Taliban Stage Deadly Strike on Afghan Governor’s Office
By ROD NORDLAND
KABUL, Afghanistan — At least 11 people died after Taliban insurgents on Thursday attacked a provincial governor’s office, but were beaten back by security forces, Afghan officials said.
Read More
Pakistani air force planes crash, 4 pilots killed
By RIAZ KHAN | Associated Press
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Two Pakistani air force planes crashed in a residential area in northwestern Pakistan on Thursday, killing all four pilots on board and injuring five people on the ground, police said.
Read More
Chinese boats seized by North Koreans in rare public spat
BEIJING (Reuters) – North Korean officials have demanded payment before they will release Chinese fishing boats with a total of 29 men on board, Chinese media reported on Thursday, in a rare public spat between the neighbors and longtime allies.
Read More
Attack on Afghan government compound kills 7
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A group of suicide bombers armed with explosive-laden vests, automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades stormed a government compound Thursday in western Afghanistan, killing at least seven people, officials said.
Read More
Activist: China to have passports ready in 2 weeks
By GILLIAN WONG | Associated Press
BEIJING (AP) — The activist who was at the center of a diplomatic tussle between Beijing and Washington said Thursday that Chinese officials have told him the passports that he and his family just applied for should be ready within two weeks. A rights group, meanwhile, described more retaliation by authorities against his family.
Read More
New Japan auto chief wants Japan-based production
TOKYO (AP) — Toyota President Akio Toyoda, taking the helm at Japan’s auto industry group, is promising to keep production and jobs to help along this nation’s recovery from last year’s disaster.
Read More
U.S. Senate to consider new Iran sanctions on Thursday
By Roberta Rampton | Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid will ask the U.S. Senate to approve a new package of oil and economic sanctions on Thursday aimed at further pressuring Iran to abandon its nuclear program, a Democratic leadership aide told Reuters.
Read More
Diplomat: UN experts say Iran sends arms to Syria
By EDITH M. LEDERER | Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — An expert panel monitoring U.N. sanctions on Iran has reported that Syria continues to be the main destination of illicit Iranian weapons, a Security Council diplomat said Wednesday.
Read More
Asking a Skeptical Europe to Open Its Wallet for Afghanistan
By ALISSA J. RUBIN
KABUL, Afghanistan — There are few certainties for Afghanistan as the NATO troop withdrawal moves into high gear, but one thing is sure: the continental Europeans have a dimmer prognosis for what can be accomplished than do their American and British counterparts.
Read More
Greece gets caretaker PM until new vote in June
By ELENA BECATOROS and NICHOLAS PAPHITIS | Associated Press
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A senior judge has been sworn in to head Greece’s caretaker government for a month as the debt-crippled country lurches through a political crisis that threatens its membership in the 17-nation eurozone.
Read More
