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World briefs: Turkey deploys more forces
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Turkey deployed additional tanks and missile defense systems to the Syrian border as artillery units responded to fire from President Bashar Assad's armed forces for a sixth day.
Turkish batteries fired into Syrian territory, Al Arabiya television said Monday. That followed a Syrian shell landing in a field as cotton harvesters worked near Hatay, Turkey's state-run Anatolia news agency reported, as the Turkish Cabinet met to discuss the issue.
Tensions between the two countries have risen during the 19-month rebellion against Mr. Assad's government.
ATHENS, Greece -- Protesters are gearing up for German Chancellor Angela Merkel's first visit to Athens since the financial crisis began, with plans for strikes, rallies and a petition demanding reparations for the Nazi occupation.
Greece's need for bailouts and German-led conditions attached to emergency loans have made Ms. Merkel the face of austerity for Greeks. She has been depicted in the Greek media wearing jackboots and an SS uniform. While Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras called the chancellor's visit today a "very positive development," opposition leaders are planning a show of anger and frustration after five years of recession.
Greek authorities Monday announced a ban on public gatherings and marches in most of central Athens today.
CARACAS, Venezuela -- During his re-election campaign, President Hugo Chavez promised to deepen the "21st century socialism" that has meant an ever-greater state role in the economy. That message won him a surprising 11-percentage-point win in what many had thought would be a tight race.
Still, he's set to start a fourth presidential term under challenging economic circumstances. The government's free-spending ways, bankrolling the generous social programs that aided his re-election, may be seriously crimped.
SUBIC BAY, Philippines -- Marines from the Philippines and the United States on Monday began 10 days of joint exercises focused on disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and maritime security.
The exercises, now in their 29th year, come at a time of increased tensions in the South China Sea with the Philippines and China involved in a territorial dispute over islands lying near rich energy deposits. Some 2,600 U.S. Marines and 1,200 of their Filipino counterparts will be training around the northern island of Luzon.
The Philippine fleet, whose largest vessel is a former U.S. Coast Guard cutter, will have no ships participating in the exercises.
LONDON -- The cost of helping WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange fight allegations of sexual assault became painfully real Monday for a group of supporters who were ordered by a British judge to pay money they had pledged for his bail now that he has fled inside the Ecuadorean Embassy.
Nine of the anti-secrecy campaigner's backers are on the hook for about $150,000 among them because he jumped bail in June by putting himself out of reach of British police.
Mr. Assange, 41, sought asylum inside the embassy in central London to evade extradition to Sweden, which wants to question him in connection with allegations that he sexually abused two women last year.
Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle said Monday the nine supporters had "failed in their basic duty" to ensure Mr. Assange did not abscond.
First Published October 9, 2012 12:00 am
