World News - Boston.com

Slovenia adopts debt cap to stave off crisis

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:22:34 GMT

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia's parliament has adopted a cap on public spending to try to convince investors that it will be able to avoid needing an international bailout.

Spanish court opens tax probe into king's daughter

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:20:05 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Princess Cristina, the daughter of Spain's King Juan Carlos, is under investigation for possible tax fraud and money laundering, the latest blow to the Spanish royal family's reputation.

UK defense ministry: Typhoon jet launched to investigate incident with civilian plane

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:19:09 GMT

LONDON (AP) — UK defense ministry: Typhoon jet launched to investigate incident with civilian plane.

Uganda president ousts army boss amid dispute

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:19:03 GMT

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda's president fired his top military commander Friday, the ouster apparently linked to turmoil over President Yoweri Museveni's alleged plan to have his son succeed him as head of state.

Attack casts spotlight on radical preachers

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:03:34 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The slaying of a British soldier in southeast London cast a spotlight on radical preachers that influenced Michael Adebolajo, the attacker seen in videos with bloody hands holding a butcher knife. It also raised questions about the reach of the terrorist group al-Shabab, after a British government official said one of the two men tried to go to Somalia to train or fight with the group. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the police investigation.

Austria links UN peacekeepers to Syria arms ban

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:55:30 GMT

VIENNA (AP) — Austria said Friday that it may rethink its U.N. peacekeeping role in the Golan Heights, if the European Union doesn't extend its arms embargo to Syria.

Police: Suicide bomb hits heart of Afghan capital

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:52:25 GMT

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A suicide bomber struck in the heart of the Afghan capital on Friday, sending a plume of smoke billowing over Kabul in the second major attack in the city in little over a week, police said.

France won't force companies to cap executive pay

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:52:03 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The French government is trying to woo executives and entrepreneurs, amid concerns that it has antagonized the businesses needed to reinvigorate the economy.

Kerry blasts Iranian election maneuvering

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:47:52 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry harshly criticized Iranian authorities on Friday for eliminating hundreds of presidential candidates, suggesting that Tehran is standing in the way of legitimate, representative democracy.

Q&A: On Turkey's proposed alcohol restrictions

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:38:49 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A look at legislation passed in Turkey's parliament early Friday that would ban all alcohol advertising and tighten restrictions on the sale of such beverages, and how such a law could affect tourists and liquor companies in the mainly Muslim but secular country.

NKorean envoy delivers letter to China's Xi

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:35:49 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — A top North Korean envoy delivered a letter from leader Kim Jong Un to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday and told him Pyongyang would take steps to rejoin stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament talks, in an apparent victory for Beijing's efforts to coax its unruly ally into lowering tensions.

2 former sex slaves demand Japan mayor quit

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:25:49 GMT

OSAKA, Japan (AP) — Two Korean former sex slaves demanded the resignation of an outspoken Japanese mayor and canceled a meeting with him Friday for justifying Japan's wartime practice of forcing tens of thousands of Asian women into prostitution for its military.

Correction: Mozambique-UN story

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:23:42 GMT

MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — In a story May 21 about U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visiting Mozambique, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Mozambique became independent in 1974, instead of 1975.

Explosion hits heart of Afghan capital

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:17:40 GMT

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — An explosion has sent smoke rising over the heart of Afghanistan's capital. The strong blast was felt several kilometers (miles) away.

Egypt: 3 women killed in 'honor' crime

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:12:07 GMT

LUXOR, Egypt (AP) — An Egyptian security official says 10 male relatives have killed a mother and her two daughters on suspicion of moral offenses — so-called "honor killings."

5 climbers feared dead on world's 3rd highest peak

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:09:35 GMT

KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Five climbers including two Hungarians and a South Korean are missing on the world's third-highest mountain and feared dead, a mountaineering official said Friday.

Kerry's focus on peace talks, not settlements

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:08:14 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged Israel's government on Friday to prevent further settlement construction where possible to help revitalize Middle East peace hopes, but stressed that the Jewish state and Palestinians alike should remain focused on the larger goal of restarting direct negotiations.

Ruby says her sworn testimony was lies

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:03:04 GMT

MILAN (AP) — The woman at the center of ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi's sex scandal has denied in court ever telling a former roommate that she had sex with the then-premier.

Zimbabwe activist: Prisoners denied Aids drugs

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:02:09 GMT

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — A Zimbabwean human rights activist says he wants the nation's highest court to order prison authorities to ensure suspects in jail can receive their life-prolonging HIV/AIDS medications.

Pakistan: US diplomat kills pedestrian in accident

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:02 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The U.S. Embassy says an American diplomat accidentally killed a pedestrian while driving in the Pakistani capital.

Top Swiss negotiator in tax disputes steps down

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:47:00 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Switzerland's top negotiator in talks to resolve disputes over tax evasion with Europe and the U.S. is stepping down.

EU approves better bee protection rules

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:35:53 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union has approved restrictions on three pesticides to better protect dwindling bee populations, to enter into force by December.

Runways reopen after emergency at Heathrow Airport

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:26:52 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A British Airways jet made an emergency landing at London's Heathrow Airport Friday after developing a technical problem after takeoff. TV footage showed smoke streaming from one of the engines.

Kerry's focus on peace talks, not settlements

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:16:18 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says Israel's government should prevent further settlement construction, where possible, to help revitalize Middle East peace hopes.

Kerry's focus on peace talks, not settlements

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:15:19 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says Israel's government should prevent further settlement construction, where possible, to help revitalize Middle East peace hopes.