Iran State TV station FARS announced Saturday morning that four American dual-nationality prisoners were released from Iranian custody in a “prisoner swap” with the United States.
(AP) Obama squeezes N. Korea to change, China to helpBy BEN FELLERAP White House CorrespondentSEOUL, South Korea Trying to muscle North Korea toward peace over provocation, President Barack Obama is broadening his squeeze play from the heart of this tensely
UN Watch–an essential human rights watchdog–has attempted to downplay last week’s appearance by the Hamas terrorist group at the UN Human Rights council, apparently to spare the Obama administration embarrassment as Obama seeks continued funding from Congress for UN-related activities.
(AP) Chavez going to Cuba to begin radiation treatmentBy JORGE RUEDAAssociated PressCARACAS, VenezuelaVenezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he’s flying to Cuba to begin radiation therapy Sunday, one month after undergoing surgery that removed a cancerous tumor. That will put him
(AP) Obama confronts nuke threat on N. Korea front lineBy BEN FELLER and ANNE GEARANAssociated PressSEOUL, South KoreaPresident Barack Obama is opening his pitch for faster work to lock down nuclear material that could be used by terrorists with an
(AP) French investigators focus on gunman’s brotherBy RAPHAEL SATTER and JOHANNA DECORSEAssociated PressPARISThe brother of an Islamist fanatic behind a deadly shooting rampage in France celebrated his martyr-like death and may have helped him, police and a lawyer said Saturday.
(AP) Army sergeant charged in Afghan massacreBy LOLITA C. BALDOR and DEB RIECHMANNAssociated PressWASHINGTONCharges filed Friday against Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales reflect the horror of the crime: 17 counts of premeditated murder, more than half of them children, during
(Reuters) – Iran is providing a broad array of assistance to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to help him suppress anti-government protests, from high-tech surveillance technology to guns and ammunition, U.S. and European security officials say. Tehran’s technical assistance to Assad’s
LEON, MEXICO (Reuters) – Pope Benedict said on Friday that communism had failed in Cuba and offered the Church’s help in creating a new economic model, drawing a reserved response from the Cuban government ahead of his visit to the
The United States will not limit its deployment plans to install a NATO missile shield against potential Iranian threats despite Friday’s threat of possible retaliation from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, according to White House sources. Russia’s president Dmitry Medvedev issued
As the Associated Press reports today, the Obama administration told Congress yesterday that it would “wave democracy requirements to release up to $1.3 billion in aid to Egypt despite concerns that the country is backsliding on commitments it made to
Police stormed a house and killed a gunman whose murders of Jewish schoolchildren and soldiers traumatised France and briefly halted the presidential election campaign. Officers from an elite unit moved in after a 32-hour siege, killing the self-proclaimed Al-Qaeda militant
(AP) Extremist suspect upends French presidential raceBy ELAINE GANLEYAssociated PressPARISFrench far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen says her anti-Islam agenda has been vindicated: A French Muslim claiming ties to al-Qaida has taken responsibility for the country’s worst killing spree in
New Zealand police said Friday that they seized a marijuana vending machine during a raid on a “cannabis club” in Auckland which campaigns for the drug’s legalisation. The vending machine at The Daktory in suburban New Lynn had been set
A Nigerian woman was arrested at an airport outside Washington after ingesting nearly five pounds (over two kilograms) of heroin pellets, in what US officials called the biggest bust of its kind. US Customs and Border Protection officers first grew
(AP) Bales to be charged with murder in Afghan killingsBy PAULINE JELINEK and LOLITA C. BALDORAssociated PressWASHINGTONArmy Staff Sgt. Robert Bales will be charged with 17 counts of murder, assault and a string of other offenses in the massacre of
(AP) Afghan commander prefers robust US force in 2013By DONNA CASSATAAssociated PressWASHINGTONThe top commander in Afghanistan said Thursday he prefers a significant American force of 68,000 to combat insurgents in 2013, signaling a potential halt in the drawdown and complicating
Protesting natives supported by opponents of President Rafael Correa brought Ecuador’s capital to a standstill Thursday, demanding an end to policies they say will open the Amazon rainforest to vast mining projects and ravage the environment. Protests were prompted partly
(AP) Russian lawmaker: Assad must pull out troops firstBy VLADIMIR ISACHENKOVAssociated PressMOSCOWSyrian President Bashar Assad must take the first step toward settling his country’s yearlong conflict by pulling his forces out of cities and allowing humanitarian assistance, a senior Russian
(AP) Stocks lower on worries over China slowdownBy PALLAVI GOGOIAP Business WriterNEW YORKSigns that China’s economy is weakening and Europe is slowing sent U.S. stocks lower. The price of crude oil dropped 2 percent Thursday to its lowest level in
