All Latest News Wires
- Indian yoga guru arrested during anticorruption protest
India's police detained popular Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev and thousands of his supporters for several hours after they tried to intensify an anticorruption protest. Ramdev and the others had occupied a New Delhi fairground for the past couple of days.
- Australia plans to deport asylum seekers to Pacific islands
Australia's government announced a plan to deter refugee boats from reaching its shores as it hopes to reopen refugee detention centers in the Pacific islands nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea. 964 asylum seekers had died since 2001 while making the dangerous sea journey to Australia.
- Pope's butler faces trial for leaking documents
Pope Benedict's former butler will be tried on an aggravated theft charge over leaking documents claiming corruption in the Vatican. There is also a computer expert charged with involvement in the case.
- Iran's government criticized over earthquake response
Members of parliament and the Iranian public blame the government for a shortage of tents and attention given to survivors of two large earthquakes that killed 300 people.
- Egypt's president sacks top military general in bid for civilian supremacy
President Morsi and Field Marshal Tantawi have been gripped in a power struggle for months. In a surprise move, Morsi fired Tantawi today.
- Pakistan grants Afghan officials access to a top Taliban leader
By making the Taliban's former second in command available to Afghan negotiators, Pakistan may be signalling a willingness to rekindle stalled peace talks.
- Iran's twin quakes kill hundreds, flatten mud-brick villages
Nobody was killed or hurt in the nearby city of Tabriz, however, thanks to more substantial construction materials than in the countryside.
- Egyptian forces kill several militants near Gaza Strip
The raid killing seven militants in northern Sinai was a result of escaltated tension between suspected militants and Egyptian soldiers.
- Mexico wins gold in soccer final against Brazil
Mexico won its first gold after a very early goal that Brazil was never able to overcome.
- Strong earthquakes hit northwest Iran
Two earthquakes struck 11 minutes apart in northwest Iran Saturday. The US Geological Survey measured the first quake at 6.4 magnitude, while the second quake measured 6.3.
- Mass of volcanic rocks, 'size of Belgium,' floating off New Zealand
Scientists say the floating field of golf ball-sized pumice probably came from an underwater volcano and not from the eruption of Mount Tongariro.
- 4 Chinese police officers on trial for helping Bo Xilai's wife
One day after Gu Kailai did not contest murder charges against her, a quartet of senior police officers are facing charges of assisting Gu to cover up the homicide.
- Syria: U.N. says no one will win
The possibility of a drawn out civil war in Syria looms, as fighting continues across the country. Assad's army has ceded ground elsewhere in order to focus its resources on fighting in Aleppo. In the meantime, the U.N. may name a new envoy to replace Kofi Annan next week.
- Libya celebrates first peaceful transition of power
Libya's interim post-Qaddafi leadership handed over power to the newly elected national assembly yesterday. Security promises to be an immediate, ongoing challenge.
- Scandal in China: Bo Xilai's wife does not contest murder charge
The trial of Gu Kailai, the wife of a Communist Party elite, is the most sensational since the conviction of the Gang of Four more than 30 years ago for crimes during the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution in China.
- Tropical Storm Ernesto races across Yucatan Peninsula
There were no immediate reports of storm deaths or major damage, though Ernesto ripped down billboards, toppled trees and cut electricity service as it hit the cruise ship port of Mahahual shortly before midnight Tuesday as a hurricane.
- Neighborhood fighting between Syrian forces and rebels continues in Aleppo
Syrian army soldiers moved into the Salaheddine district of Aleppo on Wednesday, pushing rebel fighters back as they attempt to control the north Syrian city.
- Syria's Assad gets Iran backing as fighting continues
Iran pledges support for Assad's government in Syria. In the meantime, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warns against 'sectarian warfare' and hundreds more deaths mount.
- Nigeria church Bible study shooting leaves 19 dead
Two gunmen sprayed the windowless sanctuary Monday night with fire from Kalashnikov assault rifles, said Lt. Col. Gabriel Olorunyomi, the head of a local joint army and police unit.
- Prosecutors ask for 3 years in Russian punk band Pussy Riot hooliganism case
Defense lawyers and an influential Russian Orthodox cleric warned that jail time for the women could backfire by severing trust between ordinary Russians and the country's institutions.