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World
Yemen attacks suspected Al Qaeda hideouts
SANA, Yemen - Yemeni forces, backed by the United States, launched attacks yesterday on suspected Al Qaeda hideouts, among them a meeting of senior leaders that included a Yemeni-American preacher who is linked to the suspected gunman in last month’s attack at Fort Hood in Texas, US and Yemeni officials said. (By Sudarsan Raghavan and Greg Jaffe, Washington Post)
Anglican cleric condemns antigay bill in Uganda
LONDON - A top Anglican cleric who was born in Uganda spoke out yesterday against a proposed law in his native country that would impose the death penalty on some gays. (By Associated Press, Boston Globe)
Belgians file human rights complaint over Hamsas rockets into Gaza
BRUSSELS - Five Belgians living in Israel filed a complaint yesterday against the Hamas rulers of Gaza, saying militant rocket fire into Israel had violated their human rights. (By Associated Press, Boston Globe)
Georgia, Russia to reopen border crossing
TBILISI, Georgia - Georgia and Russia have reached a deal to open a border crossing that has been closed for three years, Georgia said yesterday, marking a significant thaw in diplomatic relations since last year’s war between the two countries. (By Associated Press, Boston Globe)
Japan’s prime minister apologizes for fund-raising scandal
TOKYO - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of Japan apologized after two former aides were charged yesterday with making false financial reports but refused to step down, saying he did not know about the dubious money. (By Associated Press, Boston Globe)
Russian president optimistic on arms deal with US
MOSCOW - President Dmitry Medvedev said yesterday that nuclear arms control talks with the United States required some give-and-take on both sides and voiced optimism that a deal would be reached soon. (By Associated Press, Boston Globe)
UK diners sign waiver for Christmas pudding
LONDON - A restaurant has asked diners to sign away their right to sue before consuming Christmas pudding, a traditional Yuletide treat that sometimes contains coins or charms. (By Associated Press, Boston Globe)
At least 27 killed in Iraq blasts
BAGHDAD - Bombs hit Shi’ite pilgrims in Baghdad and a central Iraqi city yesterday, killing at least 27 people and wounding scores more, in the latest attack in the lead-up to Ashoura, the sect’s most solemn annual rite. (By Katharine Houreld, Associated Press)
Threats, Ashoura help mute Christmas festivities
BAGHDAD - Christmas is bumping into Shi’ite Islam’s most mournful ceremony this year, forcing Iraqi Christians to keep their celebrations under tighter wraps than usual. (By Lara Jakes and Bushra Juhi, Associated Press)
In Bethlehem, glow of holiday edges out gloom
BETHLEHEM, West Bank - Thousands of pilgrims from around the world descended on the traditional birthplace of Jesus yesterday, greeted by choruses, scout troops, and rock bands for the most upbeat Christmas celebrations this Palestinian town has seen in years. (By Dalia Nammari, Associated Press)
Woman knocks down pope at Christmas Eve Mass
VATICAN CITY - A woman jumped the barriers in St. Peter’s Basilica and knocked down Pope Benedict XVI as he walked down the main aisle to begin Christmas Eve Mass yesterday. (By Ariel David, Associated Press)
American father reunited with son in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO - A 9-year-old boy at the center of a five-year custody battle on two continents was finally turned over to his American father yesterday in a scene as tumultuous as the legal fight itself, with the youngster forced to squeeze though a jostling crowd of reporters and photographers. (By Bradley Brooks, Associated Press)
Iran warns of crackdown as protesters take to the streets
TEHRAN - Several thousand protesters took to the streets of Tehran yesterday and clashed with security forces in the latest round of unrest over Iran’s disputed June presidential elections, according to witnesses and amateur video posted to the Internet. (By Borzou Daragahi, Los Angeles Times)
NTSB, Jamaica launch inquiry into American Airlines crash
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Jamaican and US authorities launched an investigation yesterday to examine whether the pilot of American Airlines Flight 331 could have avoided an accident that cracked open the plane and sent nearly 100 people to the hospital. (By Danica Coto and Howard Campbell, Associated Press)
Suicide attack kills at least 8 in Kandahar
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A man driving a horse-drawn cart laden with explosives detonated the cache yesterday outside a guest house frequented by foreigners in the southern city of Kandahar, killing at least eight people including a child, police said. (By Noor Khan, Associated Press)
5 sentenced to death over riots in China
BEIJING - A Chinese court has handed down death sentences for five people convicted of participating in the ethnic violence last July that killed nearly 200 people in the far western region of Xinjiang, authorities announced yesterday. (By Andrew Jacobs, New York Times)
Chinese court sentences dissident to 11 years in jail
BEIJING - A Chinese court sentenced a prominent dissident to 11 years in jail today on subversion charges after he called for sweeping political reforms and an end to Communist Party dominance. (By Cara Anna, Associated Press)