Syrian opposition meets to seek unity in Doha on Thursday
DOHA, Qatar — The quarrelsome Syrian opposition was locked in extended bartering here in Doha on Thursday over the creation of a more diverse yet unified umbrella organization that its foreign backers hope will become a credible alternative to the Damascus government.
Republicans face an electoral challenge
Two more presidential elections, in 2016 and 2020, will be contested under the current Electoral College configuration, which gave President Barack Obama a second term on Tuesday. This year’s results suggest that this could put Republicans at a structural disadvantage.
Iran fired on military drone in first such attack, US says
WASHINGTON — Iranian warplanes shot at a U.S. military surveillance drone flying over the Persian Gulf near Iran last week, Pentagon officials disclosed Thursday. They said that the aircraft, a Predator drone, was flying in international airspace and was not hit and that the episode had prompted a strong protest to the Iranian government.
Clear skies and warmer temperatures arriving
After the first measurable snowfall this autumn, the Boston area will have better weather over the next few days. A nor’easter, moving off into the Atlantic and toward Newfoundland, was responsible for 6”+ snowfall totals across portions of interior New England. Winds also gusted over 50 mph across the Cape, whipping up mostly rain and some snow. Here in Cambridge, about 1-2” of snow was visible on grassy areas Wednesday night. The Weather Channel, which has decided to name winter storms, named this past storm after a familiar Greek goddess — Athena.
Shorts (right)
Just months after going public, Kayak Software has been snapped up by a rival.
Bank of England and ECB hold rates unchanged
FRANKFURT, Germany — The president of the European Central Bank expressed satisfaction Thursday with efforts to resolve the eurozone crisis, saying that members of the currency area had made “amazing” progress toward reducing government spending.
Shorts (left)
Eliot Orton traces the origins of the Vermont Country Stores’ interest in philanthropy to neighbors sitting around the potbellied stove at his grandfather’s small store in the Green Mountains and jawboning about things that needed to be done in the community.
Debt ceiling complicates fiscal cliff for United States
WASHINGTON — Come January, the United States will not only face immense tax increases and spending cuts, should Congress fail to act. It will also run out of room to finance its large running deficits.
Shorts (left)
CAIRO — Five bombs exploded in the capital of Bahrain on Monday, killing two foreign workers and critically injuring a third, in a sharp intensification of the violence that has simmered in the island nation since the beginning of a pro-democracy uprising 21 months ago.
Dozens are killed in fierce outburst of Syrian violence
BEIRUT — Some of the worst violence in months racked Syria on Monday with residents of southern Damascus fleeing heavy shelling, several smaller towns shattered by air attacks, and at least two car bombs.
US secretary of state for political affairs visits Somalia amid signs of rebound
NAIROBI, Kenya — Wendy Sherman, the under secretary of state for political affairs, visited Somalia on Sunday, becoming the highest-ranking U.S. official to set foot in the country in more than 20 years, the State Department announced Monday.
Egyptian vigilantes crack down on abuse of women
CAIRO — The young activists lingered on the streets around Tahrir Square, scrutinizing the crowds of holiday revelers. Suddenly, they charged, pushing people aside and chasing down a young man. As the captive thrashed to get away, the activists pounded his shoulders, flipped him around and spray-painted a message on his back: “I’m a harasser.”
Merkel’s coalition moves to ease Germans’ welfare costs
BERLIN — Leaders from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition agreed Monday on a raft of changes to social welfare programs aimed at easing costs for average Germans to bolster the government’s sagging popularity less than a year before parliamentary elections.
Chinese government retaliates in trade dispute with Europe
HONG KONG — The Chinese government announced Monday that it had filed a case with the World Trade Organization accusing some European Union member countries of violating free trade rules with policies that favor the purchase of solar energy equipment produced in Europe.
Nor’Easter to impact region midweek
Over a week later, the Northeast is still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Sandy. With many people not regaining electricity until the last few days (and many still without), the recent cold temperatures have been especially unpleasant. Today will be another chilly day, with temperatures in Cambridge only reaching the mid 40°F’s.
Shorts (right)
NEW YORK — Mary Wittenberg, chief executive of New York Road Runners, defended the decision to put on the New York City Marathon as scheduled Sunday after some runners and politicians called for the race to be canceled in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
Campaigns brace to sue for votes in crucial states
CLEVELAND — Thousands of lawyers from both presidential campaigns will enter polling places Tuesday in a kind of Spy vs. Spy with one central goal: tracking their opponents and, if need be, initiating legal action.
Estimate of economic losses from storm now up to $50 billion
Economic damages inflicted by Hurricane Sandy could reach $50 billion, according to new estimates that are more than double a previous forecast. Some economists warned Thursday that the storm could shave a half percentage point off the nation’s economic growth in the current quarter.
Winter is coming
The next few days will see a steady decline in temperatures as the month of November gets off to a relatively chilly start. While five of the last seven days of October saw high temperatures warmer than their normal values in Boston, a change in the weather pattern will bring below-normal temperatures for the week ahead.