Wednesday, April 25, 2012

World News Briefs -- April 25, 2012

Smoke rises from the Al Qusoor district of Homs Photo: Reuters

Kofi Annan Calls Ongoing Syria Violence A 'Bleak' Situation -- The Telegraph

International envoy Kofi Annan told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that the situation in Syria is "bleak" and expressed alarm at reports that government troops are still carrying out military operations in towns where UN observers are not present.


He expressed particular concern at media reports that government troops entered the central city of Hama on Monday after UN observers departed, firing automatic weapons and killing a significant number of people. Activists said more than 30 people were killed.

"If confirmed, this is totally unacceptable and reprehensible," he said.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Annan: Syria resuming violence as monitors leave. Syria running out of cash as sanctions take toll, but Assad avoids economic pain.

Tough times for Turks on border with Syria.

Israel army chief says Iran not building nuclear bomb.

AP Interview: Crisis worries Iraqi Kurdish leader.

Palestinian prisoners in Israel continue hunger strike.

Libya's ex-rebels arrive in Jordan for training.

ASIA

Ratcheting up rhetoric, North Korea’s military threatens to reduce South’s leadership to ashes. US warns North Korea to refrain from 'hostile acts'.

Pakistan tests nuclear-capable ballistic missile.

Report: NATO misleads with 'Afghan-led' label.

Communist rebels kill 10 soldiers in the Philippines.

Beijing warns Manila on sea dispute. Naval exchange stirs troubled waters in South China Sea.

S&P cuts India outlook; investment rating in peril.


AFRICA

Air strikes revive fears of war in South Sudan. S. Sudan leader cuts short China trip amid conflict.

Libya bans religious political parties.

Charles Taylor trial could land Liberian ex-president in British jail.

Mali's interim PM forms government.

EUROPE

France election 2012: Nicolas Sarkozy says no deal with far-Right.

Dutch September vote leaves months of uncertainty.

Gordon Brown was unbalanced, says Rupert Murdoch. Leveson Inquiry: Rupert Murdoch describes Brown's 'war declaration'.

Britain in double-dip recession as growth falls 0.2pc.

Hungary concession opens way to EU bailout.

Scotland won't keep UK's AAA rating if it gains independence, says Fitch.

AMERICAS

Panetta: Brazil is emerging global power.

Haiti rogue force refuses to disband.

Little outrage in Mexico for Wal-Mart bribe report.

Top vet rushes to soothe U.S. mad cow fears.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Monitoring Twitter and Facebook could foil terrorists.

Exclusive: Senior U.S. general orders top-to-bottom review of military’s Islam training.

Saajid Muhammad Badat and the murky world of the supergrass.

Egyptian jihadist killed in recent US Predator strike in Yemen.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Apple doubles quarterly profits to $11.6bn (£7.2bn).

Boeing profit beats estimates as airliner deliveries rise.

Chinese official backs Proview in Apple dispute.

Will China's real estate bubble burst?

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