Breaking International News latest RSS headlines - Hong Kong Herald.com

North Korea envoy hands over China's Xi a note of peace

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:58:46 -0400

BEIJING - A senior North Korean envoy delivered a letter from his leader Kim Jong-un to Chinese President Xi Jinping and told him that Pyongyang was ready to take "positive action" to re-join stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament talks. The letter was handed over by envoy, Vice Marshal Choe Ryong-hae. Choe told Xi that North Korea is willing to take positive actions to solve problems ...

UK defends security services over Woolwich murder

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:52:28 -0400

LONDON - The British government has defended its spy agencies for failing to prevent murder of a soldier in London despite signs and revelations that the two suspects were well known to MI5. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said it was impossible to control everyone all the time. "Peers and MPs will do a thorough investigation in terms of what the security forces knew but I've seen ...

US bridge collapses sending vehicles into water

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:45:25 -0400

WASHINGTON - A handful of vehicles and some people plunged into a river after a more than half a century old bridge that links Seattle in the US with Canada collapsed, throwing the movement on the highway into disarray. Authorities said there were no deaths in the bridge collapse on the Skagit River in the US state of Washington. Three people were rescued and taken to hospitals, they said. ...

$2.6 mn necklace spirited away at Cannes Film Festival

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:52:38 -0400

CANNES - A second suspected jewellery heist was reported at the Cannes Film Festival, with a single necklace by Swiss jeweller De Grisogono worth nearly $2.6 million reported missing. In the case of the first gem loot at the Cannes Film Festival, thieves literally tore out a safe filled with roughly $1 million-worth of jewels from a hotel room. The second time around the event took place at ...

World becoming dangerous for refugees, warns Amnesty

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:46:37 -0400

LONDON - Global rights body Amnesty International has said that the world is "increasingly" becoming "dangerous place" for refugees due to inaction on human rights. The London-based group in its annual report cited the increasing number of refugees around the world, and highlighted the lack of support for them, as the key human rights issue for the past year. It said that the number of ...

Foreign policy impotence gripping U.S.

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:16:31 -0400

In an article published May 15, 2013, American historical social scientist Immanuel Wallerstein wrote, "Nothing illustrates more the limitations of Western power than the internal controversy its elites are having in public about what the United States in particular and western European states should be doing about the civil war in Syria." Those limitations are palpable in both language and ...

Friend of Boston bombers had confessed to 2011 triple murders claims FBI

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:03:51 -0400

NEW YORK A Chechen acquaintance of dead Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev has confessed to slashing the throats of three people in a 2011 gruesome triple murder, federal law enforcement officials have said. Ibragim Todashev, who made the confession, was killed early Wednesday during a confrontation with the FBI and Massachusetts State Police in Orlando, Florida, a federal law ...

Glow-in-Dark Roach Worlds Smallest Frog Among Top New Species

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:15:07 -0400

A cockroach that glows in the dark, a black fungus that's ruining prehistoric cave art and a frog smaller than a child's fingernail. These are three in a top-ten list of newly discovered species for 2012. An international committee of taxonomists announced their annual picks this week. Committee chairman Antonio Valdecasas, a Spanish biologist and research zoologist, says the committee ...

Expert US Foreign Policy in Retreat

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:15:04 -0400

A former senior advisor to the late Richard Holbrooke, who served as U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, says when it comes to foreign policy, the U.S. is in "retreat." Vali Nasr, who is now dean of Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), said the Obama administration has concluded that the best way forward for the United States is to do ...

Pakistani plane forced to land near London two held

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:30:01 -0400

Britain had to scramble fighter jets Friday to escort a Pakistani International Airlines (PIA) plane down to land after it was diverted from Manchester. Later, two people were arrested from aboard the aircraft on suspicion of endangering the flight. The Royal Air Force Typhoon jets were scrambled to escort the passenger plane, originally heading from Pakistan's Lahore city to Britain's ...

Two held over Pakistani planes mid-air alert

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:10:01 -0400

Britain had to scramble fighter jets Friday for escorting a Pakistani International Airlines (PIA) plane after it was diverted from Manchester. Later, two people were arrested on suspicion of endangering the aircraft's flight. The Royal Air Force Typhoon jets were scrambled to escort the passenger plane, originally heading from Pakistan's Lahore city to Britain's Manchester city. Police boarded ...

Condom handout at Russian WWII monument slammed

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:10:02 -0400

A prominent Russian lawmaker Friday called for public condemnation of a recent handout of condoms by AIDS activists at an monument in honour of soldiers who died in World War II. "The most serious reaction to such things is not the introduction of new administrative bans, but a sharp condemnation by society," said Olga Batalina, head of the Russian parliament's committee on family issues. "This ...

Britain sends up fighters as Pakistani plane diverted

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:30:02 -0400

Britain had to scramble fighter jets Friday for escorting a Pakistani International Airlines (PIA) plane after it was diverted from Manchester. The PIA plane was diverted from Manchester to Stansted airport, reported BBC, citing a Manchester airport spokesperson Friday. The plane, flight number PK709, carrying 297 passengers, had reportedly left Lahore at 09.35 a.m. and was due in at Manchester ...

British Open squash Pallikal goes down fighting to World No.2

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:50:01 -0400

India's Dipika Pallikal fought hard before losing to local hope Laura Massaro in the pre-quarterfinals of the Allam British Open Squash Championships here. Fifteenth-ranked Pallikal squandered a great start to go down 11-7, 10-12, 9-11, 6-11 against the World No.2 amid cold and wet conditions surrounding the glass court at the KC Stadium here Thursday night. Her loss ended India's challenge in ...

European golf tour head apologises for using coloured term while referring to Woods-Garcia spat

Fri, 24 May 2013 06:30:02 -0400

The head of the European golf tour has offered an apology for using the word 'coloured' during a live television interview in which he was referring to the spat between World No.1 Tiger Woods and Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia. European Tour CEO George O'Grady had said that 'most of Sergio's friends are colored athletes in the United States', the New York Post reports. According to the report, ...

Virtuous people not happy all around the world

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:40:02 -0400

Virtuous people are believed to have happier lives, but a new research has revealed that it depends on where you come from. In countries where antisocial punishment is common and where people commonly justify dishonest behavior, virtuous individuals (measured, for example, by how comfortable people are avoiding a fare on public transport or cheating on their taxes) are not as satisfied with life ...

Russia to spend $8 billion on 2018 World Cup

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:30:02 -0400

Russia is expected to spend no more than $8 billion to fund the 2018 football World Cup, a steep fall from the previously estimated $16.6 billion, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said. "All parameters that could have been cut have been cut. The last figure that (Sports Minister Vitaly) Mutko ... came to me with was 250 billion rubles ($7.94 billion)," Xinhua quoted Shuvalov as saying. The ...

Seven Cubans to participate in World Judo Masters

Fri, 24 May 2013 04:30:02 -0400

Five female and two male Cuban judokas will participate in the 2013 World Judo Masters tournament, to be held in Russia's Tuymen city. The team is led by Idalis Ortiz, 2012 Olympic champion in the over 78 kg category, as well as London 2012 silver medallists Yanet Bermoy (52 kg category) and Asley Gonzalez (90 kg), reports Xinhua. Ortiz is ranked world No.1 in her class, while Gonzales is ...

EU regulators seek tax transparency from companies

Fri, 24 May 2013 02:40:01 -0400

The European Commission said Thursday that it is working on a proposal to require corporate giants with operations in the European Union to publicly report profits, taxes paid and subsidies received on a country-by-country basis. Representatives of the 27 member-states agreed to seek ways to prevent multinationals from avoiding their obligations by channeling profits through subsidiaries in ...

UN plans six-day mission to Afghanistan Pakistan

Fri, 24 May 2013 02:10:02 -0400

Beijing, May 24 (Xinhua-ANI): Humanitarian emergency directors from various UN agencies will travel on a six-day mission to Afghanistan and Pakistan, the United Nations said Thursday. During the visit from May 26 to June 1, the directors will see for themselves "the ongoing humanitarian operations in the countries and look into ways in which the humanitarian community can strengthen its response ...

Former England skipper Illingworth says Fiery Fred Trueman better than Anderson

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:50:01 -0400

Former England captain Ray Illingworth has said that although bowling star James Anderson is the best swing bowler in the world now, but his former teammate and Yorkshire legend Fred Trueman was far better. Illingworth's statement comes on the backdrop of the second Test against New Zealand starting at Headingley, where Lancashire cricketer Anderson, on 305 wickets, is expected to cruise past ...

Taliban influence in Afghanistan to grow Russian agency

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:40:01 -0400

The Taliban influence in Afghanistan may grow after international coalition forces pull out, while rising radicalism in Syria could lead to the country's disintegration, Russian military intelligence agency GRU has said. GRU chief Lt. Gen. Igor Sergun said the situation in Afghanistan poses a "serious challenge to international stability" and that the withdrawal of the International Security ...

UN official highlights positive trends in Africa to protect indigenous peoples rights

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:16:36 -0400

23 May 2013 150 A United Nations official today stressed that Africa has taken positive steps to protect the rights of indigenous people, adding that the continent must continue making progress and avoid repeating mistakes made by other regions. "Africa has been consolidating and strengthening the legal framework protecting indigenous people," Senior Specialist on Indigenous Tribal Peoples' ...

DR Congo In Goma Secretary-General hails regional accord as best chance for peace in years

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:16:07 -0400

23 May 2013 150 Arriving today in restive eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged all the leaders of Africa's Great Lakes region to throw their support behind a recently-signed peace accord which aims to ensure security, as well as development, for the long-troubled country. "We have the best chance in many years to bring peace and ...

Greater attention needed for safe childbirths UN urges on inaugural Day to end obstetric fistula

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:15:34 -0400

23 May 2013 150 The prevalence of obstetric fistula - a preventable and treatable condition linked to women's reproduction - among women and girls in developing countries is a denial of their human rights, senior United Nations officials today said urging global action to make childbirth safer. "The persistence of fistula is a result of human rights denied and a reflection of human rights ...

Honduran gangs to announce truce to cut violence

Fri, 24 May 2013 19:02:26 -0400

Monsignor Romulo Emiliani says the gangs will apologize to the public and ask for dialogue with the government and police to start changing from their gang ...

London 2012 Paralympic star Dias smashes world record ahead of World Championships

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:56:40 -0400

The World Class Swimming Programme, one of the five aquatic disciplines, within British Swimming is seeking a successful leader to strategically manage the Sports Science and Sports Medicine (SSSM) ...

Are we ready for a mobile-first world

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:53:14 -0400

announced new capabilities in its network software to make video streams run more smoothly over mobile networks. Among other things, the enhancements can reduce video stalling by 90 percent, according to the company. But even Sandro Tavares, head of marketing for NSN's Mobile Core business, sees "mobile-first" viewing habits as part of the future. "Now that the networks are ...

Internet of Things - the next step to a smarter world

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:52:42 -0400

/enpproperty--> While the Internet has transformed the world, getting people connected and opening the gates to a flood of information, the inevitable question now is: What's next? Such a query creates another: What more do you want the Internet to do for you? With technology having helped link people closer together, the obvious progress would now appear to be bringing ...

Syria regime to attend peace talks Russia

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:52:31 -0400

Syria's most powerful ally Russia on Friday said the Damascus regime had agreed to attend an international peace conference on the crisis that world powers hope will take place in Geneva in ...

Stockholm police get reinforcements as Britain US warn over riots

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:52:30 -0400

Stockholm police called in reinforcements from across Sweden on Friday to quell a possible sixth straight night of riots in the capital's immigrant-dominated suburbs as Britain and the United States warned against travelling to the ...

Ted Cruz versus the world

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:47:44 -0400

The GOP family feud has pit McCain against Lee, the establishment against the Tea Party, and Sen. Ted Cruz against, well, everyone. Chris Matthews talks Republican infighting with Chris Cillizza and Michael ...

A win for Canada at the UN country keeps its only United Nations agency

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:46:00 -0400

MONTREAL - The spirits of Canadian politicians were soaring Friday with news that the country's only UN agency, the International Civil Aviation Organization, will not be flying the coop. Qatar had aggressively courted a move of the agency to Doha, going so far as saying diplomats were fed up with Montreal's bone-chilling winter weather. But Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said ...

Nike follows Kevin Durants lead in Oklahoma tornado recovery

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:45:58 -0400

May 24, 2013 6:05 PM ET - Nike has followed the lead of Kevin Durant, star player for the Oklahoma City Thunder, in donating to the city's recovery effort after it ...

Passengers in threat to blow up plane

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:39:36 -0400

Passengers disembark from Pakistan International Airlines flight PK709 bound for Manchester from Lahore, Pakistan, after it was diverted to Stansted Airport, north of London. Picture: ...

Assange wanted $1m for interview

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:39:34 -0400

Transparency advocate Julian Assange wanted $1 million for an interview or said he would speak in return for information relayed to him from other interview ...

Toronto mayor denies finally use of crack cocaine

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:37:10 -0400

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford makes a statement to the media in Toronto, May 24, 2013. Ford on Friday denied allegations that he had smoked crack-cocaine and said he could not comment on a video he had not seen or does not ...

Are We Ready for a Mobile-first World

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:36:24 -0400

DiCaprio Space Trip Nets $1.5M

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:33:25 -0400

(Image Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) At a Cannes Film Festival charity auction as star-studded as one of the Great Gatsby’s parties, a pitch rang out that sounded like a sci-fi sequel to ';Catch Me If You Can.'; ';How would you like to go to space with Leonardo DiCaprio?'; said an auctioneer, the actress Nicole Kidman. ';I can’t believe he ...

Northwestern Diving Coach Florida States Young Tabbed for World University Games

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:25:25 -0400

Northwestern head diving coach Alik Sarkisian has been named the head coach and team leader for USA Diving at the 2013 World University Games July 6-17 in Kazan, ...

Ex-Guatemala president extradited to US

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:22:07 -0400

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) -- Ex-Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo was extradited on Friday to the United States to face charges of laundering $70 million in Guatemalan funds through U.S. bank ...

1 block 2 tornadoes

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:17:51 -0400

>Editor's note: John Sutter, the human rights columnist for CNN Opinion, is from Oklahoma City. Follow him on Twitter -- @jdsutter -- for continued updates about the tornado. E-mail him at ctl@cnn.com. Oklahoma City (CNN) -- Nancy ...

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers to Be Observed on 29 May

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:56:11 -0400

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers will be observed on Wednesday, ...

PRI’s The World 05242013

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:55:38 -0400

How suicide bombings in Niger fit into the global fight against terrorism. Also, how Burmese students in New York feel about Myanmar’s president visiting the US this week. Plus, fans of Japanese anime bring color and quirkiness to ...

Worlds largest Lego model unveiled in NY

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:55:18 -0400

THE world's largest Lego model, a replica of a Star Wars spacecraft, has been unveiled in New York's Times Square. It took 32 builders 17,000 hours and five million Lego bricks to build the one-to-one-scale replica of a Star Wars X-Wing starfighter, which was three metres tall and 13 metres long. The model, which weighs more than 20,000 kilograms, was built in a Lego Model Shop in the ...

Video Amnesty International says migrants in danger from inaction on human rights

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:55:04 -0400

As homeless struggle in India, Amnesty International warns that inaction on human rights makes world increasingly dangerous place for migrants. Deborah Lutterbeck ...

Will my grandkids fight our forever war

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:53:42 -0400

>Editor's note: Will Bunch is the author of "October 1, 2011: The Battle of the Brooklyn Bridge," Tear Down This Myth: How the Reagan Legacy Has Distorted Our Politics and Haunts Our Future," as well as "The Backlash: Right-Wing Radicals, High-Def Hucksters and Paranoid Politics in the Age of Obama. " He is senior writer for the Philadelphia Daily News, where he writes the Attytood blog.(CNN) ...

Young entrepreneurs learning real-world skills with startup FoodStory

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:47:35 -0400

Digital Media Zone . They were essentially taking a crash course in building a tech startup, but they'd been having trouble developing a business concept. Originally, they'd toyed with the idea of growing food on Toronto's rooftops, but they scrapped their plans when they realized it would be difficult to get rooftop space and to grow the food themselves. Inspiration finally ...

Study World War II Veterans With Bad Experiences Attended Church More

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:43:19 -0400

A soon-to-be published study on World War II veterans found that those who had bad experiences of combat were more likely to pray and then attend church after the ...

Thousands Expected at Marches Against Monsanto Around World

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:38:04 -0400

WASHINGTON, May 24 (RIA Novosti) – From a town called Moscow in the state of Idaho to the shadow of the Kremlin in the better known Moscow, protests are scheduled around the world Saturday against biotechnology giant Monsanto, which the demonstrators say is turning a blind eye to the potentially deadly effects of genetically modified foods produced from seeds it sells globally. ...

Camping Is it pure bliss or horror

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:29:21 -0400

>Editor's note: This is the second CNN.com Escape Debate, a series that examines the cultural splits within travel, and why travelers divide along certain lines.(CNN) -- Jared Kennedy remembers waking up in the middle of the night to creatures scratching at his tent on every side. Kennedy was just 15 when he went on his last camping trip. His parents put him in a pup tent with his dog, Lucky, ...

Europes centre-left a programme without frontiers | Editorial

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:28:46 -0400

With Munich matched against Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley tonight, today is a day to remind us once again that Germans are uncommonly good at football. But they have always been pretty decent at centre-left politics too. No centre-left political party ...

Dogs And Babies Sleeping Are What The World Needs Now

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:28:46 -0400

58 seconds ago ( 5:00 PM) No, no, no. Dogs are predators. Small humans are prey animals. Posting pictures that imply that it is cute and loving to leave babies and small children unattended with dogs is highly irresponsible. Please consider posting something educational on the subject. As a parent and a veterinarian, this horrifies ...

Fitch Affs 4 Revises Outlook on 1 Class of World Omni Automobile Lease Securitization Trust 2012-A

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:27:35 -0400

Macao Banks' Rapid China Growth Alters Risk Profiles Macao banks could see their risk profiles weaken as their exposure to China continues to climb.Fitch Ratingsexpects credit growth to accelerate to 30% in 2013 from 26% in 2012, primarily led by China-related trade financing. Generally Chinese exposures are driven by parent referrals and associated risk is adequately mitigated with ...

Goa welcomes one of the world’s biggest cruise liners

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:27:17 -0400

MARMUGAO, Goa, India - One of the world's biggest cruise liner the Royal Caribbean International 's "Mariner of the Seas", arrived at Mormugao Port, Goa from Dubai on 24th May, 2013 and was greeted by the Deputy Chief Minister of Goa, Mr Francisco D'Souza . A traditional reception with Goan music and dance was organized by the Goa Tourism, Government of Goa to welcome ...

BestCities recognizes International Diabetes Federation with Client Award

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:27:15 -0400

FRANKFURT, Germany - BestCities Global Alliance is delighted to announce that the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has been named recipient of the inaugural BestCities Client Recognition Award. Presenting the award at IMEX Frankfurt, BestCities Board Chair Ms. Neeta Lachmandas congratulated the International Diabetes Federation and said they had been chosen based on their record-breaking ...

Collapsed Bridge Wont Move Congress

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:24:16 -0400

A person looks from the south bank of the Skagit River across to the collapsed portion of the Interstate 5 bridge, May 24, 2013, in Mount Vernon, ...

Photos This Week in Pictures May 18-24

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:24:15 -0400

A portion of the Interstate 5 bridge is submerged after it collapsed into the Skagit River, dumping vehicles and people into the water, as rescuers watch from the collapsed section of Interstate 5 and hovercraft search for survivors below in Mount Vernon, Wash., May 23, ...

Syria opposition seeks to unify as talks get...

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:12:37 -0400

Demonstrators shout slogans as they wave Syrian opposition flags during a protest against Syria's President Bashar Assad at the courtyard of Fatih mosque in Istanbul on Friday. ...

UNHCR Keep Borders Open to Fleeing Syrians

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:48:27 -0400

GENEVA -- The United Nations refugee agency is appealing to nations to keep borders open to refugees fleeing worsening violence in Syria. With Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq already hosting more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warns the number is expected to grow as the conflict intensifies. Responding to reports that Syrians ...

Putting Slurplus Food to Good Use

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:48:27 -0400

With world headlines warning of increasing drought and a hunger crisis and almost 15 percent of U.S. households struggling to put food on the table, a religious group in the shadow of the nation's capital is quietly putting surplus food on empty tables. Every Monday, about 150 people line up in the parking lot of Christian Life Center in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Joan ...

D.W. Wilsons Ballistics is man’s book about a man’s world

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:46:10 -0400

, "have the strange power to remind us that our past is real." It would not be much of a leap to imagine this line issuing from the mouth of Archer Cole, one of the pivotal characters in expatriate author D.W. Wilson's debut novel. Archer is a deserter from the U.S. army who winds up in the eastern B.C. area of Invermere during the height of the Vietnam War, where his presence has ...

Wiener from joke to mayor

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:45:28 -0400

To listen to the podcast, click on the Soundcloud audio player above. Or find it on iTunes. But back to Anthony Weiner: For those of you who missed it, in 2011 the former congressman texted pictures of his private parts to women, lied about it, had to resign. We all agreed his mayoral bid can't simply be dismissed as a ...

Wiener from joke to mayor

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:45:28 -0400

Hezbollah EU making big mistake

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:44:28 -0400

BEIRUT -; Hezbollah's deputy chief says the European Union would be making a "big mistake" to label the Lebanese Shiite militant group ...

IMF chief named key witness in French payoff case

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:44:28 -0400

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde arrives for a second day of the court hearing at a special court house, in Paris, Friday, May 24, 2013. Lagarde faced questioning at a special Paris court Friday over her role in the 400 million euro ($520 million) pay-off to a controversial businessman when she was France's finance minister. (AP Photo/Thibault ...

Rivaroxaban Gains Approval In Europe For ACS Indication

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:36:45 -0400

) has been approved in Europe for the prevention of atherothrombotic events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke) following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The drug was approved at a dose of 2.5 mg twice-daily and should be used in combination with standard antiplatelet therapy. Rivaroxaban is now the only oral anticoagulant to receive an ACS ...

French troops stage Niger raid jihadists threaten new attacks

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:34:09 -0400

French special forces and local troops raided an army base Friday in northern Niger, ending a hostage seizure by Islamist fighters who had staged twin suicide bombings that killed at least 20 ...

Taliban attack international compound in Kabul

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:31:21 -0400

Source: Reuters Taliban militants have launched a large-scale attack involving the United Nations in the centre of the Afghan capital Kabul, sparking a five-hour battle with security forces. A plume of smoke hung over Kabul after the attack was launched, with the sound of .50 calibre heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and sniper fire clearly audible throughout the city centre as night ...

UK court Lawmakers wifes tweet was libelous

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:24:08 -0400

LONDON (AP) -- Britain's High Court has ruled that a tweet posted by the wife of the speaker of Parliament about a politician wrongly linked to child sex abuse was ...

IMF searches soul blames Europe

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:22:12 -0400

paper released Thursdayon sovereign-debt restructurings . The study contains the strongest repudiation yet of some of the policy choices the fund helped make over the last three years. The paper, under the yawn-invoking title "Sovereign Debt Restructuring — Recent Developments and Implications for the Fund's Legal and Policy Framework," is everything but boring (at least to ...

IMFs Lagarde escapes formal investigation in French case

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:19:07 -0400

PARIS (Reuters) - French magistrates decided on Friday not to place IMF chief Christine Lagarde under formal investigation over her role in a 285-million-euros ($368.5 million) arbitration payment made to a supporter of former president Nicolas ...

Green Globe recertifies Cosmo Hotel Hong Kong and Mongkok

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:18:17 -0400

LOS ANGELES, California - Green Globe announces re-certification of the Cosmo Hotel Hong Kong and Cosmo Hotel Mongkok, located in Hong Kong, SAR. True to their motto "Love Travel, Love our Globe," both properties have integrated innovative environmental practices into the core of the business, and established a socially responsible policy second to none. "We are delighted to be ...

Israeli-Palestinian problem at base troubles in Middle East says Jerusalem Patriarch

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:18:10 -0400

"There is no doubt that the Palestinian problem is the focus of all conflict in the Middle East for the last one hundred years. This is the truth that we cannot circumvent," said Latin-rite Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem. Speaking at a conference in Beirut on Christians in the Middle East, sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Patriarch said that the Israeli-Palestinian ...

2 arrested reportedly threatened to destroy plane en route to U.K.

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:17:36 -0400

LONDON Two passengers on a flight from Pakistan to England today allegedly threatened to "destroy the plane" after an argument with crew, according to a Pakistani official. The British military scrambled fighter jets to intercept the airliner, which was carrying more than 300 people, and it was diverted to an isolated runway at an airport outside London. The two British passengers who ...

Afghanistan capital hit by deadly huge bombing

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:17:35 -0400

KABUL, Afghanistan A Taliban suicide car bomber and five heavily armed gunmen attacked an international aid group's guest house in the Afghan capital on Friday, killing two guards and setting off an hours-long battle with security forces in an upscale Kabul neighborhood, authorities said. The International Organization for Migration said four of its workers were wounded, including an Italian ...

Photos Dr. Beach Picks the Top 10 Beaches of 2013

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:15:12 -0400

1.Main Beach, East Hampton, N.Y. Main Beach is located on the east end of New York's Long Island. This idyllic beach is frequented by the rich and famous. This beach was heavily eroded by superstorm Sandy and subsequent winter storms, yet it has for the most part ...

High Court Government didnt handle Iraq abuse case adequately

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:10:26 -0400

The British government's handling of allegations that British troops abused and killed Iraqi civilians was inadequate, a court ruled. Britain's High Court ruled that the Iraq Historic Allegations Team, an investigative team set up by the Ministry of Defense, did not fulfill the United Kingdom's human rights obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, the BBC ...

Syrian regime OKs peace talks amid skepticism

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:03:54 -0400

BEIRUT (AP) -- Syria's government has agreed to attend a U.S.-Russian-brokered peace conference, according to Moscow. While this development might seem at first glance to be a step toward ending the civil war, strong skepticism persists on both ...

Soldiers slaying prompts UK security review

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:03:52 -0400

Still, counter-terrorism officials said they are reviewing what - if any - lessons can be gleaned from the information they had leading up to the slaying ...

World President fires army chief after leaked letter

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:34:11 -0400

Uganda's president has made a major change in the army, removing the chief of the armed forces to the interior ministry and replacing him with a generalin charge of land ...

Fitz The Tantrums On World Cafe

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:30:42 -0400

. Undeniable songs and exciting concerts led the group to festival dates and other high-profile live appearances around the world. The band formed when L.A. studio engineer and musician Michael "Fitz" Fitzpatrick gathered friends such as fellow vocalist Noelle Scaggs to perform songs he'd written following a breakup. The core of the band convened again in 2012 to record the ...

Iranian candidate vows to resist West

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:27:26 -0400

Tehran, Iran - Iran's top nuclear negotiator, a candidate in next month's presidential elections, vowed Friday he will pursue a policy of resistance against the West if ...

Syrian rebels trapped in Qusayr army

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:27:25 -0400

Qusayr, Syria - Syrian troops have captured much of the rebel stronghold of Qusayr, in central Homs province, squeezing opposition fighters into the north of the strategic town, a military officer told AFP on ...

London attack puts pressure on spooks

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:27:23 -0400

Tributes are seen near the scene of the attack on a British soldier in Woolwich, south-east London. The soldier was hacked to death on Wednesday by two men shouting Islamic slogans, in what Prime Minister David Cameron said appeared to be a terrorist ...

Zetas suspects admit killing US agent

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:27:22 -0400

Washington - Three men have pleaded guilty in US federal court for the 2011 killing of a US immigration and customs agent and the attempted murder of a second agent, the Justice Department ...

Two men arrested after Pakistani passenger plane diverted in UK airspace

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:25:53 -0400

Two men were arrested Friday after a Pakistani International Airlines (PIA) flight was diverted in UK airspace on its way to Manchester airport. A Ministry of Defense spokesman said, "A Typhoon aircraft has been launched to investigate an incident involving a civilian aircraft within UK ...

A $98 stump of wood for hipsters

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:25:36 -0400

>Editor's note: Each week in "Apparently This Matters," CNN's Jarrett Bellini applies his warped sensibilities to trending topics in social media and random items of interest on the Web. Toronto (CNN) -- I've been camping countless times in the forest -- as one does -- and without fail, there's always plenty of wood just lying around. Plenty of concrete might indicate that, perhaps, you've ...

Indias Tata Steel reports loss on falling demand in Europe

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:23:33 -0400

MUMBAI -- India's Tata Steel, one of the world's biggest steelmakers, on Thursday swung to a quarterly net loss from a profit a year ago due to falling demand in its key European ...

Furlough Friday hits US federal employees

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:22:52 -0400

The first day of US government furloughs imposed by a budget crunch saw more than 100,000 federal workers ordered to stay home Friday, including those at the scandal-plagued Internal Revenue Service ...

British spy services under pressure over soldiers murder

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:22:50 -0400

Britain's intelligence services came under pressure on Friday to explain how they let two Islamic extremists suspected of hacking a soldier to death in London slip through their ...

EU Leader Federal Europe to Become a Reality

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:22:44 -0400

Jose Manuel Barroso, the most powerful leader in the European Union, says Europe will become a united political federation within the next few years. The European Commission president is laying out plans for an "intensified political union" that matches the economic cooperation in the EU. That includes plans for an elected "president of Europe." "This is about the ...

Unrest may spread across Europe warns Red Cross chief

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:16:54 -0400

Rocketing unemployment and poverty in some areas of Europe could lead to widespread civil unrest, unless governments take measures to address the humanitarian consequences of austerity measures, the secretary-general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has ...

Amanda Bynes charged for allegedly tossing bong out window

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:15:41 -0400

Amanda Bynes, seen here at an awards show in 2011, was arrested at a Manhattan apartment after a building official complained that she was smoking marijuana, police say. (Chris Pizzello/Associated ...

Snooki NJ Gov Christie just doesnt like us

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:11:56 -0400

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was never a fan of MTV's "Jersey Shore," saying it unfairly cast the state in a negative ...

Water running out scientists

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:09:25 -0400

Surface melt water runs along the Greenland Ice Sheet. Of all the world's fresh water, 70 per cent is locked up in ice and permanent snow cover. Picture: Ian ...

Shes a maniac N Korea says of Park

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:09:23 -0400

NORTH Korea accused South Korean President Park Geun-Hye of hurting the dignity of its leadership and slammed her as "a confrontation ...

Climbers feared dead on third-highest peak

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:09:22 -0400

FIVE climbers including two Hungarians and a South Korean are missing on the world's third-highest mountain and feared dead, a mountaineering official said ...

You will always be our hero

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:09:20 -0400

Rebecca Rigby, mother of their two-year-old son Jack, said: "I love Lee and always will. I am proud to be his wife and he was due to come up this weekend so we could continue our future together as a family."Mrs Rigby, sobbing back tears, added: "He was a devoted father to our son Jack and we will both miss him terribly."Asked about the shock of the attack being on British ...

France tries to win back business

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:09:15 -0400

THE French government is trying to woo business, amid concerns that it has antagonised the very sector needed to reinvigorate the ...

Suicide bomber hits heart of Kabul

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:09:13 -0400

A SUICIDE bomber struck in the heart of the Afghan capital on Friday, sending a plume of smoke over Kabul in the second major attack in the city in little over a week, police ...

Limbless Aussie preaches in Vietnam

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:09:11 -0400

THE 25,000 people at the soccer stadium and the millions more watching at home waited 90 minutes before the Australian evangelical preacher got to the message he had come to Communist-ruled Vietnam to ...

Holidays or holy-days are a great time to relearn enchantment with the world | Giles Fraser

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:07:46 -0400

Naxos . We are having a few days of half-term father/son bonding and reading Greek myths together. On this island, Dionysus wooed Ariadne away from Theseus, giving her the stars as a wedding crown. Felix has never been this far from home, and so much of the surrounding culture and geography is being experienced as new and extraordinary. Our friend Dimitrios explains to him the Greek alphabet. He ...

Guatemalan ex-president extradited to U.S. on money laundering charges

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:06:49 -0400

1 of 4. Former Guatemalan president Alfonso Portillo (C), accused of corruption, is escorted before boarding a plane for his extradition to the United States for money laundering, at the Air Force Base in Guatemala City, May 24, ...

Worlds First 3-D-Printed Bullets Join A Growing DIY Arsenal

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:05:57 -0400

. That gun, dubbed "The Liberator," was first created by Defense Distributed, a firm that fashioned the weapon almost entirely from ABS plastic, using an $8,000 3-D printer. The Liberator got ...

Video How new constraints on drones will affect counterterrorism efforts

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:04:45 -0400

Flash Points: CBS News National Security Correspondent Bob Orr talks with CBS Senior National Security Analyst Juan Zarate about the "more constrained standards" the president outlined regarding the use of unmanned drone strikes on terrorist targets, exploring what constitutes "sufficient information or evidence" to allow the president to authorize a drone strike under the new ...

Reporters notebook Going undercover inside a Bangladesh garment factory

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:04:44 -0400

(CBS News) DHAKA, Bangladesh -- Getting inside a garment factory in Bangladesh isn't easy. It's an enormous industry. There are more than 4,000 factories, employing an estimated 4 million people. Garments and textiles make up about 80 percent of Bangladesh's export ...

Photos Michelle Obama Visits D.C. Public School

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:02:22 -0400

Michelle Obama and actress Kerry Washington say goodbye after a visit to Savoy Elementary School in Washington, May 24, 2013. The Savoy School was one of eight schools selected last year for the Turnaround Arts Initiative at the President's Committee on the Arts and ...

The Silence After Sandys New Landscapes

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:02:20 -0400

May 24, 2013 1:22pm As the nation prepares for the unofficial start of summer on Memorial Day, New Jersey’s coastal communities are facing a landscape massively altered in October 2012 ...

Bachelorette Wont Say If Shes Engaged

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:02:20 -0400

ABC's newest "Bachelorette," Desiree Hartsock, says it's not hard to keep the details of her experience on the show a secret from her friends. "Ironically, I'm kind of a private person anyway, so my friends know not to ask," she said in a recent interview. Hartsock has some experience with the matter, although her last reality TV romance ended in ...

Amnesty International says Israel Hamas both guilty of war crimes

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:57:06 -0400

Gaza last year. The human rights group, which is based in London, released a report Thursday that alleged the Israeli air force carried out bomb and missile strikes on residential areas in Gaza, the Palestinian Ma'an news agency reported. Those strikes were "disproportionate and caused heavy civilian casualties," Amnesty International said. The Israeli navy also carried out ...

Crystal Co. Exec Moves to Hub International in New York

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:56:16 -0400

Chicago-based broker Hub International's Northeast division hired Scott Konrad as senior vice president and not-for-profit business practice leader. Based in Hub's New York City office, Konrad will be responsible to build, brand, grow and lead a specialty practice serving the insurance, risk management, and employee benefit needs of nonprofit organizations throughout Connecticut, New ...

Two held after flight diverted in London

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:53:18 -0400

>Editor's note: Are you there? Share your photos and videos. London (CNN) -- Police arrested two men Friday on suspicion of endangering an aircraft after a flight from Pakistan to the United Kingdom was diverted to Stansted Airport, outside of London. A UK fighter jet was scrambled to escort Pakistan International Airlines Flight PK709 from Lahore as it was diverted from northwestern England's ...

Osaka mayor under fire from international community

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:50:40 -0400

Osaka mayor under fire from international community . MAY 25, 2013 00:47. . Toru Hashimoto, mayor of Osaka and co-leader of the Japan Restoration Party, has come under mounting criticism from the international community or his absurd remarks about ...

Action

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:31:04 -0400

>Editor's note: This review may contain spoilers.(CNN) -- Drawing level with the "Star Wars" saga and pulling well ahead of "Shrek," "Ice Age" and "Spider-Man" in the sequel stakes, "The Fast and the Furious" could yet challenge Rocky Balboa, Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger for longevity. So what's the appeal? Combining heist movie suspense with regular high-speed chase action, "Fast and ...

Action

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:31:04 -0400

Action

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:31:04 -0400

Jersey shore eyes record-setting summer post Sandy

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:24:57 -0400

View results SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey used a record-breaking gesture Friday to celebrate its recovery from a record-setting storm, proclaiming to the nation that the Jersey shore is back in business following Superstorm Sandy.Gov. Chris Christie and a host of volunteers carried out a ceremonial ribbon cutting that broke the Guinness World record for the longest such undertaking. ...

Daughter comes forward for World War II medals found in Goodwill store

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:21:59 -0400

It didn't take long for a family member of James Joseph McKenzie to claim his World War II medals.The medals mysteriously turned up in a Goodwill store on Wednesday.This morning, a few hours after the Post-Dispatch published a story on the medals, McKenzie's daughter, Mimi Michelle McKenzie called Goodwill to see if she could take possession of them, said Goodwill President and CEO ...

Ruby says her sworn statements were lies

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:21:27 -0400

MILAN -; The woman who prosecutors allege had sex with Silvio Berlusconi while he was Italy's premier in exchange for money spent her second day on the witness stand Friday, denying her own sworn descriptions of racy escapades at his `'bunga bunga" parties and long lists of expensive jewelry and watches received from the media mogul. Karima el Mahroug, a Moroccan known as Ruby, ...

The Conscientious Objector and Inside Iraq the Untold Stories Launched on Portico

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:16:59 -0400

Net2TV Corporation (www.net2television.com) is offering two award-winning movies on its Portico connected-TV service through Friday, June 7. The feature-length films -- "The Conscientious Objector" and "Inside Iraq: the Untold Stories" -- are critically acclaimed and have won awards at CINEQUEST Film ...

Lack of fresh water could hit half the world’s population by 2050

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:14:47 -0400

Severe water shortages will affect more than half the world's future population of nine billion people by 2050 if governments fail to collaborate on international efforts to protect and conserve life's most vital ingredient, experts have warned. One of the first indications of a future water crisis will be mass migrations of people away from areas without ...

Spy on the worlds web searches with a Google Trends screensaver

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:09:42 -0400

Google is all about searching. Well... not "all" about, but it's what the company is known for. Any firm that logs information about how customers are using its services are usually berated, ...

Turkey aims to curb alcohol sales

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:05:28 -0400

24 May 2013 Turkey's parliament has passed a law to ban all advertising of alcohol and tighten restrictions on sales in the mainly Muslim but secular ...

Washington bridge collapses after Alberta trucker hits beam say police

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:04:28 -0400

Washington State police say an Alberta trucker was responsible for hitting a steel beam precipitating a bridge collapse on one of the busiest routes in the American northwest. William Scott, 41, was driving an oversized load on the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River when it struck the beam, said State Patrol Sgt. Kirk Rudeen. Scott's wife told CBC News that while his load clipped ...

Church of England unveils plan for women bishops in 2015

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:03:25 -0400

ordination of women bishops by 2015, a widely supported reform it just missed passing last November after two decades of divisive debate. It said the new plan, outlined in a document signed by Archbishop ...

Woman in Berlusconi case denies her own statements

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:00:45 -0400

MILAN (AP) -- The woman who prosecutors allege had sex with Silvio Berlusconi while he was Italy's premier in exchange for money spent her second day on the witness stand Friday, denying her own sworn descriptions of racy escapades at his "bunga bunga" parties and long lists of expensive jewelry and watches received from the media mogul. Karima el Mahroug, a Moroccan known as Ruby, ...

British police close motorway to deal with suspicious vehicle

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:59:38 -0400

LONDON (Reuters) - British police closed one of the country's busiest motorways in both directions on Friday to deal with an incident which highway officials said involved a suspicious ...

RAF Typhoons divert Pakistan International Airlines plane to Stansted - video

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:56:31 -0400

Essex police have made two arrests for 'suspicion of endangerment to the aircraft' after a Pakistan passenger plane, en-route to Manchester, had to be escorted to Stansted airport by RAF Typhoons. The aircraft has been isolated and passengers have disembarked. No one was hurt during the incident and Stansted airport is operating as ...

Top Bosnia court orders release of president charged with graft

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:55:26 -0400

SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Bosnia's Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that the president of the autonomous Muslim-Croat federation, charged with corruption, had been detained illegally, and ordered a lower court to release him ...

Hollywood Sentinel New Issue Features Art Worlds Most Powerful Jeffrey Deitch

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:55:09 -0400

The new issue of The Hollywood Sentinel launched this weekend, featuring Bruce Edwin's exclusive interview with MOCA Director Jeffrey Deitch. MOCA, The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, is headed by Mr. Deitch, who is considered by many to be the most powerful person in the world of art today. Known as a tough, yet brilliant dealer, Mr. Deitch helped raise the value of his ...

Astana Economic Forum looks at a world in turmoil

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:54:37 -0400

A special World Anti-Crisis Conference was the centre piece of this year’s Astana Economic Forum. The idea was to provide a platform for addressing what is widely perceived to be a faltering global financial system. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Europe was the focus given recent banking disasters, soaring youth unemployment, and the prevailing sense of economic uncertainty throughout the ...

Iran presidential candidate vows policy of resistance against the West if elected

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:54:02 -0400

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's top nuclear negotiator, a candidate in next month's presidential elections, vowed Friday he will pursue a policy of resistance against the West if elected. Addressing his first campaign rally in Tehran, Saeed Jalili said his priority in foreign policy will be to expand Islam's influence in the world and counter "arrogance," a reference to the U.S. ...

Md. Suspect Is Son of Bush Official

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:51:17 -0400

The 20-year-old son of a former aide to President George W. Bush was charged in a Washington, D.C., suburb on Friday, accused by police of killing a man with a hatchet. Claude Alexander Allen III, of Gaithersburg, was arrested by Montgomery County police and online court records show he's been charged with first-degree murder. A phone message left at the Allen household wasn't ...

Free Airline Ticket Scams and Rip-offs

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:51:16 -0400

Every industry falls victim to scams, rackets and rip-offs. Or plain old pipe dreams. Which reminds me of Powerball, which, isn't a rip-off since someone eventually comes up with the winning numbers but it probably won't be you or me (odds of winning: 1 in 175,223,510). You have a better chance at becoming the next American Idol (1 in 103,000) or succumbing to an attack of bees (1 in ...

Missing College Student Found in N.C.

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:51:15 -0400

Pennsylvania State Police are looking for University of Rhode Island college student, Matthew Royer who went missing while driving back home to Skippack Township, Pa., May 16, 2013. Anyone with information is asked to contact PSP Skippack at ...

Photo Amanda Byness Mugshot Revealed

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:51:14 -0400

(Photo credit: Handout) Amanda Bynes was arraigned and released in New York City on Friday morning, just hours after being arrested for tampering with physical evidence, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of marijuana. Despite appearing in her arrest photos wearing a long blonde wig, the former child star is shown in her mugshot sporting a very short hairdo. Bynes, ...

Hradecka wins twice to gain Strasbourg International final

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:46:01 -0400

Lucie Hradecka won a pair of matches Friday that advanced her to the finals of the Strasbourg International tennis tournament in search of her first WTA title. Rain delays pushed Hradecka's quarterfinal match to Friday and she ...

Afghan Taliban attack aid group 2 guards killed

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:40:11 -0400

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A Taliban suicide car bomber and five heavily armed gunmen attacked an international aid group's guest house in the Afghan capital on Friday, killing two guards and setting off an hours-long battle with security forces in an upscale Kabul neighborhood, authorities ...

Obamas drone speech could improve Pakistan ties

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:40:10 -0400

ISLAMABAD (AP) -- President Barack Obama's decision to impose more restrictive rules governing U.S. drone strikes and his prediction that they will be used less could pave the way for better relations with the new government of key ally Pakistan, officials and analysts said ...

Tunisian feminist faces 6 months in prison

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:40:09 -0400

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) -- The lawyer of a Tunisian woman who gained notoriety for posting online topless pictures of herself as a protest says she faces six months in prison for carrying a dangerous ...

From Nixon’s historic opening to the new U.S.-China world order Now what

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:13:12 -0400

John J. Metzler NEW YORK -- Dr. Henry Kissinger called for the United States and China to collaborate on a new global order, and a groundbreaking new report, "U.S.- China Economic Relations in the Next Ten Years," underscored the deepening commercial engagement between the two Pacific powers. Indeed with President Barack Obama meeting his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in California in ...

Syria targeted Israeli jeep going to rebel village

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:12:58 -0400

Syria said it targeted an Israeli vehicle that crossed a ceasefire line into its territory earlier this week, because it was heading toward a village with a large rebel ...

World-first stunt on the cards at Nitro Circus

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:11:30 -0400

FEARLESS BMX rider Matt Whyatt could pull off a world-first stunt when the Nitro Circus Live tour hits Townsville tonight. Whyatt, 21, will use his finely tuned instincts to decide whether he'll add yet another move to his famed "Whyatt Riot" manoeuvre - a backflip and tailwhip combined with a 360 degree spin that he invented."No one else has done my trick yet, but I want to ...

Pleas for Weapons Europe Reluctant to Arm Syrian Rebels

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:08:54 -0400

Despite desperate pleas from top Syrian insurgents, Western leaders remain reluctant to arm them. Though the European embargo is set to expire at the end of the month, political and legal considerations make aid for the rebels ...

Chile blocks worlds highest mine project

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:08:45 -0400

VALLENAR, Chile -; Chile's environmental regulator has stopped construction and imposed sanctions on Barrick Gold Corp.'s $8.5 billion Pascua-Lama project, citing "serious violations" of its environmental ...

NKorean envoy delivers letter to Chinas president

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:08:43 -0400

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, greets North Korean Vice Marshal Choe Ryong Hae in Beijing Friday, May 24, 2013. The top North Korean envoy delivered a letter from leader Kim Jong Un to Xi on Friday and told him Pyongyang would take steps to rejoin stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament talks, in an apparent victory for ...

Cuba silent on Canadians corruption trial

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:08:41 -0400

Canadian businessman Sarkis Yacoubian goes to court for his corruption trial in Havana, Cuba, Friday, May 24, 2013. The trial of Yacoubian, who was president of import company Tri-Star Caribbean which was shuttered in July 2011, is under way nearly two years after he was detained. President Raul Castro has repeatedly spoken of a need to root out entrenched corruption on this Communist-run island, ...

Nigeria military says it rescued hostages in north

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:08:40 -0400

ABUJA, Nigeria -; Nigeria's military says it has rescued women and children taken hostage by Islamic extremists after an attack on a police ...

‘Too early’ to speculate on Causeway’s world heritage status

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:05:42 -0400

Unesco has said it is too early to say if the Giant’s Causeway’s status as a world heritage site is at risk over a golf course development Environmental groups have been involved in a long-running campaign to prevent a hotel, clubhouse and driving range being built close to the internationally renowned tourist attraction.Planning permission has been granted by Environment Minister ...

Barrick fined $16m for Pascua-Lama violations

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:04:25 -0400

Mining machinery and barrels with chemicals sit on the facilities of Barrick Gold Corp's Pascua-Lama project in northern Chile, Thursday, May 23, 2013. Chile's environmental regulator has stopped construction and imposed sanctions on Barrick Gold Corp.'s $8.5 billion Pascua-Lama project, citing "serious violations" of its environmental ...

Destination Imagination competitors descend on Knoxville from across the globe

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:03:35 -0400

Milan High Red Eye team members get the first look at their invisible "Phantom of the Opera" member, who appears to them at the end of the skit, at the Destination Imagination competition Friday, May 24, 2013. DI is an interactive academic competition held annually in Knoxville that features over 1,200 teams and 16,500 competitors from over 15 countries. Team Milan team members, left to ...

Sexual assault threatens trust in military Obama says

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:02:39 -0400

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Choosing future Navy and Marine leaders as his audience, President Obama issued a pointed call Friday for an end to sexual assaults in the military, appealing to graduating midshipmen to display honor and moral courage to contain what has become a growing epidemic. Obama spoke at the commissioning ceremony for 1,047 midshipmen, telling the 841 men and 206 women that the ...

British fighter jets escort diverted Pakistani plane

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:01:43 -0400

LONDON — British fighter jets were scrambled to escort a Pakistan International Airlines plane to a London airport on Friday after an incident onboard, officials said. Police said the plane, which was en route from the Pakistani city of Lahore to Manchester in northwest England, landed safely at Stansted airport outside London after being diverted. ';The plane diverted to Stansted ...

UK ordered to hold inquests into civilian deaths during Iraq war

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:01:04 -0400

judgment that could have an impact on how the British military is able to conduct operations among civilians in the future, the court ruled on Friday that up to 161 deaths should be the subject of hearings modelled upon coroners' inquests.In practice, a series of hearings - possibly amounting to more than 100 - are likely to be held as a result of the judgment, which follows a three-year ...

What The Olive Oil Disaster Tells Us About The European Union

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:04 -0400

Last week the European Union published a law that said that olive oil could no longer be served in restaurants with refillable bottles or in bowls. Instead, only labelled, one use only, bottles could be used. This week the EU withdrew this ...

The World in Photos This Week - An FP Slide Show

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:04 -0400

John Allen to the Middle East; Man bites dog: A good week for the F-35; No timeframe for transferring drone ops to Pentagon; What Obama's moves mean for Pakistan; War on terror: Are we there yet?; and a bit more. - by Gordon ...

Fueled By The Sun Solar Impulse Lands In Dallas And Shatters World Distance Record

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:02 -0400

Powered solely by the Sun, Solar Impulse, which has the wingspan of a jumbo jet and weighs less than a compact car, successfully flew from Phoenix to Dallas on Thursday, May 23, to complete the longest leg of the Across America mission, which will conclude in New York. The 950 mile flight to DFW Airport set a new world distance record in solar ...

Punta Cana hosts 10th annual International Mango Symposium June 6-9

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:58:58 -0400

Santo Domingo. - The country will host the 10th International Mango Symposium from June 6 to 9 in Bavaro, Punta Cana (east), where representatives from 30 countries already confirmed attendance. The event is expected to draw international attention to Dominican Republic's mango production, with exports to US$7.5 million, with Europe as the main destination. Agriculture minister Luis Ramon ...

Saudi to send animal samples to US in coronavirus probe

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:58:20 -0400

(MENAFN - AFP) Saudi Arabia said Friday it would send samples taken from animals possibly infected with a deadly SARS-like virus to the United States for testing in a bid to find the source of disease.The Saudi health ministry has "collected large samples from bats and other animals, including ...

Rare Superman Comic Found In House Insulation

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:55:01 -0400

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- It’s considered the Holy Grail of comic books: Action Comics No. 1 from 1938, featuring the debut of Superman. And David Gonzales found one mixed in with old newspapers insulating a wall in a house he was renovating in a small town in Minnesota. Gonzalez did some research that confirmed the comic was valuable, though not as much as it could have been. He got into a ...

Canada not joining Pacific Alliance trade bloc yet

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:51:12 -0400

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, front right, was part of the official photo at the Pacific Alliance Summit in Cali, Colombia on Thursday. Canada has observer status for these trade negotiations. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian ...

Ottawa high school helps another halfway around the world

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:51:03 -0400

Hillcrest High School students are just $600 away from building their second elementary school overseas in five years. The students will participate in their 3rd Annual Walk for Water fundraiser Thursday, in support of Brick by Brick, a school building project in rural Ecuador with Free the ...

Brazil buys robots for World Cup Olympic security

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:49:27 -0400

Brazil will host both Pope Francis and the FIFA World Cup in 2014, and the 2016 Olympic Games will be held in Rio de Janeiro, leading the government to invest in additional security. The Brazilian government contracted iRobot to provide military iRobot 510 PackBot robots. For $7.2 million, Brazil will get about 30 PackBot 510 units, which usually cost about $100,000 to $200,000 each, along with ...

World Briefing | Asia Earthquake in Russias Far East Prompts Evacuations

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:46:42 -0400

An 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck ...

Bahraini protesters clash with police over raid on clerics home

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:46:22 -0400

LONDON (Reuters) - Hundreds of Bahraini Shi'ite Muslims angered by a raid last week on a top cleric's home clashed with police on Friday, while thousands more gathered in the cleric's village for a peaceful sit-in against their Sunni-led ...

Algerian jihadi mastermind claims Niger suicide attacks

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:42:08 -0400

NIAMEY (Reuters) - French special forces and Niger troops shot dead on Friday the last two Islamists involved in a twin attack on a military base and a French uranium mine in Niger, which was claimed by the mastermind of January's mass hostage-taking in ...