World RSS
-
Iran’s president-elect says economy will take time, consults with parliament
TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s newly elected reformist-backed president said Sunday that the country’s dire economic problems cannot be solved “overnight,” as he took his first steps in consulting with members of the clerically dominated establishment on his new policies. Hasan Rowhani’s surprise victory in Friday’s elections puts him in charge of an executive branch that
-
Guardian: UK spies hacked foreign diplomats’ phones, emails at conferences
LONDON – The Guardian newspaper says that the British eavesdropping agency GCHQ hacked into the emails and phones of foreign diplomats at international conferences to get an edge in high-stakes international negotiations. The report published late Sunday is the latest in a series of revelations which have ignited a worldwide debate over the scope of
-
Putin says he didn’t steal New England Patriots owner’s Super Bowl ring
LONDON – Russian President Vladimir Putin is denying insinuations that he stole New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s Super Bowl ring that’s now on display in the Kremlin, but says he’s ready to buy him another ring as a gift. Putin was reacting Sunday through a spokesman to a New York Post story quoting remarks
-
Czech prime minister announces he will resign after top aid is charged with bribery
PRAGUE – Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas says he will resign because a top aide of his has been charged with abuse of power. Necas’ decision, announced Sunday night, will end his three-party coalition government, which was created after the 2010 parliamentary election. But Necas said he hopes it can stay in power until a
-
Obama selects high-powered lawyer to be new Guantanamo closure envoy at State Department
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has chosen a high-powered Washington lawyer with extensive experience in all three branches of the government to be the State Department’s special envoy for closing down the military-run prison at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Clifford Sloan is the pick to reopen the State Department’s Office of Guantanamo
-
Firefighters working to put out hot spots so more Colorado wildfire evacuees can return
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Firefighters worked to get more people evacuated by Colorado’s most destructive wildfire back home Sunday by digging up and extinguishing hot spots to protect homes still standing near Colorado Springs. The labour-intensive work is necessary because extremely dry grass and trees could quickly ignite if wind stirs up one of those
-
Cheney says surveillance could have stopped 9-11, calls Snowden a ‘traitor’
WASHINGTON – Dick Cheney, one of the most controversial political figures in contemporary American politics, said Sunday that Americans have nothing to fear from widespread government surveillance programs, adding the practices could have prevented the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Cheney, vice-president to George W. Bush during the post-9-11 period when the current surveillance
-
Biker culture comes to Vatican as Pope Francis blesses hundreds of Harley-Davidsons
VATICAN CITY – Biker culture came to the Vatican on Sunday as Pope Francis blessed thousands of Harley-Davidsons and their riders celebrating the manufacturer’s 110th anniversary with a loud parade and plenty of leather. Thundering Harley engines nearly drowned out the Latin recitation of the “Our Father” prayer that accompanied Francis as he greeted the
-
24 dead in new wave of Iraq attacks including 10 apparently co-ordinated car bombs
BAGHDAD – Officials say 10 apparently co-ordinated car bombs and a shooting across Iraq have killed at least 24 and wounded dozens. Police say most of Sunday’s car bombs hit Shiite-majority areas, killing 20. The blasts hit half a dozen cities and towns in the south and centre of the country: Basra, Kut, Nasiriyah, Hillah,
-
Earthquake strikes south of Mexico City, shaking buildings
MEXICO CITY – A moderate earthquake hit southern Mexico early Sunday, shaking buildings in the capital of Mexico City and sending frightened people into the streets. Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera reported via his Twitter account that there were no early reports of damage. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a preliminary
