Chicago Sun-Times

Syrian president showing renewed confidence

Wed, 01 May 2013 18:36:00 -0500

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad and his allies are showing renewed confidence that the momentum in the civil war is shifting in their favor, due in part to the rapid rise of al-Qaida-linked extremists among the rebels and the world’s reluctance to take forceful action to intervene in the fighting.

Bangladesh building collapse victims buried

Wed, 01 May 2013 18:36:00 -0500

JURAIN, Bangladesh (AP) — Dozens of Bangladeshi garment workers, their bodies too battered or decomposed to be identified, were buried in a mass funeral Wednesday, a week after the eight-story building they worked in toppled down, killing at least 410 people and injuring thousands.

Tsarnaevs’ father puts off plans to travel to US

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:24:00 -0500

MAKHACHKALA, Russia (AP) — The father of the Boston bombing suspects says he has indefinitely put off returning to the U.S. because he is too sick to make the trip from Russia.

Macedonian police hold 17 over antiquities looting

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:22:01 -0500

SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — Macedonian police say they have carried out raids across the country and arrested 17 people, including two state museum employees, for alleged involvement in an antiquities looting gang.

Van Gogh Museum reopens with display on his craft

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:18:00 -0500

AMSTERDAM (AP) — The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has reopened after a seven-month renovation, kicking off with “Van Gogh At Work,” an exhibition that shows the famously tortured artist’s working methods right down to his paints, brushes and other tools.

Italy race problems seen with black gov’t minister

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:16:00 -0500

ROME (AP) — Cecile Kyenge’s appointment as Italy’s first black Cabinet minister has exposed the nation’s ugly race problem, a blight that flares regularly on the soccer pitch with racist taunts and in the diatribes of xenophobic politicians — but has now raised its head at the center of political life.

Vieques ponders future 10 years after Navy left

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:14:00 -0500

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Thousands of activists on Wednesday celebrated the anniversary of the U.S. Navy’s departure from the Puerto Rican island of Vieques 10 years ago, despite concerns that progress has been slow in cleaning up and developing a place many hoped would flourish.

Israel: Conflict over recognition, not territory

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:12:00 -0500

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s prime minister gave a cool reception Wednesday to a new Arab Mideast peace initiative, saying the conflict with the Palestinians isn’t about territory, but rather the Palestinians’ refusal to recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland.

Syria’s Assad in rare visit as rockets hit capital

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:08:00 -0500

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad made a rare public appearance at a Damascus power station on Wednesday, while two bombs exploded near the city center, killing one and wounding over two dozen people, Syria’s state news agency reported.

Ireland publishes bill on life-saving abortions

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:10:00 -0500

DUBLIN — Ireland’s government unveiled a long-awaited bill Wednesday that lays down new rules explaining when life-saving abortions can be performed, a point of potentially lethal confusion for women in a country that outlaws the practice. Prime Minister Enda Kenny, speaking to reporters after his government published the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, said he hoped the coming weeks of debate would not turn bitter. But he warned Catholic conservatives within his own party that they must back the bill or be expelled. “I do hope that we can bring everybody with us, on an issue that I know …

Venezuela lawmakers brawl amid election tensions

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:25:47 -0500

Venezuelan lawmakers punched, kicked and shoved one another as a post-election conflict between President Hugo Chavez’s heirs and rivals blew up into a brawl on the floor of congress.

Myanmar Muslims face uncertain future after attack

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:23:53 -0500

A day after hundreds of Buddhists armed with bricks stormed a clutch of Muslim villages in the closest explosion of sectarian violence yet to Myanmar’s main city, Yangon, newly displaced Muslims combed through the wasteland of their wrecked lives. Unable to go home, they faced an uncertain future — too fearful of more attacks even to leave.

Bolivia president expels US government aid agency

Wed, 01 May 2013 08:48:00 -0500

Bolivian President Evo Morales says he’s expelling the U.S. Agency for International Development from of the South American country for allegedly seeking to undermine his leftist government.

Russia had elder Boston suspect under surveillance

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:29:23 -0500

MAKHACHKALA, Russia (AP) — Russian agents placed the elder Boston bombing suspect under surveillance during a six-month visit to southern Russia last year, then scrambled to find him when he suddenly disappeared after police killed a Canadian jihadist, a security official told The Associated Press.

ElBaradei: Egypt leader will need opposition help

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:18:00 -0500

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s leading opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei said Tuesday he believes the Islamist president will eventually be forced to reach out to the opposition because his group is losing support and isn’t able to tackle the country’s myriad problems alone.