World - AFP

Jordan king names new prime minister
AFP – Wed Dec 9, 12:46 pm ET

AFP/File

AMMAN (AFP) - Jordan's King Abdullah II named former royal court minister Samir Rifai as prime minister on Wednesday and, in a move analysts said signalled a new push for reform. Full Story »
FBI questions US nationals held over Al-Qaeda links
AFP – Thu Dec 10, 4:55 pm ET

AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The FBI and other US security officials on Thursday questioned several Americans held in Pakistan for alleged links to Al-Qaeda as they probe the reasons for their travel, senior US officials said. Full Story »
Europe to promise billions in climate battle aid
AFP – Thu Dec 10, 4:12 pm ET

AFP

COPENHAGEN (AFP) - European leaders met Thursday to discuss billions of dollars of aid for developing countries to battle global warming in a bid to increase pressure for a deal at the UN climate summit. Full Story »
Thaksin rallies thousands against Thai government
AFP – Thu Dec 10, 12:32 pm ET

AFP

BANGKOK (AFP) - Fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra criticised Thailand's "weakened democracy" Thursday in a video speech to thousands of red-shirted anti-government supporters rallying in Bangkok. Full Story »
Somali pirates free Greek ship with 24 Ukrainian crew
AFP – Thu Dec 10, 11:20 am ET

AFP/File

MOGADISHU (AFP) - Somali pirates on Thursday freed a Greek cargo ship and its 24 Ukrainian crew after being paid 2.5 million dollars, ending a seven-month hostage ordeal off the lawless country's coast. Full Story »
Polanski lawyers to appeal child sex conviction
AFP – Thu Dec 10, 9:51 am ET

AFP/File

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Lawyers for Roman Polanski will on Thursday ask a California appeals court to dismiss the Oscar-winning director's 1977 child sex conviction as he seeks to avoid extradition to the United States. Full Story »
Somali pirates free 24-man crew of Greek ship
AFP – Thu Dec 10, 9:23 am ET

KIEV (AFP) - Somali pirates have freed the crew of 24 Ukrainians held on the Greek-owned vessel MV Ariana after an ordeal of over seven months, Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko said Thursday. Full Story »
Iraqi PM says rivals putting Iraqi security at risk
AFP – Thu Dec 10, 8:06 am ET

AFP

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki accused rivals on Thursday of stoking political rows that have put Iraq's security at risk, as US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived on a surprise visit. Full Story »
India to create new state
AFP – Thu Dec 10, 7:24 am ET

AFP

NEW DELHI (AFP) - India announced on Thursday that it planned to create the country's 29th state, after a hunger strike by a regional leader and escalating protests from supporters. Full Story »
Iraqi PM faces grilling over spate of bombings
AFP – Thu Dec 10, 7:13 am ET

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, grilled by furious MPs Thursday over bombings that rocked Baghdad, intimated that a row over who should be intelligence chief was endangering the country's security. Full Story »