BERLIN – A German train drivers’ union says they will stage another strike after talks with the country’s main railway operator over the weekend failed to produce an agreement. The GDL union said Monday that freight train drivers would go on strike Tuesday and passenger train drivers would follow Wednesday, …
Read More »Session in German Auschwitz trial canceled due to defendant's ill health; resuming next week
BERLIN – A German court says this week’s session in the trial of a 93-year-old former SS sergeant who served in the Auschwitz death camp has been called off due to the defendant’s poor health. The Lueneburg state court said Wednesday that Oskar Groening was ill and not able to …
Read More »10 dead in tornado in Mexican border city Ciudad Acuna
MEXICO CITY – A tornado has hit the northern Mexico border city of Ciudad Acuna and officials say at least 10 people are dead. A spokeswoman for the interior department of the northern state of Coahuila says Monday’s twister destroyed houses. Rosario says 10 people had been confirmed killed so …
Read More »Amnesty says researcher refused entry to United Arab Emirates to speak on migrant labor
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Amnesty International says one of its researchers was denied entry to the United Arab Emirates, where he was planning to speak about companies’ responsibility in ensuring the rights of migrant laborers in the Gulf. The London-based group said Wednesday that acting head of business and …
Read More »Syrian militants advance in northwest after capturing government stronghold
BEIRUT – Activists say militants led by al-Qaida’s branch in Syria are advancing in the northwestern province of Idlib after capturing a government stronghold. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Coordination Committees said Friday that the so-called Fatah Army has captured several villages near the town of …
Read More »Belarus claims to have received tactical nuclear weapons from ally Russia
The president of Belarus announced this week that the country has received tactical nuclear weapons transported from Russia. President Alexander Lukashenko said Monday that the intensely-regulated weapons were brought to Belarus in October. No further information was offered on the nature of the nuclear weapons or their intended use. Tactical …
Read More »Dominican national killed after Coast Guard fires on fleeing boat carrying $11M worth of cocaine
The U.S. Coast Guard says a national from the Dominican Republic has died after it opened fire on a boat carrying $11 million worth of cocaine that was trying to flee from authorities in the Caribbean Sea. The Coast Guard eventually caught up with the boat and took two other …
Read More »UK government to sell its remaining stake in Royal Mail as part of efforts to bring down debt
LONDON – Britain’s Treasury chief says the government will sell its remaining stake in Royal Mail as part of 4.5 billion pounds ($6.9 billion) in new measures meant to bring down the public debt. George Osborne did not offer Thursday a precise time frame for the sale of the government’s …
Read More »Newspaper reports that Israel built, exploded 'dirty bomb' with nuclear material in a test
JERUSALEM – A major Israeli newspaper says the government built and exploded a “dirty bomb” with nuclear material inside it to see how such an attack would affect the country. The Haaretz daily newspaper on Monday quoted researchers as saying the tests were for defensive purposes only. It quoted them …
Read More »Serbian president cancels Bosnia visit amid dispute over arrest of ex-Srebrenica commander
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina – Serbia’s president has canceled a scheduled trip to Bosnia amid a diplomatic dispute over the arrest in Switzerland of a former Bosnian Muslim commander on a war crimes warrant from Belgrade. Tomislav Nikolic canceled the trip to Sarajevo scheduled for Tuesday at the request of the Muslim …
Read More »