BBC News:美财长呼吁国会迅速上调债务上限
The Secretary-General of NATO has accused theAfghan President Hamid Karzai of playing with fire byrefusing to sign a security agreement with theUnited States. It will permit reduce presence ofinternational troops beyond the end of the NATO-led combat mission which is due to end thisyear. Anders Fogh Rasmussen also expressed frustration at recent comments made by Mr.Karzai,criticizing aspects of that mission. He said NATO countries expected some signs ofgratitude from the Afghan political leadership.
“Personally, I have an excellent relationship with President Karzai. But having said that, I alsohave to say that such statement is something like playing with fire. Because we shouldestimate the damaging effect on public and political support for our presence in Afghanistanwhen people hear such statement.”
A priest in the Central African Republic says in the past week at least 75 Christians have beenkilled in sectarian violence in the town of Buda. He said heavily-armed Muslims erectedbarricades at the entrance and exit to the town before attacking Christians. Thomas Fessyreports.
Father Cassien Kamatari said he has called French and African Union soldiers for help. He saidabout 1,500 people have sought refugee in a church in Buda. Clashes broke out last week asthe mostly Muslim Seleka militia started to flee to the north. Armed men, reportedly Muslim,killed at least 75 Christians according to father Kamatari. Although it seems that Christianmilitia were involved in the violence, the exact details of these clashes remain unclear.
The US Treasury Secretary has warned that the government could start defaulting on itsobligations very soon, unless Congress lifts its limit on how much money the government canborrow. Jack Lew said Washington will start reaching the debt ceiling on Friday, when acurrent suspension on the debt limit schedule to run out. He said the Treasury will then useaccounting measures to allow government to keep adding to the debt. But Mr. Lew said thisstrategy would only work until the end of the month.
A Russian court has detained an environmental activist in critic of the Sochi Winter Olympics.Yevgeny Vitishko will be held for 15 days. Here's Grant Ferrett.
With just a few days until the opening of the most expensive Games in the history of theOlympics, the Russian authorities appear to be extremely sensitive to any potential criticism.Yevgeny Vitishko has highlighted what he says the environmental damage caused by theOlympics. He was due to travel to Sochi to present a report when he was arrested and jailed forswearing in public. The human rights group, Amnesty International accused Russia ofintensifying a campaign of harassment against civil society groups ahead of the Olympics.
World News from the BBC
The United States and the European Union are in preliminary talks about putting together afinancial aid package for Ukraine once a new technical government is formed. US and EUofficials said any money would be contingent on a new Ukrainian government pursuing politicaland economic reforms. Analysts say the move would appear to be an attempt to strengthenwestern influence in Kiev. It comes after the Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych backed awayfrom closer cooperation with the EU.
Saudis who fight in Syria or elsewhere could be jailed for up to 20 years. Under a new royaldecree, Saudis who participate in any conflict abroad face between 3-20 years in prison. Thedecree adds that the same penalties face any Saudis who join or endorse groups classified bythe government as terrorist, whether at home or abroad. A number of Saudis have joined thefight against the President Assad in Syria. Saudi Arabia fears that fighters espousing in jihadistideology could switch their attention to their homeland.
Officials in the Indian state of Maharashtra have ordered an inquiry into reports that straydogs have been released into the forest, threatening the health of tigers in the nearbyreserve. It's thought the dogs have been taken far from the city to stop them coming back.It's estimated that there are around 80 tigers in the reserve. Our South Asia editor AnbarasanEthirajan reports.
A senior forest department official told the BBC that they were first alerted by a conservationgroup that stray dogs were being released at midnight by some municipal workers in the forestarea close to the main tiger reserve. Conservationists say domestic dogs could carry thecanine distemper virus which can kill tigers, reports say 4 tigers have already died because ofthe virus in other parts of India. Canine Distemper virus has seriously affected wild catpopulations elsewhere in the world.
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