Monday, February 13, 2012

UN backs call for unity government for Maldives (AP)

UN backs call for unity government for Maldives (AP)

UN backs call for unity government for Maldives (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 11:13 AM PST

Three-year old Aishath Zuka looks up as she learns to read the Arabic alphabet in a Quran class in Male, Maldives, Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. The Maldives' new president has expanded his Cabinet to include members of the former autocratic ruler's party, and Islamic conservatives will be appointed ministers in coming days. Conservatives have been demanding the introduction of strict Islamic laws in the Indian Ocean nation that relies on high-end tourism. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)AP - The United Nations on Monday backed Maldives' new leader's proposal for a national unity government though the ousted leader is calling for a snap poll to resolve a political crisis.

Taliban announce death of ex-defense minister (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 11:08 AM PST

An evidence bag containing one kilo of seized hashish is displayed during a Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canada Border Services Agency news conference to reiterate Canada's commitment to the fight against organized crime and the international illicit drug trade in Toronto February 13, 2012. In the summer of 2011 the RCMP received a request for assistance from a local police agency in Eastern Europe after its officers located a shipping container containing 5.7 tonnes of hashish that originated in Afghanistan and was bound for Toronto. The RCMP led an international multi-jurisdictional investigation. The RCMP Greater Toronto Area Drug section arrested and charged five Toronto men with numerous drug importation offences. One additional male was charged in Europe. REUTERS/ Mike Cassese (CANADA - Tags: CRIME LAW DRUGS SOCIETY)AP - The Taliban's former defense minister died in a Pakistani jail in 2010, a spokesman for the insurgent group said Monday.

EU should respond rapidly to Myanmar reforms: top EU official (Reuters)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 10:48 AM PST

Reuters - The European Union should respond fast to changes under way in Myanmar driven by a former military junta leader and "key reformer" committed to democracy and boosting the country's economy, a top EU official said on Monday.

Soldier's death sparks debate over arming medevacs (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 10:40 AM PST

In this Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 photo, U.S. Maj. Graham Bundy, center left, medevac commander from Sussex, Wisc., points to the inside of a U.S. medevac helicopter in a hangar at the U.S. Bagram air field, north of Kabul, Afghanistan. About 20 U.S. lawmakers have written to military officials inquiring about a Sept. 18, 2011 incident, when it took a medevac unit 59 minutes to get U.S. Army Spec. Chazray Clark, a 24-year-old combat engineer from Detroit, to a hospital in southern Afghanistan after receiving a call that a roadside bombing severed three of his limbs. Clark did not survive. The incident has revived a debate over whether medevac helicopters should have their own guns. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)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.

US envoy to hold talks with NKorea in Beijing (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 10:33 AM PST

AP - A U.S. envoy will hold talks with North Korea on its nuclear program in Beijing next week, the first such negotiations since the death of the nation's longtime leader Kim Jong Il.

Asia key as U.S., EU tighten sanctions against Iran (Reuters)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 10:17 AM PST

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.

Bombers target Israeli diplomats in Georgia, India (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 09:37 AM PST

An injured person is carried from a burning car belonging to the Israeli Embassy following an explosion in New Delhi, India, Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. The wife of an Israeli diplomat was injured in the explosion, the same day as an Israeli Embassy staffer in Georgia found a bomb underneath his car, which was dismantled before exploding, according to Indian and Israeli media reports. (AP Photo/Joji Thomas, Economic Times) INDIA OUT, MANDATORY CREDITAP - Assailants targeted Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia in near-simultaneous strikes Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed on archenemy Iran, and its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah. Iran denied responsibility for the attacks.

U.S., North Korea to hold Beijing talks on February 23 (Reuters)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 09:33 AM PST

A member of an art troupe of Korean people living in Japan performs on the occasion of the birth anniversary of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang on February 13, 2012 in this picture released by North Korea's official KCNA news agency on Monday. The late leader Kim Jong-il's birthday falls on February 16. REUTERS/KCNA (NORTH KOREA) THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. NOT FOR USE BY REUTERS THIRD PARTY DISTRIBUTORS. QUALITY FROM SOURCEReuters - U.S. and North Korean officials will meet in Beijing in 10 days time to discuss nuclear issues, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters on Monday.

Pakistan Supreme Court takes center stage as political player (Reuters)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 09:23 AM PST

Afghan refugee children peek through a door curtain in the center of Peshawar, Pakistan, Monday, Feb 13, 2012. Pakistan is seeking to return some 1.2 million Afghan refugees still living in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)Reuters - Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was indicted on Monday for refusing to follow a court order to reopen old corruption cases against his party boss, President Asif Ali Zardari. Gilani, who pleaded not guilty, and his advisers say Zardari has immunity as head of state, but the court remains unconvinced.

Trial opens for top suspect in 2002 Bali bombings (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 08:59 AM PST

Umar Patek, an Indonesian militant charged in the 2002 Bali terrorist attacks, arrives to his trial in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)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.

US to support UN rights resolution on Sri Lanka (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 08:17 AM PST

AP - The United States will support a U.N. human rights council resolution asking Sri Lanka to implement recommendations its commission made on the island nation's civil war, an American diplomat said Monday.

Malaysia defends deportation of Saudi journalist (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 05:49 AM PST

AP - Malaysia's government on Monday defended its decision to deport a young Saudi journalist who may face persecution at home for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad on Twitter.

Blast hits Israeli diplomat's car in India; 2 hurt (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 04:42 AM PST

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.

Pakistani PM charged with contempt over graft case (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 03:53 AM PST

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani waves upon his arrival at the Supreme Court for a hearing in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. Judges were set to charge Gilani with contempt for defying their orders to reopen an old corruption case against his political ally, President Asif Ali Zardari. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)AP - The Supreme Court charged Pakistan's prime minister with contempt Monday for defying its order to reopen an old corruption case against the president, sharpening a political crisis that has shaken this already volatile country.

Turkmen president wins 97 percent of vote (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 03:28 AM PST

FILE - In this April 24, 2011 file photo, Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov smiles as he rides a horse in capital Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The president of energy-rich Turkmenistan Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov is an avid horseman, but he is unlikely ever to win a race as easily as he's set to clinch re-election on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012. (AP Photo/Alexander Vershinin, File)AP - Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov won a new five-year term by capturing 97 percent of the vote, election officials said Monday, but a Western expert called the vote a democratic sham.

Australian lawmakers propose allowing gay marriage (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 03:06 AM PST

AP - Two bills to allow gay marriages in Australia were introduced in Parliament on Monday but may fail because of political conflicts.

SKorean pastor arrested over children's deaths (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 02:52 AM PST

AP - South Korean police have arrested a Christian pastor and his wife over the deaths of their three children. The parents are accused of whipping and starving the children in an attempt to cast out demons.

Chinese diplomat urges Iran to cooperate with IAEA (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 12:49 AM PST

AP - A senior Chinese diplomat on a trip to Iran has urged Tehran to cooperate more with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog body. The advice comes amid growing tensions over the Islamic republic's nuclear program and Western sanctions.

China is mum on call for Syria peacekeeping force (AP)

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 12:09 AM PST

AP - China refused Monday to say if it backs an Arab League call for the U.N. Security Council to create a joint peacekeeping force for Syria, the latest bid to end the violence that has killed more than 5,000 there.

Oil near $100 as Greece approves austerity cuts (AP)

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 11:53 PM PST

Kuwait Petroleum Company CEO Farouk al-Zanki speaks at the opening of a three-day Oil and Gas Conference in Al-Bidda February 12, 2012. OPEC member Kuwait produced around 2.9 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil in January, said Zanki on Sunday, about 100,000 barrels lower than the previous month. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee (KUWAIT - Tags: ENERGY BUSINESS PROFILE)AP - Oil prices rose to near $100 a barrel Monday in Asia after the Greek parliament approved new austerity measures that should secure a bailout and avoid bankruptcy.
Posted by Harshad at 11:48 AM

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