Oman protesters call for political reform, pay rise

Oman protesters call for political reform, pay rise


Oman protesters call for political reform, pay rise

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 11:26 PM PST

MUSCAT (Reuters) - About 300 people demanded political reforms and better pay in a peaceful protest in Oman on Friday as unrest in other Middle East countries and North Africa turned increasingly violent.


30 wounded in Kuwait protests on Friday - sources

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 11:31 PM PST

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Thirty people were wounded in Friday's clashes in Kuwait between security forces and stateless Arabs demanding citizenship, security sources said on Saturday. The protest in Jahra, northwest of Kuwait City, was the first in the oil-producing Gulf Arab state since a wave of unrest began sweeping across the Middle East in December.


Vietnam vows prosecutions over boat tragedy (AFP)

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 11:06 PM PST

Rescue crews lift the tourist boat AFP - Vietnam will prosecute anyone responsible for the sinking of a tour boat in Halong Bay that killed 12 people, an official said Saturday, as relatives arrived to retrieve the bodies of the victims.



Could Indonesia's democracy be Egypt's model? (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 01:58 PM PST

The Christian Science Monitor - The similarities between Indonesia a decade ago and Egypt today are striking: a Muslim majority, a popular uprising, and the ouster of a long-running strongman. Indonesia's strides after driving Suharto out of power in 1998 make it a potential model for Egypt, which is trying to build a post-Mubarak nation.


Yemen, awash in guns, wary about unrest (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 01:23 PM PST

The Christian Science Monitor - As Yemeni protests escalate, tribesmen from rural parts of the country have come to Yemen's own Tahrir Square. But despite sharing the same name as the epicenter of Egypt's revolution, this central square in Sanaa has yet to attract throngs of antigovernment protesters â€" perhaps in no small part because the tribesmen occupying it are armed.


Myanmar says Suu Kyi party must apologize for sanctions

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 11:02 PM PST

YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar's military rulers called on Saturday for the party of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to apologize to the public for backing Western sanctions it said were restricting the country's development.


Algeria braced for further protests

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 10:56 PM PST

Demonstrations set to take place in capital Algiers and city of Aran as protesters call for government to resign.


Peruvian from US spy scandal back home (AP)

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 10:58 PM PST

AP - A Peruvian journalist deported by the United States to Russia in a spy swap returned home and said she was in Peru to attend her father's burial.


Activist sees end to Japan's Antarctic whale hunt (AFP)

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 10:25 PM PST

Prominent anti-whaling activist Pete Bethune (pictured in 2006) believes the abrupt halt to Japan's annual Antarctic hunt this week may signal an end to its whaling operations in southern waters.(AFP/File/Robert Sullivan)AFP - Prominent anti-whaling activist Pete Bethune believes the abrupt halt to Japan's annual Antarctic hunt this week may signal an end to its whaling operations in southern waters.



Bahraini protesters fired upon

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 11:38 PM PST

Troops use live fire around Pearl roundabout in capital Manama, as opposition rejects royal family's call for talks.


Night Dragon Attacks Target Technology in Energy Industry

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 10:02 PM PST

A little over one year ago, a coordinated campaign of covert cyber-attacks - dubbed "Night Dragon" b


Dance transforms inmates in Taiwan 'jail of art' (AFP)

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 10:11 PM PST

This photo, released by Taiwan's Changhua jail authorities in the central Erlin township, shows an overview of 2,011 inmates, tipped to be a world record, dancing to the tunes of a famous song by local pop diva A-Mei. The event is part of a larger programme aimed at reforming prisoners through art and creativity.(AFP/HO/File/Taiwan's Changhua Jail)AFP - When Wang, 24, went to jail three years ago he had no idea he would end up in a bid to break a record for most inmates dancing together.



Hague urges direct Mideast talks after US veto (AFP)

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 09:37 PM PST

Foreign Secretary William Hague has called on Israel and the Palestinians to get back round the negotiating table after the US vetoed an Arab-sponsored UN resolution branding Israeli settlements illegal.(AFP/Pool/File/Ben Stansall)AFP - Foreign Secretary William Hague has called on Israel and the Palestinians to get back round the negotiating table after the US vetoed an Arab-sponsored UN resolution branding Israeli settlements illegal.



IRB brokers deal in Fiji World Cup crisis (AFP)

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 09:42 PM PST

The International Rugby Board (IRB) said it had brokered an agreement between the Fiji's rugby union and government which should keep the Pacific island nation in this year's World Cup. The agreement follows talks in Suva earlier this month involving IRB chief executive Mike Miller (pictured in 2007), Fiji Sports Minister Filipe Bole and local rugby officials.(AFP/File/Jacques Demarthon)AFP - The International Rugby Board (IRB) said it had brokered an agreement between the Fiji's rugby union and government which should keep the Pacific island nation in this year's World Cup.



Qantas in Rolls-Royce talks after new A380 problem (AFP)

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 09:00 PM PST

This file photo shows an Airbus A380 superjumbo aircraft, equiped with Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines. Qantas said it was checking with Rolls-Royce after an oil problem with an A380 engine, but added the incident was not connected to November's mid-air blast.(AFP/File/Lionel Bonaventure)AFP - Qantas said it was checking with Rolls-Royce after an oil problem with an A380 superjumbo's engine, but added the incident was not connected to November's mid-air blast.



Tijuana's former top cop leave government (AP)

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 08:54 PM PST

AP - A retired Mexican army officer who led an overhaul of the notoriously corrupt police force of the border city of Tijuana has quit as a state law enforcement official after only three months on the job.


Algerian braces for second pro-democracy rally (AP)

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 10:45 PM PST

AP - Pro-democracy protesters in Algeria vowed to hold a march Saturday even though thousands of police blocked their path a week ago.


China adopts heavy metal reduction plan (AFP)

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 09:22 PM PST

Sun is seen rising over eastern Beijing's developing skyline amid a murky layer of pollutants hovering above the city. The government has set a target of reducing emissions of five metals -- lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium and arsenic -- by 15 percent from 2007 levels over the next five years, according to the China Daily.(AFP/File/Frederic J. Brown)AFP - China has adopted a plan to tackle heavy-metal pollution, according to state media, after more than 30 major poisoning incidents since 2009.



Wooing Jittery Tourists Back to Egypt (Time.com)

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 04:00 PM PST

Time.com - Tahrir Square tours anyone? A devastated travel industry hopes for a post-revolution revival.


US in direct talks with Taliban: New Yorker (AFP)

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 07:40 PM PST

Surrendering Taliban militants are seen here in Herat, in November 2010. The administration of President Barack Obama has entered into direct, secret talks with senior Afghan Taliban officials, according to The New Yorker magazine report.(AFP/File/Aref Karimi)AFP - The administration of President Barack Obama has entered into direct, secret talks with senior Afghan Taliban officials, according to The New Yorker magazine report.