Baathists quit over Syria’s crackdown

 

April 28, 2011

U.N. fails to agree on condemning Syria

UNITED NATIONS (AP) ― The deeply divided U.N. Security Council failed to agree on a European and U.S.-backed statement condemning Syrian violence against peaceful protesters on Wednesday, with Russia saying security forces were also killed and the actions don’t threaten international peace.“A real threat to regional security in our view could arise from outside interference in Syria’s domestic sit

April 28, 2011

Violent storms smack Southern U.S., kill at least 85

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama (AP) -- Fierce storms obliterated large swathsof land from Mississippi to Georgia, wiping out homes and businesses, causing a nuclear power plant to use backup generators and even forcing the evacuation of a National Weather Service office.The death toll was staggering _ at least 85 people killed in five states, including 61 in Alabama alone, a number that was likely to increas

April 28, 2011

Hamas, Fatah reach unity deal

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) ― Rival Palestinian groups said they reached an agreement Wednesday on reuniting their governments in the West Bank and Gaza after years of bitter infighting that weakened them politically and caused the deaths of hundreds in violent clashes and crackdowns since.Even as the tentative agreement revived hopes among Palestinians that they might be able to form a unified fro

April 28, 2011

Russia backs tougher rules after Chernobyl

Yanukovych renews calls for funding for new containment shell over reactorKIEV (AP) ― Tough new guidelines could help prevent accidents like the massive Chernobyl meltdown, Russia’s president insisted Tuesday, defending nuclear energy during solemn ceremonies commemorating the 25th anniversary of the worst nuclear accident in history.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Ukrainian President Viktor

April 27, 2011

Obama steps up campaign against high fuel costs

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama on Tuesday stepped up his campaign over politically damaging high gasoline prices, calling on Congress to eliminate $4 billion dollars in subsidies to oil industry giants."There are steps we can take to ensure the American people don't fall victim to skyrocketing gas prices over the long term," said Obama in a letter to top Republican and Democratic lea

April 27, 2011

NATO hit on headquarters squeezes Gadhafi

Libyan spokesman denounces bombing as failed assassination attemptTRIPOLI (AP) ― The latest NATO airstrike on Moammar Gadhafi’s compound that reduced parts of it to a smoldering ruin steps up pressure on the increasingly embattled Libyan leader as he struggles to hold onto the western half of the country.A Libyan government spokesman denounced Monday’s bombing as a failed assassination attempt, sa

April 26, 2011

Weight loss gone wrong

KUALA LUMPUR: A 30-year-old man spent RM80,000 on a weight loss programme but ended up having 30 open wounds, with one as big as a fist, around his waistline.The man, who only wanted to be known as Lim, said he got to know about the “needleless injection” treatment when a friend suggested that they enter into the cosmetics business in October 2009.“Initially, I was not interested, but after much p

April 26, 2011

Termites eat up millions in Indian bank

Police in India are investigating a case where 10 million rupees ($222,000) were reportedly missing after a raid. Those who broke into the steel chest at the bank were not human but termites.According to a report by the Telegraph, the termites had been damaging bank furniture and documents before they broke into the storage where the money had been preserved since January.“It’s a matter of investi

April 26, 2011

Yemen’s Saleh left with room for movement

 

April 25, 2011

More than 120 dead in Syria unrest

BEIRUT (AP) ― Syrian security forces fired on funeral processions that drew tens of thousands Saturday, one day after the bloodiest crackdown so far in the uprising against President Bashar Assad. The shootings pushed the two-day death toll to more than 120 and two lawmakers and a religious leader resigned in disgust over the killings.The resignations were a possible sign of cracks developing in t

April 24, 2011

Yemeni president agrees to resign in 30 days

Parliament will grant Saleh legal protection; power to be handed to vice presidentSANAA (AP) ― Yemen’s embattled president agreed Saturday to a proposal by Gulf Arab mediators to step down within 30 days and hand power to his deputy in exchange for immunity from prosecution, a major about-face for the autocratic leader who has ruled for 32 years.A coalition of seven opposition parties said they al

April 24, 2011

Yemeni president agrees to step down in 30 days

SANAA, Yemen (AP) - Yemen's embattled president agreed Saturday to a proposal by Gulf Arab mediators to step down within 30 days and hand power to his deputy in exchange for immunity from prosecution, a major about-face for the autocratic leader who has ruled for 32 years.A coalition of seven opposition parties said they also accepted the deal but with reservations. Even if the differences are ove

April 24, 2011