NEWS Of all the mysteries surrounding the emergence of a new and deadly strain of avian influenza around Shanghai, one of the biggest is why China’s hundreds of medical and veterinary labs did not spot the problem sooner â€" or if they did, why it was not disclosed. Keith Bradsher reports from Hong Kong.
A long-debated move by Western nations to expand support for Syria’s opposition gained momentum on Wednesday, with the United States poised to increase its nonlethal aid to rebel groups and pressure building to lift a European Union embargo on sending arms to Syria. Michael R. Gordon reports from London, and Mark Landler from Washington.
As the Syrian uprising drags into its third year, women are taking an increasingly active role in the conflict, on both sides. Eva Sohlman reports from Antakya, Turkey.
Buffeted by a political scandal, a stagnant economy and angry public reaction to an investigative report about secret offshore bank accounts, President François Hollande on Wednesday announced the creation of a position of special prosecutor to pursue cases of corruption and tax fraud, and vowed to eradicate tax havens “in Europe and the world.†Stephen Erlanger and David Jolly report from Paris.
A deadly prison raid by soldiers in Indonesia has raised questions about what progress has been made in overhauling the military since the collapse of President Suharto’s rule in 1998. Joe Cochrane reports from Jakarta.
Germany’s Central Office for the Investigation of Nazi Crimes compiled a list of 50 former guards who worked at the concentration camp in Poland and might be brought to court. Chris Cottrell reports from Berlin.
For three days since she died in a London hotel suite at the age of 87, an outpouring of sympathy, respect and reverence from those who have hailed Mrs. Thatcher as Britain’s greatest peacetime prime minister has been accompanied by a parallel, and deeply antagonistic, critique. John F. Burns and Alan Cowell report from London.
Genel Energy, the oil exploration company headed by Tony Hayward, the former chief executive of BP, announced Wednesday that it had made a significant oil find in Kurdistan. Stanley Reed reports from London.
A high-level British minister warned businesses Wednesday that the government might have difficulty maintaining its opposition to quotas for women on company boards after a report showed that the steady advance in female representation at the highest levels of British corporate life might have ground to a halt in the last six months. Stephen Castle reports from London.
ARTS As Venezuela rushes toward an election on Sunday to replace its deceased president, Hugo Chávez, the opposition has an unlikely musical ringer on its side: Willie Colón, the Bronx-born salsa star with Puerto Rican roots. William Neuman reports from Caracas.
SPORTS Dortmund scored two goals in stoppage time in its Champions League match, allowing the German club to advance to the semifinals. Rob Hughes reports from London.
The Australian Michael Clarke, 32, was named the Leading Cricketer in the World by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, the game’s annual reference book. Huw Richards reports from London.
