International

Obama announces U.S. to restore diplomatic ties with Cuba

President Barack Obama announced the United States would restore diplomatic relations it severed with Cubamore than 50 years ago, drawing resistance from lawmakers opposed to reconciling with the communist-run island. After 18 months of secret talks facilitated by the Vatican and Canada, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed by phone on Tuesday on a prisoner exchange and the opening of embassies in each other’s countries. In a television speech on Wednesday, Obama announced the end of what he […]

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Australia orders sweeping investigation after system fails hostages

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday ordered a sweeping investigation into a deadly hostage crisis after tough new security laws and the courts failed to stop a convicted felon from walking into a Sydney cafe with a concealed shotgun. Three people were killed, including hostage-taker Man Haron Monis, when police stormed a Sydney cafe early on Tuesday morning to free terrified hostages held at gunpoint for 16 hours. Police are investigating whether the two […]

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Pakistan in mourning as parents bury children after school attack

Pakistan woke up to a day of mourning on Wednesday after Taliban militants killed 132 students at a school in the city of Peshawar in a grisly attack which shocked the nation and put pressure on the government to do more to tackle the insurgency. Pakistanis waited to see what their government – long accused of not being tough enough on the Islamists – and the army would do to stem spiraling violence in a nation […]

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U.S. rejects Manila’s bid for custody of U.S. Marine accused of murder

The United States embassy in Manila has turned down a request from Philippine authorities to hand over a Marine accused of the killing of a transgender Filipino, a move that could spark anti-American protest in the former U.S. colony. The Marine, Joseph Scott Pemberton, who is being held at a U.S. facility at the main Philippine army base, was charged with the murder of Jeffrey Laude, who was found dead on Oct. 11 in a […]

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Russia turmoil sparks flight to safety

(Reuters) – Fears of a full-blown crisis in Russia and oil’s continued slide pushed investors to seek safety on Wednesday, buying core bonds and selling stocks while the ruble failed to halt its prolonged tumble. With only days to go before the end of the trading year, investors were also looking ahead to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s final statement of 2014, due at 1900 GMT (02:00 p.m. EST). Analysts expect it to remove language pledging to wait a “considerable time” before […]

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International community condemns Pakistan school terror attack

The international community has condemned the atrocious attack on a Pakistani school by militant Taliban that killed 145 people, mostly children, in Peshawar, Pakistan. More than 100 were also wounded in the incident. UNICEF earlier expressed outrage and condemned the attack through their twitter account.  It sent its condolences to the families of the victims. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon also condemned the deadly Taliban attack as “an act of horror and rank cowardice.”  The White House […]

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132 students, 9 staffers killed in Taliban attack on Pakistan school

(Reuters) — At least 132 students and nine staff members were killed on Tuesday (December16) when Taliban gunmen broke into a school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar and opened fire, an army spokesman said, in the bloodiest massacre the country has seen for years. “In the rescue operation today, around 960 children and staff members were rescued from here. I have given you the casualty figures, but I will repeat it again for your knowledge that 132 children and nine […]

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U.N. condemns attack on Pakistan school that killed at least 130, mostly kids

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned a deadly Taliban attack on a Pakistan school on Tuesday (December 16) as “an act of horror and rank cowardice to attack defenseless children while they learn.” “No cause can justify such brutality. No grievance can excuse such horror,” Ban said. “Getting an education is every child’s right. Going to school should not have to be an act of bravery.” At least 130 people, most of them children, were killed on Tuesday after Taliban gunmen broke into […]

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Japan orders culling of 4,000 chickens after bird flu outbreak

The Japanese government on Tuesday (December 16) ordered the culling of roughly 4,000 poultry at a farm in western Japan after bird flu was detected in three of the chickens there, Japan’s Kyodo News reported. Health authorities said three chickens from a farm in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture, tested positive for a highly pathogenic H5 strain of avian influenza, Kyodo News said. Local government on Tuesday began slaughtering all of the roughly 4,000 birds raised at the farm. Officials said they will […]

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Sydney police probes cafe siege; 3 dead after police storms into Lindt cafe

Police in Sydney launch an investigation on Tuesday (Dec 16) after three people died, including the gunman and two hostages, when officers stormed a Sydney cafe to end the siege. Police will investigate whether the two hostages were killed by the gunman or died in the cross-fire, police said. “Because this is a critical incident investigation, we will have close liaison with the coroner and we will be working on behalf of the coroner to make sure this investigation […]

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Suspect in Sydney cafe siege caught on camera

A man reported by local media to be a suspect involved in the Sydney cafe siege was caught on camera on Monday (December 15) by Australian TV channel Seven Network, Reuters reported. Police said they knew of one armed assailant involved in the incident at the Lindt chocolate cafe in the heart of Sydney’s financial district, but there could be more. Police locked down the center of the country’s biggest city on Monday after an armed man walked into […]

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Police monitors social media but won’t confirm demands in Australia hostage drama

   Australian police said on Monday (December 15) they were monitoring alleged demands made on social media by hostages being held in a siege at aSydney cafe but would not confirm what any demands might be. Network 10 reported that two female hostages had called with claims from the gunman that two bombs were planted elsewhere in the city. Social media posts by possible hostages claimed the gunman wanted to speak directly with Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Deputy […]

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