LONDON – Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has died following a stroke, a spokesman for the family said. “It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother, Baroness Thatcher, died peacefully following a stroke this morning,” Lord Tim Bell said. Britain’s only woman prime minister, the tough, outspoken Thatcher,…
PYONGYANG – North Korea says it will restart all facilities at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex, including a reactor mothballed in 2007. In a statement, it said the move would bolster North Korea’s nuclear forces “in quality and quantity”. The move is the latest in a series of measures by Pyongyang in the wake of…
DAMASCUS – Syria’s opposition National Coalition has taken the country’s official seat at the Arab League summit in Qatar. They were formally invited to assume the seat by summit president, the Emir of Qatar, at the opening of the two-day meeting. The Syrian flag was replaced with the flag being used by the opposition. It…
ROME – The inauguration Mass for Pope Francis has been held in St Peter’s Square in Rome, marking the start of his papacy. Francis earlier toured the square in an open-topped vehicle, descending to bless pilgrims behind the barriers. His homily called on global leaders and all people of the world to protect the weak…
PYONGYANG – A North Korean propaganda website has warned of strikes against Southern islands and advised residents to leave. The Uriminzokkiri website, linked to the regime, mentioned targets including Yeonpyeong island, which was attacked by Northern forces in 2010. Pyongyang has made a series of threats since its last nuclear test in February prompted the…
BEIJING – China’s leaders have named Li Keqiang premier, placing him at the helm of the world’s second-largest economy. Mr Li, who already holds the number two spot in the Communist Party, takes over from Wen Jiabao. Mr Li was elected for a five-year term but, like his predecessor, would be expected to spend a…
ROME –Cardinals gathered in Rome to elect the new Pope will begin voting later, with no clear frontrunner to take over as head of the Roman Catholic Church. The 115 cardinal-electors are attending a special Mass in St Peter’s Basilica before processing into the Sistine Chapel to begin their secret deliberations this afternoon. They will…
DAMASCUS – Tension brewed Wednesday between the United Nations and Syrian rebels after about 30 rebels detained 21 U.N. peacekeepers and refused to let them go. The U.N., in turn, is demanding they be released. The rebels contend that the peacekeepers entered a Syrian village near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, an area where peacekeepers should…
CARACAS – Venezuelans began seven days of painful and public mourning on Tuesday night after the announcement that their president, Hugo Chávez, had died aged 58 after a long battle against cancer. The country’s vice-president, Nicolás Maduro – tipped as a likely successor – broke the news on Tuesday night, prompting a wave of grief…
ALEPPO – Rebels have captured large parts of a Syrian police academy near Aleppo, after a fierce battle resulting in heavy loss of life, activists say. Video emerged on Saturday apparently showing rebels breaking into the sprawling Khan al-Assal compound. Almost 200 fighters had been killed on both sides over eight days, UK-based activist group…
