(BEIRUT) — The top U.N. human rights official expressed concern Friday that a Syrian troop buildup around a besieged, rebel-held town in western Syria could lead to more atrocities if the area is overrun.
N Korea Nuke Arsenal Seen as Matter of When, Not If
(SEOUL, South Korea) — For 20 years, fears about North Korea’s headlong pursuit of nuclear bombs have been watered down with smirking admonishments not to overestimate an impoverished dictatorship prone to bragging and …
2 Popes Meet: Egyptian Copt and Pope Francis
(VATICAN CITY) — Two popes are praying together at the Vatican, one Catholic and one Orthodox.
The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt, Pope Tawadros II, called on Pope Francis on Friday in the first such meeting in 40 years.
The occasion was to mark the anniversary of the signing of a declaration for improving ties …
Germany: Chancellor Merkel on Visit to Afghanistan
(KABUL, Afghanistan) — Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel made a surprise visit Friday to northern Afghanistan to visit her troops less than two weeks after insurgents killed a German special forces soldier and wounded a second, a military spokesman said.
Germany is the only NATO nation that is committed to leaving troops in Afghanistan
…
Again Seeking office, Marcos Ensures Dynasty Lives
(MARCOS, Philippines) — Twenty-seven years after her dictator husband was ousted by a public revolt, Imelda Marcos has emerged as the Philippines’ ultimate political survivor: She was back on the campaign trail this week, …
Taiwan Demands Philippines Probe Fisherman’s Death
(TAIPEI, Taiwan) – The shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine coast guard has become the latest incident to roil tensions over territorial disputes in and around the South China Sea, with Taipei calling Friday for Manila to apologize for the shooting.
Taiwan said that the Philippine Coast Guard opened fire Thursday …
Hezbollah: Syria to Supply Weapons to Militia
(BEIRUT) — Syria will supply “game-changing” weapons to Hezbollah, the chief of the Lebanese militant group said Thursday, less than a week after Israeli airstrikes on Damascus targeted alleged shipments of advanced Iranian missiles bound for Hezbollah.
Israel has signaled it will respond with airstrikes to any future weapons …
Philippines Mulls Pullout of Syria Peacekeepers
(MANILA, Philippines) — The Philippine foreign secretary says he is recommending to President Benigno Aquino III to pull out all Filipino U.N. peacekeepers from the Golan Heights following the abduction of four by Syrian rebels.
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Friday that the government believes the exposure of the …
From Hospital Bed, Pakistani ‘Change’ Candidate Imran Khan Aims for Victory
The front wall of Lahore’s Shaukat Khanum hospital has come to resemble a shrine. Scores of bouquets of flowers are arrayed amid a sprinkling of “get well soon” cards. On the walls, posters appear with messages ranging from the …
Ex-dictator Denies He Ordered Guatemala Genocide
(GUATEMALA CITY) — Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt denied on Thursday that he ordered the extermination of Ixil Mayas as he testified for the first time at his genocide trial.
The 86-year-old ex-general, who ruled Guatemala from March 1982 to August 1983 during the height of its civil war, said prosecutors hadn’t proved …
Hizballah and Israel Spar as Syria’s Conflict Threatens to Spin Out of Control
A dangerous game of brinkmanship is unfolding in the Middle East pitting Israel against Syria and its militant Shi‘ite ally Hizballah in what threatens to expand the two-year Syrian civil war into a full-blown regional …
Sea Search Ends for 2 Australian Cruise Passengers
(SYDNEY) — Police late Friday ended the ocean search for two cruise ship passengers lost overboard two days earlier off eastern Australian.
Aircraft and ships that covered 4,670 square kilometers (1,360 square nautical miles) of ocean during the search north of Sydney did not find any sign of the Australian couple, New South Wales …
Syrian Warplanes Pound Rebel Positions in North
(BEIRUT) — Syrian warplanes pounded rebel targets in two northern provinces on Thursday as President Bashar Assad‘s troops pushed on with an offensive to reclaim more territory from the opposition.
The strikes came against the backdrop of a new, joint U.S.-Russia effort to bring the sides in the 26-month-long conflict to the …
