Republicans seek to bleed Obama’s health reform
January 5, 2011
Republicans armed with new power will pounce on one of their top targets, President Barack Obama’s hard-fought healthcare reforms, when the House of Representatives reopens for business on Wednesday.
Governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province assassinated
January 5, 2011
The governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province was assassinated by his own security guard Tuesday, according to Interior Minister Rehman Malik, apparently because he spoke out against the country’s controversial blasphemy law.
Amid massive security, Egypt’s Christians protest peacefully
January 5, 2011
Hundreds of supporters of Egyptian Christians protesting a New Year’s bombing that killed nearly two dozen of their members marched Tuesday night on a church in a Cairo suburb, where they were met by an equal number of security officers in riot gear.
African offer to Gbagbo fails to end Ivory Coast crisis
January 4, 2011
A delegation of African leaders has apparently failed to persuade incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast to stand down following disputed polls.
The group went to Ivory Coast on Monday to offer him an amnesty if he left.
Iran invites foreign diplomats to nuclear sites
January 4, 2011
Iran has confirmed that it has invited foreign diplomats to tour its nuclear facilities.
The invitation comes ahead of fresh talks with key world powers over Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.
Eyes out for ‘potential spoilers’ as south Sudan vote nears
January 4, 2011
International observers will be watching out for “potential spoilers” as southern Sudan votes on whether to break away from the rest of the east African nation next week, a leading human rights activist said Monday.
Iran claims it shot down ‘Western spy planes’
January 2, 2011
Iran said Sunday it had shot down what it described as two Western spy planes over the Persian Gulf, according to Iranian media reports.
Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, air force commander for Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, made the comments to Payam Engelab, or Message of the Revolution, an internal Islamic Revolution Guard Corps publication, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
AU envoy warns Ivory Coast’s Gbagbo
January 2, 2011
Kenya’s prime minister headed to Ivory Coast on Sunday with a warning for the country’s self-proclaimed president, urging him to step down or face military intervention by his neighbors.
Ouattara gives Gbagbo a deadline to step down in Ivory Coast
January 1, 2011
A three-man West African delegation won’t return to Ivory Coast until Monday, when it will ask self-declared President Laurent Gbagbo to relinquish his post or face a military ouster, a representative of the group said Friday.
Italy furious after Brazil’s Lula refuses extradition
January 1, 2011
Italy has reacted with fury to the Brazilian president’s decision on his last day in office not to extradite an Italian former left-wing militant.
The Italian foreign ministry recalled its ambassador to Brazil, while the defence minister said Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had shown a “lack of courage”.