International

Push for transitional government in Syria

Bader — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:59:57 -0400

Enniskillen, Northern Ireland — The Group of Eight said yesterday it wanted to see a democratic transition in Syria, but differences with Russia prevented its leaders from agreeing on the fate of the current government of President Bashar al Assad. In a joint statement issued after two days of at times difficult talks in Northern Ireland, G8 leaders said they were determined to "stop the bloodshed and loss of life in Syria and to support the Syrian people to establish peace and stability through political means."

Dozens of silent protesters held

Bader — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:59:53 -0400

ANKARA/ISTANBUL — A lone, silent vigil by a man in Istanbul inspired copycat protests yesterday, as police detained dozens of people across Turkey in an operation linked to three weeks of often violent demonstrations against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. Overnight in Ankara, riot police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse hundreds of protesters who had gathered in and around the government quarter of Kizilay.

Ban calls for end to sanctions against Iraq

Bader — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:59:51 -0400

UNITED NATIONS — UN leader Ban Ki-Moon yesterday called for the end of the threat of sanctions against Iraq brought about in 1990 amid a significant thaw between neighbours. Ban said the governments of Iraq and Kuwait have shown "statesmanship and respect" in healing the scars of the past that led to the creation of an international coalition to remove Saddam Hussein's forces.

Libya sea tragedy survivors file suits

Bader — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:59:48 -0400

PARIS — Two survivors of a 2011 boat tragedy which killed 63 people off Libya filed suits yesterday in France and Spain, accusing defence forces of the two countries of failing to assist people in danger. The incident dates back to March 26, 2011, when 72 African migrants left the Libyan capital Tripoli on a boat destined for Italy, their planned departure having been brought forward by the start of the French-led military intervention in Libya.

Arab village targeted in racial attack

Bader — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:59:46 -0400

JERUSALEM — Vandals daubed "Arabs out" graffiti and punctured tyres in an Arab village near Jerusalem yesterday, targeting a community widely seen in Israel as a showcase for Jewish-Arab coexistence. Unlike similar attacks that have damaged Arab mosques, homes, vehicles and olive groves, the vandalism took place in an Arab village in Israel popular with Jewish visitors, rather than in a Palestinian community in the occupied West Bank.

Israel housing minister claims settlement freeze in place

Bader — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:59:44 -0400

TEL AVIV — Israeli Housing Minister Uri Ariel yesterday implied that a freeze on new housing projects in east Jerusalem and West Bank has been in place since beginning of 2013. Ariel's remarks to army radio come a day after his party leader Naftali Bennett declared that the idea of a Palestinian state had reached a "dead end" and called to "build, and build, and build" in the West Bank.

Dialogue in coming days as Taliban open office in Qatar

Bader — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:59:41 -0400

KABUL — The Taliban yesterday opened an office in Qatar in a bid to start "dialogue with the world" as US officials said they would meet the group within days. The United States will meet the Taliban in Doha next week for talks aimed at achieving peace in Afghanistan, US officials said yesterday. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, warned that the process would likely be lengthy. The United States will insist the Taliban end violence, and accept the Afghan constitution, the officials told reporters in a conference call.

Brazil hit by largest protests in 20 years

Bader — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:59:39 -0400

RIO DE JANEIRO — Rio police fired tear gas and rubber bullets in clashes with protesting youths early yesterday, after tens of thousands rallied in major Brazilian cities against the huge costs of hosting the 2014 World Cup. In the country's largest protests in 20 years, more than 200,000 people marched across the country to vent their anger at government's lavish spending in demonstrations initially triggered by a hike in bus fares.

US surveillance thwarted over 50 attacks: NSA head

Bader — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:59:36 -0400

WASHINGTON — The head of the US National Security Agency yesterday defended the broad surveillance of Americans' phone and Internet data as a vital security tool and said it had helped disrupt possible attacks more than 50 times since September 11, 2001. Justifying the surveillance programmes that were disclosed by an NSA leaker earlier this month, General Keith Alexander said he would give lawmakers classified details of all of the thwarted incidents within 24 hours.

Sun reporter, prison officer charged in bribery probe

Bader — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:04:32 -0400

LONDON — The chief foreign correspondent for Rupert Murdoch's top-selling British tabloid The Sun has been charged for allegedly paying public officials for information, prosecutors said yesterday. Journalist Nick Parker faces three counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office relating to alleged payments to a prison officer and a police officer between 2007 and 2009.