers abducted by rebels in Sudan more than a week ago have been released and flown to Kenya by the Red Cross, the group said Tuesday.

US closes Syrian embassy as diplomacy collapses (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 3:36am EST

AP - Days after blocking a U.S.-backed peace plan at the U.N., senior Russian officials pushed for reforms Tuesday during an emergency meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad, promoting a settlement to end the uprising without removing him from power.

Stomach flu sickens St. Maarten cruise passengers (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 3:35am EST

AP - A health ministry official in St. Maarten says that more than two dozen cruise passengers were sick as the vessel docked in the Caribbean island.

Syrian forces attack Homs on eve of Lavrov visit (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 2:36am EST

Reuters - Russia won a promise from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday to bring an end to bloodshed in Syria, but Western and Arab states acted to isolate Assad further after activists and rebels said his forces killed over 100 in the city of Homs.

Palestinians take step toward unity (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 2:18am EST

AP - Gaza's ruling Islamic militant Hamas is ready to cede power to an interim unity government led by its longtime rival, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a spokesman said Tuesday, but problems loomed over government policy and international recognition.

Candidacy tests Mexico's culture of machismo (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 1:21am EST

AP - Mexico's conservative ruling party is gambling that this country known for machismo is ready for a female president and have chosen a devout Roman Catholic and popular former congresswoman who says she sympathizes with the causes of the poor.

Romania's government collapses after protests (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 1:12am EST

AP - Romania's government has collapsed following weeks of protests against austerity measures, the latest debt-stricken government in Europe to fall in the face of raising public anger over biting cuts.

Gunmen kill five in Libyan refugee camp: hospital staff (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 11:19pm EST

Reuters - Gunmen killed five Libyan refugees at their camp in a Tripoli suburb Monday, residents and hospital sources said, underscoring the volatility in the country months after Muammar Gaddafi's overthrow.

Wall St edges lower after string of gains (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 10:20pm EST

Reuters - Stocks closed slightly lower on Monday as lingering questions about Europe's debt crisis and corporate earnings overshadowed growing optimism about economic growth after a five-week rally.

China VP seeks reunion with Iowans he met in 1985 (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 9:31pm EST

AP - As China's future president makes plans for a trip to the United States next week, he has made sure that there's time between stops in Washington and California to visit Iowa.

Senegalese opposition denounce president's bid for third term (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 9:20pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - The eight candidates came in convoys from their respective corners of Dakar to Obelisk Square in the heart of the Senegalese capital, where crowds of color-coordinated supporters awaited them while listening to political hip-hop anthems in Wolof - the local dialect. A single microphone stood on stage and each of them were introduced as president before they took it.

Egyptian NGO crackdown could impact U.S. aid: White House (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 9:15pm EST

Reuters - An Egyptian military delegation abruptly cancelled its meetings with U.S. lawmakers to return to Cairo on Monday after warnings from both Congress and the White House that Egypt's crackdown on non-governmental groups could threaten its $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid.

Palestinians take step toward unity (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 8:53pm EST

AP - After months of wavering, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas took a decisive step Monday toward reconciliation with the Islamic militant group Hamas, a move Israel promptly warned would close the door to any future peace talks.

South Africa's cautious UN vote for Syrian action (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 8:51pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Russia and Chinaâs joint veto of a United Nations resolution urging Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to step down has kicked up a firestorm of criticism from the West and from human rights activists.

Quick end to lockout at Rio's Quebec smelter unlikely (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 8:51pm EST

Reuters - Rio Tinto's lockout of workers at its Alcan division's big Alma aluminum smelter in northern Quebec looks set to drag on, and the company said on Monday that no talks were scheduled.

Puerto Rico fisherman survives 20 days adrift (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 8:44pm EST

AP - A Puerto Rican fisherman spent nearly three weeks adrift in the Caribbean, surviving on raw fish and trapped rainwater, before reaching the Colombian island of San Andres.

No way China can sustain its growth: Biden (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 8:31pm EST

Reuters - Vice President Joe Biden warned on Monday that there is no way that China will be able to sustain its current level of economic growth because of what he called its God-awful one-child policy.

Victims weep, ridicule Norway killer's court speech (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 8:14pm EST

Reuters - Survivors and relatives of those killed in a Norwegian mass-murder rampage wept and ridiculed the smiling attacker in court Monday as he defended his acts by issuing a tirade against immigration.

Nigeria names seven behind Eni pipeline blast (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 7:37pm EST

Reuters - Nigeria's military has named seven people it says were behind an attack on an oil pipeline belonging to Italy's Eni on Saturday, and denied a claim that a former separatist militia in the Niger Delta was responsible.

Syria's Splintered Opposition: Who Is Running the War Against the Regime? (Time.com)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 7:15pm EST

Time.com - As the Free Syrian Army is establishing an identity in the conflict, another organization announces its presence in the opposition pantheon

The Mainstreaming of Hamas Continues as Palestinian Unity Gains Steam (Time.com)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 7:15pm EST

Time.com - Hamas vows to give Palestinian moderate leader Mahmoud Abbas the running room to see what talks can produce

U.N. nuclear talks in Tehran: frustrated hopes (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 6:01pm EST

Reuters - After two days of rare and intensive talks in Tehran, senior U.N. nuclear officials may have felt they were finally making headway towards getting Iran to address suspicions that it is bent on developing the ability to make atom bombs.

Dam bursts in Bulgaria, 8 killed in floods (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 5:50pm EST

AP - A dam in southern Bulgaria burst Monday after days of heavy rain, sending an eight-foot-high (2.5-meter) torrent surging through a village along the Greek border. The disaster brought the region's toll from flooding to eight dead, 10 missing.

Egypt army urges swift move to presidential election (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 5:12pm EST

Reuters - Egypt's military leadership called for a swift move to a presidential election on Monday and security forces sealed off the Interior Ministry in Cairo from stone-throwing protesters clashing with riot police for a fifth day.

Syria protesters hurl rocks at China embassy in Libya (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 4:33pm EST

Reuters - Syrian and Libyan demonstrators hurled rocks, eggs and tomatoes at the Chinese embassy in Tripoli on Monday, after Russia and China vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution backing an Arab plan urging Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to give up power.

Queen celebrates 60 years on throne (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 3:04pm EST

AP - Tributes poured in to Queen Elizabeth II on Monday as she marked 60 years on the throne with a message vowing to continue serving the British people.

Iraqi lawmaker says he faces charges; new crisis (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 2:55pm EST

AP - Iraq's Shiite-led government wants to bring charges against a member of the Sunni-backed bloc, the lawmaker said Monday, the latest step in a political crisis that erupted just after the U.S. completed its military withdrawal from the violence-wracked nation.

Zimbabwe general's death shrouded in suspicion (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 2:50pm EST

AP - Testimony before an inquest into a Zimbabwean power broker's fiery death ended Monday, leaving the last hours of Gen. Solomon Mujuru's life shrouded in suspicion he was murdered by political rivals.

Google, Facebook remove content on India's order (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 2:34pm EST

AP - Google India has removed web pages deemed offensive to Indian political and religious leaders to comply with a court case that has raised censorship fears in the world's largest democracy, media reported Monday.

Romanian PM announces gov't resignation (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 12:15pm EST

AP - The Romanian prime minister on Monday announced the immediate resignation of himself and his government, saying he wanted to protect the stability of the country.

Rescuers dig to reach trapped in Philippines quake (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 12:13pm EST

AP - Rescuers dug with picks and shovels trying to reach dozens of people trapped under houses collapsed by a strong earthquake Monday that shook a central Philippine island and set off landslides.

Romania PM Boc quits after protests (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 12:04pm EST

Reuters - Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc resigned on Monday, joining a list of European leaders felled by fury at the kind of spending cuts that prompted weeks of mass protests in Bucharest against IMF-backed austerity.

Chevron rig burns off Nigeria as damage hits shore (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 11:53am EST

AP - As a fire at a Chevron Corp. gas rig off Nigeria's coast continues to burn, locals say they're seeing signs of its effects on the environment and the health of those living nearby.

Analysis: Iran economy could limp along under sanctions (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 11:13am EST

Reuters - Tightening international sanctions against Iran look set to shrink its economy, push up inflation and further erode its currency, but they may fail to deliver a knock-out blow that forces Tehran to compromise on its nuclear ambitions.

Abbas to head new unity Palestinian government: senior official (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 11:13am EST

Reuters - The leaders of rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas signed a deal in Qatar on Monday to form a unity government of independent technocrats for the West Bank and Gaza, headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Argentina and Britain's Unfinished War: Hate Email, Harrassing Calls and Prince William (Time.com)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 10:45am EST

Time.com - Whether called the Falklands or Las Malvinas, the south Atlantic islands are once again the center of a diplomatic row as the 30th anniversary of a brief war approaches

Russia and China Challenge the West on Syria: What Implications for Iran? (Time.com)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 10:45am EST

Time.com - The breach among the Permanent Five members of the U.N. Security Council in Saturday's vote on Syria's increasingly bloody power struggle could have profound implications for Syria's immediate future

IMF warns Europe downturn could cut China growth (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 9:26am EST

AP - A sharp downturn in Europe could cut China's economic growth rate nearly in half, the International Monetary Fund said Monday, adding to warnings about a possible severe global slowdown this year.

China defends its veto of UN measure on Syria (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 9:22am EST

AP - China said Monday it was forced to veto a United Nations vote on Syria because it was called before differences in the proposal were bridged but added it wants to play a constructive role in ending violence there.

China says Tibet facing urgent task to maintain stability (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 9:06am EST

Reuters - China's mountainous region of Tibet is facing an urgent task to maintain stability, and all government workers must be on their highest guard ahead of the Tibetan New Year and the fourth anniversary of riots there, a top newspaper said on Monday.

Activists: Syrian troops pound Homs neighborhoods (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 9:05am EST

AP - The U.S. closed its embassy in Syria and Britain recalled its ambassador to Damascus on Monday in a new Western push to get President Bashar Assad to leave power and halt the murderous grind in Syria mdash; now among the deadliest conflicts of the Arab Spring.

Correction: Australia helicopter deaths story (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 8:28am EST

AP - In a story Feb. 5 about the deaths of two filmmakers in an Australian helicopter crash, The Associated Press reported erroneously the location of the crash. Nowra is 97 miles (156 kilometers) south of Sydney, not north.

Pakistan factory collapses in gas blast, three dead (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 7:04am EST

Reuters - A three-storey factory collapsed on Monday in the Pakistani city of Lahore after a gas explosion, killing at least five people and trapping dozens, emergency officials said.

Myanmar panel says Suu Kyi can run for Parliament (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 6:45am EST

AP - Myanmar's Election Commission on Monday gave opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi the green light to run for parliamentary by-elections, another step toward political openness in a country emerging from nearly a half-century of iron-fisted military rule.

Deep-sea filmmakers killed in Australia helicopter crash (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 6:32am EST

Reuters - Two award-winning filmmakers working on a documentary with renowned Hollywood director James Cameron were killed in a helicopter crash in Australia on Saturday, according to National Geographic.

Egyptian Protesters Confront Police After Soccer Riots (Time.com)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 6:30am EST

Time.com - Four more die in a day of violent clashes, as anger over alleged police complicity in a stadium tragedy unleashes pent-up frustrations

One dead, local tsunami alert in 6.7 quake off Philippines (Reuters)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 6:18am EST

Reuters - One child died and a local tsunami alert was issued after a magnitude 6.7 earthquake followed by two aftershocks struck off the Philippines island of Negros on Monday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and a local monitoring service.

Egypt to try 19 Americans in case straining ties (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 6:14am EST

AP - Ignoring a U.S. threat to cut off aid, Egypt has referred 19 Americans and 24 other employees of nonprofit groups to trial before a criminal court on accusations they illegally used foreign funds to foment unrest in the country.

China bars its airlines from paying EU carbon tax (AP)

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 6:07am EST

AP - China announced Monday it will prohibit its airlines from paying European Union charges on carbon emissions, ratcheting up a global dispute over the cost of combatting climate change.

Mexican ruling party picks woman as prez candidate (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 5:16am EST

AP - The nation's ruling party has chosen a woman as its candidate for president, a test for a society where women could not vote until 1953 and where a culture of machismo still runs strong.

Europe's cold snap claims more victims, travel hit (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 4:43am EST

Reuters - Bitterly cold weather sweeping across Europe claimed more victims Sunday, brought widespread disruption to transport services, and left thousands without power with warnings that low temperatures would continue into next week.

17 dead, 13 rescued after migrant boat capsizes (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 4:41am EST

AP - Rescuers scouring the white-capped waters off the Dominican Republic's coast have found 17 bodies and 13 survivors from a boat overloaded with migrants that capsized almost two days ago, officials said.

Mexico conservatives back woman presidential candidate (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 4:41am EST

Reuters - Voters from Mexico's ruling conservative party selected their first woman presidential candidate on Sunday, choosing a former education minister to battle the opposition's nominee, who has a big lead in the polls.

Island nation of Vanuatu jolted by several quakes (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 3:34am EST

AP - The South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu continues to be jolted by several moderate to strong earthquakes after a magnitude 7.1 temblor hit last week.

Aussie PM says she will lead government to victory (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 1:49am EST

AP - Embattled Prime Minister Julia Gillard insists she will lead her unpopular government to victory at elections next year despite persistent media reports that Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd is plotting to overthrow her in an internal power struggle.

Anger after Russia, China block U.N. action on Syria (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 1:46am EST

Reuters - Syrian forces bombarded Homs on Monday, killing 50 people in a sustained assault on several districts of the city which has become a centre of armed opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian National Council opposition group said.

France, German leaders meet amid euro, Syria crises (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 1:43am EST

Reuters - The French and German leaders meet on Monday in Paris for annual talks in which they will seek further economic coordination in the crisis-hit European Union and discuss the escalating violence in Syria.

Panama police, indigenous clash over blockade (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 1:35am EST

AP - Police fired tear gas Sunday to clear blockades of the Pan-American highway by indigenous groups protesting changes to the mining law. One person was killed and 39 injured in the resulting clashes.

Ex-Panama strongman Noriega hospitalized, stable (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 1:26am EST

Reuters - Manuel Noriega, Panama's drug-running military dictator of the 1980s, was taken from prison to a public hospital on Sunday after suffering a possible stroke, but a top health official said he was stable.

Obama says risky to attack Iran, wants diplomatic fix (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 1:20am EST

Reuters - President Barack Obama said on Sunday there were important risks to consider before any military strike against Iran and made clear he does not want to see more conflict in the oil-producing Gulf region.

Abbas proposed as PM in interim unity government (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 12:27am EST

AP - Hamas on Sunday endorsed a proposal by Qatar that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas assume the role of prime minister in an interim Palestinian unity government that would prepare for general elections in the West Bank and Gaza, according to two officials close to the contacts.

Deep-sea filmmakers killed in Australia helicopter crash (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 12:26am EST

Reuters - Two award-winning filmmakers working on a documentary with renowned Hollywood director James Cameron were killed in a helicopter crash in Australia on Saturday, according to National Geographic.

Local firms vie for Yum's slice of China market (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 11:29pm EST

Reuters - Four floors up overlooking the bustle of the cavernous Joy City Mall in Beijing, diners take a break from shopping to slurp noodles and nibble on dumplings at an Ajisen restaurant.

Pro-EU Niinisto wins Finnish presidency (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 11:00pm EST

Reuters - Pro-Europe politician Sauli Niinisto won Finland's presidency on Sunday in an election that showed voters want to keep the country in the euro zone despite misgivings over European Union bailouts.

NGO worker cases sent to Egypt court in funding row (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 10:40pm EST

Reuters - The cases of 40 foreign and Egyptian activists, including 19 Americans subject to travel bans over their work for pro-democracy and other groups, have been referred to court, judicial sources said Sunday, deepening a row with the United States.

Gunmen publish Yemen president's photo by force (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 10:30pm EST

AP - A state-run Yemeni newspaper's office is being occupied by armed men who kicked out the paper's editors and journalists in order to reinstate the outgoing president's picture on the front page.

Canadian Muslims issue fatwa against honor killing (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 10:20pm EST

Reuters - A group of Canada's leading Muslim clerics has issued a fatwa against so-called honor killings, just a week after three members of an Afghan Canadian family were convicted of a gruesome quadruple murder that triggered a national debate about cultural values.

Ex-Panama strongman Noriega hospitalized (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 9:04pm EST

Reuters - Manuel Noriega, Panama's drug-running military dictator of the 1980s, was taken from prison to a public hospital after suffering a possible stroke, the national police said on Sunday.

16 dead, 11 rescued after migrant boat capsizes (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 8:59pm EST

AP - Rescuers have recovered 16 bodies and pulled 11 survivors from white-capped waters off this coastal town after an overloaded boat carrying migrants from the Dominican Republic capsized, officials said Sunday.

Libya court postpones trial of Gaddafi loyalists (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 8:36pm EST

Reuters - The decision (to postpone) was made in the wake of listening to the pleadings of the defense panel that argued that this military court is not a competent entity and called for referring the case to the civil judiciary, LANA said on its website.

UN envoy says Myanmar should admit to rights violations (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 7:58pm EST

Reuters - A top United Nations envoy warned Myanmar Sunday not to backtrack on its ongoing reform program and said the civilian government should acknowledge its past human rights violations to allow the country to move forward.

Carnival cruise ship passengers struck with virus (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 7:51pm EST

Reuters - More than 100 people on board a cruise ship operated by a unit of Carnival Corp have fallen ill with a stomach virus, the latest setback facing the world's biggest cruise company, which came under scrutiny last month for the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster in Italy.

French elections heading for two-horse race: poll (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 7:41pm EST

Reuters - France's presidential election looks set to become a straight fight between Socialist frontrunner Francois Hollande and incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy after both widened the gap with other contenders over the past month, a poll showed Sunday.

Europe's cold snap claims more victims, travel hit (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 7:16pm EST

Reuters - Bitterly cold weather sweeping across Europe claimed more victims Sunday, brought widespread disruption to transport services, and left thousands without power with warnings that low temperatures would continue into next week.

Americans face prosecution as Egypt ignores Clinton, Congress (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 7:07pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Egypt is bringing criminal charges against at least 40 people, including some American citizens, over the foreign funding of nongovernmental organizations, sharply raising the stakes in a standoff with the US that has put $1.3 billion in US military aid to Egypt at risk.

Finland votes for new president in runoff election (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 6:37pm EST

AP - A former finance minister won Finland's presidential election Sunday and will become the country's first conservative head of state in five decades.

Nigeria ruling party wins vote in violence-hit north (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 5:29pm EST

Reuters - Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic party (PDP) won a governorship election in the northern state of Adamawa, despite fierce criticism over the party's handling of an insurgency in the north.

Report: 78 killed in police strike in Brazil state (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 4:46pm EST

AP - Brazilian media report 78 people have been murdered in and around the northeastern city of Salvador since the start of a state police strike there five days ago.

Aid groups: 15,000 flee Mali amid Tuareg rebellion (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 4:16pm EST

AP - More than 15,000 people including Malian military personnel have fled into neighboring countries since members of the nomadic Tuareg ethnic group launched a new rebellion against the Malian government last month, aid officials say.

UN envoy says Myanmar may allow election observers (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 4:16pm EST

AP - A U.N. human rights envoy said Sunday that Myanmar is considering letting foreign observers monitor April elections that are viewed as crucial for gauging the nation's much-heralded democratic reforms.

Egypt sends 43 NGO workers to trial over funds (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 3:53pm EST

AP - Ignoring a U.S. threat to cut off aid, Egypt on Sunday referred 19 Americans and 24 other employees of nonprofit groups to trial before a criminal court on accusations they illegally used foreign funds to foment unrest in the country.

Syria next steps: With diplomacy stalled, escalation expected (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 3:50pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in Syria appear to have reached an impasse following the vetoing by Russia and China of a United Nations Security Council resolution.

Anti-Putin protesters show staying power in Russia (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 3:46pm EST

Reuters - Vladimir Putin's opponents vowed on Sunday to press on with demonstrations against his 12-year domination of Russia after tens of thousands attended a march which kept up the momentum of their protest movement.

Massacre in Syria: Reports of Hundreds Killed in Homs, While Diplomats Fiddle at the U.N. (Time.com)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 3:05pm EST

Time.com - Friday night, Syrian security forces carried out what the opposition Syrian National Council called a horrific massacre targeting Homs in one of the worst violence in the 11-month uprising

Egyptian Protesters Confront Police After Soccer Riots (Time.com)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 3:05pm EST

Time.com - Four more die in a day of violent clashes, as anger over alleged police complicity in a stadium tragedy unleashes pent-up frustrations

Filipino villagers helped kill terror leader (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 2:16pm EST

AP - Abu Sayyaf commander Umbra Jumdail had deviated from the brutal image of his al-Qaida-linked militant group by playing doctor to poor Filipino villagers, whose backing he needed to stay safe from military troops. But those villagers may have been used by the military to finally track him down last week.

Chief army defector promises fight to free Syria (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 1:49pm EST

AP - The commander of a force of rebel Syrian soldiers says they have no choice now but to fight to free the country of President Bashar Assad's regime after Russia and China vetoed a U.N. resolution aimed at resolving the crisis.

Iran says will attack any country used to strike its soil (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 1:42pm EST

Reuters - Iran will target any country used as a launchpad for attacks against its soil, the deputy Revolutionary Guards commander said, expanding Tehran's range of threats in an increasingly volatile stand-off with world powers over its nuclear ambitions.

Turkey, an imperfect example for the region (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 1:29pm EST

AP - For adversaries in a long-distance spat, they made an odd couple. Turkey's leader, a brash visionary who propelled his country to regional prominence, tangled with an American author who dwells on the existential in his work.

Blast hits Egypt's gas pipeline to Israel (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 1:19pm EST

Reuters - An explosion hit a gas pipeline running from Egypt to Israel Sunday, the latest in a series of attacks on the installation that crosses the increasingly volatile Sinai region, witnesses and state media reported.

Egypt: can't influence democracy groups probe (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 12:53pm EST

AP - Egypt's foreign minister insisted Sunday that the government can't intervene in an investigation of foreign-funded pro-democracy organizations that is straining ties with the United States, but underlined Cairo's commitment to the relationship with Washington.

Europe's cold snap claims more victims, travel hit (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 12:41pm EST

Reuters - Bitterly cold weather sweeping across Europe claimed more victims on Sunday, brought widespread disruption to transport services, and left thousands without power with warnings that low temperatures would continue into next week.

Cairo protesters demand early vote, clash with police (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 12:38pm EST

Reuters - Egypt's army-backed government said it was preparing to move ousted President Hosni Mubarak to a Cairo prison hospital in an apparent bid to calm protests, but clashes continued with police firing tear gas at demonstrators hurling rocks and broken tiles.

Iran raid likely to drag in U.S. and hurt global economy (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 10:43am EST

Reuters - An Israeli raid on Iran's nuclear facilities would deliver a painful shock to the global economy, revive flagging Islamist militancy and possibly drag the United States into a regional war whether it backed its ally's attack or not.

HRW calls for Palestinian residency rights (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 10:37am EST

AP - An international human rights group has urged Israel to lift what it says are arbitrary restrictions on Palestinian residency in the West Bank and Gaza.

Military comeback a distant dream for Afghan Taliban (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 10:37am EST

Reuters - A secret NATO report showing the strength of confidence among the Afghan Taliban is raising concerns from Kabul to Washington that the militant group might overrun the country again when foreign combat forces finally leave.

Venice rebels against cruise ship intrusions (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 10:36am EST

AP - It's a matter of perspective. From aboard a 12-deck cruise liner, the sight of St. Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs gliding past from a cabin balcony is a breathtaking thrill.

Car bomb kills 7 people in southern Afghan city (AP)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 10:18am EST

AP - A car bomb exploded just outside the police headquarters of a southern Afghanistan city on Sunday, killing at least seven people, officials said.

Car bomb kills seven in Afghan city Kandahar (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 9:37am EST

Reuters - A car bomb in the south Afghan city of Kandahar killed at least nine people and wounded 19 on Sunday, the presidential palace said in a statement.

Chinese seeks reconstruction role in Libya (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 8:05am EST

Reuters - China has sent a team of government officials and company executives to Libya to discuss post-war reconstruction and how to protect Chinese assets, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.

Three Tibetans self-immolate in western China: report (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 7:56am EST

Reuters - Three Tibetans in southwestern China have set themselves ablaze in protest against Chinese rule, Radio Free Asia reported, the latest in a series of self-immolations over the past year.

Russia, China veto U.N. plan for Syria (Reuters)

Posted: February 5th, 2012, 6:40am EST

Reuters - Western and Arab states voiced outrage Sunday after Russia and China vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have backed an Arab plan urging Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give up power, and Washington vowed harsher sanctions against Damascus.

Chavez and allies back Argentina on Falklands (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 5:47am EST

AP - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and other leaders in the left-leaning ALBA bloc backed Argentina on Saturday in its long-running dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands.

Magnitude 5.7 earthquake strikes off Vancouver Island (Reuters)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 11:23pm EST

Reuters - A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck off Vancouver Island on Saturday, some 209 miles west of Victoria, the capital of the Canadian province of British Columbia, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Vatican rejects prelate's corruption allegations (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 11:23pm EST

AP - The administration of the Vatican City State on Saturday categorically rejected as groundless a top prelate's accusations of corruption in the Holy See's awarding of contracts.

AP Interview: US women call Egypt captors 'kind' (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 10:56pm EST

AP - Their kidnappers gave them tea and dried fruit, and talked about religion and tribal rights. The California women were allowed to bring their Egyptian tour guide with them. One even put out his cigarette in the car when a hostage said the smoke was bothering her.

Argentines seek peaceful resolution in Falklands (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 10:28pm EST

AP - London's tabloids and British leaders are depicting Argentina as dangerous and belligerent 30 years after its invasion of the Falkland Islands. Argentines say Britain should consider its own history of waging war around the globe, and acknowledge that the islands and seas around them rightfully belong to Argentina.

Libyan Sufis mark Prophet's birthday despite tension (Reuters)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 10:11pm EST

Reuters - Libyan Sufis staged a joyous parade through the heart of Tripoli on Saturday to mark the Prophet Mohammad's birthday, defying radical Salafi Muslims pressuring them to scrap the centuries-old tradition.

Chavez celebrates 20th anniversary of coup attempt (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 8:52pm EST

AP - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez celebrated the 20th anniversary of the failed coup attempt that launched his political career on Saturday, presiding over a military parade while fighter jets and helicopters roared overhead.

European chill moves west, 122 die in Ukraine (Reuters)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 7:56pm EST

Reuters - Bitterly cold weather that has claimed hundreds of lives in eastern Europe swept westwards over the continent on Saturday, blanketing Rome's Colosseum with snow for the first time in three decades and disrupting air and rail traffic.

South Africa's Malema loses appeal against ANC suspension (Reuters)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 7:40pm EST

Reuters - South Africa's ruling ANC on Saturday upheld a decision to ban youth leader Julius Malema for five years for bringing the movement into disrepute, sending into the political wilderness a noisy rebel who had called for the nationalisation of mines.

US renews warning to Egypt over aid (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 6:44pm EST

AP - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday issued a new warning to Egypt that the failure to resolve a bitter dispute over the status of non-governmental pro-democracy groups may lead to the loss of American aid to the country.

US tourist dies while diving in Cayman Islands (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 6:44pm EST

AP - Police in the Cayman Islands say a 47-year-old U.S. tourist has died while scuba diving off popular North West Point in Grand Cayman.

Egypt clashes ease but protesters determined to fight on (Reuters)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 5:12pm EST

Reuters - Egypt's military faced pressure on Saturday to speed up its transfer of power to civilians, as top public figures demanded a faster transition and street protests against army rule disrupted the heart of Cairo for a third day.

Heavy weapons rattle northern Mali town, thousands flee (Reuters)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 4:38pm EST

Reuters - Sporadic heavy weapons fire rang out in the northern Malian town of Kidal overnight and on Saturday, in a sign that a Tuareg-led rebellion was nearing its most significant target to date after two weeks of fighting.

McCain ruffles Beijing with talk of Chinese Arab Spring (Reuters)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 4:19pm EST

Reuters - U.S. Senator John McCain warned China's Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun on Saturday that the Arab Spring is coming to China and highlighted the number of Tibetans burning themselves to death in his country.

Russia admits brief cut of gas supplies to Europe (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 3:25pm EST

AP - Russia's state-controlled Gazprom natural gas giant acknowledged for the first time Saturday that it had briefly reduced gas supplies to Europe amid a spell of extreme cold.

A failed province: Cautionary tale for S.Africa (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 2:47pm EST

AP - The giant pipes lying idle along the road were supposed to deliver water from a dam completed six years ago to villages across the region.

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(AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 1:59pm EST

AP - Tunisia expels Syrian ambassador over bloody massacre in Homs.

Heathrow Airport cancels flights ahead of snow (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 1:57pm EST

AP - The owner of Heathrow Airport says it has canceled 30 percent of flights for Sunday amid forecasts for snow and severe weather in London.

ANC youth leader gets 2nd chance on suspension (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 1:48pm EST

AP - A South African youth leader who has stirred furious debate over race relations and economic policy is guilty of serious discipline violations, but will get a chance to argue against a possibly career-ending suspension from the country's governing party, party officials said Saturday.

Afghan Taliban deny Mullah Omar wrote to White House (Reuters)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 1:42pm EST

Reuters - The Afghan Taliban denied on Saturday that the group's leader Mullah Omar wrote to the White House last year.

Merkel unhappy China blocked lawyer from meeting (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 1:25pm EST

AP - German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed regret Saturday that Chinese police blocked a human rights lawyer from meeting her and said the Communist government should have the confidence to allow dissent.

Greece pushes for deal with lenders on contested reforms (Reuters)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 12:36pm EST

Reuters - Greece's government makes another push on Saturday to hammer out a deal with foreign lenders on a 130 billion euro bailout before turning to the trickier task of convincing wary political leaders to back the additional painful reforms involved.

Tens of thousands rally against Putin (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 11:38am EST

AP - Tens of thousands of Russians flooded downtown Moscow on Saturday to demand an end to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's rule, casting a strong challenge to his bid to reclaim the presidency in March.

Death toll in latest Egypt clashes climbs to 8 (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 11:26am EST

AP - Egyptian security forces on Saturday fired tear gas from armored trucks at protesters demanding an end to military rule, as anger over a deadly soccer riot fueled a third day of clashes that have killed at least 12 people.

Russians stage rival protests over Putin (Reuters)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 11:26am EST

Reuters - Tens of thousands of Russians defied bitter cold in Moscow on Saturday to demand fair elections in a march against Vladimir Putin's 12-year rule, while supporters of the prime minister staged a rival rally drawing comparable numbers.

Iran calls on EU to review oil embargo decision (Reuters)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 9:52am EST

Reuters - Iran's oil minister said the Islamic state would not retreat from its nuclear program even if its crude oil exports grind to a halt, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.

UN: Afghan civilian deaths in war hit 5-year high (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 9:01am EST

AP - Last year was the deadliest on record for civilians in the Afghan war, with 3,021 killed as insurgents ratcheted up violence with suicide attacks and roadside bombs, the United Nations said Saturday.

Iran begins naval exercises near Gulf strait (AP)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 8:24am EST

AP - Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard began military exercises Saturday in the country's south, the latest show of force after threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for tougher Western sanctions.

Pakistan PM to discuss Afghanistan reconciliation in Qatar (Reuters)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 8:20am EST

Reuters - Pakistan's prime minister will travel to Qatar next week to talk with officials from the Gulf Arab state on the Afghan reconciliation process, a senior government official said on Saturday.

Massacre in Syria: Reports of Hundreds Killed in Homs, While Diplomats Fiddle at the U.N. (Time.com)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 6:35am EST

Time.com - Friday night, Syrian security forces carried out what the opposition Syrian National Council called a horrific massacre targeting Homs in one of the worst in the 11-month uprising.

Egyptian Protesters Confront Police After Soccer Riots (Time.com)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 6:35am EST

Time.com - Four more die in a day of violent clashes, as anger over alleged police complicity in a stadium tragedy unleashes pent-up frustrations

Sudan rebels seeking way to hand over abducted Chinese (Reuters)

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 6:09am EST

Reuters - Sudanese rebels said they are looking for ways to hand over 29 Chinese workers held in the border state of South Kordofan, Chinese state media said, as Sudan's government confirmed the death of one worker in a firefight.

Most Japanese towns undecided on nuclear stress tests: survey (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 5:38am EST

Reuters - Three Japanese towns would be willing to restart their nuclear reactors if they pass government stress tests, two were against the idea but most were undecided, a newspaper survey suggested Saturday.

Peru frees Chilean arrested outside air base (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 4:36am EST

AP - Peruvian police have freed one of two Chileans arrested this week on suspicion of espionage.

Cuba's Raul Castro visits Venezuela's Chavez (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 4:30am EST

AP - Cuban President Raul Castro flew to Caracas on Friday to attend a meeting with other allies of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, who was at the airport for the arrival.

Europe says aims to double e-commerce by 2015 (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 1:52am EST

Reuters - European Union competition ministers supported plans on Friday to remove barriers to electronic trade in a bid to spur economic growth and jobs by expanding the single market to the digital world, officials said.

Death toll hits 217 in shelling of Syria's Homs: group (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 1:49am EST

Reuters - Russia and China vetoed on Saturday a U.N. resolution that backed an Arab plan calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to quit, stalling global efforts to end his bloody crackdown on unrest after hundreds were reported killed in the city of Homs.

Syrian activists: 200 dead in govt assault (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 1:41am EST

AP - Syrian forces hammered restive neighborhoods in the city of Homs for hours with mortars and artillery before dawn Saturday, sending terrified residents fleeing into basements and killing more than 200 people in the bloodiest episode of the nearly 11-month-old uprising, activists said.

Snow falls in Rome as Italy is hit by cold snap (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 1:33am EST

AP - Romans bewildered by their city's first big snowfall in 26 years used government-issued shovels to clear sidewalks, and kitchen utensils to clear windshields Saturday.

Canadian PM to visit China next week (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 1:16am EST

AP - Canada's prime minister heads to China next week where he'll discuss Canada's vast oil reserves in a visit that's being viewed as an open warning to the United States, which rejected a pipeline from Canada to Texas.

Amid peace bid, U.S. got purported letter from Taliban (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 1:03am EST

Reuters - The White House received a letter last year purported to come directly from Mullah Omar, the reclusive leader of the Taliban, asking the United States to deliver militant prisoners whose transfer is now at the heart of the Obama administration's bid to broker peace in Afghanistan.

Romania rescues children as Europe's freeze deepens (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 12:53am EST

Reuters - Nine Romanian children were taken into care after a baby died in an unheated house, joining at least 189 others killed by a Siberian front which strengthened its hold over Eastern Europe on Friday and spread further west.

Lawmakers step up warnings on Egypt military aid (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 12:48am EST

Reuters - A leading senator warned Egypt's military-led government on Friday that the days of blank checks are over as an Egyptian army team huddled with State Department officials to discuss the future of $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid.

Colombia rebel undergoes tests at Caracas hospital (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 12:43am EST

AP - A Colombian rebel commander who has been detained in Venezuela since May was taken to a military hospital because of health problems, Venezuelan authorities said Friday.

Cost drives NATO bid for smaller Afghan army (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 11:45pm EST

Reuters - Afghanistan could end up fighting Taliban insurgents with a national army and police force two-thirds the size envisaged, if plans discussed on Friday by NATO defense ministers, trying to balance security needs with budget cuts, gain traction.

Chile glacier robbery: 5 tons taken for ice cubes (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 11:07pm EST

AP - Police in Chile say they've stopped cold a scheme to steal ice from a disappearing glacier.

Russia opposition fears cold snap to shrink protest (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 11:05pm EST

Reuters - Russian opposition leaders said on Friday that unusually cold weather threatened to cut numbers at a protest against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's 12-year rule planned for Saturday.

Harper wants RIM to grow as a Canadian company (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 10:48pm EST

Reuters - Canada's prime minister drew an apparent line in the sand on foreign takeovers on Friday, saying he wanted to see BlackBerry maker Research In Motion grow as a Canadian company and questioning whether hostile takeovers of key domestic firms are in the country's best interests.

Sudan's president warns of possible war with south (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 10:32pm EST

AP - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has warned of a war between Khartoum and South Sudan because their failure to settle a dispute over an oil export deal.

More Killing in Cairo as Protesters Confront Authorities Over Soccer Riot (Time.com)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 10:30pm EST

Time.com - Four more die in a day of violent clashes, as anger over alleged police complicity in a stadium tragedy unleashes pent-up frustrations

Android Games from Capcom and Square-Enix on Their Way ... In Japan (ContributorNetwork)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 9:28pm EST

ContributorNetwork - States-side fans of video game consoles, from the first Nintendo Entertainment System to its modern successor the Wii, know what it's like for a game that looks awesome to only come out in Japan.

Europe tries to shield homeless from deep freeze (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 8:47pm EST

AP - Russia and Ukraine both took extra precautions on Friday to protect homeless people, ordering new facilities and medical care after scores of people have frozen to death on the streets of Europe during a brutal cold snap.

Police strike hits Brazilian city hard (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 8:44pm EST

AP - Some 2,000 Brazilian army soldiers and a contingent of elite federal police are patrolling the nation's third-largest city as a state police strike enters its fourth day.

Pakistani Taliban kill 7 soldiers, abduct 4 (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 8:40pm EST

AP - Islamist militants attacked a Pakistani army checkpoint near the Afghan border Friday, killing seven paramilitary soldiers and abducting four, a government official and a Taliban spokesman said.

Amid peace bid, U.S. received purported letter from Taliban (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 8:27pm EST

Reuters - The White House received a letter last year purported to come directly from Mullah Omar, the reclusive leader of the Taliban, asking the United States to deliver militant prisoners whose transfer is now at the heart of the Obama administration's bid to broker peace in Afghanistan.

In Lebanon, a refuge for Syria's wounded (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 8:14pm EST

AP - Abu Hamza was in a crowd of thousands in the Syrian border town of Qusair, shouting for President Bashar Assad to leave power, when a sniper's bullet tore through his leg and shattered the bone into 18 pieces.

Facebook on collision course with new EU privacy laws (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 8:06pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - With its initial public offering this week, Facebook is roaring ahead. However, new European Union privacy regulations are takingnbsp;aim at Internet companies' ability to profit through control of personal information â the key to their tremendous online advertisingnbsp;profits.nbsp;

Sudan's Bashir says tensions with South could lead to war (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 7:24pm EST

Reuters - Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said Friday tensions with South Sudan over oil transit payments could lead to war between the two countries.

A banker's punishment: Sir Fred Goodwin is now just Fred (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 7:20pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - In the good times he was the doyen of British banking. Wealthy and courted by decision makers and knighted by Queen Elizabeth for services to his industry, Sir Fred Goodwin, head of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), seemed invincible.

Caterpillar to close London, Ont. locomotive plant (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 6:57pm EST

Reuters - Caterpillar Inc has decided to close its Electro-Motive locomotive plant in London, Ontario, and lay off at least 450 workers following several months of unsuccessful contract negotiations with the Canadian Auto Workers union.

UN says cattle raiding behind South Sudan massacre (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 6:10pm EST

AP - A U.N. staff member was shot during a clash that broke out as officials met to discuss a weekend cattle raid massacre that left 78 people dead, including many women and children, U.N. officials said Friday.

Activists say 20 dead in Syria violence (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 6:07pm EST

AP - Deadly clashes erupted between government troops and rebels in suburbs of the Syrian capital and villages in the country's south Friday in fresh violence that killed at least 20 people, including nine soldiers, activists said.

Insight: Syria's Assad set for long conflict (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 5:31pm EST

Reuters - With the enemy at the gates, Bashar al-Assad was dining out.

Japanese entrepreneurs aim for Silicon Valley (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 5:02pm EST

AP - For an emerging generation of Japanese innovators, the dream isn't a job for life at a big company. They have new ambitions, and they're determined to go places. Especially Silicon Valley.

Haiti leader says he won't meddle in Duvalier case (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 4:27pm EST

AP - The press office of Haiti's President Michel Martelly says he won't interfere in the case of former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier.

Def Sec'y Panetta: Pressure must be kept on Iran (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 3:38pm EST

AP - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the key to stopping Iran from getting a nuclear bomb is keeping global support for tough economic sanctions.

Gunmen kidnap 2 Americans and an Egyptian in Sinai (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 3:34pm EST

AP - Bedouin gunmen intercepted a tourist minivan and snatched two female American tourists and their Egyptian guide at gunpoint Friday near St. Catherine's Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula, the region's security chief said.

More leaks found at crippled Japan nuke plant (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 3:33pm EST

AP - The operator of Japan's crippled nuclear power plant says more radioactive water has leaked at the seaside complex.

Sudan bombs US-funded Bible school, US condemns (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 3:09pm EST

AP - Officials say that Sudan's military has bombed a Bible school built by a U.S. Christian aid group, prompting students and teachers at the school to run for their lives in the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan state.

Greece struggles on reform, lenders may face rising bill (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 2:15pm EST

Reuters - Greece's government struggled on Friday to agree tough labor reform that appeases both wary political leaders and irate lenders faced with a rising bill to save the country from bankruptcy.

Job market ekes out tiny gain in January (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 2:15pm EST

Reuters - Canada's sluggish economy caused the job market to stall unexpectedly in January, adding to a string of soft data and providing another reason for the Bank of Canada to keep its policy stimulative for longer.

Gunmen kidnap two U.S. tourists in Egypt's Sinai (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 1:11pm EST

Reuters - Two American women kidnapped by gunmen in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Friday were released into army custody a few hours later, security sources said.

Analysis: India's military build up may be too little too late? (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 12:36pm EST

Reuters - India's 1.3 million-strong armed forces, hobbled by outdated equipment and slow decision-making, are undergoing an overhaul as defence priorities shift to China from traditional rival Pakistan.

Khamenei: Iran to aid anyone confronting Israel (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 12:31pm EST

AP - Iran will help any nation or group that confronts the cancer Israel, the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Friday.

UN downgrades Somali famine; situation still dire (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 12:24pm EST

AP - The United Nations said Friday that Somalia's famine is over, but the world body's Food and Agricultural Organization warned that continued assistance is needed to stop the region from slipping back.

World court upholds German immunity in Nazi cases (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 12:17pm EST

AP - The U.N.'s highest court confirmed Friday that Germany has legal immunity from being sued in foreign courts by victims of World War II Nazi atrocities.

Iran warns of retaliation over oil sanctions (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 12:11pm EST

Reuters - Iran's supreme leader threatened on Friday to retaliate against the West for sanctions, a day after a U.S. newspaper said defense secretary Leon Panetta believed Israel was likely to bomb Iran within months to stop it building a nuclear bomb.

Bangladeshi Investors Badly Hit by the Stock-Market Crash (Time.com)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 11:05am EST

Time.com - The dramatic rise and swift fall of Bangladesh's stock market is a cautionary tale for emerging-market investors oblivious to the perils of hasty deregulation and rapid capital inflows

Egypt protesters besiege Cairo ministry (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 10:31am EST

Reuters - Rock-throwing protesters fought riot police through clouds of tear gas near Egypt's Interior Ministry on a second day of clashes triggered by the deaths in Port Said of 74 people - the country's worst soccer disaster.

HK's China policies spur clash with mainland cousins (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 10:03am EST

Reuters - As Hong Kong's outgoing leader Donald Tsang looks ahead to retirement, an unusually toxic public debate over the burden placed by a flood of mainland Chinese visitors has struck at the heart of Hong Kong's often rocky transition from British colony to Chinese special administrative region that began in 1997.

Top security and defense officials meet in Munich (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 9:49am EST

AP - The world's top security and defense officials are gathering in Munich, with uncertainty over the future of the Middle East and the implications of the financial crisis in Europe looming large.

Iran reports launch of small satellite into orbit (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 9:39am EST

AP - Iran successfully launched a new small satellite into orbit early Friday, state media reported, the latest in the country's ambitious space program that has raised concerns because if its possible military applications.

Anonymous hackers access Greek ministry website (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 9:28am EST

Reuters - Hackers associated with the activist group Anonymous posted a protest against Greece's EU and IMF-inspired austerity policies on the website of the country's justice ministry Friday, a ministry spokeswoman said.

Olympics, World Cup preparation bring evictions (AP)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 9:11am EST

AP - Like most Brazilians, Evandro dos Santos' devotion to soccer borders on the religious. Even when he wasn't watching a game, he loved hearing the roar of the crowd in nearby Maracana stadium mdash; this nation's temple to the sport.

China blocks rights lawyer from meeting Merkel (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 8:26am EST

Reuters - Chinese police blocked a prominent human rights lawyer from attending a Beijing dinner hosted by German leader Angela Merkel, the lawyer said on Friday, the latest example of restrictions on unorthodox views in a sensitive year.

U.N. court gives life sentence to Khmer Rouge torture chief (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 8:23am EST

Reuters - The U.N.-backed war crimes tribunal in Cambodia ruled on Friday that the Khmer Rouge's prison chief should serve the rest of his life in jail, extending a 19-year sentence handed down in July 2010 that outraged survivors of the killing fields regime.

About 100 feared trapped in sunken PNG ferry (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 7:41am EST

Reuters - About 100 people are feared trapped inside a ferry that sank in rough weather off Papua New Guinea, a rescue official said Friday, a day after the crowded boat went down with about 350 people on board.

Bangladeshi Investors Badly Hit by the Stock-Market Crash (Time.com)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 7:00am EST

Time.com - The dramatic rise and swift fall of Bangladesh's stock market is a cautionary tale for emerging-market investors oblivious to the perils of hasty deregulation and rapid capital inflows

What a Real-Time Copy of the Mona Lisa Reveals About Leonardo (Time.com)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 7:00am EST

Time.com - Curators at the Prado Museum in Madrid believe they have found a copy of da Vinci's masterpiece created even as the master painted his mysterious portrait

Australia's Gillard faces new leadership discontent (Reuters)

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 6:24am EST

Reuters - Growing speculation that Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard could be dumped by her party before the end of the year forced senior ministers to rally behind her Friday after a disastrous start to 2012.

2 dead in Egypt street clashes over soccer riot (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 3:09am EST

AP - Police shot and killed two protesters in Suez, Egypt, early Friday, a health official said, the first to die in clashes that erupted around the country after a riot at a soccer stadium killed 74, as sports violence spiraled into a new political crisis for Egypt.

Russia threatens to veto Syria resolution at U.N. (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 2:56am EST

Reuters - Syrian forces shot dead one person in the city of Hama on Friday as they broke up a protest marking the anniversary of a 1982 massacre by troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad's father, activists said.

Nearly 250 of 362 saved from Papua New Guinea ship (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 2:55am EST

AP - A day after rescuing nearly 250 survivors of a ferry sinking off Papua New Guinea's east coast, crews searching Friday for more than 110 other people aboard found only one more. Many of the missing may still be in the vessel, now at the bottom of the sea.

Panetta believes Israel may strike Iran this spring: reports (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 2:53am EST

Reuters - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta believes there is a growing possibility Israel will attack Iran as early as April to stop Tehran from building a nuclear bomb, U.S. media reported on Thursday.

China intensifies criticism of sanctions on Iran (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 2:12am EST

Reuters - A top Chinese newspaper stepped up Beijing's opposition to a Western push for tighter sanctions against Iran, warning Friday that tensions over Tehran's nuclear program are hurting energy markets and could stifle the global economic recovery.

Indians block Panama roads in debate over mining (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 12:24am EST

AP - Members of an Indian tribe in Panama are blocking roads in two provinces on the border with Costa Rica in a dispute over mineral exploitation on their lands.

U.S. seeks to play down Panetta's Afghan comments (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 12:15am EST

Reuters - The Obama administration on Thursday played down Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's comments that the United States could end its combat role in Afghanistan next year, remarks that surprised allies in Europe and Kabul, as well as U.S. lawmakers.

UK's Clegg fears military conflict with Iran (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 12:11am EST

AP - Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said Thursday he has concerns there could be a military conflict with Iran over its disputed nuclear program.

Jamaica police pushed to reduce police killings (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 11:45pm EST

AP - Every day, Richard Hill has to pass the bullet-scarred courtyard outside his home where he saw his 47-year-old brother gunned down at point-blank range by a police officer.

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Prince William, oil, honor: Why Argentina is pushing to reclaim Falkland Islands (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 10:48pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - With the official deployment of Prince William to the Falkland Islands, another chapter in the nearly two-century-old sovereignty conflict between Britain and Argentina is about to be written.

Italian cruise ship owner expects removal plans by March (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 10:24pm EST

Reuters - The owners of the capsized Italian liner Costa Concordia said Thursday they expected to announce plans by the end of March to remove the wreck.

Analysis: Canada plan to sell oil to China faces big hurdles (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 9:53pm EST

Reuters - Prime Minister Stephen Harper may still be smarting from Canada's failed bid to ramp up oil exports to the United States, but his plan B could prove to be even tougher.

Brazil's minister of cities steps down (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 9:40pm EST

AP - Brazil's minister of cities resigned Thursday amid allegations of irregularities, the eighth member of President Dilma Rousseff's Cabinet to step down since June.

Supreme Court to charge Pakistani PM with contempt (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 9:37pm EST

AP - Pakistan's top court vowed Thursday to charge the prime minister with contempt for failing to reopen an old corruption case against the president, escalating a crisis that could oust the premier from office.

Panetta lets stand report Israel may attack Iran (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 9:22pm EST

AP - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta won't dispute a report that he believes Israel may attack Iran this spring in an attempt to set back the Islamic republic's nuclear program.

Canada looks to Israel for RD reform ideas (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 8:20pm EST

Reuters - Canada may copy some of Israel's policies on funding high-tech startups and turning research ideas into businesses as it seeks to revive the country's weak performance in business innovation and productivity, the finance minister said on Thursday.

What a Real-Time Copy of the Mona Lisa Reveals About Leonardo (Time.com)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 8:00pm EST

Time.com - Curators at the Prado in Madrid believe they have found a copy of Da Vinci's masterpiece created even as the master painted his mysterious portrait

World Bank says Egypt requests $1 billion loan (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 7:34pm EST

Reuters - The World Bank said on Thursday that Egypt has asked for a $1 billion loan and it will launch talks with government representatives to iron out the details.

Precedent warning as Assange extradition case ends (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 7:09pm EST

Reuters - Britain's Supreme Court risks jeopardizing extraditions to many neighboring countries if it stops WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange being sent to Sweden for questioning over sex crimes, a lawyer for Swedish prosecutors argued Thursday.

Can you hear me now? Nigeria arrests Boko Haram spokesman. (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 7:03pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Nigerian police believe they may have arrested the man who acted as spokesman for the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has launched a killing spree across northern Nigeria, killing nearly 1,000 people in the past two years.

Fed will protect U.S. from Europe fallout: Bernanke (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 6:44pm EST

Reuters - Europe's financial crisis still threatens the U.S. recovery, and the Federal Reserve will do everything it can to protect against damage to the economy, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday.

UN official: SSudan crises need more than $760m (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 6:43pm EST

AP - A top U.N. official says South Sudan may need more than the $760 million the agency predicted they would need to cope with the new country's myriad humanitarian crises.

Colombia raises bomb death toll to 9 (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 6:41pm EST

AP - Colombian officials now say a lunch-hour bomb at a police station killed nine people in the Pacific port city of Tumaco.

Egypt police, protesters clash after soccer riot (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 6:16pm EST

AP - Security forces clashed Thursday with stone-throwing protesters enraged by the failure of police to prevent a soccer riot that killed 74 people, as sports violence spiraled into a new political crisis for Egypt.

The $23 Android Tablet You Can Buy in India (ContributorNetwork)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 6:01pm EST

ContributorNetwork - You can buy it in India if you're a student, that is. According to Jamie Yap of ZDNet Asia, the Aakash tablet is priced at 2,200 rupees, or 45 U.S. dollars, while students pay a special subsidized price thanks to a government contract. 25,000 students have already requested one from the University of Mumbai, and more than 1.4 million people have ordered the tablet so far, with three new factories being set up to meet the demand.

The Aftermath of Egypt's Soccer Carnage: Where to Pin the Blame? (Time.com)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 5:45pm EST

Time.com - Protests are erupting in Cairo once again and fingers are being pointed at the military, at the remnants of the old regime and, as is becoming increasingly common, at foreigners

Portuguese strike flops, workers fear for jobs (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 4:45pm EST

Reuters - The trains ran and the buses, too. Staff made it to work and shops and banks opened across Lisbon. Weak backing for a transport strike on Thursday reflected a broader lack of appetite for militant action by workers concerned for jobs threatened by Portugal's growing debt crisis.

Greek PM seeks to force pledges of more austerity (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 4:44pm EST

Reuters - Greece's prime minister faces the daunting task of rallying reluctant political leaders behind unpopular wage and pension cuts demanded by lenders as the price for bailout money that is essential to averting a chaotic default.

Exclusive: U.S. and allies exploring prospects for Assad exile (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 4:03pm EST

Reuters - The United States, European governments and Arab states have begun discussing the possibility of exile for Bashar al-Assad despite skepticism the defiant Syrian president is ready to consider such an offer, Western officials said on Wednesday.

Snow paralyzes northern Japan; 3 die in avalanche (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 3:48pm EST

AP - An avalanche has killed three bathers at a hot spring in northern Japan, where heavy snow also has paralyzed traffic and forced schools to close.

AP Enterprise: War experience aids hostage rescues (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 3:40pm EST

AP - Roy Hallums was enduring his 311th day of captivity, blindfolded, his hands and feet bound, stuffed into a hole under the floor of a farm building outside Baghdad. He heard a commotion upstairs and managed to get the blindfold off. Delta Force troops broke open the hatch. An American soldier jumped down.

Lawmaker: Police probe London Times email hacking (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 3:39pm EST

AP - Police are investigating alleged email interception by Rupert Murdoch's Times of London, a British lawmaker said Thursday mdash; dragging Britain's oldest national newspaper into the broadening scandal over press wrongdoing.

Taliban return seen unlikely threat in reshaped Afghanistan (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 3:31pm EST

Reuters - Among the snippets in a secret NATO report detailing the hopes of jailed Taliban militants to retake Afghanistan was news the Islamist movement had set up telephone hotlines for Afghans to report anonymously on failures of its shadow government.

2 US missionaries slain at ransacked Mexico home (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 3:18pm EST

AP - A couple from Texas who moved to a violence-plagued area of northern Mexico to run a Baptist church were found slain at their ransacked home, their children said.

Syria marks anniversary of Hama massacre (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 3:15pm EST

AP - Syrian security forces fanned out in Hama on Thursday as protesters splashed red paint symbolizing blood in the streets to mark the 30th anniversary of a notorious massacre carried out by President Bashar Assad's father and predecessor.

Israel says Iran has material for four A-bombs (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 2:29pm EST

Reuters - Israel estimated on Thursday that Iran could make four atomic bombs by further enriching uranium it has already stockpiled, and could produce its first within a year of deciding to build one.

Congo leader's party loses 45 percent of its seats (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 12:44pm EST

AP - President Joseph Kabila's party has lost 45 percent of the legislative seats it held before November elections that were denounced as fraudulent and chaotic, according to belated results announced Thursday by Congo's electoral commission.

Tunisian forces kill 2 armed men (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 12:39pm EST

AP - Tunisian security forces on Thursday killed two members of an armed group and arrested a third after a clash the day before left a policeman and three soldiers wounded, one of them critically, according to the state news agency.

Paris prosecutor to probe Italian cruise grounding (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 12:39pm EST

AP - The Paris prosecutor has opened a preliminary investigation into the grounding off the Italian coast of the Costa Concordia cruise ship that killed at least 17 people.

Nepal gov't monitors to hand checks to ex-rebels (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 12:36pm EST

AP - Government monitors in Nepal on Thursday headed to camps where thousands of former Maoist rebels have lived for years to hand out checks to the ex-fighters, who are about to move back into society.

Germany wants to restart talks with Iran: Merkel (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 12:31pm EST

Reuters - Germany wants talks between six world powers and Iran over its disputed nuclear program to restart, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday.

U.S. plans to halt Afghan combat role early (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 10:18am EST

Reuters - U.S. forces will cede the lead role in combat operations in Afghanistan next year, but will keep fighting alongside Afghan troops, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Thursday, as the Obama administration struggled to clear up confusion over its Afghan exit strategy.

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Egypt's Soccer Tragedy: How the Shocktroops of the Revolution May Be Used to Strengthen the Generals' Grip (Time.com)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 10:00am EST

Time.com - The defiance and bluster among Egypt's militant soccer fans following the death of at least 74 people in a stadium in Port Said betrayed a sense of foreboding

More than 100 missing after Papua New Guinea ferry sinks (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 9:59am EST

Reuters - Scores of people were missing off Papua New Guinea on Thursday after a ferry carrying about 350 passengers sank, Australian rescue authorities said, with many feared dead.

TIME Exclusive: QA with Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar (Time.com)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 9:25am EST

Time.com - Hina Rabbani Khar talks with TIME about her country's relationship with Afghanistan, the U.S., and its own army

Australia's iron lady on road to world-scale wealth - report (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 8:26am EST

Reuters - Australian Gina Rinehart could soon become the world's wealthiest woman after amassing an $18 billion fortune from mining and media investments, Forbes magazine says in its latest list of the wealthiest people in Australia.

Colombia capital tries trial ban on guns in public (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 8:01am EST

AP - Gustavo Petro was imprisoned as a rebel in the 1980s on a weapons conviction. As Bogota's new mayor, he wants to get firearms off the streets of this city where the conspicuous display of guns has long been the norm.

China publishes full list of IPO applicants for 1st time (Reuters)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 6:28am EST

Reuters - China's securities regulator has for the first time published a full list of Chinese companies that have applied for an initial public offering on the Shanghai or Shenzhen markets, in a move aimed at boosting transparency of the system.

Kuwait opposition seeks gains in parliament vote (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 6:19am EST

AP - Voting in under way in Kuwait in parliamentary elections that include an array of opposition groups seeking to further boost their political voice in the oil-rich Gulf nation.

Ferry sinks off Papua New Guinea with 350 aboard (AP)

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 6:10am EST

AP - An air and sea search continued Friday for more than 120 people still missing in the sea off Papua New Guinea's east coast after a ferry sank with 362 people on board, officials said.

Aussie claim about comrade's Afghan death rejected (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 4:58am EST

AP - A military inquiry on Thursday rejected an Australian soldier's allegations that a comrade died unnecessarily during a gunbattle in Afghanistan because the U.S.-led coalition provided inadequate air support.

8 illegal immigrants drown in Malaysia boat sink (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 4:12am EST

AP - Eight illegal immigrants have drowned when their boat capsized off Malaysia's southern coast, officials said Thursday. Eighteen others have been rescued.

Russia: A Kremlin Website Launched to Expose 'Stupidity' (Time.com)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 3:45am EST

Time.com - Envisioned as a tool for reform, a new government site encourages ordinary citizens to point out the absurdities and inanities of the bureaucracy

Europe freeze kills 89, fears rise over Russian gas (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 3:44am EST

Reuters - Record-low temperatures in parts of Eastern Europe pushed the death toll from Arctic conditions to at least 89 people Wednesday, and have forced Russian gas provider Gazprom to warn over supplies to Europe.

China to ask South Sudan for help on kidnapped workers: report (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 3:27am EST

Reuters - China will press South Sudan for help in securing the release of 29 Chinese workers held captive for five days and may appeal to the African Union and other parties to mediate in negotiations, state media reported on Thursday.

Panetta: US combat in Afghanistan to end next year (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 2:06am EST

AP - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta laid out the administration's most explicit portrayal of the U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan, saying Wednesday that U.S. and other international forces in Afghanistan expect to end their combat role in 2013 and continue a training and advisory role with Afghan forces through 2014.

Juarez police leave their homes after 5 are slain (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 1:46am EST

AP - Every one of the 2,500 police officers in this Mexican border city has been ordered to leave home and stay in a hotel after the killing of five officers by a local drug cartel.

Russia says will veto unacceptable Syria resolution (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 1:35am EST

Reuters - Syrian troops closed public squares in Hama on Thursday after residents poured red paint symbolizing blood on the ground to mark the 30th anniversary of the massacre President Bashar al-Assad's father carried out to crush an uprising.

More than 70 dead in Egypt's worst soccer disaster (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 1:29am EST

Reuters - Egyptians incensed by the deaths of 74 people in soccer violence clashed with security forces on Thursday during protests against the army-led government for failing to prevent the deadliest incident since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.

Police arrest 6 at Occupy Sydney protest site (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 12:02am EST

AP - Police have arrested six demonstrators while pulling down tents and posters at the Occupy Sydney protest site in Australia's largest city.

Nigeria Boko Haram spokesman arrested, victims buried (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 11:48pm EST

Reuters - Nigeria's secret service arrested the purported spokesman for Islamist militant sect Boko Haram Wednesday, a group that has claimed responsibility for a string of deadly bombings and gun attacks, a secret service source told Reuters.

James Cameron plans move to New Zealand farm (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 11:38pm EST

AP - Hollywood director James Cameron is planning to move onto a New Zealand farm.

Why Britain and Argentina are tussling, again, over the Falklands (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 11:35pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Decades of sharp exchanges between Britain and Argentina escalated this week asnbsp;Argentina reasserted its claim to thenbsp;Falklands Islands, a territory about 300 miles off the Argentine coast that has been ruled by Britain since 1833.nbsp;Britain responded, as it always has, that it has no intention of giving the islands up.

Greek state racing firm CEO arrested in debt case (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 11:22pm EST

AP - The head of Greece's state-controlled horseracing company was arrested Wednesday on charges that the corporation withheld taxes and owed debts of euro83 million ($109 million) to the state, officials said.

2 Americans found dead in northern Mexico (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 11:19pm EST

AP - The U.S. Embassy in Mexico says two Americans have been slain outside the northern industrial city of Monterey, an area plagued by drug violence. It identifies them as John and Wanda Casias.

Africa asks itself: Where is the aid money? (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 11:11pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - Five months ago, in a grand auditorium and beneath a cinema-sized screen scrolling images of starving children, Africaâs leaders gathered to promise an end to a growing food crisis.

Fifty killed in Egypt soccer pitch invasion: ministry (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 8:16pm EST

Reuters - Seventy-three people were killed and at least 1,000 injured Wednesday when Egyptian soccer fans staged a pitch invasion in the city of Port Said, in what a deputy minister called the biggest disaster in the nation's soccer history.

Power cuts pitch North Korea capital into darkness: diplomat (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 8:11pm EST

Reuters - North Korea's capital faces its worst electricity shortages in years just as a new leadership takes power in the impoverished state and pushes ahead with lavish building projects to celebrate the centenary of its founder's birth.

Helicopters rescue Europeans stranded by snow (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 8:08pm EST

AP - Rescue helicopters evacuated dozens of people from snow-blocked villages in Serbia and Bosnia and air-lifted in emergency food and medicine as a severe cold spell kept Eastern Europe in its icy grip.

Nigeria secret police: Sect spokesman arrested (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 8:03pm EST

AP - The purported spokesman for a radical Islamist sect responsible for hundreds of killings in recent weeks in Nigeria has been arrested, the country's secret police said Wednesday.

Bahrain boils as uprising nears 1-year mark (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 8:03pm EST

AP - It's usually well after midnight before Bahrain takes a breather.

Mexico: suspects tried twice to rescue Gadhafi son (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 7:28pm EST

AP - Prosecutors said Wednesday they broke up not one, but two Indiana Jones-style plots to extract the son of late dictator Moammar Gadhafi from Libya as his father's regime crumbled and bring him to Mexico.

Afghan Taliban deny they're ready to talk peace (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 6:29pm EST

AP - The Taliban dismissed reports they are preparing to talk peace with the Afghan government, and a NATO report leaked Wednesday shows captured insurgents full of confidence they will seize power after international troops leave.

Oil spreads from wreck of ship off Italy coast (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 6:26pm EST

AP - A thin film of oil spread from the Costa Concordia cruise ship as waves battered the wreckage off Italy's coast Wednesday, adding to fears of an environmental disaster in the area's sensitive, pristine waters. Authorities were trying to assess how serious and extensive the spread was but said that so far it didn't apper alarming.

Rival militias battle in Libyan capital (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 6:17pm EST

AP - A gunbattle between rival militias erupted in the Libyan capital Wednesday, illustrating how Libya's new rulers have so far failed to put their stamp on their country and bring it under control.

Students clash with police in Senegal (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 6:16pm EST

AP - College students set fire to a bus and clashed with police outside the campus of the main university in Senegal's capital, a day after one of their classmates was killed in an anti-government demonstration.

Egypt's war on democracy threatens U.S.-ties (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 5:47pm EST

Reuters - Arriving in Egypt last year, Julie Hughes had hoped to help write history by aiding the country's new generation of politicians and civil society groups to build a democratic future.

Building collapse, blasts spark worries about Rio (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 5:39pm EST

AP - Enormous buildings suddenly collapse in this seaside Olympic city's center, killing 17. A manhole explodes near Copacabana Beach, severely burning a pair of American tourists.

Fiat profit doubles in 2011 thanks to Chrysler (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 4:20pm EST

AP - Fiat Group SpA, the Italian automaker which controls Chrysler, on Wednesday reported that full-year earnings more than doubled mdash; beating expectations mdash; thanks to Chrysler, which posted its first profit since 1997.

Rival Libya militias fight gunbattle in capital (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 4:14pm EST

Reuters - Rival militias fought a two-hour gunbattle over a luxury beach house being used as a barracks in the Libyan capital Wednesday, underscoring how volatile the country is following the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

Pakistan says anthrax sent to premier's office (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 4:14pm EST

AP - A university professor sent a packet containing anthrax to the office of Pakistan's prime minister in October last year, his spokesman said Wednesday, an incident that will fuel security concerns in a country that is home to top al-Qaida leaders and other extremists.

Colombia rebels announce delay in prisoner release (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 2:33pm EST

AP - Colombia's main rebel group says it is delaying the planned release of six security force members it has held for more than a decade.

UK Islamists admit London Stock Exchange bomb plot (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 2:33pm EST

Reuters - Four radical Islamists admitted in court Wednesday plotting to bomb the London Stock Exchange as part of a campaign of al Qaeda-inspired attacks across the British capital in the run-up to Christmas 2010.

Leaked US report on Afghanistan reveals Taliban optimism (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 2:24pm EST

The Christian Science Monitor - A classified US military report leaked to the media compiles interviews with Taliban detainees who say their group is primed to regain control of Afghanistan after NATO forces leave in 2014.

TIME Exclusive: QA with Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar (Time.com)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 1:45pm EST

Time.com - Hina Rabbani Khar talks with TIME about her country's relationship with Afghanistan, the U.S., and its own army

Sony's Hirai to replace Stringer as CEO in April (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 1:26pm EST

AP - Sony Corp. announced Wednesday that Kazuo Hirai, who leads the company's core consumer products business, will replace Howard Stringer as CEO and president effective April 1, as the electronics and entertainment company desperately tries to engineer a turnaround.

4 UK men admit London Stock Exchange bomb plot (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 1:25pm EST

AP - Four British men fueled by the words of a U.S.-born Muslim cleric pleaded guilty on Wednesday to involvement in an al-Qaida inspired plot to spread terror and cause economic damage by bombing the London Stock Exchange at Christmastime.

UN nuke official: New trip to Iran planned (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 10:42am EST

AP - A U.N. nuclear team on Wednesday announced plans to revisit Tehran in the very near future, indicating some progress on its quest to wrest information from Iran about allegations that it secretly worked on an atomic arms program.

Report shows Taliban POWs convinced of victory (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 10:32am EST

AP - A NATO official says that a military report based on the interrogation of thousands of Taliban prisoners shows that the insurgents believe they are poised to return to power after the U.S.-led coalition ends its combat role in Afghanistan in 2014.

Russia: A Kremlin Website Launched to Expose 'Stupidity' (Time.com)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 10:30am EST

Time.com - Envisioned as a tool for reform, a new government site encourages ordinary citizens to point out the absurdities and inanities of the bureaucracy

Italy: Neo-Fascists Claim Ezra Pound, His Family Protests (Time.com)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 10:30am EST

Time.com - In Italy, neo-fascists have seized on the American writer name and wartime activity to burnish their own ambitions. His survivors are suing to stop it

Afghan Taliban say will not agree to peace talks ceasefire (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 10:25am EST

Reuters - The Afghan Taliban said on Wednesday that the hardline Islamist movement had no plans to hold preliminary peace talks with Afghanistan's government in Saudi Arabia.

IAEA says had good trip to Iran, more work needed (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 10:18am EST

Reuters - Senior U.N. nuclear inspectors plan another trip to Iran later this month after holding what both sides described as good talks on the Islamic state's disputed atomic program.

Kuwait opposition seeks gains in new parliament (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 10:12am EST

AP - Kuwait is heading into elections in much the same combative style that gripped the last parliament: Opposition groups pressing for even a bigger voice against the nation's Western-allied rulers and domestic tensions running so high that one group torched the campaign tent of a rival.

Reforms in Myanmar may spark refugee return (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 7:52am EST

AP - The pastor stood before more than 300 young Burmese refugees gathered for morning prayers in a weathered, jungle church.

IMF's Thomsen says Greece must step up reform (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 7:50am EST

Reuters - Debt-laden and recession-hit Greece must accelerate structural reforms and slow down on deficit reduction, the head of the IMF's inspection team for Greece was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

Heavy fighting in Pakistan tribal areas kills dozens (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 7:41am EST

Reuters - Pakistani fighter jets bombed militant hideouts in tribal areas near the Afghan border Wednesday, officials said, capping two days of the fiercest fighting in weeks triggered by attacks by the Pakistani Taliban.

Taliban poised to retake Afghanistan after NATO pullout (Reuters)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 7:40am EST

Reuters - The Taliban, backed by Pakistan, remains confident despite a decade of NATO efforts that it will retake control of Afghanistan, NATO said in a new classified report that raises more questions about Afghanistan's future as foreign forces withdraw.

Syrians face crackdown with creativity, humor (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 7:38am EST

AP - Throughout 40 years of Assad family dictatorship, one thing united Syrians mdash; the culture of self-censorship, fear and paranoia.

Mexico police rescue 7-year-old locked in school (AP)

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 6:17am EST

AP - Municipal police say a 7-year-old was locked inside a classroom by his teacher as punishment for supposed misbehavior and left alone for six hours until he was rescued by officers around midnight.

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