To Obama, the Geneva Convention applies to stateless terrorists–who are not parties to the convention, and are not lawful combatants–but not to U.S. sailors captured and detained by Iran at gunpoint
(AP) Snowden bides for political asylum I BrazilBy BRADLEY BROOKSAssociated PressRIO DE JANEIRONational Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden says he would be willing to help Brazil investigate NSA spying on its soil, but could not fully participate without being granted
A report released on Tuesday by the Center for Public Integrity says Chinese hackers attacked the Federal Election Commission (FEC) website that contains records of donations received and spent by federal candidates. The attacks, which occurred after October 1 during
Polar sea ice increased 50% over last year, growing from 6,000 to 9,000 cubic kilometers when compared to the same period in 2012. Moreover, this year’s multi-year ice is 30 cm thicker than last year, and scientists claim that thick, multi-year ice
One of the suspects charged in the gruesome murder of a British soldier in a busy London street cannot use as a defence his claim that he was a “soldier of Allah”, a judge ruled Tuesday. Michael Adebolajo, 29, and
(AP) Aircraft crash in Afghanistan kills 6 NATO troopsKABUL, AfghanistanNATO says six service members have died in an aircraft crash in southern Afghanistan, in an area where there was no fighting reported at the time. The alliance says in a
ALEPPO, Syria, Dec. 16 (UPI) — Both sides accused each other of slaughter as an opposition group said Syrian troops bombed Aleppo and the government said Islamic rebels executed civilians. Syrian military officials said more than 80 civilians in Adra were
(AP) Germany’s Merkel starts 3rd term in new coalitionBy GEIR MOULSONAssociated PressBERLINGermany’s Parliament elected Chancellor Angela Merkel to a third term as the leader of Europe’s biggest economic power on Tuesday, nearly three months after an awkward election result forced
(AP) Activists: Syrian aircraft hit Aleppo, killing 15By BARBARA SURKAssociated PressBEIRUTSyrian military aircraft targeted rebel-held districts in the northern city of Aleppo for the third straight day on Tuesday, killing at least 15 people, activists said. The government’ assault on
(AP) Officials: Bombing kills 4 Shiite pilgrims in IraqBy SAMEER N. YACOUBAssociated PressBAGHDADIraqi officials say a roadside bomb explosion in Baghdad has killed four Shiite pilgrims. Police officials say the bombing on Tuesday afternoon targeted pilgrims in southeastern Baghdad as
(AP) Pope shares his birthday breakfast with homelessVATICAN CITYFour homeless people have helped Pope Francis celebrate his 77th birthday at the Vatican. They live nearby and were invited to attend the morning Mass which Francis celebrates daily at the Vatican
(AP) South Sudan on edge as army hunts coup plottersBy RODNEY MUHUMUZAAssociated PressKAMPALA, UgandaSporadic gunfire rang out in the capital, Juba, overnight as the military “cleared out remnants” of a faction of soldiers accused of mounting a coup attempt, the
This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com U.N. makes biggest funding request ever, for Syria Arab states split over issue of Iran’s rapprochement with the West U.N. makes biggest funding request ever, for Syria A Syrian man cries carrying the body
(AP) ST. LOUISPope Francis announced changes in the influential Vatican office that evaluates and nominates candidates for bishop around the world. Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington was appointed Monday to the Congregation for Bishops. The pope also reconfirmed Cardinal William Levada,
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 16 (UPI) — The domestication of cats into the household tabbies we live with today began with Chinese farmers 5,300 years ago, U.S. researchers say. “At least three different lines of scientific inquiry allow us to tell
(AP) SAN JOSE, Costa Rica The Costa Rican government says it has seized a jet carrying more than a ton of cocaine and it detained the two pilots from Guatemala. The country’s public safety ministry says the small plane was
The UK is tightening up its already rigorous work benefits test, requiring immigrants to detail what they have done to find work outside of the UK and whether they have been hurt by their own inability to speak English. The
According to the pro-regime Russian newspaper Izvestia, Russia has missiles with a range of hundreds of kilometers to the borders of Poland and Lithuania. The missiles were moved “some time” ago, according to Izvestia, and one of Izvestia‘s sources pegs
VIGO, Spain, Dec. 15 (UPI) — Police in Vigo, Spain, say they have been ordered to guard a collection of empty Christmas presents for the past week. Six police officers in the city have been watching the packages 24 hours
(AP) Relative: Mandela signer in group that burned menBy TENDAI MUSIYA and ALAN CLENDENNINGAssociated PressJOHANNESBURGThe bogus sign language interpreter at last week’s Nelson Mandela memorial service was among a group of people who accosted two men found with a stolen
PRETORIA, South Africa, Dec. 16 (UPI) — South African President Jacob Zuma unveiled a statue of Nelson Mandela Monday, saying the former leader’s arms are outstretched to embrace the country. The nearly 30-foot bronze statue was unveiled at the Union
French police made 21 arrests Monday as part of an investigation into claims that meat from horses used for drugs testing found its way into the food chain. The arrests were made at various locations in the south of France
China’s December 15th soft-landing of an unmanned spacecraft on the moon was celebrated by the Xinhua news agency as, “The dream for lunar exploration once again lights up the China Dream“. China’s neighbors saw the action as a nightmare demonstration
(AP) Foreign Minister: Attempted coup in South SudanBy TOM ODULAAssociated PressNAIROBI, KenyaA South Sudanese official says a group of disgruntled soldiers and politicians led by a former vice president have attempted to overthrow the government. South Sudanese Foreign Minister Barnaba
(AP) Attacks across Iraq kill at least 29 peopleBy SINAN SALAHEDDINAssociated PressBAGHDADA group of suicide bombers launched a brazen assault on a police station north of Baghdad, killing eight policemen, the deadliest in a string of attacks across Iraq on
(AP) US boosts maritime security aid to VietnamBy MATTHEW LEEAssociated PressHANOI, VietnamThe United States will boost maritime security assistance to China’s smaller neighbors amid rising tensions over disputed territories in the South China Sea, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry
